speaker volume too low

[gasdave]

I finally got around to fitting and connecting my two new speakers for my FM/MP3 unit today. It all looks very tidy and smart BUT I can't seem to be able to get much volume out of them. The wiring is sound (no pun intended ) and connected correctly to the speakers (the only available wiring connectors on the speakers are a + and - from each speaker output on the base unit), they do work very clearly but only very quietly with the volume turned to max.

The unit is an Alpine car audio one with outputs for R and L front and rear speakers. I have only chosen to use the rear speaker outlets, with the fade control max'd to the rear. Surely this shouldn't make a difference?

I have no separate amp installed, but again, I didn't think this should be necessary either as I have never owned a car with a separate amp. There are "optional" connections on the unit for an amp.

Am I missing something really simple (it wouldn't be the first time!) or do I need a separate amp - please not the latter Any help much appreciated.

 

[noelex]

Any chance the "mute" is on?
The speaker symbol flashes on my alpine unit when mute is engaged. Mute reduces rather than cuts the sound completely.
If not what speakers are you using? Speaker efficiency can have a big impact on volume when the amp output is low.

 

[DogWatch]

I finally got around to fitting and connecting my two new speakers for my FM/MP3 unit today. It all looks very tidy and smart BUT I can't seem to be able to get much volume out of them. The wiring is sound (no pun intended ) and connected correctly to the speakers (the only available wiring connectors on the speakers are a + and - from each speaker output on the base unit), they do work very clearly but only very quietly with the volume turned to max.

The unit is an Alpine car audio one with outputs for R and L front and rear speakers. I have only chosen to use the rear speaker outlets, with the fade control max'd to the rear. Surely this shouldn't make a difference?

I have no separate amp installed, but again, I didn't think this should be necessary either as I have never owned a car with a separate amp. There are "optional" connections on the unit for an amp.

Am I missing something really simple (it wouldn't be the first time!) or do I need a separate amp - please not the latter Any help much appreciated.

Which head unit, so I can look up a manual

How did you connect to the head unit, have you fitted the correct plug to the speakers, any chance of a stray wire shorting the signal.. or have the fronts possibly come together?

Have you turned the fade fully rear? Though this shouldn't have the affect you suggest.

have you used the correct crimps at the speaker ends, squashing blues down to fit to red spades never works that well.

How long are you speaker cables?

does the balance work properly?

Has the stereo worked previously?

There is a telephone mute cable, this may be touching the chassis, this might be a problem, make sure the end is insulated

I'll keep thinking..

 

[gasdave]

Which head unit, so I can look up a manual

How did you connect to the head unit, have you fitted the correct plug to the speakers, any chance of a stray wire shorting the signal.. or have the fronts possibly come together?

Have you turned the fade fully rear? Though this shouldn't have the affect you suggest.

have you used the correct crimps at the speaker ends, squashing blues down to fit to red spades never works that well.

How long are you speaker cables?

does the balance work properly?

Has the stereo worked previously?

There is a telephone mute cable, this may be touching the chassis, this might be a problem, make sure the end is insulated

I'll keep thinking..

Unit is an Alpine iDA X100 (Ebay but everything (else) appears to be working and came with all original packaging and paperwork). Speakers are new Inphase XTC52 from Car Audio Centre.

Connection to the head unit involved removing from the plug and re-crimping the speaker output wires to connect to the speaker cable. Likewise the cable to speaker connections are made using appropriate sized crimps (a wide and a narrow yellow speaker crimp, purchased from Halfords) to each speaker.

Speaker cables about 5m - both same length.

R and L balance works fine.

I haven't blanked off any other cables - I suppose this could be a source of short behind the panel - I'll need to check that next time I go there. The fronts are still connected to their respective terminals inside the plug so could not be shorting.

Many thanks for your detailed answer so far.

 

[DogWatch]

Unit is an Alpine iDA X100 (Ebay but everything (else) appears to be working and came with all original packaging and paperwork). Speakers are new Inphase XTC52 from Car Audio Centre.

Connection to the head unit involved removing from the plug and re-crimping the speaker output wires to connect to the speaker cable. Likewise the cable to speaker connections are made using appropriate sized crimps (a wide and a narrow yellow speaker crimp, purchased from Halfords) to each speaker.

Speaker cables about 5m - both same length.

R and L balance works fine.

I haven't blanked off any other cables - I suppose this could be a source of short behind the panel - I'll need to check that next time I go there. The fronts are still connected to their respective terminals inside the plug so could not be shorting.

Many thanks for your detailed answer so far.

just done a quick google so far and there is something that could be a problem, I have not found a manual yet.

>> 3 Preouts with Subwoofer Level Control <<

Have you accidentally connected the speakers to the line-out (pre out), this would give the symptoms you are suffering. If you are not using an external amp are you required to set a jumper or plug the preamp lead back into the head unit (just a thought)

When you say quiet, how quiet, do you have to put your ear to them?

Nice looking head amp by the way, may I suggest connecting the head lamp dimmer line to the chassis, if it is like the JVC I use, this saves about 400mA power consumption by dimming the lights. Not to be sneezed at!

 

[Richard10002]

What happens if you connect the speakers to the Front Outputs?

 

[Richard10002]

Here is a manual:

http://www.5starcaralarms.co.nz/manuals/IDA-X100.pdf

Hope it's the same, even though it's from a New Zealand supplier

 

[DogWatch]

Okay, there are two things I have found in the manual that may be worth investigating.

When you connect an external amp there appears to be a menu item called Power IC. when switched to off it stops the internal amplifier, this is supposed to help the quality when you are driving external amps.

And on the back of the unit there is a slide switch (item 28) on the wire diagram on the back of the chassis.

>>> (28) System Switch

When connecting a processor or divider using AiNet, place this switch in ext AP position. When no device is connected leave in the norm position.<<<


Wow this is pure bling ICE init. You have X over controls to adjust the sound right onto the drivers seat. What ever happened to volume-click-off

Did you press the system reset as suggested in the manual on a new installation? It's behind the front fascia.

 

[mawm]

Maybe your speakers have too much impedence (ohms) for the FM/MP3 player's output (watts). I see you bought them as a separate item.

 

[nimbusgb]

8 ohm speakers on a 4 ohm amp?

 

[mawm]

Impedence 4 ohms
Output 18watts RMS per channel

Should be OK.

 

[mawm]

Just checked mine - I have 40 watts RMS driving 8 ohm speakers!

If yours are 8 ohm as Nimbus says, then you don't have enough power to drive them.

 

[gasdave]

Just checked mine - I have 40 watts RMS driving 8 ohm speakers!

If yours are 8 ohm as Nimbus says, then you don't have enough power to drive them.

Just checked - speakers have 4 ohm impedance and unit outputs 18W RMS x 4.

I am no audio expert - how does one know how to match speaker impedance with power output?

 

[noelex]

Just checked - speakers have 4 ohm impedance and unit outputs 18W RMS x 4.

I am no audio expert - how does one know how to match speaker impedance with power output?

Your speakers are fine. They have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms an efficiency of 90db.This is Ok for the Alpine unit you have. They should be capable of reasonable volume.
Unless the speakers are defective (very unlikely and they would both need to have a problem) the solution is with the head unit, wiring or settings.

 

[Marine Reflections]

Pretty sure Dogwatch has it, the internal amplifier can be by-passed to allow the pre-out/rca's to perform better, if your 100% sure on the wiring check again....and blank off ANY exposed wires. Check you have a good enough earth.

Failing that.. is the power and earth cables to the unit of a decent grade? or are they cocktail stick thickness.
Are you 100% on the correct polarity of the speaker wires?
When you say the sound is quiet can you go into a little more detail, example is it crackly, or farty, or just less volume than you thought. Your speakers are a good up-grade but they wont be responsible for increasing overall sound, if anything the sound volume will go down a little as the speakers handle the sound better, at 18w rms there is not going to be a lot of movement on those speakers.
The Alpine head units with multiple rca outs were really designed to run multiple amps.
Any chance of a piccy of the back of head unit installed?

 

[noelex]

P
Are you 100% on the correct polarity of the speaker wires?

The polarity of the speaker wires will have almost no effect on the volume, particularly with the limited base response of the speakers.
Correct polarity should be maintained to keep the 2 speakers in phase for best base response, but it is not the problem here.

 

[Marine Reflections]

The polarity of the speaker wires will have almost no effect on the volume, particularly with the limited base response of the speakers.
Correct polarity should be maintained to keep the 2 speakers in phase for best base response, but it is not the problem here.

Point taken.. it was posted @ 01:36

I think even wired correctly the whole systen is giving out 18w rms it's safe to assume this is not going to happen!

 

[misterg]

Here's another 0.02p:

Have you connected both the red and yellow wires to 12V?

 

[gasdave]

All these suggestions are really much appreciated - thanks!

The speaker polarities are definitely correct and both red and yellow power cables are connected appropriately.

The effect I'm getting is simply one of low volume. If I sit between both speakers I can hear output completely clearly, even impressively so. It's just too quiet and increasing the volume on the base unit seems to make little difference beyond about half way along the "scale". Sound reproduction is very accurate, there is no interference noise and certainly no farts!

I do now wonder about the control for the external amp perhaps being on but won't get back to the boat for a few days to confirm. Unfortunately when I was installing I didn't have the full controls part of the manual as it's all on PC. However if this was the case would I still get any sound at all? I thought this would totally stop all sound to my speakers?

 

[Marine Reflections]

In that case it sounds as if all is well. It's what can be expected for what you are running .
To put things into perspective I am running 180w RMS just into the front 10cm speakers to deal with the top end, you are running 1/10 of the output to deal with the whole system.
Most head units will be giving out at least 50w per channel, your unit really was designed to run multiple amplifiers....

Prob what you have at the minute is fine for the top end, now you might want to think about base & mid, should you want it to replicate all the freq the unit is pushing out. It just means that you don' have to turn it up too loud to enjoy the sound properly.