Replaced front speakers on Leon FR - disappointed

[druddle]

Hi all,

Last night I replaced the front speakers on my 2007 Leon FR. Following the details on this thread, I removed the original fronts and installed the Autolead adapters and some SPL Dynamics 6.1 mid/bass speakers.

The install went fine, I also added some Dynamat Extreme to the inside of the door behind the speakers to help eliminate vibrations and rattles.

I have driven the car to work today and to be honest I am really disappointed with the sound. The bass is not as strong as it was with the original speakers, and no matter what I do with the audio settings on the standard stereo, it doesnt sound any better. The bass is alot quieter than it was with the OEM speakers.

Is there anything I have done wrong (could the Dynamat be the issue ?), or will I just have to put up with it !!

Dave

 

[stevei'D]

Did you use the autoleads wiring adaptors that plug into the seat loom and convert to spades or did you cut it and crimp on new ones yourself? if you've done the later they may be out of phase. Fix - take one speaker out and swap the terminals over. If you used the adaptors you may find your standard or even after market head unit is not powerfull enough to drive them, when you turn the volume up its not the speaker distorting but the internal amplifier distorting under load and producing it through the speakers. Fix - amplifier.

 

[druddle]

I used the Autoleads adapter. It has the standard headunit, but at least one other person on the other thread has put these speakers in and said that the sound is better, which is not what I have seen !!
Dave

 

[LewisB]

From what i've read and figured out myself the standard kit is given a horrid equalizer curve to maximize the output from the standard speakers.

Basically the standard head unit is only putting out roughly (don't quote me on this) 20W of power, the RMS of the spl dynamics is 80W, the speakers are massively underpowered.

If you can, change the head unit, this will make a massive difference in sound quality in both terms of quality and output. Your other option is to tap into the speaker cables, use a line out converter, and fit a 2 channel amplifier with 2x80W rms.

 

[RLyons]

If you can, change the head unit, this will make a massive difference in sound quality in both terms of quality and output.

Unfortunately you should have changed the headunit first. It would have provided a massive improvement even with the standard speakers.

IMO as a rule of thumb for increasing sound quality you should upgrade the headunit, install and amplifier then upgrade your speakers. (in that order)

 

[Aziraphale]

thanks for the tip.
i was about to start upgrading myself. now i will think twice..

 

[RLyons]

Just buy yourself a decent headunit - you will be truely amazed at the difference! Most VAG cars have reasonable speakers as standard so a decent amplifier (in the form of a headunit) will power them more cleanly and therefore improve quality.

In the olden days I was powering speakers in a mk4 polo (standard) with a true and clean 75wrms for a while. They took it well and sounded OK. So OK in fact, that one of my mates actually offered to buy the speakers off me to put in his polo!!! lol

(PS - I'm selling an Alpine 9847R and Ipod interface at the moment! £100 posted)