 | Home > In Car Electronics > Focal speaker upgrade having a questionable effect |
 
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20798  
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Soundproofing would be ideal first, followed by a Sub.
The Defender doesn't lend its self to high quality music, so the best you can do is add sound proofing and add poser. Especially mid range and lows. _\Hennessey|Venom| F5/___ ___\âï¸Lone|Star|State/___ ____\We|Will|Win/___ ____/🇬🇧🇺🇸\____ _//*⛽ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°*\\_ |
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3rd Jan 2017 10:28pm |
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| Wireworld Member Since: 15 Nov 2016 Location: Shropshire Posts: 9 
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Check the polarity to all speakers as I had this problem on another car when the wiring had been reversed on one side meaning the speakers were out of phase. Tinny and no depth. Once corrected the sound was fine.
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3rd Jan 2017 10:43pm |
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| Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3793  
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Novak, as you're probably aware, a Sub was optional with Defender, fitted to the rear of the cubby, so I'd fit one of them.
There was also an add on amplifier made by Alpine, only a little one, that would fit behind the dash, which would integrate with your head unit,....I think the model number is KTP445A, but it may have been superceded. You could locate a S/H item, but I'm sure that if you consulted the Alpine catalogue you'd locate a current item. Those two items would not cost a lot of money, but IMHO, would make for a substantial improvement...they would give you some "grunt"! Pickles. Last edited by Pickles on 3rd Jan 2017 10:56pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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3rd Jan 2017 10:47pm |
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| Novak Member Since: 03 Jan 2017 Location: London Posts: 4
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Thanks, I should try this first of all! |
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3rd Jan 2017 10:53pm |
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| Novak Member Since: 03 Jan 2017 Location: London Posts: 4
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Interesting, I didn't know this. Thanks for sharing. |
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3rd Jan 2017 10:53pm |
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| Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3793
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Novak, I've edited my post with amp details,...KTP445A!!...just wanted to make sure you were aware of my "edited" post!
Pickles. |
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3rd Jan 2017 10:58pm |
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| barbel jim Member Since: 12 Dec 2012 Location: Northants Posts: 1443 
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The TDCI dose have slightly better acoustics by the design of the dash than the earlier models. In my 2.2 I went for 5" focals front and rear, with the 2.1 ibus. The 2.1 is a 8" active sub and 2 Chanel amp, which I use to run the fronts. It clarity is superb, well worth the investment
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3rd Jan 2017 11:14pm |
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| mk1collector Member Since: 17 Sep 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 6772  
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A sub should be your first purchase then an amp for the existing speakers Ray
My build thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html |
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4th Jan 2017 12:05am |
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| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328
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Small discreet Sub works
 Click image to enlarge |
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4th Jan 2017 7:49am |
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| Novak Member Since: 03 Jan 2017 Location: London Posts: 4
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Thanks guys, I'll try the rewire this weekend first and see how that goes!
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4th Jan 2017 10:47pm |
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| Wild Card 90 Member Since: 03 Dec 2014 Location: Gerlingen Posts: 1060 
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Still using the original speakers, I´m not qualified to judge the effect of the Focals alone.
However, the addition of a subwoofer, made such an amazing improvement. It provides way more base-tone than it´s size suggests, and leaves the tiny 10cm cones and tweeters to do what they do best. The Focals will surely be alot crisper and won´t distort at high volume so easily, but cannot substitute a subwoofer. They don´t cost much, and are relatively quick to install. Several models fit perfectly onto the back of the cubby box. Despite Ken´s helpful suggestion  , you don´t need to fill the luggage area to achieve a good sound. 1998 Tdi 90 SW,
2008 Td4 90 SW, 2012 2.2 90 SW, 2" raised Trailmaster/Terrafirma Heavy Track Raids, 255 MT´s, Recaro CS´s, anorak, wellingtons |
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5th Jan 2017 8:58am |
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| pjb Member Since: 08 Apr 2009 Location: Sunny Oxford Posts: 1244 |
I upgraded speakers to focal, but at the same time also installed an under cubby sub, sound is so different - night & day difference.
Not sure which made the difference but result is 
I used a plug & play sub from far corners with an under cubby sub enclosure. 2020 P300 HSE |
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5th Jan 2017 9:41am |
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| Riverboy Member Since: 16 May 2016 Location: French sector, Earth Posts: 1288 
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I had my speakers upgraded to Focals last year, plus a JL Audio amp fitted under the passenger seat and a JL Audio sub woofer behind the cubby box. It sounds amazing, but I had the whole car fully insulated at the same time which makes a huge difference. No need to turn up the volume to hear the radio anymore
although if I do pump it up its a pretty impressive sound. I'm more than happy with it. I also had the high end Pioneer AVIC-F88DAB head unit fitted which is just fantastic. If you have the money (its not cheap) get that one, its superb.
Component list: Focal 100 KRS 4” mid and tweeter package (front components) JL Audio XD 500/3 3 channel class D power amp JL Audio CP106 Compact, hi-output console mounted subwoofer Alpine SXE1025S Rear coaxial replacement speakers Pioneer AVIC-F88DAB Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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5th Jan 2017 11:08am |
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| Likeomg Member Since: 29 Jun 2012 Location: Lake District / Newcastle Posts: 2655 
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Focals made a improvement for me, but once you power the focals with a amp... there a different kettle of fish
Don't bother with the Alpine factory fit sub.. My current setup is a focals front and rear; Hertz HDP 4 powering the focals Hertz HDP 1 powering a Hertz HX300D... Rivals all the other sound systems in our cars.. both bang and olufsen in a rs4 and AM. |
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5th Jan 2017 12:12pm |
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