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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Speaker upgrade, Amp or no amp - advice please
Calling all audiophiles.

As mentioned on other posts, I'll be looking to upgrade my speakers shortly. I am likely to get a Hertz set up (items listed below) and I am wondering whether or not I need an Amp, what is a Crossover (and do I need one) and should cables be upgraded at the same time?

I shall be keeping it simple so will be choosing two 10cm speakers and two tweeters to replace the stock Puma items, and then will be adding a small sub to sit under the rear bench seat. I feel it should be enough in a DC, especially when 99% of the time just me and Mrs Grenadier will be tuning in. These are the items:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ECX-Hertz-100-5-W...z+speakers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hertz-30-3-1000-W...z+tube+sub

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hertz-HT-25-Tweet...z+tweeters

The speakers are listed as 40W RMS/120W max.
The tweeters are listed as 120W max
The Sub is listed as 300W RMS/1000W Max

It is worth noting they will be fitted to a DC (which has a smaller can than a 90/110 SW) and which at the same time as fitting the speakers will be fully sound insulated with Silent Coat and Isolator 6 matting throughout. So there should be minimal ingress from Road/Wind/Rattle and other noises.

My head unit is the following:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-NTPKJgREwKH/p...BT901.html

In the bumpf it is listed as having the following:

"built-in MOSFET amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels)"
"outputs: 6-channel preamp outputs (4-volt front, rear, subwoofer)"
"DSP features settings for car type, speaker size, digital time alignment, front and rear high-pass crossovers, and subwoofer low-pass crossover"

As mentioned above, the cab should be well insulated and I am fairly honest about the practicality of high end systems in such a rattly vehicle, even once filled with Silent Coat. Further, my days of full volume rock are (mostly Thumbs Up ) behind me, so I'll be playing music at sensible levels. It's worth baring in mind that most of my music is played from Spotify via BT or via SD card, in both cases meaning it is compressed and not top drawer digital output.

So my questions:

Do I need an Amp (and if so, how powerful?)
and/or
Do I need a Crossover. (And if I do, what does it actually do?)
and/or
Should I upgrade the cabling as well?

Advice from music geeks welcome.... Thumbs Up Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #556414 16th Aug 2016 12:49pm
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Riverboy



Member Since: 16 May 2016
Location: French sector, Earth
Posts: 1288

2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
Dunno, but here's wot they put in mine and it's sounds bloody amazing inside and barely audible outside Thumbs Up

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

Head unit is a Pioneer AVIC-F88DAB.


I thought you said you were buying Focals?
Post #556424 16th Aug 2016 1:28pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Ta. It will be nice to go from 'audible' to 'amazing' And interesting, given what they've popped in, that the insulation is doing its job Thumbs Up

Was going Focal, but Hertz are as well reviewed in the know-what-they're-talking-about reviews, but say that for the mid value kit offer more for the money. So I can get a higher quality speaker for the same bucks or add a sub and/or amp etc. I might mount my stock speakers behind the rear seats, but there's no official trim so I'd have to rustle something up. But overall, if I do go the whole hog (2 X speakers, 2 X tweeters, 1 X sub, 1 X amp, 1 X crossover) should do the job in the cab. After all, I'll never be in the back being driven, so should suffice. All comes in any approx £300 which I think is good for what I'm getting. Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #556430 16th Aug 2016 1:46pm
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Riverboy



Member Since: 16 May 2016
Location: French sector, Earth
Posts: 1288

2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
Yep Thumbs Up a lot less than mine.
Post #556434 16th Aug 2016 2:02pm
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Likeomg



Member Since: 29 Jun 2012
Location: Lake District / Newcastle
Posts: 2627

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Stornoway Grey
If you want a VERY good setup, better than the 2015 Rs4 we have with a bang olufsen set up...


Focal, K2 KRS 100 in the front and PC100 rear driven off a HERTZ HDP4 amp,

i then bridged the second channel to power a JL audio 12" sub,


my plan was to eventually have the HDP4 run all 4 speakers and then a separate amp running the sub but the combo is just too perfect as it is.
Post #556446 16th Aug 2016 2:47pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Riverboy wrote:
Dunno, but here's wot they put in mine and it's sounds bloody amazing inside and barely audible outside Thumbs Up

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

Head unit is a Pioneer AVIC-F88DAB.


I thought you said you were buying Focals?


Whoa. Just looked up your kit, that's some monster power. I know you said it is amazing, would you say on the money or too much? Do you get close to the top end? Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #556457 16th Aug 2016 3:32pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Likeomg wrote:
If you want a VERY good setup, better than the 2015 Rs4 we have with a bang olufsen set up...


Focal, K2 KRS 100 in the front and PC100 rear driven off a HERTZ HDP4 amp,

i then bridged the second channel to power a JL audio 12" sub,


my plan was to eventually have the HDP4 run all 4 speakers and then a separate amp running the sub but the combo is just too perfect as it is.


LOMG, i suppose my statement is the same for you, in that that's mahoosive power. Bar a 90 pick up, I have the smallest cab volume so I don't want to over do it. Money is not so much the object (although The spare reddies can be spent on beer), just being sensible. Also, I think I would tackle the first phase as described above and if the sound is lacking (from a quadrophonic point of view) will then make a bracket and fit some extra co-ax's in the back, perhaps some 16cm....All in 500W (if I get the amp) which I would have thought would be enough? Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #556459 16th Aug 2016 3:42pm
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Likeomg



Member Since: 29 Jun 2012
Location: Lake District / Newcastle
Posts: 2627

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Stornoway Grey
all this speak has got me excited and i've just bought a HDP1.... finally release the full potential.


i guess the more power you have on offer, you won't be running the gear at full power all the time, on my clarion head unit, i usually go to 20-23, 26 is max on a scale of 1-40 as above 26 is mental loud.
Post #556461 16th Aug 2016 3:50pm
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Riverboy



Member Since: 16 May 2016
Location: French sector, Earth
Posts: 1288

2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
Grenadier wrote:
Riverboy wrote:
Dunno, but here's wot they put in mine and it's sounds bloody amazing inside and barely audible outside Thumbs Up

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

Head unit is a Pioneer AVIC-F88DAB.


I thought you said you were buying Focals?


Whoa. Just looked up your kit, that's some monster power. I know you said it is amazing, would you say on the money or too much? Do you get close to the top end?


Is it? LOL

To be honest I had no idea what I was agreeing too when I had that done, I just trusted what they said, and they were right, it does sound amazing. As for the money? I've no idea. It was quite expensive, especially with that head unit, but to me it's been worth it. The woofer is really the nice, very bassy but very small, it takes up no room tucked away behind the cubby and it doesn't get in the way of the front seats when reclined.



Click image to enlarge


I took what they call their Premium audio package, but they also now offer a higher spec one with a 5 channel amp and extra speakers under the front seats. I'm sure that sounds great but mine is more than good enough for me and Barry Manilow as we poodle around Provence Wink


Last edited by Riverboy on 16th Aug 2016 4:03pm. Edited 4 times in total
Post #556462 16th Aug 2016 3:50pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Ah, the head unit is the only bit I didn't look up, but I seem to remember you went Double Din?

No real idea if it was too powerful, just that your kit has some very big numbers listed, but I actually have no idea!! Whistle

If you like it, and you do, that's all the matters Thumbs Up Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #556463 16th Aug 2016 3:55pm
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Riverboy



Member Since: 16 May 2016
Location: French sector, Earth
Posts: 1288

2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
I discovered recently that my head unit plays DVD movies and MKV/MP4 format movies etc on a USB drive. Very handy on a long drive eh! Whistle
Post #556467 16th Aug 2016 4:09pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
I prefer to play Scrabble on long drives, although it's a Censored when you drop a tile between your accelerator and brake pedal...ahem. Shocked Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #556469 16th Aug 2016 4:15pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Riverboy wrote:
Grenadier wrote:
Riverboy wrote:
Dunno, but here's wot they put in mine and it's sounds bloody amazing inside and barely audible outside Thumbs Up

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

Head unit is a Pioneer AVIC-F88DAB.


I thought you said you were buying Focals?


Whoa. Just looked up your kit, that's some monster power. I know you said it is amazing, would you say on the money or too much? Do you get close to the top end?


Is it? LOL

To be honest I had no idea what I was agreeing too when I had that done, I just trusted what they said, and they were right, it does sound amazing. As for the money? I've no idea. It was quite expensive, especially with that head unit, but to me it's been worth it. The woofer is really the nice, very bassy but very small, it takes up no room tucked away behind the cubby and it doesn't get in the way of the front seats when reclined.



Click image to enlarge


I took what they call their Premium audio package, but they also now offer a higher spec one with a 5 channel amp and extra speakers under the front seats. I'm sure that sounds great but mine is more than good enough for me and Barry Manilow as we poodle around Provence Wink


What's the bar running under the sub and behind the seats? Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #556470 16th Aug 2016 4:17pm
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Ryderoo



Member Since: 28 Aug 2015
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 1658

England 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Santorini Black
Grenadier, I think that is the bulkhead removal bar, you can see it a bit better in my 90.

 Cheers Simon

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you

1990 110 TD5 county, my first Land Rover - gone
2012 Discovery 4 XS SDV6 - gone
2014 Discovery 4 XS SDV6 - gone
2015 Evoque SD4 dynamic - Wife’s - gone
2015 Urban Truck 90 XS Santorini Black Hard Top - Reluctantly gone
2020 Discovery 5 Eiger Grey 3.0 SE - gone March 24
2021 Defender S D250 Santorini Black 110 HT - gone March 24
2023 Evoque P300e SE wife’s current vehicle
Post #556492 16th Aug 2016 5:53pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
^^^ Roger Thumbs Up Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #556501 16th Aug 2016 6:21pm
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