Two of my speakers crackle at high volume.

[bzubke1]

The front two(bow) kicker speakers on my 08 lsv start to crackle if i turn the radio up pretty loud. The back four speakers dont crackle at all just the front two. Am i just turning it up too loud or could there be something wrong with those two speakers.

[mmandley]

You need to see if they are connected to the Deck or the amp. If they are connected ot the amp most likly they are going bad.

My first thought is they are connected to the deck and the deck is distorting and sending them a nasty signal and your hearing it. < Clipping >

The reason you wouldnt hear it threw the amp on the back speaker is the amp wont see the distortion as soon since they are recieving there signal threw the RCAs and deck can be turned up louder before the distortion is that bad.

[bzubke1]

I'll have too look at the boat tomorrow to know for sure. I think you're right about the bow speakers coming from the head unit because the amp for the cabin speakers is a four channel.

[you da man]

I'll have too look at the boat tomorrow to know for sure. I think you're right about the bow speakers coming from the head unit because the amp for the cabin speakers is a four channel.

Just because you have a four channel amp doesn't mean you only have four speakers on it.

[bzubke1]

i checked it out today and the rear four speakers are connected to the amp and the front two bow speakers were hooked up to the head unit.

[kaneboats]

Sounds like it's time to find another amp.

[bzubke1]

This might be a dumb question but why would a new amp help if the two speakers that are crackling aren't attached to the amp.

[Brianinpdx]

BZ -

In simple terms, here's whats happening...

Your source unit is getting cranked up, up up and away and its only got so much to give power wise. (even though mfg's rate head units a 500W and all this crap). the amplifier on the other hand is taking the "low" voltage and then amplifiing it up to louder levels.

So in a nut shell on the bow you'r exposing the limits of your source player. and on the rest of your system your not yet exposing the limits of the amplifier driving that portion.

make sense?

You have a couple of choices....

1 - turn your V down and live with it. (heheh). Probably not the best choice

2 - Find a down and dirty used 2 channel amp and slap it in there. A lot of guys on here upgrade and could probably sell you something on the cheap.

3 - Use this situation to take a look at your goals for your entire audio system and start the process of upgrading. That means reviewing the tower area, cabin area, sub area's of your setup and work toward a setup that works in better harmony together. If you go down this path, my advice is do it in stages.

Hope that helps,

Cheers!

-Brian
Exile Audio

[kaneboats]

Thanks, Brian. I was just gonna say that the head unit doesn't have the power to drive the speakers like the amp does. But you said it so much better!

[bzubke1]

Thanks for all the help I understand what you're saying now. Someone suggested that I just add the two bow speakers to the amp can that be done safely since all the channels are already used up? And if so is this how you would do it.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/bzubke1/speakerdiagram.jpg

[mmandley]

Yes exactly what you need to do. That way it puts the amp into a 2 ohm load on the cabins. Thats the way the factory sent my boat out, all 6 speakers on the 4 channel amp.

[kaneboats]

I'm sure that's how mine is too, but I think he has a wire missing in the diagram.

Mike, did your head unit have only 2 preamp outs? I'm wondering where to start to add a sub when I have nowhere to start. (I guess I start with a head unit!)

[mmandley]

Yes Kane mine had 2 sets of pre outs. 1 pair was built into the back and the second pair was on a wire comming out the back. If your deck only has 1 set it can be ran with a Y connector. I would just upgrade the deck though.

[kaneboats]

Do you know the model # offhand of your deck? Mine is the KDC- MP2035. (When I just looked it up I see the pic of the back of the unit that shows a second set of preamp outputs on a wire. So I guess I can figure out how to split and add a sub.) Still, I think it's time to throw this deck in the Mustang (which has no ipod input now) and put a new one in the LSV.

[mmandley]

same deck as that was in mine Kane. id highly recomend you get a new deck with 3 sets of pre outs as you sound like your leaning towards a 3 amp system.

[cab13367]

Do you know the model # offhand of your deck? Mine is the KDC- MP2035. (When I just looked it up I see the pic of the back of the unit that shows a second set of preamp outputs on a wire. So I guess I can figure out how to split and add a sub.) Still, I think it's time to throw this deck in the Mustang (which has no ipod input now) and put a new one in the LSV.

Or you can add this equalizer for $59.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6655_Clarion+EQS746.html

It will take your single set of preouts and split it into three. It will also give you independent sub volume control. Several members run this EQ. But the "purest" way to go would be a new head unit with 3 sets of 4V preouts.

[bzubke1]

I actually dug a little deeper today and all six of my speakers are connected to the amp. What could be the issue causing the clipping sound. Maybe need to upgrade the speakers?

[jclevoy]

I actually dug a little deeper today and all six of my speakers are connected to the amp. What could be the issue causing the clipping sound. Maybe need to upgrade the speakers?

I can tell you if your boat has the stock Kenwood speakers in it, they are crap. You can get much better speakers for a reasonable price and not break the bank. Polk Audio db651s come to mind.

What you need to do though is like Brian said.......You need to determine what your objective is with your boat soundsystem. Do you want to go super-loud with a high-end system, or do you just want something that does pretty well. Both options are honestly good options, but I hate to see you buy stuff that ultimately you will trade-out later on.

[bzubke1]

I have the the kicker speakers that came stock in 08. I though I was gonna add the pair off 770's and be done with the stereo but as most of you know this stuff is addicting. Now i want a sub, i want to upgrade the interior speakers, and possibly another set of tower speakers. I got it bad. Hopefully I can exercise some self control.

[viking]

I Hopefully I can exercise some self control.

Good luck! Let me know how that works out for you :D

[mmandley]

Thats what i was going to do when i planned on only buying 1 pair of XM7s.