POLK AUDIO db6501 COMPONENT SPEAKERS

[David Davidson]

I just installed a whole new sound system in my boat last night. After it was all said and done, the component speakers don't sound half as good as the coaxial speakers (db651's) that I installed in the front. I have a Sony XM604M amp pushing them all and a Sony CDXM60UI receiver. Does anyone know why the coaxials would sound so much better than a component system? From what I have heard the component system is supposed to blow the coaxials away.

[brain_rinse]

Can you describe how the amp is wired to the speakers? Are you talking sound quality or loudness?

[David Davidson]

The amp is wired to the crossover that comes with the system and from there the wires go to the woofer and the tweeter. The sound clarity is great at low power but when you crank them up the coaxials blow them away in loudness and clarity. I have tried every switch on the amp but nothing makes the rear speakers sound any better. The components are not closed in like the coaxials, that is probably the problem.

[brain_rinse]

I was thinking more about how many speakers you had and how they were hooked to the amp. Do you have just 4 cabin speakers running on a 4 channel amp?

[David Davidson]

I only have 4 speakers and I am running a 4 channel amp.

[brain_rinse]

Short answer: you're under powering the components. They are rated at 100w continuous but your amp is only pushing 60 watts RMS. The coaxials are rated at 60w continuous which is right in line with the amp.

[Razzman]

Just for the record and to help troubleshoot;

• Are you sure they're phased correctly?
• What do you have the crossover frequency set at?
• Where do you have the gains set?
• What is your power source for the amp?

[EarmarkMarine]

David,

There will be a slight reduction in sensitivity between the coaxials and components. The separate components will have an insertion loss due to a multi-component outboard crossover where as the coaxial is strictly 2nd order highpass.

However, the component has a full 1-inch dome versus a 3/4-inch dome. And, because the midbass cone has a solid dustcap (without a tweeter mounting post) it has more surface area. This more than offsets the moderate efficiency difference.

Try bringing the tweeter on the components up to zero dB and gain the coaxials down a bit on the amplifier to bring these speakers into balance. Without photos and without all the particulars its hard to speculate, ie: positioning, phasing, acoustic isolation, etc. And numerous other considerations. Also, check to see if both front and rear amplifier active crossovers are set the same (either 'fullrange' or very low just for protection since you don't have a sub yet).

David
Earmark Marine