Looking for some audio input...

[HUSSEY]

So bought a Custom Autosound USA-230 stereo for my truck mostly because I liked the way they looked. I paired it with Rockford Fosgate Prime 6x9 speakers and man is it ever disappointing. The sound is just meh...like cranking up the stereo in a 1989 Chevy Cavalier.

My last car was a 52 Chevy that I put a Rockford Fosgate Head unit in with the same 6x9 speakers and it sounded great.

The Custom Autosound head unit has pre-amp output on it. If I paired it with an amp, do you think that will fix the lackluster performance? I was thinking of this amp...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...&condition=all

The thing is, the USA-230 is rated at 4x50 Amp and the amp I'm looking at is 2x50 so it's basically the same power to the speakers, but I thought that the sound quality out of a Rockford amp may be better.

[jweb]

I had the same experience with my Custom Auotsound radio. I added a small Kicker amp ( I think it's 50x4 also)and it made a big difference in sound. I currently have the 6x9's in the rear corners, the dash speaker and a Kicker powered sub behind the seat. It's plenty loud but the small front speaker makes the system off balance.

Now the only issue I have is a strange feedback sound when I use my phone for music. My radio is not bluetooth so I have to use the input jack or a bluetooth adapter. I have tried everything to get rid of the noise with no success.

[HUSSEY]

Sweet, that was the feedback I was hoping for.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Your experience with those speakers was good before? I ask because I'm planning to use two 6x9's in rear corners and two smaller speakers (5.5"?) in front kick panels. But my head unit is a Secret Audio SST unit with a small Kenwood subwoofer under the seat.

This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm definitely no audiophile but want good sound.

[BIGglaSS]

That amp should wake up those speakers. On the audio forum I read, the prime amps get recommended for a decent budget amp.

[joedoh]

an amp is always a good idea. the IC chip amps in head units arent very good, something with a real power supply is better.

what do you have the 6x9s mounted in? in a car they would probably be baffled in the rear deck with all that trunk space to bang around in, 6x9s are made to be infinite baffle (free air) installed, so putting them in 6x9 boxes may not sound as good as a bigger space.

also, check the polarity of the speakers. I got my FIL a pair of speakers for christmas once and he installed them in the truck, and immediately derided my choice. when I got the truck I had to take the door panel off and sure enough, the left speaker was out of phase. now it booms down the cab, sure wish he could have heard it before he passed. I also had a car I mounted 8" woofers in the rear side panels, it only sounded good with one speaker wired OUT of phase (reverse polarity) and sounded even better with the trunk open. acoustics are a funny funny thing.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Your experience with those speakers was good before? I ask because I'm planning to use two 6x9's in rear corners and two smaller speakers (5.5"?) in front kick panels. But my head unit is a Secret Audio SST unit with a small Kenwood subwoofer under the seat.

This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm definitely no audiophile but want good sound.

The Rockford Fosgate primes I had in my 52 sounded great, I wasn't going for blow your ear drums out kind of loud but a nice clean loud to be able to hear it going down the highway.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by joedoh

what do you have the 6x9s mounted in?

I have them mounted in some cab corner brackets I bought from another member here that makes them. The brackets do enclose them into the corner of the cab. Maybe that's partial related to poor performance?

[joedoh]

go get a bag of polyester fiberfill (pillow stuffing) and pack it loosely in behind the speakers. also make sure there arent any big air gaps from the back to the front of the speakers or you wont have any bass response at all.

[Daze57]

fiberglass is also used as a stuffing back in the day --- you may want to think about making custom boxe for the cab corner and stuff it full of either fiberglass or the fiberfill -- might help ya out

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by joedoh

go get a bag of polyester fiberfill (pillow stuffing) and pack it loosely in behind the speakers. also make sure there arent any big air gaps from the back to the front of the speakers or you wont have any bass response at all.

Originally Posted by Daze57

fiberglass is also used as a stuffing back in the day --- you may want to think about making custom boxe for the cab corner and stuff it full of either fiberglass or the fiberfill -- might help ya out

These would likely serve the same purpose as the stuffing, correct?

https://www.amazon.com/050380-Boom-S...peaker+baffles

Funny though on how you get reviews on how the sound improved and other how it made the sound worse.

$10 local pick-up I didn't think was bad, may give them a try:
http://www.autozone.com/stereo-speak...170811211206:s

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by HUSSEY

These would likely serve the same purpose as the stuffing, correct?

https://www.amazon.com/050380-Boom-S...peaker+baffles

Funny though on how you get reviews on how the sound improved and other how it made the sound worse.

$10 local pick-up I didn't think was bad, may give them a try:
http://www.autozone.com/stereo-speak...170811211206:s

those are just flexible enclosures, which will improve the sound over what you have now, especially if your speakers are cancelling like I think they are.

fiberfill will still help, the theory being that fiberfill blocks cancelling waves from the rear and corners of any enclosure, the speaker "thinks" (as much as any speaker can think) it is in a slightly larger enclosure. the rule of thumb was you can get 10% back with loose fiberfill. so even if you get those foam dealies, get some fiberfill.

[slowcpe]

I would run an amp for sure. The Primes are decent for the money but if you run an amp, then the step up to the Punch series is good move.

For a temp setup in my '67 I ran a pair of Punch 6x9s in the doors (holes already cut), Punch 4s in the dash and a 4-channel Prime amp. That system far exceeded my expectations.