My present setup

[M323]

Hi, wanna get some comments from bros here...

 

These are the setup...

 

HD: Pioneer 7750

Front: CDT component speakers/amp

Rear: Kenwood stock 6/9 speakers

Boot: 12" Lighting audio sub/performa monoblock

Access: Pivot Volt Stabilizer

 

Am thinking of...

1) buy a much better front speakers, transfer CDT to rear

2) add-in capacitor

 

what's the comments on the 2 items above? which component speaker recommend with $500? and what kind of capacitor?

 

thanks

[Headshok]

if i not wrong, lightning audio sub not that xiong rite?

 

save $$ on the caps. get proper grounding inside ur engine bay. can put the extra $$ into a better set of components.

 

cheers.

[Hyun]

this thing about grounding in the engine bay:

 

looking at my battery, which is still quite stock, the negative terminal runs a cable somewhere. do u expect a stock car to have any grounding at all in the engine bay?

 

if no grounding, then the negative cable usually run where? into firewall and into interior for ignition etc?

 

if need to ground, there are some standard points to ground right, can DIY the same way u brought me to buy components from sim lim, or better to get a grounding kit with all the different connectors?

[Eddy216]

What is it about your current setup that you do not like? Is it lacking bass, vocals not clear enough, or you want to improve the sound staging? Don't just go and add or change equipment just because you read those reviews and feedback. Chances are that after changing to "better equipment", you might realise the result is not what you wanted.

 

If you are not sure, do join up our ICE meetup, listen to all the systems, and speak to our gurus! There is much to learn and to appreciate!

[Hyun]

well he wants "better front speakers". i think that's a valid upgrade. the thing is he mentioned $500. $500 doesn't exactly buy wonders but it broadens the range quite a bit. but i think many people prefer to recommend a larger leap in upgrade, something of a higher price range. to upgrade from CDT to $500, might as well stay put, almost.

[M323]

right now, i think the bass over take the sound from front and also when i burst loud, i feel the bass not solid enough...

[M323]

i guess i need to higher my budget then roughly how much for a decent good component speakers, i was recommended FOCAL, price ard 800+...

[Kwongwing]

From your description, it would appear that your issue lies with your sub rather than your front speakers - what amp are u using to power your front CDTs?

Try maxing out your CDTs like what Hyun has done - then decide what to upgrade thereafter.

[Hyun]

it's possible for ur CDTs to play 50hz at around 50+% the "output" of normal frequencies, almost like having a small subwoofer on your doors. of course the sound isn't as well-controlled as having a proper sub, but when u turn the sub off, the kickdrums still sound quite well with the kick oomph. so there're things u can do to make the CDT midbass play a decent bass. perhaps the clarity is quite hard to fight with higher end speakers, but those CDTs belong to the entry level. so when u say "bass is lacking", time to do some tuning :) join us lor on next meet up, probably aug 10th (see the thread) .. see what we can make the CDT do ....

 

as for sub tuning overpowering ur CDTs, yup it's a matter of how u set the sub, and there are quite a few settings that affect the sound output - from the HU level, EQ, LPF and phase settings to the amp gain, bass boost and LPF settings, to the sub box, position etc. so some of ur settings are "off" giving you a problem :)

 

who knows, if we get these settings right, maybe u'll give up the idea of upgrading hehe... and as per normal, the upgrading money, 10% can help us call some chicken from KFC, 10% can contribute to massage for those sore ear muscles involved in tuning .. and u keep the rest :)

[M323]

then what's wrong with my sub? am using performa 3500 amp for my CDT!

 

Technical Specification

4 ohms maximum output @0.03% 700Watts

4ohms bridget mono output @0.02% THD 1 x 700W

2 ohms WRMS output @0.1 THD 2 x 350W

Low pass filter 40Hz - 250Hz

High pass filter 40Hz - 1KHz

Frequency response 10 - 40000Hz

Signal to noise ratio 100dB

Stereo separation> >55dB

Input sensitivity< 145mV-2.4V

Input impedance 10 Kohms

Operation voltage DC 12V

Speaker impedance @ stereo driven 4 Ohms<

Fuse rating 25Ax1

Dimension (WHD) mm 280x50x244

[Ivan0507]

i think you should tell us what actual model ,power of your amp & spk .in order to let the brothers to help you.look like ,you like more bass than clear music.don't waste the money at the end you don't like it.

 

put you comp spk at rear it a waste,either using a 2 way spks or leave it empty is enough

[M323]

very good analysis on the last paragraph will definite find sometime down to the meetup!

[Eddy216]

Hmmmm, i think the bass distribution can be improved. Heh heh, perhaps you can lower your sub's amp LPF to 50hz. Then on the amp driving your front speakers, set its HPF to around 50hz. Hopefully that might improve things a bit.

[Hyun]

i'm not familiar with amps but from the technical specs, seems like it's quite a fine amp. that should probably not be your limiting factor. that's why when i mentioned the list of settings possible that can affect ur sound, in the whole long list i didn't mention the quality of your amp. i presume something decent like this. of course if it was a chapalang chapati amp then a bit difficult but luckily yours seem decent.

 

let's play play CDT next meet hehehe. so few people running CDT nowadays, looks like company die, boss run away with money, customer also disappear liao, installer not selling any more, and their new range of speakers donno target at what fish market.

[M323]

CDT CL61 with my performa 3500 amp

[M323]

before i change to CDT, i have blasted a bazooka speakers, so far CDT perform quite good...

[M323]

  Quote

i think you should tell us what actual model ,power of your amp & spk .in order to let the brothers to help you.look like ,you like more bass than clear music.don't waste the money at the end you don't like it.

 

put you comp spk at rear it a waste,either using a 2 way spks or leave it empty is enough

 

yes, i listen to hip-hop music which prefer more solid bass, and i also play it loud. i have sound proof the front door only, sometime i can hear vibrate sound behind, i suspect my sub wave hit my boot cover, anyone experience that?

[Knighthunter]

CDT went bust?

I think CDT is a brand evolved from Cliff Design. Cliff Design speakers are good, get use to own a component set and 6 x9" set in my car when I was in Australia.