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Ok, first off here is my system setup!<P><B>FRONT</B><P>Model/make: <BR>KAPPA63.5I 6-1/2" 3-way multielement loudspeaker pair<BR>Power Handling, RMS: 75 Watts<BR>Power Handling, Peak: 225 Watts <BR> <A HREF="http://www.infinitysystems.com/caraudio ... AP&Cat=MEL" TARGET=_blank>http://www.infinitysystems.com/caraudio ... er=KAP&Cat =MEL</A> <P><B>REAR</B><P>Model/Make:<BR>KAPPA52.5I 5-1/4" 2 way multielement speaker pair<BR>Power Handling, RMS: 55 Watts<BR>Power Handling, Peak: 165 Watts<BR> <A HREF="http://www.infinitysystems.com/caraudio ... AP&Cat=MEL" TARGET=_blank>http://www.infinitysystems.com/caraudio ... er=KAP&Cat =MEL</A> <P><B>HEAD UNIT</B><BR>Model/Make: <BR>Clarion DXZ825<BR>200-Watt (50W x 4ch)<BR> <A HREF="http://www.clarion.com/products/srcunit/srcunit2.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.clarion.com/products/srcunit/srcunit2.htm</A> <P><BR>Anyhow, here is my problem! My system does not get NEARLY as loud as it should be getting. When i hit about 26 on my volume control all my speakers start to crack out and distort! Keep in mind that my deck is only pumping out 50watts per channel MAX! The RMS for my front's are 75watts and 55watts for the back. Also keep in mind htat 26 is NOT the max volume control on my deck!<P>- Are my speakers screwed?<BR>- Is my deck screwed?<BR>- How can i figure this out?<P>Now my friend has a set of 6x9's Reference Series (Infinity's low-end) in his rear and a pair of 3-1/2's Reference Series in his front and his system kicks the crap out of my system. My speakers don't get nearly as loud as his and mine start to distort. Again he is running his speakers off a 200-Watt (50W x 4ch) JVC deck.<P>I have a feeling it's my deck, but im not sure...<p>[ August 04, 2002: Message edited by: zytariuk ]

Are you using the original speaker cable in the car? or have you totaly replaced your cables?.

first of all if he's got 6x9's its gonna sound better than 6 1/2's regardings of the size of his front speakers, especially if his car has a better soundstage (mx3's dont have a good stage at all!). I am running the same 6 1/2's in my car. They did crappy running off just the head unit, but then i added a 200watt amp and they wail! Your problem is more than likely lack of power to produce the sound at the decibel you want. You may want to turn the bass off cause frankily those infinity's dont produce well at all(i have my bass at "0" and only use the subs). Lastly you may wanna dump the 5 1/4's. In the rear position they wont do anything for you.<P>Hope this helps.<p>[ August 05, 2002: Message edited by: Sonicxtacy02 ]

Sonicxtacy02, how many watts did your deck pump out? Cause if it was 200watts and the 200watt amp you got was 200watts...how would that improve your sound?

ALSO! Keep in mind that my volume control on my deck goes to like 45...but i can only get it to 26-27 and then it starts cracking out. How do you explain that?

try replacing all of your stock speaker wiring from the deck all the way to each speaker with new wiring...18 gauge or 16 gauge...16 gauge should be good enough for the watts your pumping. its easy to replace...once you do, youll have enough power running to your speakers....maybe there's something wrong with the wiring of your audio speakers which causes the distortion, or maybe dirty contact with the wires...you can also have the speaker checked to see if the + and - terminals were incorrectly wired to the speaker itself which is also a possibility.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by zytariuk:<BR><STRONG>Sonicxtacy02, how many watts did your deck pump out? Cause if it was 200watts and the 200watt amp you got was 200watts...how would that improve your sound?</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>My deck puts out 50 watts per channel. That means there is 50 watts of MAX power coming from the head unit to each speaker. If your speakers RMS power is 75 watts then you're only potentially using ~50% of your speakers ability running off the head unit. I added my 200watt MAX power amp to the speakers at ~75 watts RMS per channel to match the capabilities of the speaker so i'm running sound at 100% speaker capability. I have actually turned the power amp function of my head unit off because the sound production doesnt compare to the production of the amp alone. Its cleaner and more crisp now. <BR>As for your units volume rating, its not really important. All units are made to produce at extremely loud decibels. However each unit also has a rating for distortion, which means you may be able to turn it high but it will sound like crap regardless of speaker capability. I wouldnt worry about the max volume of the unit. Frankily i can only turn mine up to 25 out of 40, but my sound is clear well beyond 110 decibels.<P>As for Marsh's idea, it maybe good. Maybe there are corroded wires in the system, however unless you're planning to add amplifiers, i wouldnt think you need to upgrade stock wiring<P>Hope it helps. It feels good to actually know what i'm talking about for once <BR> <p>[ August 06, 2002: Message edited by: Sonicxtacy02 ]

Understood. HOWEVER, i can not come even CLOSE to 110 decibels. Like i can still carry on a conversation with somone when i got mine cranked!<P>But what about this "...each unit has it's own rate of distortion"? If this is the case something MUST be wrong with the unit because it does not get anywhere near LOUD. Like no where close!<p>[ August 06, 2002: Message edited by: zytariuk ]

how about trying trial and error. test the headunit with different speakers, if it works, its the speakers that are the problem. if not, try your infinity kappas on someone else's car. if it works, then its the headunit thats messed up. if youre stuck, it might be the wiring, but then just get an amp and sub and replace the stock wiring all in one job and your audio system is complete.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by zytariuk:<BR><STRONG>Understood. HOWEVER, i can not come even CLOSE to 110 decibels. Like i can still carry on a conversation with somone when i got mine cranked!<P>But what about this "...each unit has it's own rate of distortion"? If this is the case something MUST be wrong with the unit because it does not get anywhere near LOUD. Like no where close!<P>[ August 06, 2002: Message edited by: zytariuk ]</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>ok try to stick with me... aftermarket speakers can cause distortion with they are both overpowered (popping) OR underpowered (pink noise, static). My infinitys sounded crappy w/o the amp, but when i added the amp it totally cleared sound at higher listening levels. And i know i've mentioned this before, but be sure you're not running any bass through the infinitys cause that WILL cause disortion regardless of your choice in power application. Marsh had a good point when he said to check the polarity (+ and -) contacts at the speakers because they could be reversed. That could be an easy fix to your problem right there. Also when i said each unit has a rate of distortion i meant they are sold from the factory like that. If sound is being produced at all then it most likely means that the unit is working correctly.<P>Here's a test for you, go to circuit city and listen to your speakers and head unit in the store. Their speakers will sound better than yours is because they amp the speakers to make them sound better.

What is your ICQ and/or MSN? See what i don't get is that my friend has a pair of 6x9's in the back (100RMS) and a pair of 3-1/2's in the front (30RMS). He is running it off a 200watt deck and it EASILY BLOWS THE CRAP out of my system. Yes i know, 6x9's will always be louder than 6-1/2's....but COMMON not as bad as this!<P>Lets say i did have an amp powering my front speakers, and had the rear speakers (5-1/4's 55RMS) running off my deck. My system SHOULD be just as loud as my friends....correct?<P>He's got a 230Watts total and i would have 260Watts....see where im coming from? Excuse spelling, im in a hurry.<p>[ August 06, 2002: Message edited by: zytariuk ]

QUOTE:<BR>"...aftermarket speakers can cause distortion with they are both overpowered (popping) OR underpowered (pink noise, static)"<P>This would only happen IF my deck was at it's limit pumping out it's max of 200Watts...correct?

yea i have some 3-way 6x9s in the front and 5 1/4 in the back and no amplifier...only the amplified deck that i have and when i turn the bass to the max and the volume level to at least 30 or more, itll pop a lot and the bass is really distorted...but when i turn the bass down it sounds nice at high volumes. i cant wait to get my amplifier and subwoofer.

UPDATE: I took my car into the most reputable stereo guy in Barrie, Ontario (Tom's Car Audio). He took a good look at my system and came to the conclusion that there is a short somewhere in the wiring. I made an appointment for August 8th so he can fix it. <P>Oh ya, turns out this Tom guy has a 94' MX-3 and has like a $30,000 system in his car. It's f---ing crazy! I'll keep ya posted on how it turns out...<P>marshmallow15, you do know that those 5-1/4's are doing next to no good in the back. I would stronly recommend moving you 6x9's in the back (custom install of course) and putting the 5-1/4's up front.<p>[ August 06, 2002: Message edited by: zytariuk ]

my 5 1/4 has custom installed polk tweeters in them which are bounced from the rear hatch to the front...the front speakers are the main speakers which are given the most power...trust me i tested and the main power from runs to the front speakers...so i put my 6x9s in there and the sound is just crazy...now all i need is a decent sub and amp.<P>yea i knew it had something to do with the wiring. heres the solution: your speakers are fine at low volumes correct? at high volumes, theyre distorted...thats because the stock wiring is only around 22 gauge which is SMALL...you need a thicker gauge like 16 or 18 to provide enough energy for your speakers...trust me...thats why i changed my stock wiring to 18 gauges. my stock wiring didnt provide enough energy to the front 6x9.