Audio Noob Here

[tonyloban]

So I have an 88 vert with the premium sound package (I'm assuming this).

PO replaced the head-unit/amplifier (I don't know the correct lingo, please explain if you can). I'm completely new to car audio and really wanna figure this out and have been doing some research, but I want music in my car so I need help! I'll try to explain what I think is right... Go ahead and correct me where needed!

Pioneer MOSFET 50Wx4 amplifier (replacement) (looks ugly).

1. 4 Channels? Does that mean speaker per channel or is that the fade and balance?

2. 50W? No idea what to do with this info..

Next is my drivers side front speaker and tweeter don't work. I checked the speaker with the passengers side and the connections are fine... no idea what's going on. Haven't checked the tweeter (do I have to take off the door panel to get to it?)

the passengers side rear speaker was broken and when my brother went to Mexico he bought: Quantum FX 650w speakers
- There's two of them.
- PP: 650w, so does that mean RMS = 325? or does it depend on the amp?
- Impedance: 4ohms

I went ahead and replaced the both rear speakers with the Quantums for now and they are just magneted to the panels because they're too big and I don't want to cut anything unless I know they're good.

SOOO, am I ok to use those new speakers in the back? Is my amp good or crap? and what do I do about the front speakers and tweeters?

ALSO, there are two bundles of wire running from the amp to the back and behind the rear wall/frame.. what is this for?

So many questions. I know. I don't even know where to start and what to do. I really want nice clean sound. I want to change the tweeters and front speakers to something nice and everything if needed. Thanks for help in advance!

EDIT: I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO BUY A LUKE BOX AND DO ALL THAT FANCY STUFF! But, sadly, I don't work right now, and I have to work with what I got. I will in the future do a full audio revamp.. but just so ya'll know, I don't have money to go out and buy stuff currently. I just need what I have to work for a little while.

[AndrewBird]

First off, an amp is not the thing in your dash. That is your stereo/head unit. An amp is used to boost the signal from the stereo to provide more power to the speakers.

Your car came with a factory amp located in the trunk on the driver side, near the power antenna. You are going to want to bypass this as described in this thread:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191119

The rear speakers you have are likely pretty terrible. There is no way they can handle 650w, I can tell you that right now. Not going to happen. But that doesn't matter as your stereo only puts out 50w per channel. Each channel is one speaker, front left front right, rear left and rear right. In the front though the tweeters branch off of the speakers that are mounted in the kick panels, so technically there are 4 speakers hooked up to two channels.

Start out by getting the wiring sorted out correctly and bypassing the stock amp. If things still don't work, come back here.

[tonyloban]

Thanks, that explains quite a bit. I knew those speakers probably sucked.

[AndrewBird]

99% of everything on the market is made in china, even "name brand" stuff. Some is better than others, but most is crap. The stock premium sound speakers (assuming they are in good shape) are the best speakers you can put in an e30. I suggest trying to find a set for the rear. They will look like this:

[Cabriolet]

Here is the setup i used in my vert. + stuff i would have used if i had bought the right items first.
Alpine CDE-HD148BT $175

Alpine-4-Channel F35 $175

Alpine-mono $200

Pioneer-TS-D1320C (front), TS-D1302R (rear) $86/ each pair


JL Audio 8W3V3-4 8" Single 4-Ohm W3V3 Series Subwoofer $280

Luke Box vert bot $200

streetwires 5 meter



a lot of guys tout the stock speaker. personally i hate them. i just switched from pioneers to stock premium and they sound like crap. and no they are not blown.

[UNHCLL]

99% of everything on the market is made in china, even "name brand" stuff. Some is better than others, but most is crap. The stock premium sound speakers (assuming they are in good shape) are the best speakers you can put in an e30. I suggest trying to find a set for the rear. They will look like this:

The speakers pictured above will not work since you have a cabrio.

Your best bet is to contact Luke (StereoInstaller) and have him give you recommendations for your budget.

[tonyloban]

My budget currently is $0. Lol. But I already looked at the thread about making a good sound system for $500. If anything I'll do that but one of my rear speakers broke so I'll have to replace both with something different or working ones.

Pretty much right now, i just needed help with what I had and i need to find out why drivers side speakers won't work.

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