Aftermarket Sound System - It's Done!

That's a pretty shoddy (actually, another word that start with "sh", followed by a vowel and repeated consonant, and a "y" comes to mind) install if they got the left and right mixed up. And as GeoGeek points out, the lack of bass is likely due to the speakers being wired out of phase. I believe the CleanSweep calibration disk has additional test tones on it so you can test for speakers in phase. The bass for the in-phase test signal should be much stronger than that in the out-of-phase signal, otherwise the speakers are wired out-of-phase.

 

and still no pics!

 

Kinda makes the title line of this thread seem ironic.
Let us know if you end up going with the DQL-8 how it works out.
There are several of us out here with various sound processing.
Lots of Cleansweeps, some Alpine 650's, a Rockford 3Sixty.1.
You've got good equipment....it should sound phenominal.

 

IMHO, there's nothing wrong with your equipment. That Alpine amp is a fine amp and didn't need to be replaced. It sounds like your install is seriously messed up. You shouldn't be having any complaints about your system.

 

I just tried playing the phase test tracks on the calibration disk on my system. The big difference between in-phase and out-of-phase is that the in-phase signal sounds centered, while the out-of-phase signal shifts way to the left. The in-phase speech is slightly clearer, but it isn't a huge difference. The big difference is in the apparent shift of the source to the left.

I'd also suspect whether your signal summing for the front channels is working properly. I'd try driving the front channels of the aftermarket amp with the rear (non-summed) signal from the JBL amp and see if it sounds significantly different. Just swap the front and rear inputs to the amp coming out of your 441dsp.

 

do you have the stock ASL feature turned on or off?

 

Something else to consider is the volume level at which they calibrated the 441dsp (assuming you're still using the head unit volume control and not the separate 441dsp volume control). If you use the head unit volume control, and calibrate at a much lower volume than you normally listen, you'll have weak bass at normal volume levels since the JBL amp has a built-in loudness circuit that boosts bass at low volume levels and rolls it off at high volume levels. So if you calibrate at say, volume 20, but normally listen at volume 35, you'll be feeding your amp a signal that is not flat, but actually weak in bass. I use my HU volume control and calibrated at volume level 45. Below this I get the bass boost from the loudness circuit, above it there is some roll-off. If you want flat frequency response at all volumes, you have to use the volume control that came with the 441dsp.

 

i'm using an alpine f450 and it sounds great. . .

 

I"m going to jump in here with a question,, all of this conversation about amps and speakers and stuff is so far over my head it is not even funny, but I just have a basic question that I hope someone can answer in regular words and not all this real technical kind of talk about brands and stuff like that.. cause I am so ignorant to all this..

I just bought my Package 2 Prius, and I am not really happy with my stereo system, basically I think it sounds very crappy. I had a better system I think, sound wise in my very old 2000 and 2002 Saturn SL1, anyway,, What I want to know is it possible for me to just upgrade the stereo with one of those car stereo's you see in Best buy with the removable face on them, my husband got a really cool one a Sony brand that has the removable face on it.

Is it possible for Best Buy to put one of these stereo's into my 08 Prius??

AND,,, most important,, will it improve the sound or will I really have to get new speakers as well??

I just don't understand too much of this stereo technical stuff, I just want my music to sound halfway decent in my Prius...

I hope I did not sound like a complete idiot

 

Michelle,
It's okay....not everyone's an audiophile....honestly, it's an expensive and unhealthy obsession.
To answer your question, yes, it is possible to upgrade just your factory radio with just a basic aftermarket radio like the Sony with the detachable face you mentioned.
Most folks choose not to go that route because they lose some of the nifty interaction it has with things like the steering wheel controls and the touch screen display (not to mention Bluetooth, if you have that) in the Prius.
I assume with a package 2 that you do not have the upgraded JBL stereo?
I think (and probably most would agree) that the best bang for your buck to improve the sound in your Prius is to start with simply upgrading the speakers. I'd suggest starting with a modest set of component speakers (separate tweeters and woofers) in the front doors to replace the crumby factory ones. If that satisfies your ears, then you're all set, problem solved.
If you're like some of us "enthusiasts" (read: nutjobs) out here, things will snowball out of control from there and you won't be able to stop until you've spent ridiculous sums of money and countless hours tweaking things to get them "just right" (for now!)
Good luck & let us know if you have more questions.

 

Wow, Thanks so much, That was some great info, and NO, I don't want to mess up the ability to have the controls from the steering wheel and MFD display thing, so it looks like the best route would be to just try and upgrade the speakers..

I assume that Best buy could do this for me???? Or a car place that specializes in car audio equipment. I could NEVER do this myself.

Package 2 does not come with the upgraded JBL stereo...

I really do like the controls for the stereo on the steering wheel and don't want to loose that capability. So it looks like changing the factory stereo is out completely.

Now, do you have any suggestions for reasonably priced speakers as you mentioned.

 

Check out Crutchfield.com. They have a "Does it fit my car" application on their website that will show you what speakers and etc will fit your Prius. I too have a Prius with package #2 and plan on upgrading the speakers first. I did this with my last car and it was a nice, "cheap" (relatively speaking) upgrade. I would suggest just changing the speakers in the door and not the tweeter speakers by the base of the windows. A decent set of 2-way speakers should do the trick and not break the bank. Check with Crutchfield.com and see what they offer and read the reviews. Then you can always shop around for those same speakers at Best Buy, Circuit City and other local audio shops in/around your area.

 

Check out: Find Car Audio/Video Gear that Fits Your Vehicle at Crutchfield!

There are lots of sets ranging from $79 up to big$$$.
A lot of folks here on PC seem to like the Infinity & Polk components.
I'm more a fan of JL Audio and Boston Accoustics (from the Crutchfield catalogue).
Alpine also makes good gear.
Shop for prices at that website and then see if you can have a listen to some of them in the showroom (at Circuit City, Best Buy, or better yet, a non chain car audio specialty shop). Once you find a set you like, shop around on-line and use the best price you find as leverage to negotiate a price at an reputable shop that carries the brand you decide on.
Good luck!

 

Thanks Shadestrades and GeoGeek!!, I really appreciate the suggestions, I will check out that website and then look for upgrades for the speakers in the front door panels.

 

.
DT, allergic to cameras?
For heavens sake I'll mail you a disposable camera and return envelope!!!

We want pics!

LOL
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