rickm528

WSUP EVERYONE. I JUST BOUGHT MY SYSTEM AND IT DOESNT SOUND RIGHT.

I HAVE A 2 CH PERCISION AUDIO PICASO 900W AMP TO RUN MY 2 10" W3 VERSION 2 JL. AND I HAVE A 4CH PPI PCX 480 WITH 640W FOR 6.5" INFINITY KAPPAS COMPONENTS IN THE FRONT AND 6.5" INFINITY KAPPAS 3-WAYS IN THE BACK. I HOOKED THEM UP TO A STOCK HEAD UNIT WITH RCA CONVERTERS. THE POWER IS DISTRUBITED THROUGH A DUAL 4GAUGE FUSE BOX, WITH THE SUB AMP RUNIN A 200 FUSE, AND MY SPEAKER AMP WITH A 100 FUSE. ALSO I HAVE THE SYSTEM CONNECTED TO A 1.5 FARAD KOLE AUDIO CAPACITOR.

HERES THE PROBLEM. THE SPEAKERS AND THE SUBS LACK BASS. BOTH COMING OUT ALL DISTORTED AS IF IT WASNT RUNING AT FULL POWER. THE BASS LACKS THE PUNCH AND JUST RUMBLES. I HAVE TO TURN ON MY AMP PRETTY HIGH TO GET MY JL'S TO BUMP BUT STILL SOUNDS NASTY. MY LIGHTS ALSO DIM LIKE CRAZY EVERYTIME BASS HITS.

I KNOW ITS NOT SUPPOSE TO SOUND LIKE THIS. SO I PUT MY AMP AND SUBS IN MY FRIENDS INTEGRA AND IT BUMBS LIKE CRAZY. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT IT HAS A GOOD HEAD UNIT. I PUT HIS SYSTEM IN MY CAR (A ORION HCCA 250 W/ 1000W AND A 12" W7 VERSION 2 JL WHICH IS VERY VERY LOUD) AND IT HARDLY MOVED IN MY CAR.

SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? MY FRIEND SAYS ITS BECAUSE OF THE HEAD UNIT. I DONT BELIEVE A HEAD UNIT WOULD MAKE THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE. I BELIEVE THE EXTRA WATTS IT SUPPLIES IS SO SMALL THAT IT DOESNT MATTER AND IS ONLY FOR TEAKING SOUND. I BELIEVE I AM RUNING TO MUCH POWER AND IS DRAINING THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR IS TOO WEAK IN AMPS TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. SO NOT ENOUGH POWER IS GETTING TO MY SYSTEM AND RESULTS IN THE BAD SOUND. BUT THIS IS ONLY A GUESS.

IF ANYONE CAN HELP OR GIVE SUGGESTIONS THAT WOULD HELP A GRIP. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT IT IS BEFORE BUYING A HIGH OUTPUT ALTERNATOR FOR $300 WHEN I DONT EVEN NEED IT. THANKS FOR READING.

DJ SprinklesNJO

where did you tap off of the wires for the rca converters. behind the headunit, by the amp etc. also what model year of system do you have, nakamichi, nav, etc

rickm528

i tapped the rca's into the speaker wires that were runing under the rails next to the back door. i have a 1999 4wd rx300 with nakamichi. i disconnected both the stock amp and sub. and with 99s, navigation is not availiable

RX989

Well I have a similar setup to yours although I have no problems whatsoever with sound. I have an Xtant 1001dx running a 12" IDMAX thats punchy and actually quite clear and also a Zapco Comp 300 running a set of Image Dynamics horns and 6.5s...all which sound crystal clear running off the stock headunit. I dont have the OEM Nak system but I dont see why that would be a prob. I do have light dimming at night but thats to be expcted with 1300-1500 of real watts running... Perhaps its box construction for your JL, you wouldnt hear too much sloppyness with a trunk but since the sub is in the same cabin as you, your going to hear everything that the sub puts out (good and bad)...
Well hope that helps

RX989

another thing i just noticed, your running a class A sub amp which is only 30-45% efficient, switch over to a quality class d (80% efficient) or at least ab (50-65% efficient) and that should help alleviate some of your power probs...

rickm528

hmm... i see your point... but what about puttin my system in my friends car and bumping like crazy. its the same amp with the same box. so that cant be the problem