Amplifier Installation Help: For DIYer

DjNik · 25th February 2009, 13:36

What was the problem???

25th February 2009, 15:14

The Signle cable wasn't working tucked in well.

26th February 2009, 11:51

Finally done with the installation. Got my another RCA yesterday and fitted everything. Took a little more than expected for the cable management.

Final Thoughts:

If I want to be harsh, I can say that the KAC 8401 is not really great as an amplifier. The sound is pretty decent though, but nothing extraordinary.

But honestly, it suits "perfectly" to my taste and this was "exactly" what I wanted. It does its job to showcase the sound stage, the way its meant to be showcased. No Frills attached.

I did not feel much different than before but the sound is much cleaner and the separation is better.. Although the CRISP factor (not sure how to tell that but Crystallizer in Creative X-Fi cards is something I am referring to here.) But then everything can be adjusted through the equalizers.

The best part is that I have set the rear speakers for HPF (cutoff at 200Hz) and the fronts at LPF (cutoff at 200Hz). The resultant sound stage is teribly great and I am really impressed by this setup. The rears (POLK db691) are pumping so much of bass that I can state definitely that I do not need any SUB now. Man I am hearing those lows which were not there or were there but weren't punchy enough.

The gain on the fronts is little more than 1 and the rear gain is set at 1. Now the fronts sound so lively and I can push the volume knob to the max, without being afraid about the small 4 inchers getting damaged by those lows.

I have tuned the amp in such a way that the sound level reaches my preferred maximum range. I am simply loving these extra tweaking options, which were not there prevosuly in the HU.

In total 5500 bucks, I guess its an awesome deal. I am just too excited to go back to punjab (Yeah I am waiting for that 8 hr long drive

)

The only issue is that the Amp is not fixed anywhere, its just lying in the boot. I am though thinking of hooking in few screws to the cardboard that covers the stepney. It will atleast stay in its place.

I was so engulfed in fixing and tuning the amp that I forgot to take many pics. Here are the few I clicked.

The BIGGER MESS:

The wires (Transparent ones: RCA, White ones: Speaker cables to the fronts, Blue one: Signal Cable, Black one was for the Central Locking)

Polks db401, 4 inchers, mutilated to accomodate them in the cramped space :P

The Amplifier, finally:

The bigger view:

Overall it was an extremely satisfying experience. DIY Project Accomplished Successfully.

Comments / Suggestions are welcome.

DjNik · 26th February 2009, 11:58

Mount the amp on to the back of rear seat, you wont even loos any boot space.

26th February 2009, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by DjNik

Mount the amp on to the back of rear seat, you wont even loos any boot space.

Then the wiring has to be redone. I will do it someitme later. Leaving the setup as it is, right now. May be after a month :P

karankapoor · 26th February 2009, 12:09

pretty need diy nitin congrats,try and shift the amp at the back of back seat.

which speakercable did you used.

26th February 2009, 13:11

Mods, pls delete this.

26th February 2009, 13:11

Thanks Karan.

I had a roll of Acoustic Research 16awg flat ofc speaker wire, with me. That white one in the pics is the same.

nitrous · 26th February 2009, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitin.dangayach

The best part is that I have set the rear speakers for HPF (cutoff at 200Hz) and the fronts at LPF (cutoff at 200Hz). The resultant sound stage is teribly great and I am really impressed by this setup.

Are you mad? I wonder Who taught you HPF/LPF.

26th February 2009, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

Are you mad? I wonder Who taught you HPF/LPF.

Whats mad in that ? Care to elaborate ? Yes I know, the rear speakers are not producing the full range but then I don't want them to do so.

nitrous · 26th February 2009, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitin.dangayach

The best part is that I have set the rear speakers for HPF (cutoff at
200Hz) and the fronts at LPF (cutoff at 200Hz).

Read the bold parts. And answer.

abhibh · 26th February 2009, 15:02

Nitin i think HU has options for HPF and LPF ? BTW why are u LPFying the front at 200 hz ? It should be HPF and not LPF.

26th February 2009, 15:20

My bad. I should have noted that. Sorry Nitrous. You know that its a typo. Doesn't make any sense to route the lows to the fronts.

Abhibh, I have done that setting in the Amp. And yeah its LPF for the rears and the HPF for the fronts.

nishantgandhi · 26th February 2009, 18:30

Great effort Nitin!

I think the fronts should be HPF'ed around 80 or 100 and the rears, depending on your taste. I dont have rears, so cant comment. But I guess I have LPF'ed my sub at 50 and at times, take it to 80.

26th February 2009, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by nishantgandhi

Great effort Nitin!

I think the fronts should be HPF'ed around 80 or 100 and the rears, depending on your taste. I dont have rears, so cant comment. But I guess I have LPF'ed my sub at 50 and at times, take it to 80.

Thanks man.

Nishant, honestly I am a little too worried about those 4inchers getting screwed up by the lows. So avoiding that as much as I can. The AMp offered me max 200 Hz on LPF so used that.

But I dont think I am missing anything there. Those small speakers will seldom go that low.

Just playing safe

25th February 2009, 13:36	#31
DjNik BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 340 Thanked: 3 Times	What was the problem???
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 15:14	#32
nitin.dangayach Posts: n/a	The Signle cable wasn't working tucked in well.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 11:51	#33
nitin.dangayach Posts: n/a	DIY Project accomplished Finally done with the installation. Got my another RCA yesterday and fitted everything. Took a little more than expected for the cable management. Final Thoughts: If I want to be harsh, I can say that the KAC 8401 is not really great as an amplifier. The sound is pretty decent though, but nothing extraordinary. But honestly, it suits "perfectly" to my taste and this was "exactly" what I wanted. It does its job to showcase the sound stage, the way its meant to be showcased. No Frills attached. I did not feel much different than before but the sound is much cleaner and the separation is better.. Although the CRISP factor (not sure how to tell that but Crystallizer in Creative X-Fi cards is something I am referring to here.) But then everything can be adjusted through the equalizers. The best part is that I have set the rear speakers for HPF (cutoff at 200Hz) and the fronts at LPF (cutoff at 200Hz). The resultant sound stage is teribly great and I am really impressed by this setup. The rears (POLK db691) are pumping so much of bass that I can state definitely that I do not need any SUB now. Man I am hearing those lows which were not there or were there but weren't punchy enough. The gain on the fronts is little more than 1 and the rear gain is set at 1. Now the fronts sound so lively and I can push the volume knob to the max, without being afraid about the small 4 inchers getting damaged by those lows. I have tuned the amp in such a way that the sound level reaches my preferred maximum range. I am simply loving these extra tweaking options, which were not there prevosuly in the HU. In total 5500 bucks, I guess its an awesome deal. I am just too excited to go back to punjab (Yeah I am waiting for that 8 hr long drive ) The only issue is that the Amp is not fixed anywhere, its just lying in the boot. I am though thinking of hooking in few screws to the cardboard that covers the stepney. It will atleast stay in its place. I was so engulfed in fixing and tuning the amp that I forgot to take many pics. Here are the few I clicked. The BIGGER MESS: The wires (Transparent ones: RCA, White ones: Speaker cables to the fronts, Blue one: Signal Cable, Black one was for the Central Locking) Polks db401, 4 inchers, mutilated to accomodate them in the cramped space :P The Amplifier, finally: The bigger view: Overall it was an extremely satisfying experience. DIY Project Accomplished Successfully. Comments / Suggestions are welcome.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 11:58	#34
DjNik BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 340 Thanked: 3 Times	Mount the amp on to the back of rear seat, you wont even loos any boot space.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 12:09	#36
karankapoor Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: in the car!!! Posts: 1,675 Thanked: 6 Times	pretty need diy nitin congrats,try and shift the amp at the back of back seat. which speakercable did you used.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 13:11	#37
nitin.dangayach Posts: n/a	Mods, pls delete this. Last edited by nitin.dangayach : 26th February 2009 at 13:13. Reason: Double post
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 15:02	#42
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	Nitin i think HU has options for HPF and LPF ? BTW why are u LPFying the front at 200 hz ? It should be HPF and not LPF.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 15:20	#43
nitin.dangayach Posts: n/a	My bad. I should have noted that. Sorry Nitrous. You know that its a typo. Doesn't make any sense to route the lows to the fronts. Abhibh, I have done that setting in the Amp. And yeah its LPF for the rears and the HPF for the fronts.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 18:30	#44
nishantgandhi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,220 Thanked: 156 Times	Great effort Nitin! I think the fronts should be HPF'ed around 80 or 100 and the rears, depending on your taste. I dont have rears, so cant comment. But I guess I have LPF'ed my sub at 50 and at times, take it to 80.
	() Thanks

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