Seeking advice on ICE upgrade in Spark

shineshine · 7th December 2010, 18:04

Mods, I tried searching similar scenario and I could not find any. Please merge if you find any appropriate.
---------------------------------------

I was on tight budget when I installed my ICE on my Sparky. So I had to resort to a simple setup which is given below. But just after 10 months, yesterday one of my 6 x 9 JBL GT5-S396 has blown. Even before that, with the settings given below, the sound was pretty average.

But my real surprise was, my previous setup with Palio (Pioneer 5150 with Grey market Pioneer 6 X 9s - 280W) with similar settings below were sounding much better that what I got with Sparky. I was much satisfied with Palio Setup and expected at least the same with Sparky.

Please suggest me the correct speakers for the upgrade.

************************************************** ******************************

My Car - Chevrolet Spark

Current Setup
---------------
Pioneer 3190UB
JBL GT5-S396 (6X9 Oval) on wooden tray
JBL GT5-S204 on stock location (top of Dashboard)

Usual Setting in HU
------------------------
Bass : +6
Mid : -2
Treble : +2

SLA : +4
FADER : L/R Balanced; REAR biased to +3

Music preferences
-------------------
Pop, Soft Rock, Fusion
- prefer mild punchy bass rather than high frequency tweets

Limitations:
-------------
1. Limited budget to upgrade (6-7k)
2. Cannot sacrifice boot space for SUB or other speaker enclosures. So Sub and additional boxes ruled out.
3. Cannot cut the door panels for supporting bigger speakers at front.
3. The front stock location does not support more than 4"

Problems
---------
1. The fronts cannot go beyond the volume level 20 after which it starts fluttering.
2. At Volume level 20, the rear appears to be strained

Compromises
------------
I don't mind biasing rear a bit more for better bass. Just want to make sure that the fronts would not flutter

Latheesh · 7th December 2010, 18:12

I have IL 4.1 (4" component) at front and Polk DB 690 (6x9)at the rear. HU is KENWOOD. I listen to all kind of music and this set up do the job for me. Like you I did not want to cut door or compromise boot space.

shineshine · 7th December 2010, 18:19

Latheesh,
Thanks for the quick reply.

Does the Polks deliver good punchy bass. I haven't heard them since most of the dealers does not have one.

What would be the cost of Illusion 4.1 and DB 690.
I think the DB 690 is revised as DB691 right? Will there be any difference between them?

Latheesh · 7th December 2010, 18:26

IL 4.1 I got it for 5K delivered from BHPian bass&treble (1 year back). I do not remember the price of DB690.

SPARKled · 7th December 2010, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by shineshine

Mods, I tried searching similar scenario and I could not find any. Please merge if you find any appropriate.
---------------------------------------

I was on tight budget when I installed my ICE on my Sparky. So I had to resort to a simple setup which is given below. But just after 10 months, yesterday one of my 6 x 9 JBL GT5-S396 has blown. Even before that, with the settings given below, the sound was pretty average.

But my real surprise was, my previous setup with Palio (Pioneer 5150 with Grey market Pioneer 6 X 9s - 280W) with similar settings below were sounding much better that what I got with Sparky. I was much satisfied with Palio Setup and expected at least the same with Sparky.

Please suggest me the correct speakers for the upgrade.

************************************************** ******************************

My Car - Chevrolet Spark

Current Setup
---------------
Pioneer 3190UB
JBL GT5-S396 (6X9 Oval) on wooden tray
JBL GT5-S204 on stock location (top of Dashboard)

Usual Setting in HU
------------------------
Bass : +6
Mid : -2
Treble : +2

SLA : +4
FADER : L/R Balanced; REAR biased to +3

Music preferences
-------------------
Pop, Soft Rock, Fusion
- prefer mild punchy bass rather than high frequency tweets

Limitations:
-------------
1. Limited budget to upgrade (6-7k)
2. Cannot sacrifice boot space for SUB or other speaker enclosures. So Sub and additional boxes ruled out.
3. Cannot cut the door panels for supporting bigger speakers at front.
3. The front stock location does not support more than 4"

Problems
---------
1. The fronts cannot go beyond the volume level 20 after which it starts fluttering.
2. At Volume level 20, the rear appears to be strained

Compromises
------------
I don't mind biasing rear a bit more for better bass. Just want to make sure that the fronts would not flutter

Get an amplifier and power your components with it and you will see a huge improvement in sound. The components will play a lot louder and cleaner. If you cannot get a sub, the best option is to power your 6X9s through an amp. The HU amp is pretty low power and an external amp will make the biggest difference in sound quality over your existing set up.

shineshine · 8th December 2010, 13:04

I have not considered an AMP because I am afraid it would go out of my budget.

The only component that would fit my stock location it Illusion 4.1 and it also respected among bhpians.

The current JBL GT5 S396 does not produce the bass which I expected. I dont know whether its due to the HU or with the speaker itself.

Could you please suggest a value for money AMP with two 6 X9 Ovals.

DerAlte · 8th December 2010, 13:59

JBL S396 produces decent bass when driven properly, but does not compare with bass from a sub (if that is what you had imagined). The HU is fine. If you are using MP3, please ensure that the songs are encoded at 128Kbps or more - as high as possible.

An amp definitely helps. Look for a JBL 644, Kenwood 8405, Blau GT4 Mark II Special or something like that. Even a Pioneer or Sony will be better than nothing. This should cost <= 6K + some for cabling and labor.

montyguru · 24th December 2010, 19:43

+1.
add an amp. upgrade speakers to higher RMS. you should even be fine with a good hi-end 4" co-ax that can take more power than a basic component set of same size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerAlte

JBL S396 produces decent bass when driven properly, but does not compare with bass from a sub (if that is what you had imagined). The HU is fine. If you are using MP3, please ensure that the songs are encoded at 128Kbps or more - as high as possible.

An amp definitely helps. Look for a JBL 644, Kenwood 8405, Blau GT4 Mark II Special or something like that. Even a Pioneer or Sony will be better than nothing. This should cost <= 6K + some for cabling and labor.

7th December 2010, 18:04	#1
shineshine BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arkansas,US Posts: 280 Thanked: 44 Times	Seeking advice on ICE upgrade in Spark Mods, I tried searching similar scenario and I could not find any. Please merge if you find any appropriate. --------------------------------------- I was on tight budget when I installed my ICE on my Sparky. So I had to resort to a simple setup which is given below. But just after 10 months, yesterday one of my 6 x 9 JBL GT5-S396 has blown. Even before that, with the settings given below, the sound was pretty average. But my real surprise was, my previous setup with Palio (Pioneer 5150 with Grey market Pioneer 6 X 9s - 280W) with similar settings below were sounding much better that what I got with Sparky. I was much satisfied with Palio Setup and expected at least the same with Sparky. Please suggest me the correct speakers for the upgrade. ************************************************ **************************** My Car - Chevrolet Spark Current Setup --------------- Pioneer 3190UB JBL GT5-S396 (6X9 Oval) on wooden tray JBL GT5-S204 on stock location (top of Dashboard) Usual Setting in HU ------------------------ Bass : +6 Mid : -2 Treble : +2 SLA : +4 FADER : L/R Balanced; REAR biased to +3 Music preferences ------------------- Pop, Soft Rock, Fusion - prefer mild punchy bass rather than high frequency tweets Limitations: ------------- 1. Limited budget to upgrade (6-7k) 2. Cannot sacrifice boot space for SUB or other speaker enclosures. So Sub and additional boxes ruled out. 3. Cannot cut the door panels for supporting bigger speakers at front. 3. The front stock location does not support more than 4" Problems --------- 1. The fronts cannot go beyond the volume level 20 after which it starts fluttering. 2. At Volume level 20, the rear appears to be strained Compromises ------------ I don't mind biasing rear a bit more for better bass. Just want to make sure that the fronts would not flutter
	() Thanks

7th December 2010, 18:12	#2
Latheesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CNN/BLR Posts: 4,337 Thanked: 10,626 Times	I have IL 4.1 (4" component) at front and Polk DB 690 (6x9)at the rear. HU is KENWOOD. I listen to all kind of music and this set up do the job for me. Like you I did not want to cut door or compromise boot space.
	() Thanks

7th December 2010, 18:19	#3
shineshine BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arkansas,US Posts: 280 Thanked: 44 Times	Latheesh, Thanks for the quick reply. Does the Polks deliver good punchy bass. I haven't heard them since most of the dealers does not have one. What would be the cost of Illusion 4.1 and DB 690. I think the DB 690 is revised as DB691 right? Will there be any difference between them?
	() Thanks

7th December 2010, 18:26	#4
Latheesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CNN/BLR Posts: 4,337 Thanked: 10,626 Times	IL 4.1 I got it for 5K delivered from BHPian bass&treble (1 year back). I do not remember the price of DB690.
	() Thanks

8th December 2010, 13:04	#6
shineshine BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arkansas,US Posts: 280 Thanked: 44 Times	Re: Seeking advice on ICE upgrade in Spark I have not considered an AMP because I am afraid it would go out of my budget. The only component that would fit my stock location it Illusion 4.1 and it also respected among bhpians. The current JBL GT5 S396 does not produce the bass which I expected. I dont know whether its due to the HU or with the speaker itself. Could you please suggest a value for money AMP with two 6 X9 Ovals.
	() Thanks

8th December 2010, 13:59	#7
DerAlte Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8,035 Thanked: 2,920 Times	Re: Seeking advice on ICE upgrade in Spark JBL S396 produces decent bass when driven properly, but does not compare with bass from a sub (if that is what you had imagined). The HU is fine. If you are using MP3, please ensure that the songs are encoded at 128Kbps or more - as high as possible. An amp definitely helps. Look for a JBL 644, Kenwood 8405, Blau GT4 Mark II Special or something like that. Even a Pioneer or Sony will be better than nothing. This should cost <= 6K + some for cabling and labor.
	() Thanks