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Adding Component Speakers Active

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Radiospank, Aug 30, 2018.

  1. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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    Finally getting around to changing my front speakers. It's been way over due considering i have a badass sub setup currently.
    The goods
    Morel MW6 6.5 Hybrid woofer
    Morel MW202 Tweeter

    So far I've installed them with out problems, but currently waiting on a 4 channel amp as my old one is busted I believe. I guess I'll find out when the new one arrives and get it all working.

    Installation
    I installed all new wiring from tweeter and woofer along side the door sill.
    Woofer wiring was ran through the factory door boot, it is not hard at all to do this with a coat hanger.
    Copied template of woofer baffle with 1/4 inch plywood, I would have gotten 1/2 inch but I/4 was all I had at the time. We will see if there is too much vibration in the baffle then I will have to switch out to 1/2 inch baffles.
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Radiospank, Aug 30, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2018
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  2. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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    # Speaker and Amp specs
    Speakers are Morel MW6 Hybrid line. 120 watts rms 600 watt peak per woofer
    Amplifier is DD Audio C4.100 class AB 4 channel
    Sub is Morel Ultimo 12 2 ohm 1000 w rms 3000 peak
    Amp is DD Audio M2a ~ 1200 watts rms @ 2 ohm

    # general performance thoughts on upgrade
    Overall the upgrade in the woofers is a massive improvement in power and clarity. I disconnected the rear speakers to have a more focused front stage and I like this as it gives priority to the front. The new woofers play cleaner and louder and have a more balanced sound. Of course I'm sure the fact that they are Morel and I'm using a class AB amplifier helps.

    # Signal Processing with 363
    Using the Rockford 363 for signal summing really helped when tuning the woofers, because the real speaker taps roll off on the mid range and high end significantly, so using the front speaker taps and rear speaker taps summed together in the 363 really gave the woofer a more balanced sound. I then tweaked a few frequencies to my liking. Something to note is that since I'm using the stock tweeters and the woofer is tapped into the same channels I cannot use any fader controls, I have to set everything in the 363 which is fine by me.

    # Install issues
    So I managed to install the woofers in the front by tapping into the rear speaker outputs, but the tweeters are not getting any of the high frequencies and I blew two of them already.

    I get conflicting information on this forum and I even looked at the diagram that is supposed to be for JBL 3rd gen amplifier(look at attached). I tried to tap into the pink violet and blue green on the L(30) connector(white one on left) and still was not able to get high frequencies that I needed for the tweeter. I'm stumped at this point, since those wires i tapped into on the L30 connector are supposed to be for the tweeter according to the diagram and also from other posts I've referenced.

    I've read that the front woofer and tweeter need to be connected in series in order for the signal to be complete, or something of this nature. I just need to get the higher frequency range so I can replace the tweeters.
     

    Attached Files:

    #2 Radiospank, Sep 13, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
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  3. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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    I noticed that the stock tweeter location is only two prong positive and negative. So it is my belief that the tweeter gets it's own signal and crossover processing is done at the amp. I confirmed this by trying to leave the stock tweeter connected and connecting my New tweeter by tapping off the pink violet | green blue and I still did not get any high frequency sound. This rules out my theory that the tweeter and woofer are connected in series. Looking at my previous post, I've tapped into every channel on both the left and middle connector, Still no high frequencies for the tweeter.

    I'm stumped, I may have to go to an audio shop for someone to figure this out for me.
     
  4. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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    # Tweeter install
    So turns out I was reading the Wiring diagram wrong, it is indeed correct.
    So the tweeter wires for the front are on the left most connector L30 (A)
    Left
    blk +
    yellow -

    Right
    red +
    white -


    I feel really dumb for getting to this point and blowing 3 tweeters trying to figure this out.
    Hopefully this post will help someone out.
     
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  5. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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    # Final thoughts on upgrade
    initially I thought the stock tweeters were ok and doing a decent job for the highs but they were very harsh at louder volumes. Now that I have the new tweeters in I completely endorse upgrading from the stock ones.
    ## Difference between a $15 tweeter vs $100
    The Peerless 20mm fabric dome
    Peerless OX20SC02-04 20mm Fabric Dome OX Tweeter 4 Ohm

    vs
    the Morel Mt-220


    The Peerless is equal in loudness and does miles better than the stock one at high volumes
    The Morel is supposed to have an exceptionally smooth top end due to it's special coating they put on their tweeters. It is smoother has less of a harsher sound relative to the peerless. However; it is relative, the peerless is still a very good smooth sounding tweeter and the difference is negligible in this case.
    ## which plays lower, and has a more natural sound.
    a tweeter that plays lower can crossover lower and integrate with the mids more naturally and easily. The peerless plays to 2500hz -20k hz The Morel plays from 1600 hz - 25k hz
    currently I have them crossed over pretty high at 2500 hz so I can't give an evaluation on this.
    If your on a budget these $15 tweets will get the job done and for a fraction of the cost.
     
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  6. Danger

    Danger Member

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    Great job on the install. So I am starting out with installing my component speakers. Dor the time being I will be using the oem JBL amp until I can afford a better amp. How did you wire up your components? Did you tap the speakers from the amp to the component crossover? TIA.
     
  7. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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  8. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Full Alpine set up except the sub in my gen 2. 5 channel amp and fiberglass sub in the corner take up much less space. Screenshot_20190313-081237.jpeg Screenshot_20190313-081300.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  9. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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  10. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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    lol just seeing this post years later but to answer your questions, initially i tapped the jbl amp rear signal for it's full range and sent that to my DSP then to my amplifiers i.e. mono and 4 channel
     
  11. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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    absolutely, I recommend some form of dynamat or other asphalt rubber sheet. It does affect your MPG but helps tremendously with the rattle and bass in the doors
     
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  12. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

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