I recently installed my DAT S600s HEX components in my '95 Civic DX (Sedan). I'm really not too impressed with them. I know that they're supposed to be great speakers for the price ($200), but I'm just not hearing that. Here's what's going on:
1. The tweeters, even at -2db on the crossovers, are way too overpowering compared to the rest of the system. The balance just isn't there, and they still sound a bit too bright/harsh.
2. The woofers are too quiet, and having such loud tweeters makes this even worse. The woofers don't seem to move a whole lot, even when turned up loudly. They vibrate if you touch them (quite a bit at higher volumes), but don't MOVE a whole lot. (The movement part might be fine...that was what someone else suggested I look into)
3. The woofers seem to be missing a full lower octave range.
I've noticed this, but I had it confirmed by someone who knows a good bit more about car audio than I do. Here's what he did to help remedy (but not fix) the problem:
1. Wired my tweeters out of phase. They're not AS bright now, but they still are too loud.
2. Turned the low-pass cutoff on my sub amp crossover up to 150hz to make up for the "missing" octave from the woofers.
3. Slightly adjust some gain settings.
And then I personally went in and did the following to help balance things out:
1. Turned lows to -1db on my headunit's EQ.
2. Turned mids to -3db on my headunit's EQ.
3. Turned highs to -4db on my headunit's EQ.
After that, things seemed to blend a bit better, but my issues still stand.
I listened to the guy's Focal Polyglass components (the one who looked at my setup), and his woofers were A LOT louder than mine were.
I'm giving my components 75 watts RMS each, so power shouldn't be an issue. Giving them any more seems to make the tweeters even louder and brighter.
I checked the phase on the woofers, and they are in phase. However, out of curiousity, I tried them out of phase and noticed no difference...shouldn't I be concerned about that? (This was with the tweeters and sub temporarily disconnected)
I don't have my doors sound deadened yet, but I was told that should really help my woofers (especially with that seemingly missing octave). I was also given an active crossover, so I may try that out as well.
ALSO, I have not had my components for more than a week. I'm aware that a much longer break in period may alleviate some of the issues, though I doubt it will just fix anything completely.
Does anyone have any advice/suggestions as to what might be going on or what I can do to try to fix the problems? Thanks!
(Please do not recommend that I replace my Hex's. I'm keeping them, unless nothing can help them.)
your giving a pair of power hungry speakers half of what they want. those HEXs like 170-200rms and need it to get the most midbass out of them. i would DEFINATELY put more power to them and completely sound deaden your doors, this will help with the midbass. hope this helps
^^ X2. Also, the Hex are helped greatly in their lower range by door pods and/or stuffing your door with polyfill. Bottom line is that the Civic doors are too small internally to give the woofers any low end extension and are probably leaking all over the place as well. A 1" deep MDF ring spacer to increase door volume, deadening material to stiffen the metal and prevent leaks, 100 watts or so more RMS power, and polyfill to increase the theoretical space inside the door will all together make those Hex kick out the mid bass. They are VERY install dependant.
Hm, I'll consider the polyfill and the MDF ring. But, won't the polyfill get in the way of the window? And I think if I had an MDF ring, the woofers wouldn't fit behind the stock speaker grill.
I did sound deaden my doors and am now giving each channel 200 watts RMS (before that would make the tweeters too bright). The tweeters/highs are set to -6db total, and the woofers stand out a lot more now. Everything is sounding really good.
I did, however, order some new tweeters...Blaupunkt VC100. Apparently they're designed by Rainbow and sound pretty good. They should blend better. Only $30 too, so why not?