First of all I want to said HI to everyone! I'm a newbe & just got my 11 JCW (black w/red top) I been reading alot of the thread about stereo & was very helpfull to me! thanks to all the hard work everyone posts. my set up is: front spearker: focal K2 power 165kr2, rear: 690 CVX 6x9 (don't know should I run the rear or just have front & sub?) sub: JL stealthbox w/two 8" w7 (see picture) amp: one JL HD 750/1 (rear sub) & one HD 600/4 (front) one good thing that I like the JL sub box is they fit two HD amp in the middle! just hope if someone could help me if I should just run K2 w/600/4 w/o the focal crossover (one channel each speaker) or run the 600/4 to front K2 & rear 6x9 hope to hear some good feed back, thanks!

 

I know this is quite a late reply. If your amp is pushing 150wRMS per channel I'd hook it to all 4. If it's running 150w PEAK per channel I'd bridge it and run all the power to the fronts. The focal 165's love 100+ watts RMS per channel.

 

My advice would be to get rid of the rears and run the speakers active
I have personally owned and tried the k series active and passive ,night and day difference .

Ditch the rears unless u plan on sitting in the back on a regular basis.

Run two sets of wires from the amp and try it both ways you will end up running them active . Its is crazy the amount of midbass you can get from a set when you eliminate the crossover .

Question not too familiar with the jl amp crossover settings ( i sold jl products a few years back,but have not looked into this amp)
Do you know if it has a bandpass frequency setting For the midbass?

cant help but think the 2 w7 8" is overkill...based on prior experience with this woofer
What made you decide on that setup for subs?

 

thanks! motormouth & veg1515....the reason I when with JL because I been using JL amp for years & happy with them. I know there is alot of good stuff out there now. & for the W7.....it was the box! woofer & 2 amp in one box! don't have to think about where to put the amps. clean look. now got to think about the alpine h660 processor....maybe under my seat? got it chep! $250.00 from alpine web.

 

Did you replace the stock H/K speakers with Focals? I was gonna go for the stock stereo rather than the upgraded (which is just an amp and 10 speakers), and add Focal's instead of the $750 upgrade money. But worried the stock HK without amp wont have enough rms to push the focals. I have a 4 Channel amp but my understanding the headunit doesn't have pre-outs?

Currently my build is Mini Connected with stock stereo. Without question am going to have new speakers to put in when I receive it. Thoughts?

 

well anytime you add a amp it is always going to sound better.
The only focal speaker that would work ok with out a amp is access line , this is what it designed for to directly replace a factory speaker and perform well in low power situations.

You can run pother speakers without a amp at the risk of distrotion at higher levels which equals greater risk on damaging the speakers .

if your on a budget get a a good set of front and then add a small sub in the back
look at the powered sub by focal the bus 20 or the bus 25
and for the fronts you can do the access 165 a1

http://www.focal-america.com/category/speakers/

this will sound worlds better than the factory setup

now if youwant to step up a notch from there
get a 4 channel amp and run 2 channels to front a two to the sub


as far as getting signal goes you can tap into the x9331 connector or get a processor like mentioned earlier in the thread

 

Not big on Subs at all. Was gonna run a 4 channel to the fronts as you said and also to the rear 6x9s. It would cost me comparable (although I already have the amp and all wiring besides the power line for the battery which I left in a few vehicles back), and 6.5 Focal components up front and 6x9s in the back. I listen to a lot of metal and the bass I get from the doors and back will suit my tastes. Read the backs are a PITA to replace. Could also argue that the best sound is from just changing the fronts to top quality and fade to the front. More speakers (as with the upgraded 10 speakers) is NOT better contrary to what many think.

 

Just curious why are you not big on subs?

Rear speakers are a waste of money as you said in your post the least amount of speakers you can get the easier it will be to tune,as long as they are in the proper locations.

You do need some basic things in a system

good placement of speakers
and a way to reproduce all frequencies

and simply put unless to step wayyyyyyy up from the access line you will not accomplish this . so quite frankly you will be missing out on some of your music.

I think many people associate having a sub with having too much bass. Having a sub can be tastefully done, i am going with 1 Focal Utopia BE 8" and thats all.

Focal and few other companies sell subs that can fit in the 6X9 location with a little work.


I know you said you listen to a lot of metal ...do they not use drums? Do they not use a bass guitar?
Once you put a sub in no matter how small you wont turn back and the first time i put a single sub in a car I found myslef listening to all my music saying "that was not there before"

 

Agreed. But being new to Mini's and failed having looked for compact solutions in past vehicles I just as much presumed the same for the smallest car I ever had. The Mini. In regards to a full range system and bass I agree. Which is why I have a THX certified 5.1 Home Theatre system with a 10" Sub. And all speakers are very important how there directed, height being mounted, etc. I also use very different settings on the system when playing movies compared to music. I digress.

I am compromising in my outdoor lifestyle hobbies (having to carry all sorts of gear) by having a small car. So if I have to have any box in my trunk that inhibits the full use of the space when the back 50/50 seats are down, It's not an option for me. However if theres something built in and can't get damaged (with moist, dirty gear going in the back than I am more than interested. That way I'm all for the Focal's ONLY in the front and sub in the back. Rears are a waste as I said. How are you installing the BE 8"? I have a 4 channel thats 78 RMS x 4 @ 4 ohms. My impression was these built ins loose the full potential of the sub compared to a full box. Or at least that was the case when I last researched them. Such as the http://www.wickedcas.com/gallery/v/magicboxes/MINI/ or Integral Audio, etc. Something stealth like the integral would be fantastic, however I don't need to pay the extra $ and so on the for the amp.

 

My setup is as follows

Focal Be Kit No 6 for fronts
running off a Mosconi 100X4 Amp
Focal Be 8" Sub running off Mosconi 200X2 amp

I will be running a new processor that has yet to come out
(hint it will look very similiar to my amps )
this processor is like the bit one with no need to have a separate display

I don't recommend to run a 3 way system in the front unless you have some way to time correct the speakers. The JBL Ms-8 is a good option for this and has a built in amp if yuou are on a budget.

I am putting all of this in a false floor in the back and having some compartments for storage . I need more room as the BE Kit 6 crossover is a beast


If you are unwilling to lose any space I would recommend putting some 6" subs or the 5" subs in the 6X9 locations (I have installed these for a few customers in the past and they are very nice)

There are a a few other really thin mount sub options

Or the Focal Be 6" mid gets really low . In my past car I took out my sub for a few months and was still very happy with the crazy low bass i got from the BE midbass.

 

dayum.. wish I could afford that setup. Must sound awesome.