Head unit trouble and speaker questions.

[BrandonL]

Hello everyone,

my name is Brandon and I've been reading this forum for quite a while now but have just now gotten around to making an account. This was an invaluable source of information, along with Toyota TIS, while I was changing my clutch and installing my new head unit, and I would like to thank every helpful member of this website for their input. Now, introductions aside, I have ran across an issue in the instillation of my Kenwood DDX418 touchscreen head unit. I drive a 5-speed '07 Scion tC which obviously doesn't have a 'park' option, and this keeps me from being able to watch DVDs. Every time I put in a DVD, no matter if I'm in neutral with the parking brake on or even with the engine off, it tells me that I have to be in park to watch a DVD. Does anyone have any idea on how to fix this? The instillation itself was a little tricky and I had to cut into the little door that covers the head unit to get the desired fit, but I'm happy with the result.

My next question is about speakers. I'm working on replacing the entire audio system in my tC and I already have the Kenwood head unit that I referred to before, along with a JL Audio 500/1 monoblock amplifier. I am going to buy a JL Audio 12W3 subwoofer next, and after that I want to replace the four stock speakers. I would like to stick with JL Audio, preferably. I was speaking with someone on Crutchfield.com who told me that putting JL Audio C2-600X for all four speakers would be my best bet. Does anyone have any input on this? Would it be best to put these 6" JL speakers all the way around or go a different route? The head unit I have pushes 22 RMS per channel and those speakers can handle 60 RMS. Would I have to amplify them or would it just be plug and play to get them to work? I know they won't be playing to their full potential at 22 RMS, but that's fine with me. As long as I can turn the volume all the way up and maintain clear sounds from the speakers, I'll be happy.

Thanks in advance for all of the help and input!

~Brandon

[CadenceScion]

For our tC's you want to install 2-way components up front and co-axial's in the rear w/ 1'' silk dome tweeters. You will also need speaker trim rings, which you can make yourself or buy prefab. I would also suggest getting a Class A/B Amp for your interior speakers. JL makes great stuff, but IMO its very expensive and there are other brands out on the market that are equal to if not better than that will give you the same results.

[BrandonL]

Okay, thank you for the info =) What size do you suggest I use? Somebody pointed out that if the speakers are too deep in the doors, it will interfere with the windows sliding up and down. That makes me really nervous. And what is a class AB amp? Is it specifically used for interior speakers?

Thanks!

~Brandon

[CadenceScion]

6.5 - Front
5.25 - Rear
.75 -1.0 Tweeters

This website sells speaker baffle's if your looking for those - Doctor Isotope dot Com - Plates and Panels

Here is my current sound system setup:



This is a Class A/B Amp:



The Class A/B Amp's from what I have seen over the years have been used for amplifying the sound of components, co-axial's and tweeters.

[BrandonL]

Wow, that's a sick setup. I bet it sounds amazing. So, do I have to stick with 6.5s in the front and 5.25s in the back, and is amplifying them necessary? Thank you for the link to the baffles, I didn't even know I needed them, lol.

[CadenceScion]

Thank you for the comments! You don't have to have 6.5's in the front and 5.25's in the rear, but that is what most people have. Its really up to you, and its your tC. Amplifying them isn't necessary, but does make a huge difference in the overall sound quality.

[BrandonL]

I'll just stick with the 6.5s and 5.25s, I don't want to over complicate things, lol. I found an amplifier that's affordable and has a reasonable output but I have a few questions about it. It's the JL Audio JX360/4. When it has different RMS ratings at different voltages, how do I know what RMS it will be pushing when it's in my car? I'm looking for 60 - 90 RMS per channel, I think that would be plenty of power for the set up I'm looking for.

Thanks!

[CadenceScion]

I don't see any issues w/ that amp.

[BrandonL]

Awesome =) I've decided that I'm going to use the JL Audio JX360/4 amplifier to push four JL Audio C2-600x speakers. They're each 6" speakers that fit like they're 6.5", and they each have a 3/4" silk dome tweeter. I know that this will require custom fabrication to get them to fit, but I'm up to it. I was reading that since the speakers in the back don't have tweeters, the audio quality was less than that of the front speakers. By putting these component speakers all the way around, will this make the audio quality equal everywhere in the cab? And is there a certain speaker wire that I should use to connect the speakers to the amplifi

Thanks!

[CadenceScion]

The sound should be equal for the most part and much clearer and crisper, but most of the sound is going to be concentrated in the front. As far as what wire you need to connect to the amp, I am not really sure. I had a good personal friend of mine help me wire mine.

[BrandonL]

Alright, thank you so much! =) I think all of my car audio questions have now been answered, thanks to you, lol. Now I just have to figure out how to get video to play on my head unit, which is really starting to bother me =/ Do you have any input on that subject by any chance?

[CadenceScion]

Did you say your tC was manual? There is a way to do it so you can watch video while your driving, but I personally don't know how. My audio/video guy set mine up so I can watch video while I'm driving, but he refuses to disclose any information to me. He said it can get him in a ton of trouble by showing or telling anyone how to by-pass it. If you can find a shop that will by-pass it, you
re good to go, other shops won't do it and won't risk being fined.

[BrandonL]

Yeah, my tC is a 5-speed manual. I'll look around at car audio/video shops in the area to see if they'll do it discretely. Thanks again for your help!

[CadenceScion]

Your more than welcome, keep in touch and feel free to PM me with any questions!

[BrandonL]

Thanks man, I'll be sure to do so! =)

[Shaheed]

Brandon,
You should see CadenceScion's Video set up. Navy and him are full of good information. When are you back in H-town?

[BrandonL]

I've looked at his profile and his CarDomain, it's amazing. I've read so much that Navy and Cadence have written and they seem to know almost everything, lol. And Cadence has been helping me out a lot lately, he's a really cool and knowledgeable guy. I'm driving back to Houston on November 4th to go to Coffee and Cars and build my sub box so I can wire everything together. Do you know if anything is going on that weekend? I applied to the Houston chapter of Scikotics and I'm awaiting a reply. Hopefully that will introduce me to the Scion scene. Are you a member?

[CadenceScion]

I really appreciate the comments guys, I try to be as helpful as I can with what knowledge I have. There are other areas I have very little knowledge in, but its not like I can't research it and give feedback on what I have read and learned.

If either of you guys are ever interested in any of the screens I've got in my tC, I can order them and ship them to you.

[BrandonL]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind =) It'll be awhile before I have the money for stuff like that, but I should have enough for those headlight LEDs within the next few days!

[CadenceScion]

Okay, sounds good, let me know when your ready.