factory head unit and Cleansweep questions

[familycar]

im thinking of putting in the cleansweep from JL audio in my 07 civic lx. my question is' is this neccessary?. i heard that factory eq's are set to sound crappy with aftermarket speakers is this true?. i got focals in the front right now unamped. i also have a boston 10 inch subs ready to go. with a boston amp. the audioguy said that the clean sweep would complement the setup cause it will clean up the sound, is this true? i dont really wanna go with the aftermarket deck cause i think the stock looks sweet. anyways please leave your input guys and gals, thanks.

[06civicsilver]

Originally Posted by familycar

im thinking of putting in the cleansweep from JL audio in my 07 civic lx. my question is' is this neccessary?. i heard that factory eq's are set to sound crappy with aftermarket speakers is this true?. i got focals in the front right now unamped. i also have a boston 10 inch subs ready to go. with a boston amp. the audioguy said that the clean sweep would complement the setup cause it will clean up the sound, is this true? i dont really wanna go with the aftermarket deck cause i think the stock looks sweet. anyways please leave your input guys and gals, thanks.

I have a cleansweep installed in my car along with 2 amp and one 12 inch sub and when i turn off the sub the cleansweep takes over and pushes out some incredible sounding audio. I vote yes to a cleansweep!!!!!

[malev0lent]

Originally Posted by familycar

im thinking of putting in the cleansweep from JL audio in my 07 civic lx. my question is' is this neccessary?. i heard that factory eq's are set to sound crappy with aftermarket speakers is this true?. i got focals in the front right now unamped. i also have a boston 10 inch subs ready to go. with a boston amp. the audioguy said that the clean sweep would complement the setup cause it will clean up the sound, is this true? i dont really wanna go with the aftermarket deck cause i think the stock looks sweet. anyways please leave your input guys and gals, thanks.

Fist off to answer the question of cleaning up sound...they actually do. I dont think it does it as good a job as an aftermarket HU but for most people, myself included, it is very noticeable. Is this neccessary...that depends on your taste. Myself I would say yes. Line level converters are nice and cheap, but it takes alot away from SQ/Volume in most cases.

That being said a Cleansweep or Rockford 3sixty.1 would work.
I ordered a 3sixty.1 for my install last weekend...however it showed up missing the wireing harness so I just installed a line level converter until I get my replacement from SD. The line level converter sounds "ok" as long as you ground it. The only real problem I have with it would be the lack of volume.

The 3sixty or Cleansweep should fix this issue. I will be able to tell you more about the SQ from the 3sixty by this coming Monday. Hopefully I will be finishing up my install this weekend. Its vinyl/amp rack/cleanup time.

From Rockfords website but a good side by side comparison of the 3sixty and CL441dsp Cleansweep.
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/scrip...hp?p_faqid=805

Forgot to mention one thing about the 3sixty...it requires a Palm/Windows Bluetooth device such as a Treo 650 to configure. This could be a pain in the arse for some.

[familycar]

is the RE-Q by MTX audio the same thing?

[watice]

Originally Posted by malev0lent

Fist off to answer the question of cleaning up sound...they actually do. I dont think it does it as good a job as an aftermarket HU but for most people, myself included, it is very noticeable. Is this neccessary...that depends on your taste. Myself I would say yes. Line level converters are nice and cheap, but it takes alot away from SQ/Volume in most cases.

That being said a Cleansweep or Rockford 3sixty.1 would work.
I ordered a 3sixty.1 for my install last weekend...however it showed up missing the wireing harness so I just installed a line level converter until I get my replacement from SD. The line level converter sounds "ok" as long as you ground it. The only real problem I have with it would be the lack of volume.

The 3sixty or Cleansweep should fix this issue. I will be able to tell you more about the SQ from the 3sixty by this coming Monday. Hopefully I will be finishing up my install this weekend. Its vinyl/amp rack/cleanup time.

From Rockfords website but a good side by side comparison of the 3sixty and CL441dsp Cleansweep.
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/scrip...hp?p_faqid=805

Forgot to mention one thing about the 3sixty...it requires a Palm/Windows Bluetooth device such as a Treo 650 to configure. This could be a pain in the arse for some.

this is what stopped me from getting that, that's not clear enough... will a Windows Mobile 5 phone with bluetooth work to configure this, or like it says on their website, do you absolutly need a Palm OS phone? Could you let us know when you get it? Thanks.

[malev0lent]

Originally Posted by watice

this is what stopped me from getting that, that's not clear enough... will a Windows Mobile 5 phone with bluetooth work to configure this, or like it says on their website, do you absolutly need a Palm OS phone? Could you let us know when you get it? Thanks.

You can configure it with a most Windows mobile devices. Even like the Palm's though...there are some devices that won't work. (example, No HP Devices will work)

Yesterday I recieved my replacement 3Sixty and it has all the parts this time. Tommorow (Saturday) I should be able to finish my install up. Once it's done I will update my original post.
Weekend Install

[malev0lent]

Originally Posted by familycar

is the RE-Q by MTX audio the same thing?

I have never seen this product until just now.
The Re-Q, from all that I have just read is a Bass Boost. Some factory HU do automatically turn bass down as the volume goes up...to protect the factory speakers,take a load off of the amp (if there even is one) and keep you from having to listening to your speakers choke/distort.
The cleansweep and 3Sixty products clean up the signals of all speakers. Allowing people to keep the factory HU and have aftermarket quality sound.

So nope...its a little different.

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by malev0lent

The only real problem I have with it would be the lack of volume.

I am wondering, "What brand and model of your aftermarket speaker?"

The lower volume could be caused by the lower speaker sensitivity. The aftermarket speaker is mostly built for clarity and better responses. It tends to have lower speaker sensitivity than most OEM speakers.

4-channel line output converters:

[malev0lent]

Its from a POS Line Level Converter...the lack of sound that is.

My Highs are Polk SR6500
http://www.polkaudio.com/caraudio/specs/sr6500/

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by malev0lent

Its from a POS Line Level Converter...the lack of sound that is.

My Highs are Polk SR6500
http://www.polkaudio.com/caraudio/specs/sr6500/

The 90 dB of your speaker sensitivity could be the cause of your lower volume. It is low compares to OEM speaker. The OEM speaker sensitivity is in the high 90 dB. The Infinity Kappa 60.7CS is the closest to it..!

[malev0lent]

Originally Posted by new06Civic

The 90 dB of your speaker sensitivity could be the cause of your lower volume. It is low compares to OEM speaker. The OEM speaker sensitivity is in the high 90 dB. The Infinity Kappa 60.7CS is the closest to it..!

Since it wasn't mentioned in this post I am running an amp to the Polks (Alpine PDX 4-150) so sensitivity isn't even an issue.

Second...
Polk SR6500 - Sensitivity (1W/1M) 90dB
Infinity Kappa 60.7CS - Sensitivity (2.83V/1M) 95dB
Infinity seems to like to "pad" their numbers....2ohm speaker makes this acutally 4w/1m making the Sensitivity 89dB.

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by malev0lent

Since it wasn't mentioned in this post I am running an amp to the Polks (Alpine PDX 4-150) so sensitivity isn't even an issue.

Second...
Polk SR6500 - Sensitivity (1W/1M) 90dB
Infinity Kappa 60.7CS - Sensitivity (2.83V/1M) 95dB
Infinity seems to like to "pad" their numbers....2ohm speaker makes this acutally 4w/1m making the Sensitivity 89dB.

I experienced several brands on my 4-channel Alpine amp, and the source is the OEM HU. I kept the Alpine Type R and it is not the loudest speaker. The volume is lower than the OEM speaker, but it is crispier, clearer and has more bass in it. The speaker with very similar volume to the OEM is Infinity Kappa, and it is my second choice for my Ody speaker upgrade..!

Let me ask you this, "Do you tap your source before or after the OEM HU?" I though that the 4-channel Alpine has the speaker level input. If it is, you don't need the line level output converter, and it can go directly to the line level input of the amp..!

Here are your options:
If you tapped the source before the OEM amp, you do not need a line level converter. It is pre-amp level, and you’ll need to convert the pre-amp wire to RCA connection. If you add a line level output converter, the source will be degraded further and the volume will be lower.

If you tapped the source after the OEM amp, you’ll need line level output converter. You need to convert the source to pre-amp level.

[zebo]

Originally Posted by new06Civic

I experienced several brands on my 4-channel Alpine amp, and the source is the OEM HU. I kept the Alpine Type R and it is not the loudest speaker. The volume is lower than the OEM speaker, but it is crispier, clearer and has more bass in it. The speaker with very similar volume to the OEM is Infinity Kappa, and it is my second choice for my Ody speaker upgrade..!

Let me ask you this, "Do you tap your source before or after the OEM HU?" I though that the 4-channel Alpine has the speaker level input. If it is, you don't need the line level output converter, and it can go directly to the line level input of the amp..!

Here are your options:
If you tapped the source before the OEM amp, you do not need a line level converter. It is pre-amp level, and you’ll need to convert the pre-amp wire to RCA connection. If you add a line level output converter, the source will be degraded further and the volume will be lower.

If you tapped the source after the OEM amp, you’ll need line level output converter. You need to convert the source to pre-amp level.

I installed the amp in his car and I don't recall that it had hi level inputs. Ultimately it makes no difference as he is going to use a 360 to normalize the preamp output from the OEM HU. It doesn't make a difference if the you use a HI Low converter or not, you will still need the source signal coming from the HU "un-equalized".

Those ultra efficient OEM speakers you are talking about just have the crap equalized out of them to compensate for the fact that they are junk. Hence the use of some processing to fix it 360).

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by zebo

I installed the amp in his car and I don't recall that it had hi level inputs. What model is the 4-channel Alpine? I can get the information on it very quick. Ultimately it makes no difference as he is going to use a 360 to normalize the preamp output from the OEM HU. It doesn't make a difference if the you use a HI Low converter or not, you will still need the source signal coming from the HU "un-equalized". If I'm not mistaken, the source before the OEM amp is pre-amp source. It is a special built OEM HU to use w/ the external OEM amp.

Those ultra efficient OEM speakers you are talking about just have the crap equalized out of them to compensate for the fact that they are junk. Hence the use of some processing to fix it 360). The OEM is a junk China made indeed. You can rea my messages at this thread: Upgrade Speaker Thread.

[malev0lent]

Honestly we are taking a simple topic and rambling on about other issues. I don't have any problems. Yes you are trying to help me with my low volume issue...but as I stated before the Rockford 3Sixty that I will be installing this weekend will fix this. This thread was simply posted by another member to figure out if a Cleansweep would help him improve his sound...and the simple answer to that is yes.

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by malev0lent

Honestly we are taking a simple topic and rambling on about other issues. I don't have any problems. Yes you are trying to help me with my low volume issue...but as I stated before the Rockford 3Sixty that I will be installing this weekend will fix this. This thread was simply posted by another member to figure out if a Cleansweep would help him improve his sound...and the simple answer to that is yes.

It is depending on the OP tastes. For me, added the aftermarket Alpine Type R and connects HU source directly to Alpine amp speaker level input sounds a lot better than the junk OEM speaker. It satisfies me without the extra CleanSweep additive..!

I used the CleanSweep in my previous Toyota Tundra. The sounds were hardly any different than the line output converter..!

[zebo]

I agree with malevolent on this one, lets just drop it. But you should at least go back and read what he typed about sensitivity. You are being mislead to believe those infinities are MUCH more sensitive than they are.

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by zebo

I agree with malevolent on this one, lets just drop it. But you should at least go back and read what he typed about sensitivity. You are being mislead to believe those infinities are MUCH more sensitive than they are.

I promise this is my last message on speaker sensitivity. I too, thought the speaker sensitivity of the Infinity Kappa 60.7cs is misled. I tried the Alpine Type R, Infinity Kappa 60.7cs and Kenwood KFC-P707 on my 4-channel Alpine amp. Infinity Kappa is the loudest of the pack. I like the sounds of the Alpine Type R the most. You can do very similar experiment to find out for yourself..!

Final though, you should always listen to your speaker before you buy it. Our hearing and taste are different..!

Infinity Kappa 60.7cs spec. Click the full spec button to see the technical spec..!

[zebo]

Originally Posted by new06Civic

I promise this is my last message on speaker sensitivity. I too, thought the speaker sensitivity of the Infinity Kappa 60.7cs is misled. I tried the Alpine Type R, Infinity Kappa 60.7cs and Kenwood KFC-P707 on my 4-channel Alpine amp. Infinity Kappa is the loudest of the pack. I like the sounds of the Alpine Type R the most. You can do very similar experiment to find out for yourself..!

Final though, you should always listen to your speaker before you buy it. Our hearing and taste are different..!

Infinity Kappa 60.7cs spec. Click the full spec button to see the technical spec..!

2.38V/1M a misleading spec when you are using a two ohm driver, period. They may be louder than the other sets you mentioned, but that has nothing to do with weather their specs are misleading or not.

I don't really feel like getting into it, but sensitivty of a driver isn't the tell all about how loud a driver or comp set will get. It's just one little piece of information about it, thats all. For example, feed a FI BTL 10 watts and meter it against a OEM factory sub from say a honda civic. The factory sub will be more than likely be louder. Now feed them both 5kw and see what happens.....see my point?

By the way, all the speakers you are talking about are a complete joke compared to SR's. The SR's are some of the best comps I have heard and I have been doing this for 15 years. I cannot say that I have every been impressed with any infinity comps.

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by zebo

2.38V/1M a misleading spec when you are using a two ohm driver, period. They may be louder than the other sets you mentioned, but that has nothing to do with weather their specs are misleading or not.

I don't really feel like getting into it, but sensitivty of a driver isn't the tell all about how loud a driver or comp set will get. It's just one little piece of information about it, thats all. For example, feed a FI BTL 10 watts and meter it against a OEM factory sub from say a honda civic. The factory sub will be more than likely be louder. Now feed them both 5kw and see what happens.....see my point?

By the way, all the speakers you are talking about are a complete joke compared to SR's. The SR's are some of the best comps I have heard and I have been doing this for 15 years. I cannot say that I have every been impressed with any infinity comps.

Yes, you are correct on the multiple variables that contribute to the speaker dB. Polk SR’s is indeed a very good speaker. I could have used it in the experiment, but I decided to leave it out due to its significant higher price..!

Just as I said, the three brands I used in the experiments weren't the best but Infinity Kappa is the loudest in the pack. It is not necessary the best. At the end, I kept the Alpine Type-R in my Ody, and I enjoy it.

It is very important to DEMO your speaker. My best and his best is not necessary your best..!