VS Calais Setup

[mattman]

Hi,
Just wondering what the go would be to improve the sounds in a VS calais WITHOUT changing the HU? I'd like to keep a stock look and the stacker would be nice..

Could I run a fat amp off it (4x100w jaycar or something) and run 2 speakers off each channel? or would I be better off getting 2 smaller amps (4x50W) and running each speaker on it's own channel.. 8 speaker setup is nice but a pain to upgrade :P

Pricing is the same either way using jaycar amps (which i'm lead to beleive deliver good bang-for-buck) but don't know which way is going to work better...

All speakers would be 6.5" (or smaller if necessary) to fit in the standard pods under standard covers... i want the whole setup as invisible as possible. Bass from 6.5" Pioneer 3ways in my last car was enough for me.. I'd probably be looking at 3ways in the parcel shelf and front doors, 2ways everywhere else to save some cash.

[phat_com]

i would run the 2 amps
running 2 speakers per channel can cause to much trouble

[StoneX]

Why do you want 8 speakers??? More speakers doesn't mean better sound...

How would you even fit 8 speakers? Or are you counting tweeters as separate speakers?

[mattman]

Because it has an 8 speaker system installed out of the factory.... may as well use what's there.

I dunno if 2 of them are tweeters.. haven't got the car yet :P

[StoneX]

Ok, when they say 8 speakers, they mean 2 tweeters in dash, 2 woofers in front doors, 2 dual cones in the rear doors and USUALLY 2 subs in the parcel shelf. Normal people call the front 4 speakers, splits or components speakers. They are one set of speakers that are just separate to give a better sound, see here. So it is actually a 4 speaker stereo and 2 subs. That should make it easier to understand.

So basically, you only need a 4 channel for the 4 speakers and a mono (channel) amp for the subs... But if you are upgrading speakers, you're better off removing stock subs and installing decent subs in a box, that will sound 1000 times better.

[mattman]

Ok ... well if that's how it is... (remembering this is a 9 year old car)... I think i'd be pretty happy..

I'm not interested in bigger subs, as above the bass out of 2x 6.5" 3ways was enough for me in my last car, I can't see how 2 actual (if small) subs could product less bass really.

I understand the theory of splits, but I know nothing about running them off an amp.. like would it be better to run an amp to the front woofers & rear door 2ways, and another amp to the subs? Just leaving the tweeters as they are, I really have no idea with splits!

[StoneX]

The stock subs would make more bass than 6 or 6.5" speakers, so you might aswell keep them, there is no point upgrading the amp to them though. You will only need a 4 channel for the normal speakers.

Splits have a crossover (the box in the pic above) your amp or head unit connect to this and it splits the sound to the woofer and tweeter. So they only need a single amp channel per side like normal coaxial speakers.

Woofer/tweeters in front get 2 channels, rear speakers get 2 channels and the subs already have an amp that is suited to them, so it won't need to be changed.

[mattman]

Cool! So down to one amp then... yay! Every day i'm finding less I need to do to this car (you know, apart from actually buying it :P)

Cheers! Rep for you :P

[Crimmo]

I'm also wondering if I can fit some 6.5" splits into the doors of my VS and keep the stock cover over the top. I am aware that I will probably have to cut about 5-10mm to fit them in the pod, but in terms of depth, is 77mm okay or will it stick out of the door hence not allowing me to put the stock cover back on?

[SUSPECT]

dont bother with the stock speakers as there are fu<kin shit

[mattman]

Yeh I'll prolly keep the splits and subs (if it does have them), but any normal 6" is gettin ditched.

But that's all plans for now, still gotta get the car... insurance is a friggin bitch.

[sixshooter]

I dont think the stock stereo install has 8 speakers... AFAIK there's 2 in the parcel shelf, 2 in the front doors and 2 in the dash.
Standard Model Id AFAIK...
Eurovox 8490V / 8491V

[mattman]

mmmm.. everywhere i look says 8...

doesn't matter though, it won't be changing for quite some time anyway.

[sixshooter]

I can't find any info on the web...

[mattman]

http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au...p?key=HOLD97BU

http://www.users.on.net/~nweber/comm...ex.html#calais

I dunno... I'm sure there's more references out there... but these 2 pages are pretty solid.

[sixshooter]

Without pulling out my parcel shelf to confirm... I'd swear there is only 2 speakers in the back...I just looked from inside the boot.

[mattman]

the fronts arent splits are they? I'm guessing they would count woofer and tweeter as separate speakers...

[sixshooter]

Gregory's manual states 2 speakers in the doors, 2 in parcel shelf and 2 in the dash.

Dont ask me anything about splits amps etc... cause I wouldn't have a clue...

[mattman]

lol... me either really... just that the door speakers are woofer only (bass) and there'd be some small tweeters mounted around the dash somewhere...

[sixshooter]

Btw. Do you have your payout figure now ?

[mattman]

Yeah i do.. cheque is on the way... only $6688 after $700 excess

[sixshooter]

Hmmm....seems that they work on RedBook figures for private sale...it looks like you got near Max market value.

[mattman]

Yeah I know... would've been nice to get more... but i can't really argue either.