8.4 into Bit Ten D

[BCMark]

I have gathered nearly everything for my stereo build now but am trying to work out some of the finer details before I get started on it.

First of all I have a 2015 Ram 1500 Sport with the non-Alpine 8.4 head unit.

After reading as much as i could find about the 8.4 and 5.0 head units, I'm kind of wishing I had bought a truck with the 5.0 so that there was a viable option for swapping it out to something a little more upgradeable and with a full range RCA Out.

However, this is what I have to work with so I am going to run it into an Audison Bit Ten D DSP. I understand the frequencies are split between the speakers, so in order to get a full range signal I'll be summing the front door speaker and in-dash tweeter outputs.

Does anyone have any experience working with this type of DSP on this system? I have heard that there is a roll-off of low frequencies as the volume is increased on the stock head unit and was wondering if anyone knew at what volume level that starts to occur?

I was hoping to be able to use the stock volume knob to adjust the volume and just use the amp gains to keep my sound levels within whatever range keeps a consistant frequency output from the head unit.

Any advice with this would really be appreciated!

 

[troutspinner]

The frequencies are not split between the speakers on the non-Alpine 8.4, it is a full signal and does not require any summing. The front door speakers and the dash are ran off of the same line, the rears are individual.

You can grab the signal from the front left and right door or dash speakers but you will have to disconnect the other door or dash speaker that is ran in parallel. You could also just grab the signal off of the rears, up to you. You could also grab all signals if your DSP supports it, this way you can maintain fade, should you need it.

Do a search for my build log. You will see I went straight to the back of the radio, just my preference as I did not want to risk any chance of noise created by disconnected runs.

 

[BCMark]

That's great news, I didn't realize they were full-range lines. I'll check out your build for sure! I plan to do the same, running new wires from the back of the head unit and disconnecting whatever I am not using.

 

[baum]

i agree just grab the signal behind the radio. search the forum for "tech authority" website. you can put in your VIN and it will give you the exact wire color and locations for your harnesses (ex: speaker colors at the head unit) the website has been posted many time on this forum (sorry im too lazy for a monday morning to try and find it)..

 

[BCMark]

i agree just grab the signal behind the radio. search the forum for "tech authority" website. you can put in your VIN and it will give you the exact wire color and locations for your harnesses (ex: speaker colors at the head unit) the website has been posted many time on this forum (sorry im too lazy for a monday morning to try and find it)..

Yeah, all good there. I just found that website yesterday, so I have the wiring diagrams.

Now I just need to figure out if there is a frequency roll-off as the volume is turned up on the head unit and if so at what level it starts to roll it off. I don't have the gear to test that but maybe I can see it with the Bit Ten software once I get things hooked up.

 

[troutspinner]

Yeah, all good there. I just found that website yesterday, so I have the wiring diagrams.

Now I just need to figure out if there is a frequency roll-off as the volume is turned up on the head unit and if so at what level it starts to roll it off. I don't have the gear to test that but maybe I can see it with the Bit Ten software once I get things hooked up.

My measurements show no significant roll-off at any specific volume so no worries there.

 

[Etroze86]

Basic 6 speaker systems so far haven't shown rolloff the alpine system does. Leter buck man and tell us what you think of the bit ten.

 

[BCMark]

Wow that's great news all around. As soon as I get started on it I'll do a proper build thread. In the middle of moving to a new house so build has been put on hold until mid august.

I have pretty much everything sitting on my workbench waiting for a home.

Audison Bit Ten D
2x Hertz HDP4 Amps (1 will be set to 150w x 4 for the components, other will be set to 500w x 2 for the subs)
Morel Virtus 602 2 - ways
2x Image Dynamics IDQ 10v3's
Fox Box (waiting for it to show up still)
Knukonceptz Wiring, Battery Terminals, Distribution Blocks.

For sound deadening I have
96 square feet of Dynamat Extreme
50 square feet of B-Quiet Ultimate
100 square feet of MLV 1lb per square inch
100 square feet of CCF

 

[baum]

nice setup! i have never used the knukoncepts wiring before i have heard of it. the biggest concerns i have about "cheaper" wiring is the actual strand count. wire is measured by the outside diameter of the housing. some of the cheap ebay china companies have thicker housing and give you less strand counts. where their "4ga" may be like a monster cable 6-8ga

 

[BCMark]

nice setup! i have never used the knukoncepts wiring before i have heard of it. the biggest concerns i have about "cheaper" wiring is the actual strand count. wire is measured by the outside diameter of the housing. some of the cheap ebay china companies have thicker housing and give you less strand counts. where their "4ga" may be like a monster cable 6-8ga

I did quite a bit of research before ordering it and have seen nothing but good reviews on their products. Just in case though, I did overbuild a bit. I will have 1/0ga from the battery back to the amps and then split into 2 x 4ga.

 

[Etroze86]

The 1/0ga you will more than likely have issues trying to get it into the distro block as that wire is some of the thickest 1/0ga I've ever used. I am talking about just the wire the jacked is thick as well very flexible but the only thing I don't like is if it heats up it melts pretty quickly. PS I run KNU in my truck.

 

[Informal]

The Knuconceptz stuff does not inflate their size by by throwing thicker insulation over it..
If anything it's slightly larger than advertised.
I can't comment on the quality of the strand, but I've been running it for 5 years with zero issues.

 

[Hipps2000]

Same here Knuconceptz in mine as well... 1 ga to distro block than 2x4ga to my amps. Very impressed with their quality as well as flexabiltiy. I have similiR setup but with a helix pro. you are gonna love it

 

[DoubleTap]

I have the base 6 speaker system in my 2014 with the 8.4an and here is a list of what I used.

LC6i by audiocontrol
3.5" Infinity reference dash speakers powered off head unit
6.5" 3 way Infinity reference front door speakers
6x9" 3 way Infinity reference rear door speakers
Front and rear door speakers being powered by PPi520watt amp
12" ported Fox Box with Sundown Audio SA 12" sub
PPi 650watt mono amp for sub

Knukoncepts OFC 0 gauge power and ground. Power to back under seat into power distribution block with single 0 gauge inlet and two 4 gauge outlets.
Knukoncepts OFC 4 gauge from each outlet. One to the mono amp and one to the 4 channel.
Knukoncepts 150amp inline fuse 10-12" from battery in 0 gauge power cable.
1 amp inline for LC6i/power distribution block.

I tapped into the rear speaker wire for my signal to the LC6i which powers on and then powers the amp on as soon as it receives signal. Remote power wire is going from LC6i to amp. I tapped the rear passenger door speaker wires behind the center pillar panel that divides the front and rear door.

 

[BCMark]

Same here Knuconceptz in mine as well... 1 ga to distro block than 2x4ga to my amps. Very impressed with their quality as well as flexabiltiy. I have similiR setup but with a helix pro. you are gonna love it

How do you like the Helix? I'm a little worried about all the noise issues I've heard of with the Bit Ten, so if I do have any noise I'll be looking for something to replace it with (fingers crossed I won't have to go that route)

 

[BCMark]

On another note just got an email that my fox box shipped today!

Their customer service leaves a lot to be desired but if the product is as good as I've heard it'll be worth it.

 

[HeavyOne]

Good talking to you. Can't wait to see how your system turns out.

BTW, when setting up my DSP, my 8.4 HU volume control sits on 15 (max). The 360 detected distortion on anything above that (16+). I use the DSP's knob for volume control.

I don't blame you on seeking out a new HU. I hate using high level inputs with any system.

 

[BCMark]

Good talking to you. Can't wait to see how your system turns out.

BTW, when setting up my DSP, my 8.4 HU volume control sits on 15 (max). The 360 detected distortion on anything above that (16+). I use the DSP's knob for volume control.

I don't blame you on seeking out a new HU. I hate using high level inputs with any system.

Good to know, thanks! I would imagine the Bit Ten will be able to tell me as well at what exact volume level the head unit starts to put out distortion.

Even if it is 15 I might just set my gains to work within that 1-15 range as I would rather not have to use my DSP remote for volume control.