(Continued from previous post)
8. Repeat the process (steps #2 through #7) on the other end of the resistor and the other section of the positive wire.
View attachment 139003
View attachment 139004
The Preliminary Results
I removed one speaker and connected the resistor/harness assembly to it. I connected this dash speaker to my truck. I did not completely install the speaker, I laid its magnet on top of the dashboard. I now had one speaker with the 4 ohm resistor installed and one speaker without the 4 ohm resistor. Was there a difference in the sound output between the two dash speakers? Yes, but not as much as I thought there would be. I set the fader to fully front speakers and while playing music at a volume setting of 20 I moved the fader from left to right, and from right to left noting any difference in volume levels. The speaker with the resistor was not as loud as the resistor-less speaker but I expected more of a difference.
I put the fader back in the center position and played a couple of songs at volume setting of 20. This is a moderately loud setting. I fiddled with the equalizer. Played sections of songs I knew would be “treble heavy”. I suppose I did this for 10 minutes or so.
I wanted to see how hot the 4 ohm resistor would get. I cautiously reached for it and gently pinched it with my thumb and index finger….and….it was not hot, it was not even warm. In fact, it was basically the same temperature as the ambient air around it. That was a good result, I thought. That meant I could confidently crank up the stereo with no worries of this resistor getting blisteringly hot underneath my dashboard. The 4 ohm resistor wasn't hot because it was rated at 10 watts. Be sure to get 4 ohm resistors with a 10 watt power rating.
I installed the speaker with the resistor on the wiring harness, screwed it in place and replaced the cover grill. I then did the other wiring harness, installed it on the other dash speaker and replaced that speaker. I now had both speakers with 4 ohm resistors installed and in place.
The Results
I played some songs I knew were from good source material and had some dynamic range. “So Far Away” “ and “Money for Nothin’” by Dire Straits; “Abacab” by Genesis; “December” by Collective Soul, “Everyday is a Winding Road” by Sheryl Crow (Jeez, I’m dating myself…)
I kept adjusting the equalizer to tune the songs into what I perceive as good sounding. I noticed I was turning down the bass and turning up the treble. Here are my before and after settings on the equalizer, before resistors and after resistors. (Disclosure: I have an 8” powered subwoofer installed)
Bass
Before: +4
After: +2
Midrange
Before: 0
After: +1
Treble
Before: -4
After: 0 or +1 (depends on the album/song)
The system sounds much better. The most surprising thing, though, is that I can turn the volume up much, much higher and not get distortion. The max I dared to turn up the volume before the resistors was to about 24. At that level I could sense my brain didn’t want to listen to the music—there was something grating and raw about it. I can now go to 30 and not get the grating, harsh, “something just isn’t right” feeling. Now, at 30, it’s just too loud for my (old) ears!
I think the resistor install worked wonders to bring down the prominence and reduce the harshness of the dash tweeters. The system sounds better overall. There is less distortion. I can play the music louder. The front door speakers are more noticeable. All in all, a worthy mod.
