Stumped!! 2017 1500 with Alpine system

[JL724877]

I have a 2017 1500 with factory alpine system. The two front door speakers went out. I replaced them with infinity primus cs component 6x9 and did not utilize the included tweeters since it’s crossed over for mid. The speakers sound terrific and the mid bass is phenomenal except that when I am in my normal seat position I can barely hear the mid bass from them but if I move my head forward about 1ft or so the music sounds fantastic full and better than stock. In normal seat position it sounds worse than stock. The speakers are installed in exactly the same spot. I added a thick layer of foam tape to seal them and had to use maybe a 1/4 inch spacer which I wouldn’t think would cause the harmonics to be off. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem?

 

[SitKneelBend]

I have a 2017 1500 with factory alpine system. The two front door speakers went out. I replaced them with infinity primus cs component 6x9 and did not utilize the included tweeters since it’s crossed over for mid. The speakers sound terrific and the mid bass is phenomenal except that when I am in my normal seat position I can barely hear the mid bass from them but if I move my head forward about 1ft or so the music sounds fantastic full and better than stock. In normal seat position it sounds worse than stock. The speakers are installed in exactly the same spot. I added a thick layer of foam tape to seal them and had to use maybe a 1/4 inch spacer which I wouldn’t think would cause the harmonics to be off. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem?

I don't believe this is something that can be corrected without a different amp capable placing the audio where you want it (like a Kicker Key). I'm not sure if there is an option that works with the factory Alpine Amp but maybe someone else can chime in...

 

[JL724877]

Just following up on this. I experimented with opening the two front doors just slightly to change the angle and the sound filled in appropriately. I guess the replacement speakers would need to be angled back towards the passengers and being that it’s a tight fit already in the door panel I decided to just replace the speakers with factory. I put them in and everything sounds great again. Still very odd that the sound staging would be that off considering the speakers are installed in the exact same spot and are considerably nicer than stock but alas it sounds better with the stock speakers.

 

[RamDiver]

Just following up on this. I experimented with opening the two front doors just slightly to change the angle and the sound filled in appropriately. I guess the replacement speakers would need to be angled back towards the passengers and being that it’s a tight fit already in the door panel I decided to just replace the speakers with factory. I put them in and everything sounds great again. Still very odd that the sound staging would be that off considering the speakers are installed in the exact same spot and are considerably nicer than stock but alas it sounds better with the stock speakers.

Did you try recentering the balance/fade settings to hear if that changed your perception?




.

 

[JL724877]

Yah I was not able to find a good balance front to back that was equivalent to the stock sound. I have upgraded the dash and rear door speakers and added some poly fill to the factory sub box. Everything sounds great.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Yah I was not able to find a good balance front to back that was equivalent to the stock sound. I have upgraded the dash and rear door speakers and added some poly fill to the factory sub box. Everything sounds great.

If I had to guess, the factory Alpine amp is probably tuned for that specific speaker combination and that's why your sound stage moved with new speakers.

 

[Buhshaun]

If I had to guess, the factory Alpine amp is probably tuned for that specific speaker combination and that's why your sound stage moved with new speakers.

You had nailed this down pretty much, replacing the amplifier and proper tuning/time alignment makes a big difference along with sound deadening the doors and panels and covering any holes that I could find in the doors.

 

[SitKneelBend]

You had nailed this down pretty much, replacing the amplifier and proper tuning/time alignment makes a big difference along with sound deadening the doors and panels and covering any holes that I could find in the doors.

Glad to hear! So you're all squared away now?

 

[Buhshaun]

Glad to hear! So you're all squared away now?

Yes, I have replaced the factory amp with a 4 channel and mono amp and used a plug-n-play T-harness. Worked on this for almost a year and made a sub spacer to fit a larger sub in the factory enclosure that I sound treated. I also converted the 6x9's to 6.5's with AMT pods in the dash. It has made quite a different with very clear highs which has always been the complaint with RAM, Challenger, Charger, ect.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Yes, I have replaced the factory amp with a 4 channel and mono amp and used a plug-n-play T-harness. Worked on this for almost a year and made a sub spacer to fit a larger sub in the factory enclosure that I sound treated. I also converted the 6x9's to 6.5's with AMT pods in the dash. It has made quite a different with very clear highs which has always been the complaint with RAM, Challenger, Charger, ect.

What did you do to the factory sub enclosure? Have pictures?

 

[TomT]

You can probably fix this by putting a spacer underneath the front portion of the speaker so that it angles back towards you just a little bit. Back before DSPs and time delay, systems were tuned by aiming the drivers for optimal placement.

 

[Wild one]

Damn and here i am removing the trunk mounted subs out of my wifes last 2 Challengers

 

[Buhshaun]

What did you do to the factory sub enclosure? Have pictures?

I will take some pictures, I used a sound treatment equivalent to Killmat, Dynamat, ect. I added it behind the sub and as much as I could get inside the enclosure. That also helped make sure there isn't a SPL leak from the hole that a screw usually goes into that holds the factory sub in place. I am currently using a CT sounds BIO 8 and love it. I have also played with about 6 other subs and BIO 8 has been my factorite for that factory sealed enclosure.

I am not trying to advertise since that is probably not allowed here but I work for a company that developed a plug and play solution for the Alpine systems 2013-2018.

DSP, Time Alignment, factory EQ still works, and full ALpine system has been removed.

 

[SitKneelBend]

I will take some pictures, I used a sound treatment equivalent to Killmat, Dynamat, ect. I added it behind the sub and as much as I could get inside the enclosure. That also helped make sure there isn't a SPL leak from the hole that a screw usually goes into that holds the factory sub in place. I am currently using a CT sounds BIO 8 and love it. I have also played with about 6 other subs and BIO 8 has been my factorite for that factory sealed enclosure.

I am not trying to advertise since that is probably not allowed here but I work for a company that developed a plug and play solution for the Alpine systems 2013-2018.

DSP, Time Alignment, factory EQ still works, and full ALpine system has been removed.

Cool, I stuffed mine with polyfill and installed an 8" Kicker but I'm interested in anything that can make it sound even better.

 

[TomT]

I ripped mine out completely and replaced it with a JL 12W6V3, but that’s a bit more involved. LOL

 

[CanuckRam1313]

I ripped mine out completely and replaced it with a JL 12W6V3, but that’s a bit more involved. LOL

That's one heck of a serious sub!!!

I went with a pair of Audiomobile EVO 2410's and stuffed the custom engineered boxes with poly-fil, and soundmatted the doors and everywhere else, too.

The bass is crisp, clear and deep!

 

[Buhshaun]

That's one heck of a serious sub!!!

I went with a pair of Audiomobile EVO 2410's and stuffed the custom engineered boxes with poly-fil, and soundmatted the doors and everywhere else, too.

The bass is crisp, clear and deep!

You have much more bass than I got that's for sure! Mine is good but not that there.

I sound deadened by doors and pulled the block plates to deaden the inside of the doors, then foamed the blocker plates and also sound deadend the door panel as well.

There is a Youtube video that shows the first install of replacing the amp with two aftermarket amps and then the first speakers and sub we were testing before any of the deadening.

You can search my previous posts to find it.

Did you keep your door speakers and dash speakers stock?

 

[CanuckRam1313]

You have much more bass than I got that's for sure! Mine is good but not that there.

I sound deadened by doors and pulled the block plates to deaden the inside of the doors, then foamed the blocker plates and also sound deadend the door panel as well.

There is a Youtube video that shows the first install of replacing the amp with two aftermarket amps and then the first speakers and sub we were testing before any of the deadening.

You can search my previous posts to find it.

Did you keep your door speakers and dash speakers stock?

My 23' came with the Alpine system.

I replaced the head unit with a Kenwood DMX957XR and the doors and dash with Focal.

I had two Kenwood amps (total of 2100W) and a db 5-farad digital capacitor put in and the two EVO 2410's. Did the ground cable upgrades and put in an H8 Odyssey 950CCA AGM battery in as well.

My installer also kept the stock Alpine amp in place and had the stock Alpine center dash speaker and the two rear roof speakers dialed in to only provide surround sound fill in for the rest of the upgraded audio system.

Then he perfectly dialed it all in with proper balance, tuning/timing, etc.

The sound detail and quality is phenomenal, and the bass is deep with rich and clear thump & roll, plus great detailed volume output, too.