speaker distortion

[Matt_Jones105]

I changed out all of my old speakers in my boat and put in some Polk audio db 651's. I had Panasonic speakers. (Came with boat). All I did was take the old ones out and clip off the old ends and put new ones because the positive and negative studs were different. And I spliced one spot that rats had chewed. The speakers sound good until I turn them up loud with a hard hitting song they sound horrible. I'm not sure how to explain the sound it's just a bad skipping like sound. Could it be a bad connection or what?

 

[jbcurt00]

Google

Audio clipping

The old speakers didnt perform any better then the head unit. The new speakers are much less tolerant of distortion when the music is 'demanding' or the volume is turned up.

 

[sam am I]

Those Polk's are rated at "120 watts rms/pair" or "360 peak watts/pair"..........Is adding the cumulative wattage into "per pair" a new sales gimmick these days? Geeez!! Weird..........Anyway, so you have 60 watts rms (180 watt peak) 4 ohm speakers.

Those are descent speakers and should preform fine but . You probably just need an external amp (you never said if you have one, I'm assuming you don't) to reduce clipping as the volume is turned up and like jb said, the old Panasonic's just masked the clipping better when ya max'd out the volume.

And/or...... Your old deck (head unit) is tapping out/clipping earlier now from the same'ish dial/volume position so to speak due to it's not rated to do 4 ohms. It perhaps is rated at 8 ohm minimum speakers and 4 ohm is overloading (driving it into clipping) it early on in the game. Were the tasty Panasonic's 8 ohm?

 

[Matt_Jones105]

Really couldn't tell you I'll look when I get home. So I need an amp? Somebody told me an amp will blow them. I know absolutely about audio stuff. Zero. Or should I of left the trusty panasonics in there?

 

[sam am I]

Not sure yet.......

While your fetching those old speakers ohm spec, what is your deck type/model number?

Also, check and make sure you don't already have no external amp between the speakers and the deck.

And yes, an amp can blow them up, just depends on the amp and its power (peak this case/example) capability per channel @ 4 ohms.

The short story of it.......

100x2 watt amp, no! 1000x2 watt amp, yes!

And how far you turn it up......

100x2 watt amp @ 100%, no! 1000x2 watt amp @ 10%, no! 11% - 100%, yes!

 

[Matt_Jones105]

On the back they say 160w music peak 4 impedance Is that what you want? That's all it says besides model number And you do you mean what kind of boat? There is no amp that I'm aware of all I have is a clarion radio

 

[sam am I]

Well, you can always put the Panasonic's back in, sure. Ya might actually want to at this point considering the path your headed down to make those Polk's sound good given both sets of speakers are presenting the same load to the Clarion of 4 ohms, e.g., The electrical harmonic distortion (THD) being created by the Clarion at given levels has to be the same (+/- 1/10% or two) given both speakers are the same impedance of 4 ohms. The Panasonic's are seeming to just handled/masked the acoustics conversion of the clipping/harmonics better.

If not........

Yeah, if you want loud'ish and clear, you need an amp!.......Those Polk speakers will sound good with an amp driving them. However, being outside in a open cockpit, any system is going to have less fidelity than if even the same system is inside a enclosed car or room.

 

[Matt_Jones105]

What kind of amp do I need that I can crank it up and won't blow anything

 

[Matt_Jones105]

And I have 2 sets of speakers in it

 

[sam am I]

So 4 channel **amp............Priced higher to lower (These are from the hip suggested/examples based on your setup and derated a bit to assure no "smoke on the water", other options of course are out there)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/kicker-k...&skuId=7152072

http://www.kicker.com/40KXM4004

Continuous power (RMS) @ 4 ohms (50W x 4)
Signal to noise 95 decibels (SNR, higher numbers = better)


or

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/mb-quart...&skuId=4400247

http://mbquart.com/marine-audio/mari...fiers/na360-4/

Continuous power (RMS) @ 4 ohms (60W x 4)
Signal to noise >93dB (SNR, higher numbers = better)

**Both amp are setup/designed to accept your Clarion "high/speaker level" input. Ya have to wire some RCA plug's on the speaker wires ends though to make it go together nicely, the kicker's owner's manual (see page 3) goes over this**

https://www.radioshack.com/products/...ant=5717439237

 

[Matt_Jones105]

I'll give it a look. Will I have to have a second battery? And where is the best place to put an amp?

 

[Matt_Jones105]

I'll definitely go with the cheaper one. All I'm trying to do is get rid of the noise honestly. And if it makes them louder that's good too

 

[sam am I]

I'll give it a look. Will I have to have a second battery? And where is the best place to put an amp?

Depends on your usage, lots of searchable topics here on just that...........I'd put it slightly up under the dash somewhere where there is still some reasonable air flow/movement. Also, have/leave it somewhat accessible for tweeting the F/R levels filters crossover points and the like (need to tune it a bit to the enviro/your liking)

 

[Matt_Jones105]

There might be some airflow under my dash but not sure. I appreciate the help!

 

[sam am I]

Np and yvw. Yeah, just some natural air flow/currents is fine and as opposed to the likes of inside a sealed'ish area/box or like inside dead air hot engine compartment is basically all I'm thinking would be best practice.