Gladen 200 Extreme speaker update - help

[stuartj9]

OK, so I've decided to go for the Gladen upgrade in the front.

I'm going to use an amp but struggling to understand which watt I need and what is a decent one. Can anyone shed some light please? I don't want to spend too much but want to get the best out of my speakers. I will also be changing the rear speakers (5 door) but also need recommendations on these too. Again, I don't want to pay too much for these as the front cost enough.

I plan on using some deadening too but want recommendations on this. Again, nothing too expensive.

Appreciate your input!

[shail]

I recently installed a Kenwood X301-4.  It's a 4 channel amp giving 4 x 50w.  I assume the Garden speakers you have are rated for much higher wattage, so you can use the amp to drive just 2 speakers at 150w per channel.  Good thing about this amp is that it fits well under the front seats.   You could buy 2 amps, one under each seat and drive all 4 speakers at 150w.

Cost me £90 on offer from Amazon, which I think is a good price.

[LC5F]

Lots of online info out there on amp to speaker wattage - just look at your speaker ohms and go from there.
Bridged small amps like shail surgests are a good fit under seats, but you do double up power / earth leads and will take a bit more adjustment. Please make sure you fix your amp securely, thin ply under carpet and short screws through into the wood is one of several ways to fix through the carpet under a seat.

Any possibility you may add a sub in future? you can get 5 channel amps - you could bridge the 4 full signal channels for the fronts and 1 mono to drive the sub - but this will be too big to fit under a front seat.
Have you thought how you are going to get a signal to the amp? - line drive or RCA leads will effect your amp choice

Self adhesive flashing tape is pretty cheap for sound deadening -the wider the better.
With all this extra power, look into how to seal your speaker to the door metal and also speaker to door panel, I just got some foam rings off ebay that mold and seal the door panel https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Black-6-5-Foam-Rings-Car-Door-Speaker-Enhancer-System-Kit-Universal-RC/143545462532?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 these force all the sound into the cabin

[stuartj9]

Absolutely great advice.

I already have an underseat sub (Pioneer). Would I run this off an amp too? It's a great little speaker to give some much needed bass with the stock R32 speakers. Does this have an amp built in or would I get even more out of it by running this off an amp too?

The Gladen speakers have very little technical info. I'm struggling to find their RMS. They're quoting 225/150w. Surely the 150 part is not the RMS? I know from reviews they're pretty awesome speakers though. These speakers already come with the collars and change my 6.5" speaker into an 8" I plan on silicone to the door and riveting back.

I would prefer to have one amp but I wont rule having two separate ones out.

The father in law has more knowledge than me but what are your suggestions for wiring?

[shail]

What head unit do you have?  That will have a bearing on wiring, and how the sub is wired (RCA or speaker level) If you have a sub under the seat it will have a built in amp. 

Couple of pointers, may be of use, may not from my DIY install a week ago:
- There is lots of space in the door sills for cabling.
- You can also get cables under the carpet along the side of the centre console
- Amazon basics RCA leads are pretty good.  That's what I used.
- Get yourself a roll of automotive loom tape to wrap cabling up. Helps with rattles.
- There are some good grounding points at the side of the centre console

Finally, I've had poor experience using silicone in doors.  I used some on an old car to reseal the inner door carrier.  After a year or so the silicone had gone brittle.   Replaced with butyl tape, which remains flexible at low temps.  Can be bought in various thicknesses on roll fairly cheaply. 

[stuartj9]

I have a Chinese android unit which improved the sound straight away.
I'll keep the sun running off the headunit. The hu had rca cables to run the speakers off. It's a a pretty decent spec unit.

Done valuable tips there! I'm going to use your advice given you've done your own and have first hand experience.

I'm just struggling with picking amps. The speakers I'll use in the back won't be as good at the front so am I better have x2 2 channels? Would I need a more powerful one for the Gladen's and do I go off the rms?

[LC5F]

Sounds like your under seat sub is an all in one unit - should have signal an power/earth connected - so in theory there is no need to look to amp that.

[stuartj9]

Cheers mate

With the speakers in the back likely to be less than 150 rms, am I best getting x2 2 channels with one more petrol for the gladen's?

[LC5F]

Personally I would just disconnect the rear speakers - they will muddy the sound if they are still running

[stuartj9]

I'm looking at the Gladen M line for the rear and a Gladen amp

Gladen RC Line RC 105c4 600w RMS 4 ch amplifier Class A/B

[LC5F]

Double check that it will fit under the seat otherwise its got to go into the boot - meaning longer cables to and from the amp - thought you were on a budget fella!

[stuartj9]

It's going in the boot. For the speakers and amp it's 350. I was budgeting 240 ish so 110 more for Gladen, I think it's worth it. Tell me I'm right ha.

[pudding]

That little Kenwood is neat.  Let me know what the Gladens sound like.  Been considering the 8" upgrade for mine but didn't want to faff around chopping things to make them fit.

[stuartj9]

I've put the drivers side in today. It was pretty straight forward. It's just a bit fiddly with getting the doors cards on and positioning the wires.

I can't give an opinion on sound yet as I've not got the amp. I'll keep you updated though. I'm ordering the amp next week and the rears.

I did discover today though that I only have two speakers in the front (6.5 and tweeter). I thought it was 3 speakers. It's not got 3 in the drivers side.

Not sure how to upload pictures.

[connorjust]

Hey stuart.

Always aim to have the RMS of the amp to match the RMS of the speakers or if anything higher, never lower.

Class A/B is a great idea for sound quality, although class D is small because it’s digital so sonically not as warm as what your looking at. If your looking at front and rear speakers and the fronts require 150w rms I think I remember you saying I would find an amplifier that has 4x150 rather than having multiple amplifiers. You can always adjust the gain down on the tears or fade more bias to the front on the stereo if the rears do not need as much power as the fronts.

Regarding the missing mid range speaker that’s pretty common, I’ve seen a lot of Gti’s and r32’s without this speaker. It must have been an option from new.


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