Kicker amp and speaker questions

[Kimmer322]

Thanks Philwsailz - The switch was too close to actually see so I assumed the furthest right position was Hi but it was low. Thanks!!

[philwsailz]

I got another amp for the tower speakers (got it cheap so I went for it, and got the money back for the ZX200.2) It is a kicker ZX350.2. After hooking it up I find that the tower speakers do not work with the crossover switch set at HI. You can feel them thumping but no sound. Any ideas what I messed up??

Double-check the switch setting. Your description is exactly what would happen with the crossover switch set to low-pass. That switch is a three-position switch.

Remember too, turning the crossover switch on is only part of the setup. Once you have the crossover on, you need to set the crossover frequency. This is done on the front of the amp, with the "x-over" knob. My opinion is to set the crossover point at 80 Hz, or higher.

[Kimmer322]

I got another amp for the tower speakers (got it cheap so I went for it, and got the money back for the ZX200.2) It is a kicker ZX350.2. After hooking it up I find that the tower speakers do not work with the crossover switch set at HI. You can feel them thumping but no sound. Any ideas what I messed up??

[philwsailz]

Run the interior speakers off the head unit and tower speakers off the amp. This will make the tower speakers louder and the interior should be loud enough without amp.

He has the ZX700.5 amplifier for the ockpit and bowrider speakers already; the ZX200.2 is a second added amplifier.

[wakemaster]

Run the interior speakers off the head unit and tower speakers off the amp. This will make the tower speakers louder and the interior should be loud enough without amp.

[philwsailz]

Yes I have the clarion CMD4.

So does all look good after I turn the switches to HI?

Thanks again - all of you!!

Seems reasonable...
We still would suggest the good-ole-fashioned gain-setting routine; my ears are better than my eyes at getting the gain structure set for max output and quietest operation, so I do not want to go with pictures only and say absolutely yes. This ideally on both amps, all channels.

Still it is way more right than wrong, as shown in the pics....

[Kimmer322]

Yes I have the clarion CMD4.

So does all look good after I turn the switches to HI?

Thanks again - all of you!!

[chpthril]

The crossover switches are on hi on the KZ700 and off on the KZ200.2. the RCA are connected via the purple wire. Does that make sense??

The only purple wire I see appears to be connected to the amp turn on lug on the ZX200.2

If he has a Clarion H/U, the purple RCA's are the "non-fade", that is probably what the zx200.2 is hooked to.

[philwsailz]

The crossover switches are on hi on the KZ700 and off on the KZ200.2. the RCA are connected via the purple wire. Does that make sense??

The crossover switches should be switched to HI on the ZX200.2...

That will not increase volume appreciably, but we do not need to be trying to reproduce sounds below 100 Hz for the tower speakers. That is about where the knobs are set; the switches just need turned on...

The only purple wire I see appears to be connected to the amp turn on lug on the ZX200.2

[Kimmer322]

The crossover switches are on hi on the KZ700 and off on the KZ200.2. the RCA are connected via the purple wire. Does that make sense??

[philwsailz]

That honestly looks about correct. What is the RCA cable connected to? Front? Rear? is it "Y-d" off of somethig else?

Oh, are the crossover switches set to "HI" ???? They should be...

[Kimmer322]

Maybe these will help:

[talltigeguy]

It would be interesting to hear the difference between the KS60's and the KS 65's. The sensitivity is listed as the same on this site: http://www.cardomain.com/item/KIC055KS60
and they list them as 6.5 inches.

But then they list the 65's as being 7 inches, so what gives?

On that site the 65's are $20 bucks more.

They both have the same tweeter in them.

[philwsailz]

They are definately KS60 - I got them at www.liquidaudiosounds.com they are the doubles. Not sure what else I can check - also not sure why some with KS65 (and the larger amp.) can hear they music over the roar of the engine. This is making me nuts!! Hate to have to change everything.

Let's focus on making what you have work for the moment. What head unit are you using? How are you driving the amplifier, i.e. RCAs connected to front or rear, blah blah. Tell us a little more, ad let's get to work.

!!!!!ALSO!!!!!!

Let's take a look at every setting on the amp; all of the knobs, AND the crossover switches on the end of the amp. They are small, but they are there. Document the knob settings as if they are the face of a clock; i.e. a knob setting pointing striaght up would be 12:00.

Maybe we can tweak this puppy a little and not spend any coin today.

[Kimmer322]

SP is correct regarding the acoustic output difference beteween your current amp and a larger one. Were you to move to an amp that delivered exactly rated power, (75 watts) to the speakers, I do not think your ears or mine could hear the difference.
I do question just a little the statement that you have KS60's. Whose cans are they in? Off of the top of my head, I cannot think that you might actually have KS65's which are a much more common speaker for tower use. Not that it matters with regards to the amp; they have the same power handling, but they do have a substantailly larger cone.
Double-check everything on the set-up of the amp and tower speakers; let's make sure you are getting everything out of them that you can; if they are not dialed-in, you might not be getting everything you want out at the end of the rope.

I also agree with the comments regarding budget. There are many-many options from a bunch of different manufacturers. If it turns out you want more, you need to figure out what you want to or can afford.

They are definately KS60 - I got them at www.liquidaudiosounds.com they are the doubles. Not sure what else I can check - also not sure why some with KS65 (and the larger amp.) can hear they music over the roar of the engine. This is making me nuts!! Hate to have to change everything.