Transporter Audio Upgrade

[Alexander4699]

I am wanting to upgrade my audio system with new 2-way speakers and a DSP amplifier. My van is a camper therefore space is very limited and I do not have the room for a subwoofer which leads me onto my dilemma.

After a brief chat with @Dav-Tec , I am considering the Helix DSP 4 channel amplifier and a pair of Hertz tweeters. My specific question relates to sourcing a door speaker that can play the low frequencies that when coupled to adequate door deadening, will provide an acceptable level of bass and a cracking sound. I have considered the Hertz Legend (40Hz lows) but have been advised that these require large amounts of power for them to sound their best.

From my research, I plan to run the system active, so no need for crossovers which allows me to purchase a pair of tweeters and door speakers independently. I will not be doing the install myself and would welcome advice and hardware recommendations from anybody who has solved this dilemma.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Gladens have 8” door speakers and separate custom tweeters that fit in the T6 pillar.
The are designed as a direct swap for the originals but I would imagine that you could cut out the cross overs supplied and use your dsp to run them independently.
They are fantastic speakers

 

[Alexander4699]

Gladens have 8” door speakers and separate custom tweeters that fit in the T6 pillar.
The are designed as a direct swap for the originals but I would imagine that you could cut out the cross overs supplied and use your dsp to run them independently.
They are fantastic speakers

Thank you for your reply. I have been looking at the Morel IP-UNI82 and I've heard good things about the Gladens too.

 

[T6ChrisO]

+1 on the Gladens

 

[Pewt]

Get a Helix DSP 6 and bridge 2 channels that will allow you to run the Hertz Legends.

 

[Alexander4699]

Get a Helix DSP 6 and bridge 2 channels that will allow you to run the Hertz Legends.

That's really interesting - I didn't realise that was an option. Forgive my ignorance, but what would bridging produce power wise with the DSP 6? I'm already at the limit of my audio knowledge.

 

[Pewt]

Bridged would give you 200w @4ohms then leaving 2 channels for the tweeters

 

[Alexander4699]

Bridged would give you 200w @4ohms then leaving 2 channels for the tweeters

Thank you. I now need to research this to understand it; 200W per mid bass?

 

[Pewt]

200w per mid bass, yes. I'm sure Dav-Tec will help some more.

 

[Alexander4699]

200w per mid bass, yes. I'm sure Dav-Tec will help some more.

I've seen seen on one of your posts that you have the Audison AP8 - can I ask how you find them?

 

[Pewt]

They are OK.......7" Hertz Legends with a bridged Helix amp would be another level. Do you intend to add a sub?

Also don't forget you need to sound deaden the hell out of the doors.

 

[Alexander4699]

They are OK.......7" Hertz Legends with a bridged Helix amp would be another level. Do you intend to add a sub?

No room for a sub unfortunately, hence the requirement for a 'bassy' door speaker.

 

[Alexander4699]

These are another consideration: Audiofrog GS8ND2

 

[Pewt]

HELIX Ci7 W200FM-S3

HELIX COMPOSE i7 8 inch / 200 mm high-end woofer with UHD paper cone, FlexMount and ProConnect

www.audiotec-fischer.de

 

[Alexander4699]

HELIX Ci7 W200FM-S3

HELIX COMPOSE i7 8 inch / 200 mm high-end woofer with UHD paper cone, FlexMount and ProConnect

www.audiotec-fischer.de

Now I do like the look of those; I'm sure they would perform nicely with a Helix amplifier. They appear to be conceptually similar to the Legends but at slighly less cost.

 

[Alexander4699]

After conducting a swift bit of market research aided by @Pewt , I'm considering two systems - the first I personally would consider 'top end' and perhaps a little OTT; the second more 'realistic' in nature and above all - slightly more affordable:

Helix M6 DSP Amplifier (bridged)
Hertz Mille Legend ML 1800.3 200W RMS
Audison Voce Tweeters 180W

Helix M4 DSP Amplifier
Helix Ci7 W200FM-S3 150W RMS
Hertz Mille Pro Tweeters 120W

I'm currently running an aftermarket Pioneer head unit but am looking to upgrade to an Alpine Halo once I have a buyer for my kidneys. Clearly I've made an educated 'guess' at these components so would welcome any feedback, particularly from recommended specialists/installers @Dav-Tec and @Absolut5 who are very well regarded on this forum. Thank you all in advance.

 

[Absolut5]

Just throw this in
3 way front end
Audison Forza AF M6D

 

[Alexander4699]

Just throw this in
3 way front end
Audison Forza AF M6D

Many thanks for your comments - would you be able to expand on your hardware suggestions and provide a ‘why’? Thank you

 

[Absolut5]

Audison AF M6D is a compact 6x 135wrms amp, with powerful but easy setup DSP
You can run the 3 way fully active

Legend ML 1800.3
Legend ML700.3in pillars
Legend ML280.3 in pillars
Are fantastic setup, but are a bit on the expensive side. The ML 1800.3 do require a bit of power for the best returns, so maybe drop them out and go for the Helix 8s as they are nice and efficient . And of course cheaper,

 

[Dav-Tec]

Hey @Alexander4699 ,

It's common to want that resounding bass thump from your door speakers, but it's like asking a chihuahua to pull a sledge! Even with the best training and a fancy harness, they're not built for it.

Think of it this way: door speakers, even the bigger ones, are like bantamweight boxers – quick and agile, great for those jabs and uppercuts (mid and high frequencies). But to deliver a knockout blow in the lower frequencies, you need a heavyweight like a subwoofer, which moves slower but hits harder. They have the raw power and size to move enough air and give you that earth-shaking rumble.

Plus, car doors are kind of like a snowstorm when it comes to sound. All those gaps and panels let the bass escape and get lost in the blizzard, no matter how good your speakers are.

I can't recall every detail of our chat before, but it sounds like you're after some decent bass in your T6, especially, and IIRC, you have a rock n' roll bed setup. Don't worry; we've got you covered!

We have some rear arch sub-enclosures that fit neatly behind the bed, giving you the bass you need without sacrificing space. Under-seat subwoofers are another possibility if you have room can't remember if it's the amps taking the room that was the issue). And, of course, we can always look at a custom solution tailored to your van if you prefer. There are also some smaller amps from the Audiotech Fischer Match range that work very well (helix's Little Brother)

Get in touch, and we can chat about the best way to get your T6's audio sounding top-notch.

Cheers,

Dav-Tec