Best Head-Unit for expensive sub-stage and bass alone (NOT mids/highs)

[DedicatedEnthusiast 0]

Looking to upgrade my entry-level pioneer DEH-14UB Head Unit IF it will make a worthwhile difference in output or sound level mainly on my sub-stage going with a 4-6v pre-out upper-class pioneer, kenwood or alpine deck. Tell me what do you guys think? I already have the entry-level pioneer wired to a clarion MCD-360 crossover with 5v max output voltage so am I really going to notice a difference in the bass production from the subs or no??

 

All comments and opinions are appreciated thanks:)

[frogcase2002 393]

Are you just wanting more output or are there features you would like to have with the head unit. . . . I don't think you would see a big difference unless something is wrong now that another hu will help

[Randal Johnson 544]

More detailed bass response with better Equalization and crossover capabilities ?? Sure you should be able to tell the difference if the rest of the system is up to par with the headunit.

But if you are simply looking for "balls to the Wall" more output ?? No, don't think you will see any difference.

You may want to look into stronger amplication / battery power for that. increasing pre-out voltage will not help you get "better Bass"

My Kenwood 9980 (at the time of pruchase, one of the best on the market) only had a max of 4 volts output.

Best of luck with your search on this.

Edited May 16, 2014 by Randal Johnson

[jcarter1885 995]

There is no best head unit for sub bass only, any h/u with a sub preout will do the job just fine.

Edited May 16, 2014 by jay-cee

[///M5 2,833]

Won't help, neither does the mcd. Voltage from a 1v deck is fine.

[Impious 1,476]

The preamp voltage has nothing to do with loudness, higher bass output, etc. A higher preamp voltage increases signal to noise ratio of the signal of you are picking up noise during signal transmission, that's basically it.

The ONLY difference a a new head unit could make for your goals is improved equalization or crossover features if you have a dip in the bass response somewhere to help even everything out. Otherwise the SPL of your system is going to be the same no matter what HU you have, from a Walmart brand to a top of the line unit. Makes no difference. Aside from EQ the head unit has no means by which to increase the output of your system.

Why do you have the Clarion crossover?

[DedicatedEnthusiast 0]

Thanks guys! I was mainly wondering if output could be gained but im glad to know that what I have now is just fine and impious I have the clarion crossover to further cancel out undesired higher frequencies in the bass response which crescendo told me is completely normal to exist to a certain degree reguardless of filter settings on the amp

[lithium 358]

Thanks guys! I was mainly wondering if output could be gained but im glad to know that what I have now is just fine and impious I have the clarion crossover to further cancel out undesired higher frequencies in the bass response which crescendo told me is completely normal to exist to a certain degree reguardless of filter settings on the amp

 

bs. the amp crossover should do that job just fine. 

[Impious 1,476]

Thanks guys! I was mainly wondering if output could be gained but im glad to know that what I have now is just fine and impious I have the clarion crossover to further cancel out undesired higher frequencies in the bass response which crescendo told me is completely normal to exist to a certain degree reguardless of filter settings on the amp

Well, yes, that's the way a crossover works. It isn't a brick wall. A crossover attenuates the frequencies above the crossover point at a certain rate, known as the slope. I'd be surprised if the crossover on the amp didn't do this job satisfactorily for your system. On the other hand it sounds like your system is all bass, so even with the crossover set the output at those frequencies from the subs is still well above that from the speakers.

[DedicatedEnthusiast 0]

Thats what I originally thought lithium but impious are you saying this can be expected? Again its not like the higher frequencies are full blast or anything but definately annoyingly noticeable to a degree when it causes rattling and such

[lithium 358]

Thats what I originally thought lithium but impious are you saying this can be expected? Again its not like the higher frequencies are full blast or anything but definately annoyingly noticeable to a degree when it causes rattling and such

 

that's a sound deadening issue is it not? what do you mean when you say high frequencies are causing rattles? 

[Impious 1,476]

http://www.bcae1.com/xovrslop.htm

Read the link for a basic understanding of how a crossover works. Yes, the frequencies above the lowpass crossover frequency are still there, they are just lower in level compared to the frequencies below the lowpass crossover frequency. If you have a system with a powerful substage and ver weak midbass, which based simply on your thread title I'm going to assume you have, then yes the frequencies above the crossover point will still be played at a very audible level by the subs.

That 'nendo amp probably has 12db/oct crossovers. So if you are playing the subs at around 135db with a 50hz crossover, and the response above 50hz is relatively flat from the sub, then at 100hz you are still going to have 123db from the subs. At 150hz you are still going to have 111db. That's probably 10db or more louder than your speakers. In other words, at 150hz the sound from the subs would be twice as loud to the ear as the sound from your speakers. That's hypothetical of course, and ignores a few things, but the point is if you have a huge sub bass system then yes the output above the lowpass crossover is still going to be substantial. And having weak speakers is going to make,the "problem" appear even worse.

[lithium 358]

i would hope crescendo used 18 or 24 db/oct filters on an amp of this size. what impious is saying would still be true either way. 

Edited May 18, 2014 by lithium

[DedicatedEnthusiast 0]

Lithium I just mean that the higher frequencies I have set to be tuned out are still so present that they cause annoying rattling in my rear deck area. Thank you VERY MUCH for your input impious and back to lithium only crescendo would know I don't remember the details of what I was told besides that I could purchase the clarion mcd to further reduce undesired upper frequencies. Also I do remember the slope impious had mentioned being explained.

[lithium 358]

I tried to look up what filter is used but they don't advertise it. Weird. Impious covered everything. But u should also consider some deadening as well. Give sounddeadenershowdown.com a read

[DedicatedEnthusiast 0]

Ok thanks for the link!

[Impious 1,476]

i would hope crescendo used 18 or 24 db/oct filters on an amp of this size. what impious is saying would still be true either way.

When I googled it a couple manuals showed up and the text displayed on the google search said 12db.

[DedicatedEnthusiast 0]

So what does that mean? Would 18 or 24 have been much more suitable?

[///M5 2,833]

Suitable depends. Just more roll off.

[DedicatedEnthusiast 0]

I see. Well again this is the reason why I purchased the clarion crossover, for more roll off which is more suitable for me:)

[///M5 2,833]

More isn't always better.