Polk SR6500 not loud

tk421
tk421 Posts: 156
edited July 2008 in Car Audio & Electronics
Hi all,

I added an amplifier to my polk SR6500. It's an alpine PDX 4.100

I have each tweeter and each midrange woofer on a separate channel. ie: CH-1 and CH-2 are tweeters L and R CH-3 and CH-4 are mid-woofer L and R

So they are getting 100WRMS each. (except the tweeters - i turned the level down on the head unit - Alpine CDA-9887)

Why aren't these speakers as loud as i hoped?
Post edited by tk421 on
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  • Jethro
    Jethro Posts: 28
    edited June 2008
    tk421 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I added an amplifier to my polk SR6500. It's an alpine PDX 4.100

    I have each tweeter and each midrange woofer on a separate channel. ie: CH-1 and CH-2 are tweeters L and R CH-3 and CH-4 are mid-woofer L and R

    So they are getting 100WRMS each. (except the tweeters - i turned the level down on the head unit - Alpine CDA-9887)

    Why aren't these speakers as loud as i hoped?
    Try bridging the amp to 2 channel (using the SR x-overs) instead of biamping... that may make a difference.
    Friends don't let friends listen to Bose.
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited June 2008
    Your hearing could always be damaged.

    Im running my SR6500's bi-amped with 90 watts per driver and they get plenty loud for me with the gains set at 9:00.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • candaddy
    candaddy Posts: 54
    edited June 2008
    I've got only 50 watts per speaker with the same wiring setup you have and loudness is not an issue. Are you sure you have your amp/head unit levels set right? Unless you drive around with ear plugs in and have hearing issues, I can't imagine it doesn't get loud enough with 100 watts.
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  • only126db
    only126db Posts: 157
    edited June 2008
    Could be a ton of reasons....

    Do you have any sound deadener applied....

    Are you completely seperating the rear sound waves from the front...

    Speaker placement...

    losing sound from air leakeage....

    Settings incorrect somewhere in system....

    Got a speaker out of phase.....

    There are a ton of reasons why.....

    Maybe you just expect too much from 1 pair of 6 1/2" speakers....
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  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited June 2008
    I'm thinking you're wanting too loud out of a sound quality speaker...
    -Cody
    Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
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  • black magic
    black magic Posts: 669
    edited June 2008
    exalted512 wrote: »
    I'm thinking you're wanting too loud out of a sound quality speaker...
    -Cody

    Too often, that happens to be the case :(
    » Λнмєd «
    "Wtf is juice? I want some grape drink, baby"

    polkaudio FTW!
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  • tk421
    tk421 Posts: 156
    edited June 2008
    exalted512 wrote: »
    I'm thinking you're wanting too loud out of a sound quality speaker...
    -Cody

    yup. probably that is the case. i set my gains using a 1KHz tone and a multimeter on Volts-AC.
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  • candaddy
    candaddy Posts: 54
    edited June 2008
    Make sure the speakers aren't out of phase then and I guess that's all the advice there is to be had...

    I've seen some people run a low-pass crossover on the amp and a high-pass on the head unit (or something else like that) where they accidentally attenuate the entire frequency range. You might be sure something isn't switched on when you meant it to be off.
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  • dirthog
    dirthog Posts: 124
    edited June 2008
    tk421 wrote: »
    yup. probably that is the case. i set my gains using a 1KHz tone and a multimeter on Volts-AC.

    Your leaving a lot of power behind when you use a dm to set your gains. Set it by ear.
    HU: 880PRS
    Front: SR6500
    Amp: Alpine MRV-F545
    Sub: SR124-DVC
    Amp: Alpine MRD-M1005
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  • 1996blackmax
    1996blackmax Posts: 2,436
    edited June 2008
    I went with a -3db test tone when I used my dm for my components. I am currently pushing my speakers with 65 watts RMS and they still get pretty loud. When I had my amp bridged they were getting 210 watts RMS. The extra headroom was pretty darn nice.
    Alpine: CDA-7949
    Alpine: PXA-H600
    Alpine: CHA-S624, KCA-420i, KCA-410C
    Rainbow: CS 265 Profi Phase Plug / SL 165
    ARC Audio: 4150-XXK / 1500v1-XXK
    JL Audio: 10W6v2 (x2)
    KnuKonceptz
    Second Skin
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  • dirthog
    dirthog Posts: 124
    edited July 2008
    tk421, You might want to try active for more volume.

    I think the crossover holds the speakers back. I know I didn't like seeing the crossover fuse light up like a christmas tree.

    It didn't click until I was talking about this with someone on another forum.
    HU: 880PRS
    Front: SR6500
    Amp: Alpine MRV-F545
    Sub: SR124-DVC
    Amp: Alpine MRD-M1005
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