Just installed Polks! - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

bikerboy · 08-13-2009, 06:09 PM

I just installed Polk DB651s. Overall the job was not that difficult. As long as you know how to use a dremel you will be fine. I don't know anything about speakers but they sound nice. A lot more bass than the OEMs so I turn the base to like 1 or even 0.

I don't know if I got the wiring correct though in terms of positive/negative. I was worried that I got the wires that solder to the speaker itself mixed up. If I did mix up the positive and negative the speakers wouldn't work right? They both work right now so everything should be okay right?

NCC1701 · 08-13-2009, 06:21 PM

If you got the leads to one speaker reversed, the sound will be out of phase. They'll work, but being out of phase more or less destroys imaging and can cancel some sounds out. It just doesn't sound 'right' and you'll probably feel the overall volume isn't what it should be. If you suspect this is the case, reverse the leads on one of the speakers. The difference should be obvious.

EDIT: I am inclined to think you have not got a phasing problem because you say the bass sounds fine. What mades you suspect you might have them reversed?

bikerboy · 08-13-2009, 07:21 PM

Is this correct? As you can see the red/green side of the connector is soldered to the positive side of the speaker and the green side goes to the negative of the speaker. I did the opposite w/ the other speaker so one of them has to be wrong but I couldn't tell the difference when listening. for the other one the brown/orange wire goes to the negative and the orange to the positive so I don't know.

NCC1701 · 08-13-2009, 07:31 PM

That would be correct, assuming both speakers are wired the same way. If they were both wired wrong, they'd sound just fine too. But, if one is wired opposite of the other you'd have a problem. Do they sound odd to you?

bikerboy · 08-13-2009, 07:46 PM

Just listened to them and maybe a very subtle static sound in the background but other than that I couldn't tell. I guess I'll desolder the other one to make it the same as the one in the pick. Will that be good?

NCC1701 · 08-13-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerboy

Just listened to them and maybe a very subtle static sound in the background but other than that I couldn't tell. I guess I'll desolder the other one to make it the same as the one in the pick. Will that be good?

Yes. If it is not the same.

cubefx · 08-13-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerboy

I don't know if I got the wiring correct though in terms of positive/negative. I was worried that I got the wires that solder to the speaker itself mixed up. If I did mix up the positive and negative the speakers wouldn't work right? They both work right now so everything should be okay right?

Bikerboy,

Brown wire is should be connected to the "-" and color wire to the "+" contacts of your new speakers.

CUBE

bikerboy · 08-13-2009, 09:49 PM

Okay well I just desoldered and switched the other one so that they are both "wrong". I couldn't really tell the difference. I guess the bass comes across nicer. Glad they are correct now. I found that they have A LOT more bass than the stock speakers. Also they vibrate a lot and get a little hot when on. Is this okayl? Thanks again for the help.