Radio & Speaker Install Questions '71 F250

[fijidad]

I bought a new AM/FM radio from C&G Ford Parts here in Escondido that fits in the original radio bezel. The wiring in the back looks like what's shown at this link:

http://images2.crutchfieldonline.com/Im ... e/plug.gif

I have two four inch round speakers that I've installed in the doors, and have two separate tweeters that I'll install in/near the dash; then I'll have one speaker in the original speaker location up inside the dash, and one behind the seat.

The two four inch and two tweeters came as a set and included two passive crossovers. Each crossover accepts two input wires from the radio, then has two 2-wire outputs...one for the 4" round and one for the tweeter. But this is where I get confused.....The radio has a total of eight wires out as shown in the link, yet the passive crossovers accept only two each.

I might add that the speakers are probably 20 years old, but new in the box. The manual has been long lost. So my problem may be that I'm trying to make work technologies from different decades....?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Dan

[HIO Silver]

The ground and signal wire, for example the right front (grey/grey-black), from the head unit goes to the crossover (it's basically a filter which allows the correct frequencies pass to the correct speaker) and then the two, two-wire outputs go to the tweeter and midrange. You need to figure out which pair of wires coming out of the crossover goes to which speaker... higher frequencies to the tweeter of course.

Treat the other speakers as the rears and connect them to the purple/purple-black and green/green-black.

[fijidad]

The ground and signal wire, for example the right front (grey/grey-black), from the head unit goes to the crossover (it's basically a filter which allows the correct frequencies pass to the correct speaker) and then the two, two-wire outputs go to the tweeter and midrange. You need to figure out which pair of wires coming out of the crossover goes to which speaker... higher frequencies to the tweeter of course.

Treat the other speakers as the rears and connect them to the purple/purple-black and green/green-black.

I'm wondering if I should just eliminate the passive crossovers altogether since I have pretty much infinite control of each speaker/tweeter from the new radio. Thoughts? Dan

[HIO Silver]

I wouldn't eliminate the crossovers. As a "component" system, where the tweeters and midrange are designed to receive certain frequencies, sending a full range of frequencies can damage the speakers.

All ya need to do is figure out which of the crossover's outputs as supposed to go to which speaker. Hook them up and try it out. Then swap them and determine if there is a tonal change. Meaning, low frequencies (bass) shouldn't be coming out of the tweeters.

Hook them up correctly and the sound emanating from the tweeters should be really crisp - generally outputting 12KHz or higher.... avoid cranking up the volume since that can damage the voice coils.

Try it.

[fijidad]

I wouldn't eliminate the crossovers. As a "component" system, where the tweeters and midrange are designed to receive certain frequencies, sending a full range of frequencies can damage the speakers.

All ya need to do is figure out which of the crossover's outputs as supposed to go to which speaker. Hook them up and try it out. Then swap them and determine if there is a tonal change. Meaning, low frequencies (bass) shouldn't be coming out of the tweeters.

Hook them up correctly and the sound emanating from the tweeters should be really crisp - generally outputting 12KHz or higher.... avoid cranking up the volume since that can damage the voice coils.

Try it.

Will do. The interesting thing is there are even more outputs from the back of this radio: "front" and "rear" speaker outputs via RCA female receptacles. I'll give her a go and see what happens. Thanks for the input. Dan

[HIO Silver]

The female RCA outputs are for separate amplifiers should you decide to install them. They are low-level outputs which don't rely on the receiver's built-in amps.

Give 'er a shot and let's see/hear the outcome.

[fijidad]

The female RCA outputs are for separate amplifiers should you decide to install them. They are low-level outputs which don't rely on the receiver's built-in amps.

Give 'er a shot and let's see/hear the outcome.

Got most of the wiring done, crossovers in place....should be able to fire it up in the next few days & will try a Youtube video. Thanks for the help HIO!

[fijidad]

Today I posted a video of the radio and speaker install in progress. To view, look under Video Gallery. Dan