Initial Results after adding Tweeters

[silent cilantro]

Ok so can we get a TDLR conclusion please? Lol.
Which wires are the consensus choice for adding tweeters?

This is the final answer. I meant to post here to update but forgot.

I tested continuity with a multimeter on all the wires from the speaker connector at the door to inside the cabin and confirmed which set of connectors/cables belong to the twitter/highs and which to the mids. Also confirmed polarity and tested impedance.

One thing to notice is on the right/passenger side the cable is solid yellow at the speaker but it changes to yellow/white once it passes into the cabin.

And here’s a video testing polarity of the speaker with a power supply, the mids cone BARELY moves but if you look carefully at the edges you can see it moving up when power is applied.

 

[jimshadow]

Hey JimShadow
Did you connect to the tweeter wires or midrange wires? with or without the filter?
Thx

I'll have to ask the installer.

 

[Nova]

Thanks for the comparison silent cilantro and trying to reconcile the different postings. I know my wire coloring is accurate, however I can't swear by the polarity. All I know is my tweeters work AOK as set-up. I tested each speaker, before finalizing the wiring connections and doing clean-up. Perhaps if there's an "electrician" or someone ++ good with automobile speakers, they can confirm that the polarity, if consistent, will work either way(?). I say this, since I expect the different polarity used by others likely worked too. I'll wait with interest, to see your other responses.

The fact that people aren't really caring about the polarity and report positive results either way is further proof that people who are adding tweeters to the system as a way to "improve" it have no idea what they are doing and little to no sense about what good sound quality is. Then there is the filters/no-filters, and whether to connect to the midrange or tweeter wires...

This is like watching people talk about cutting their springs to lower their cars and discussing if it's better to cut from the top or the bottom.

 

[netsinah]

The fact that people aren't really caring about the polarity and report positive results either way is further proof that people who are adding tweeters to the system as a way to "improve" it have no idea what they are doing and little to no sense about what good sound quality is. Then there is the filters/no-filters, and whether to connect to the midrange or tweeter wires...

This is like watching people talk about cutting their springs to lower their cars and discussing if it's better to cut from the top or the bottom.

Sorry but I do care about and know "good sound quality" and my $100K 15-speaker surround sound home theatre room (photos below) attests to that, plus the Bose 501 Series II speakers I started with on my sound journey about 45 years ago. Regardless, I can certainly tell the difference between the KEF OEM sound and the improved sound from my tweeter/subwoofer Emira additions (enhanced by adding sound deadening materials). It's very likely not "perfection" which I could have achieved paying actual sound specialists $$$ (like I did for my theatre room), however it's a definite improvement.

That said, I agree I'm no expert when it comes to automotive wiring, agree I didn't think it worthwhile to rip everything apart to rewire the tweeters after reviewing the subsequent comments of others, agree I'm guilty of following the pathway generously laid out on the Forums by others (I relied on their advice), and agree I'm guilty of adding to it, in an effort to constructively help others wanting to tackle the same mods, which is what I thought one of the main purposes of this Forum was. I thank those who posted useful advice on this thread, otherwise I never would have tried these mods. If you think this is all "the blind leading the blind", that's definitely one point of view, however that "100% accuracy" requirement would likely stifle many of the posts on the Forum, would have left me with an OEM Emira and inferior sound, and I did these mods realizing Forum members posting weren't experts and I was willing to take a chance on their advice and I'm happy I did.

A different point of view, for a Friday.

 

[Nova]

Sorry but I do care about and know "good sound quality" and my $100K 15-speaker surround sound home theatre room (photos below) attests to that, plus the Bose 501 Series II speakers I started with on my sound journey about 45 years ago. Regardless, I can certainly tell the difference between the KEF OEM sound and the improved sound from my tweeter/subwoofer Emira additions (enhanced by adding sound deadening materials). It's very likely not "perfection" which I could have achieved paying actual sound specialists $$$ (like I did for my theatre room), however it's a definite improvement.

That said, I agree I'm no expert when it comes to automotive wiring, agree I didn't think it worthwhile to rip everything apart to rewire the tweeters after reviewing the subsequent comments of others, agree I'm guilty of following the pathway generously laid out on the Forums by others (I relied on their advice), and agree I'm guilty of adding to it, in an effort to constructively help others wanting to tackle the same mods, which is what I thought one of the main purposes of this Forum was. I thank those who posted useful advice on this thread, otherwise I never would have tried these mods. If you think this is all "the blind leading the blind", that's definitely one point of view, however that "100% accuracy" requirement would likely stifle many of the posts on the Forum, would have left me with an OEM Emira and inferior sound, and I did these mods realizing Forum members posting weren't experts and I was willing to take a chance on their advice and I'm happy I did.

A different point of view, for a Friday.

View attachment 72938 View attachment 72939

Sorry, "trust me" doesn't cut it. People will have to explain why the additional tweeters are needed, why tweeter polarity doesn't matter, why filter or no filter, and why one would connect to the midrange wires versus the tweeter wires. We are not talking about "100% accuracy" here, just bare-bones basic fundamental discussions akin why or how to go about lowering a car. We don't have to be F1 chassis engineers to know that cutting your springs is a terrible thing to do and in no way improves the handling of a car. There is no need for "100% accuracy" to make that determination. I have yet to see a single salient argument on why this system benefits from adding the Alpine tweeters other than "it sounds good to me". I have no idea where you saw "useful advice" pertaining to these tweeters. If you like your additional Alpine tweeters... good for you. Some of us like that V shaped sound. If it floats your boat, go for it, but don't pretend that it's a objective improvement.

A logic and evidence based discussion may be had around the fact that the next update of the Emira comes with tweeters on the A-pillars, probably bowing to market pressure more than anything. But at least that has the hopes of being an integrated/engineered solution that is more likely to be a low powered "fill/height" driver rather than being relied upon for primary treble output. This type of low power "fill/height" high frequency drivers are a common design in multi-driver automotive surround sound systems, usually trading off sound stage focus for additional spaciousness. But that's not what adding the Alpine tweeters do. People are just slapping it in willy-nilly.

There are certainly ways to improve the KEF system's sound quality. I've discussed upgrading the subwoofer enthusiastically with others who want to rid themselves of that fresh air sub. This is a well established weakness of the KEF sound system in terms of low end bass extension and overall output level. This is a logical and evidence based upgrade. The Alpine tweeter upgrade is not.

 

[crestima]

Fascinating how pointless debates like these develop as they generally lead to the same forgone conclusion that "you like what you like". I, for one, am very satisfied with the outcome of my A-Pilar tweeter addition and my added powered sub. Both could quickly be reversed to OEM but, quite honestly, the thought hasn't even crossed my mind.

 

[Beachbum]

I have stayed out of this, as I am OK with how the KEF system sounds from the factory. My hearing isnt that good, for me to determine minor improvements and I drive with the windows open most of the time(Previously an Elise with the roof off 90% of the time)
And that pretty much sums up how people should see this whole discussion........ How does it sound to you? How it sounds to someone else is irrelevant.

 

[Nova]

Fascinating how pointless debates like these develop as they generally lead to the same forgone conclusion that "you like what you like". I, for one, am very satisfied with the outcome of my A-Pilar tweeter addition and my added powered sub. Both could quickly be reversed to OEM but, quite honestly, the thought hasn't even crossed my mind.

Lol, it has only become "pointless" when nothing of objective substance could be offered by those who are doing this mod. While I support your enjoyment of the tweeters - you like what you like - this type of sentiment does not justify making idiotic poorly understood modification to the audio system and certainly does not shield such modifications from criticism.

Edited for language.

 

[Porter]

Easy, Nova. We can disagree or even enthusiastically debate without using language like "idiotic". You have a lot of knowledge on this topic and the forum is better for it. Please contribute! But let's keep it civil and collaborative here please.

 

[NJemira85]

Guys, sorry if this was answered elsewhere but searching the forums is banned by my religion: what even is a tweeter? I have heard about barkers and woofers and Boeing growlers but never a tweeter

 

[NJemira85]

I have a $60k 2 channel set up without tweeters or polarity.

It sounds great.