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Davidwantz · 11-25-2016, 11:39 AM

In our 2016 Classic, the front speakers are mounted under the cabinets. If you are sitting on the couch, you get too much sound from the speaker overhead. Standing, it's fine, but who watches much TV standing?

In the 2017 Classic, the speakers are mounted facing forward and I am considering the same. I'd leave the Clarions in place so as not to match or patch the hole. There is dead space between the cabinet and the wall to route wires and mount new speakers

Should I just replace the Clarions with the Polk DB651 and leave them under the cabinets or buy a small set of speakers to fit forward-facing?

thiel · 11-26-2016, 12:52 PM

I had to switch out a speaker this morning. On mine, the screws are BEHIND the grill, so you have to pop off the screen part. Best place to do that was at the wide flat section (since it bent easiest without breaking. See photo.

Vantair · 11-26-2016, 03:50 PM

Had similar issue as the factory speakers aim down and were mostly mid range and no detail. Terrible. For now keeping original, however Instead of replacing them, added the same liquid cooled Polk "tweeters" on either end of the upper storage cabinet. This created far more forward, detailed, clearer surround experience greatly improving dispersion (they swivel for fine tuning against the convex corners) without cutting or replacing our AM sounding factory Sony originals. These wire in parallel to each L/R forward speaker at back the receiver. Cheap 65.00/pr, super easy install, much improved sound and kept factory.l

Also for vastly improved low end, added Polk 12v sub under Groucho next to converter.

m.hony · 11-26-2016, 07:13 PM

I've got a pair of those Polk Audio tweeters in my old Nissan Pathfinder.
They are loud and have a wider frequency response than one would think.
They actually sound better than the Rockford Fosgate tweeters I had before much less some Memphis tweeters I had before.
My trailer already has an SAS 8" powered sub under the couch.

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thiel · 11-26-2016, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

Maybe it is socioeconomic level, but I have always been pleased with mid-level brands of audio equipment- Pioneer, Sony, Marantz, JBL, Onkyo, Denon, Technics, Boston Acoustics-
I have gotten to a point if I had to give up all my audio gear I wouldn't miss it.
Trouble is how do you go about getting rid of it?
Who wants a bunch of old school stereo equipment and thousands of LP records and CDs?
Who would appreciate my lifelong collection of now seemingly worthless stuff that once meant so much to me?
Sometimes I think it would be best to have one of those auction companies come and sell everything like at estate sales, but I am still very much alive- just overwhelmed with stuff and clutter that can't be hauled in an Airstream trailer.
The days of internet, MP3s, Spotify, and Pandora have totally changed how we listen to music. Now I have 6,000+ songs in my iPhone with the capacity for many more.

I think you have it just about right. The mid-level stuff gives you nearly all the quality of the truly high end stuff, but at a fraction of the price. That's a good place to be both with your ears and your wallet. That being said, the Clarion stuff in my 2016 isn't good enough to be considered mid-level. I have a four-year-old bluetooth speaker that sounds better.

I'll be looking into some cheap upgrades to the speakers themselves since that will provide the most bang for the buck. (The head unit is good enough to drive even reasonably good speakers without many people being able to hear a difference... especially if the source is MP3 or whatnot.)

m.hony · 11-27-2016, 05:05 AM

Many times the breakdown in sound quality is the built-in amp section of the head unit.
That is more prominent with OE systems.
Aftermarket head units generally have a cleaner amp than OE head units.
The problem with external amplifiers in our trailers is where to put them and the power draw.
I guess I really don't use the stereo in the trailer that often.
I got to the campsite listening to Alpine, Boston Acoustics, and Rockford Fosgate with Dynamat everywhere in my Tundra.
To your point, I have an old Altec Lansing 2.1 computer speaker system from 1999 that sounds better than the Clarions and SAS sub.
I used it in our previous sob trailer that had very generic distorted garbage for a sound system.
Maybe we should all be changing out our Sony head units for Alpine head units, too. In my own cars I have had Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Audiovox, and JVC. None of them are as clean as Alpine. Since 2003 I have only had Alpine head units.

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Jukeboxfun · 11-27-2016, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thiel

I had to switch out a speaker this morning. On mine, the screws are BEHIND the grill, so you have to pop off the screen part. Best place to do that was at the wide flat section (since it bent easiest without breaking. See photo.

I had a speaker above the dinette stop working. This picture saved me much aggravation. I had to look close, only the metal grill comes off. I used a plastic shim to pry it loose. Sure enough a loose speaker wire. Problem solved. Thanks for the picture!

thiel · 12-11-2016, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jukeboxfun

I had a speaker above the dinette stop working. This picture saved me much aggravation. I had to look close, only the metal grill comes off. I used a plastic shim to pry it loose. Sure enough a loose speaker wire. Problem solved. Thanks for the picture!

Glad I could help!

Danecoyer · 12-13-2016, 07:10 AM

The clarions have a black metal mesh cover on the face. This is just a press on cover that sort of snaps in. To remove I just put a sharp, thin blade in the seam and pulled it out. A small pointed tool like a dental pick or paper clip could probably grab it by one of the holes and just pull.

Once this is out, the speaker screws out of the cabinet.

Chick Squad · 04-21-2017, 10:13 AM

I would LOVE t0 take the POS woofer out of my 27fb and replace with my Carver Sunfire Jr....can I ? That would be awesome! I know my Apogees won't fit, so looking at Kappas. Anyone else try these speakers? I had them in my Porsche....love!

Thanks! I am an audiophile and love this thread! Whoo Hooo!

turk123 · 04-22-2017, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chick Squad

I would LOVE t0 take the POS woofer out of my 27fb and replace with my Carver Sunfire Jr....can I ? That would be awesome! I know my Apogees won't fit, so looking at Kappas. Anyone else try these speakers? I had them in my Porsche....love!

Thanks! I am an audiophile and love this thread! Whoo Hooo!

The beauty of the bazooka sub is that it will tuck in right where the original sub came out. If you can't get the sub out of the way, your gonna be kicking it under the dinette. The improvement over the original sub is amazing.

Msmoto · 04-25-2017, 05:50 AM

Did I "hear" audiophile? LOL
Actually there are few of us who do not worry about WAF.
When in my AS, listening usually to Grado headphones, I miss my home system... tubes (VTL 5.5, S200) with Totem Element Metal speakers.
One huge problem, IMO, with AS is the aluminum interior and multiple hard surfaces. I guess this is why I use the headphones.

m.hony · 04-30-2017, 04:36 PM

I recently came to the conclusion that I may never full time in the Airstream.
A weekend of listening to vinyl at home opened my eyes- or ears...
That is one reason to keep the sticks and bricks.
Nothing sounds as good as vinyl.
No system sounds as good as a home system.

thiel · 04-30-2017, 07:06 PM

I have a really great system at home, but I am increasingly impressed with portable audio options out there.

If anyone is looking for truly great earbuds, make sure you check out Etymotic. Little known company but among the best out there. Pricey though.

m.hony · 04-30-2017, 07:42 PM

Digital just doesn't have the depth, warmth, and realism of vinyl.
Digital is the best choice for high end custom car stereo, but just isn't as warm and pleasant as an LP on a turntable.
The sound of the crash cymbal, hi-hat, snare drum, and kick drum sound so much better on analog.
The vocals sound as if the vocalist is in the room on a home system.
The tonal qualities of vinyl just can't be duplicated.
Digital is great, but still second best.

thiel · 04-30-2017, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

Digital just doesn't have the depth, warmth, and realism of vinyl.
Digital is the best choice for high end custom car stereo, but just isn't as warm and pleasant as an LP on a turntable.
The sound of the crash cymbal, hi-hat, snare drum, and kick drum sound so much better on analog.
The vocals sound as if the vocalist is in the room on a home system.
The tonal qualities of vinyl just can't be duplicated.
Digital is great, but still second best.

You sound like you're a candidate for a tube amplifier too...

thiel · 04-30-2017, 10:23 PM

Has anyone out there gone so far as to install a home system in an Airstream?

I can imagine a vintage McIntosh would look pretty sweet in an Airstream... and it would be another piece of solid American design/engineering in the mix. (But man are they heavy!)

Msmoto · 05-01-2017, 12:23 AM

Re: "home system" seems as though speaker placement and listening position pretty much eliminates this, at least IMO.

Re: tubes.... after twenty five years with Mark Levinson No. 38 and 27.5, when I went to VTL 5.5 Series II pre and S200 amp, was an improvement beyond belief. And when I play LP's on my ProJect RPM 5 Carbon turntable, this is stunning... a live concert without crowd noise.
All this does require lengthy room tuning, not possible in an AS.
The alternative for me is the Grado headphones, very nice except I cannot hear a fore/aft soundstage.

m.hony · 05-01-2017, 04:56 AM

I also can't imagine where the turntable and LP's would go.
The dimensions and shape of the room add to the sound quality of a home system.
The furniture, rugs, drapes, and Sheetrock also affect the sound quality.
None of those are present in an Airstream trailer.

Msmoto · 05-01-2017, 05:12 AM

@m.hony
For sure. I will say when I added my curtains and cellular blinds on the road side of my 30RB Serenity it improved the sound. This combined with firing the Polk speakers straight out probably gives me close to the best possible sound in an aluminum can.
As for LP's, I will be digitalizing to FLAC files many of mine, and these will be indistinguishable from the original when played in the AS. I suspect at home I will prefer the ritual of playing them on the turntable.... the "Japanese tea ritual" as verbalized by my dealer.

If anyone has designed a superior sound system for an AS, let me know.

Thanks