i think u can put the tweeter down 3 db if you want

other option is to set the amp on LP and turn it up till you get the highs you want. that is only if your speakers dont bottom out on the lows that it produces

 

Your stock headunit, along with the converter, is causing your "treble" to be amplified...per se.

You will not get anything good out of the perfects, unless you get a proper headunit.

Even if you drop the crossover setting to -3 db, it will still sound tinny, and muddy.

Headunits are your friends.

 

^ Ditto!

 

ahh... i'm gonna disagree w/ John and Dave

check your speaker wiring - sounds like you could be out of phase. one way to check - flip your + and - wires for 1 channel at the amp. if it helps the sound (and adds bass and midrange) then, it's a phase issue and you need to leave the wires reversed...

if it makes it sound worse, put it back like it was... and i've gotta agree w/ those guys. sounds like the HU could be artificially boosting the highs.

 

Imo, I thik a better HU is the answer too - Kappas need a lot more power than the stock HU can provide, so you're probably hearing a lot of distortion.

 

Although I agree, he is amped tho.

 

I slightly lowered the gain on my amp and it's helped a lot, don't know why i didn't just do that before. Also, I think a big problem may be the stock head unit. I don't think the wiring is messed up but i'll check tommorow morning.

 

These guys are right on track with needing a headunit. I prefer the Eclipse lineup, but there is a lot of love for Alpine nearly everywhere.

If, after getting a decent headunit, the speakers are still too bright, I would look at getting more amp behind the speakers. It worked wonders on a couple of Focal component setups I've messed with - going from a 75x2 Zapco to two of them. It really took the harshness off the top - probably because the amp wasn't working nearly as hard and the THD was less, but I'm not positive on that.

 

I am not familiar with this amp, but if you are using a LOC, arent you supposed to turn the "input signal" up as high as it will go, as the LOC is sending far greater of a signal than a standard 2-4V pre-out.

Also, at the amp, are you set to "full range" or "High Pass (HP)"? If you are set to High Pass, and have it crossed over too high, this COULD explain the unbalanced sound.

Have you checked the FAQ section on how to tune a LOC? I believe TR-S2k has a good writeup on it.

But in general, to make the Kappa's happy, a new HU should be installed. The signal quality of an LOC is just not in the same ballpark. Check out the NEW Alpine lineup. They have a new HU with FullSpeed iPod compatability for $199 (retail), so it can be had for cheaper via internet.

It also could be that you are underpowering these by 100% with that amp. You are running 50wrms to speakers that are rated for 100wrms (recommended). It might be that the mid woofers are not getting enough power to move correctly. Once you have eliminated all other possible problems (phasing, x-over point, input level, etc.), that might just be your issue....lack of power. I remember reading on here somewhere (just off the top of my head) that the Kappa's are pretty power-hungry, and it takes some wattage to make them happy.

John