83 GSL - front speakers almost silent? wtf?
Thread Starter
Ex-lion tamer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 120
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From: San Francisco, CA
83 GSL - front speakers almost silent? wtf?
I have an 83 GSL. It has the "premium sound", to my knowledge, which means Clarion amps under the seats and the little position sound stick and such.
Anyways. it feels like the entire system relies on the rear speakers. They are nice and loud and have good full range sound. When I shift the bias to the front, though, the fronts are almost silent. It's not that they're not putting out a decent range, but they are just REALLY quiet. Like, barely audible. With the balance set dead center you have to hold your ear within a few inches of them to hear anything.
Is this a problem with my car, or are they all like this? If I throw new speakers in, will I have a stronger stage, or will it still be uber-quiet?
Anyways. it feels like the entire system relies on the rear speakers. They are nice and loud and have good full range sound. When I shift the bias to the front, though, the fronts are almost silent. It's not that they're not putting out a decent range, but they are just REALLY quiet. Like, barely audible. With the balance set dead center you have to hold your ear within a few inches of them to hear anything.
Is this a problem with my car, or are they all like this? If I throw new speakers in, will I have a stronger stage, or will it still be uber-quiet?
7-less
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,053
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From: No. Virginia, USA
It could be a number of things. The speakers. Electical connections with the switch. Or the amps. I'd just rip out the old speakers and amps and put in new speakers. Or, go a bit further and by pass the amps and sound selecting switch by getting a head unit. Did that to my '85 GSL-SE, much much better.
Did you try adjusting the balance from the joystick and on the amp? Ive had problems with the fader on the amp in the dash. A little fiddling and I had it figured out/ working again.
Im not sure exactly how the factory amps in the storage bins work, but if one is for the front and one for the rear (not one for each L+R channel) then it could be something as little as a fuse, or a blown amp....either way make sure that both the joystick and the fader on the dash are neutral before going any further.
I dunno what else to add except that it does take quite a bit of fading to the front to balance the sound between the speakers in my car.
Best of luck to ya!
P.S. theres something about a stock system that just looks so sweet in my opinion..especially in the S3's. I say keep the stock system and fix it up!
Im not sure exactly how the factory amps in the storage bins work, but if one is for the front and one for the rear (not one for each L+R channel) then it could be something as little as a fuse, or a blown amp....either way make sure that both the joystick and the fader on the dash are neutral before going any further.
I dunno what else to add except that it does take quite a bit of fading to the front to balance the sound between the speakers in my car.
Best of luck to ya!
P.S. theres something about a stock system that just looks so sweet in my opinion..especially in the S3's. I say keep the stock system and fix it up!
Thread Starter
Ex-lion tamer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
That's why I'm asking; the stock system is surprisingly nice. Worse came to worse I'd just replace the speakers with some no-frills Infinities. When I have some time I'll check into it, but I can confirm that both faders are dead center right now.
Seattleite-moss optional
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 209
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
I have an 82 GSL with the same system. I swear mine has been like that since the day I bought it new. Very little volume on the front speakers with the joystick foreward. But, I don't think you would want as much volume in the front speakers as the rear ones, since you are sitting much closer to the fronts than the backs. I think it actually balances the sound well that way.
