crossovers

Here's the deal: I am fixing to install a Pioneer HU (DEH410UB Premier) in my truck and lose the stock POS radio / speakers. I chose to get the Image Dynamics XS-69 components / Mr Marv baffles and have the ARC Audio KS-125 mini amp already here. So should I use the crossovers that come with the speakers or try to use the crossovers in the HU? I understand that the crossovers eat a lot of power that would be going to the speakers? Or is it mandatory to use the crossovers that come with the speakers? I will not be using a sub so approximately what would be some good starting settings for first applying power to everything on the install? Just so nothing gets hosed right off the bat and to start to get everything tuned properly? I will most likely start with the amp gain(s) turned down all the way. No bass boost to start with either. The instruction book that came with the amp does not go into detail too much concerning the crossover settings; the amp has per channel settings that go from 55 Hz to 550 Hz. So I am a little confused as to how these should be initially set so as not to destroy the tweeters immediately. Or would the external crossovers handle this so would not need the CO's in the amp at all?

Thanks for any pointers on this.

 

feelin too tired to answer it all but you definitely are gonna want to use the crossover that came with your speakers

 

If that was my setup....

I would bridge the amp and use the crossovers that come with the speakers. There is more than enough power.
Set the speakers up properly using the test tones here:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/44019-audio-test-tones.html
Turn bass boost completely off when setting the speaker levels.
Using the ID crossovers, the HU's crossover will not be used. Definitely deaden the doors with those speakers as well...

 

Agreeing with the above. Use the crossover that comes with the speakers. Start with no bass boost or other types of frequency adjustments. A nice flat signal is where you want to start out so you have a base line to shape the sound to the way that sounds best to you.

 

While using the passives that come with the speakers will certainly protect the tweeters, I think you still need to protect the mids by using the high pass crossover in the amp or HU. You'll probably end up somewhere in the 100s.

I used the crossover in the head unit first so I could experiment with it while sitting in the listening position.

 

Oops, just realized you said xs69, not 65s. I guess those can cross lower, but of course you'd still need to protect them.