Hertz Audio...known but unknown?

stealthmode · Sep 20, 2019

shaneckc said: ↑

Starting from best quality to lowest:

Mille
Hi Energy
Energy
Deici

I've installed and listened to tons of Hertz speakers in a ton of different configurations. I'd say 90% of people would be thrilled with Energy speakers and a good amplifier and installation. I recommend:

Go with Energy 6.5" components

Mount the tweeters in the sail panels, use the angled adapters to aim them toward the center of the truck.

Upgrade to an aftermarket head unit if you haven't already done so

Do a 10 " or 12" sub wherever you can fit one.

Buy an amp with more rated power than the speakers say that you'll need, but tune your gain structure conservatively.

Install sound dampening in your doors.

Go with solid HDPE or MDF speaker adapter instead of one of the plastic injection molded ones.

I understand that not everyone is into their stereo projects enough to do all of these things, but if you can touch on 3-4 of them, you should be very happy with the results. If you can do all 7, you'll be thrilled.

They come with angled adapters. Lot's of people mould custom sail panels (that little triangle panel on the inside of your door, directly opposite of the side-view mirrors. You don't have to go all out and mould them custom; the angled adapters make it easy to install and aim them if you're OK with the look. Aiming the tweeters like this and mounting them in that location will give you the best response, and still make for a relatively easy install. The Hertz Energy components have an adjustable crossover, and with the tweeters mounted in that location, you'll want it in the -2db position for both sides.

And as far as the quality of Hertz, I come from a high-SQ car audio background. Hertz speakers are my go-to for sound quality, performance, and prices that represent what you're getting. I had a 2-way Mille front stage in my last Tacoma that sounded incredible and would rock your socks off. I installed a 3-way Mille setup in another Tacoma that topped my own setup, and is one of the best car audio systems I've heard to date. In my current truck, I have had almost no time to pursue the grand stereo plans that I had for it when I bought it. For now, I have Hertz Deici components, and a 15 year old 12" Orion sub all powered off of one 4-channel amp with a carefully tuned gain structure. It kicks a surprising amount of ass for how cheap and simple my current setup is. I don't know of any other speakers that can perform like Hertz at their respective price points.

Hope all that helps!
Click to expand...

That's good info. And agree even without hooking up the amp the sound qaulity seems nice and crisp. Exactly what I'm going for. Eventually lol.

dolbytone · Sep 20, 2019

So I read through this thread and I saw you mention lacking bass from the doors and I'm a little confused by this, but maybe not since you haven't added an amplifier.

I've been running Hertz since 2009 so I've had some time with them. A lot of time. I can't say I've ever heard them not hooked to an amplifier though but my observation was and still is that there's a point where these speakers wake the hell up once you apply enough power. This is the case for my HiEnergy set, I don't know about the other speaker tiers, but I'm assuming it's the case with at least some of them.

That being the case, I do get good bass from them at lower levels but it's hard to say how much because I've always had a subwoofer since I installed them. I've also had deadened doors the whole time. For a long time I ran them with all of the service holes sealed up as well, but I recently removed the cover plates because they were water damaged and the only consequence was a tiny bit of road noise.

I didn't see what you used to mount them, but it might be the case that you need to upgrade your speaker mounting brackets. If you don't have solid brackets and seals, you are sacrificing speaker performance. I absolutely do recommend putting an amplifier on them too.

stealthmode · Sep 21, 2019

dolbytone said: ↑

So I read through this thread and I saw you mention lacking bass from the doors and I'm a little confused by this, but maybe not since you haven't added an amplifier.

I've been running Hertz since 2009 so I've had some time with them. A lot of time. I can't say I've ever heard them not hooked to an amplifier though but my observation was and still is that there's a point where these speakers wake the hell up once you apply enough power. This is the case for my HiEnergy set, I don't know about the other speaker tiers, but I'm assuming it's the case with at least some of them.

That being the case, I do get good bass from them at lower levels but it's hard to say how much because I've always had a subwoofer since I installed them. I've also had deadened doors the whole time. For a long time I ran them with all of the service holes sealed up as well, but I recently removed the cover plates because they were water damaged and the only consequence was a tiny bit of road noise.

I didn't see what you used to mount them, but it might be the case that you need to upgrade your speaker mounting brackets. If you don't have solid brackets and seals, you are sacrificing speaker performance. I absolutely do recommend putting an amplifier on them too.
Click to expand...

I got the standard Tacoma 6x9 speaker adapter from Metra. Nothing fancy-
The new set though does have a bit of bass. Surprised because spec wise they apear similar. At least to my noob eyes. I was pleasantly surprised.

Ecx 690 vs cx 690 that is.

All I need to do is figure out a line out converter and I'll be set to install. I was going to run the speaker leads to the amplifier and back out and let the amp do the work for me. But I've heard that is the lesser choice for signal quality than getting a line out converter. Just researching them now.

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/cat_i331_line-out-converters.html?sort_order=best_rated

SOSHeloPilot · Sep 21, 2019

.

dolbytone · Sep 22, 2019

My choice for your situation, when you add an amplifer would be the Fix86.

https://www.jlaudio.com/fix-86-car-audio-processors-system-tuning-98103

stealthmode · Sep 22, 2019

dolbytone said: ↑

My choice for your situation, when you add an amplifer would be the Fix86.

https://www.jlaudio.com/fix-86-car-audio-processors-system-tuning-98103
Click to expand...

Pretty nice man. 6 out puts.
You sir have expensive taste. Like a Red Lobster kinda guy.
I'm more of a Taco Bell kinda guy

dolbytone · Sep 22, 2019

Buy once cry once my friend.

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