$1000, help me select/rate my equipment please!

[Arya]

Hey guys, my name's Arya, I drive a 2008 Honda Civic EX Sedan. I live in Texas, and I know close to nothing when it come's to car audio.

So I'm trying to get a new complete sound system for my car, I have a friend who has offered to install for it me, but I just need to get something for him to install. I posted a build I made on another forum, and everyone opposed it, and I figured I might as well ask what's the best if I'm going to swap everything out.

My main priority is sound quality. I want two 12" subs (I'm a teen, and I'm stupid), and I want my door speakers replaced too. As far as sound deadening, the friend who's installing everything for me is buying a bunch of Dynamat for his car, and said he'd give me his left overs and install it for me, so that's covered.

I mainly listen to hip-hop/rap, specifically Mac Miller, A$AP, Jay Z, Kid Ink, and occasionly I listen to some Waka Flocka, and Chief Keef (I'm not sure if any of this is relevant, but oh well.).

Head Unit:

Kenwood Excelon KDC-X597

Box:

Still looking

Subs:

(2) 12" Dayton Ho's

Amp:

MB Quart ONX1.2000D 2000W ONYX Series Class D Monoblock

MB Quart ONX2.100 400W ONYX Series 2-Channel Class A/B

Front Door Speakers:

JBL MS-62C

Rear Door Speakers:

Stock, running off HU

EDIT: I'm ditching the rear door speakers, and running just a nice set of front speakers. Ditching the double DIN, going with a single DIN. Currently set on the 12" Dayton Ho'd since I've found good reviews about them. Realized all I need is a 2 channel amp, and one mono amp, don't know which one's yet. Might go with a ported box instead of a sealed.

EDIT2: Updated my build with new equipment, what do you think? Can anyone recommend some good amps? I have about $250 left to play with. Also what gauge wire would I need?

EDIT3: Think I'm done with my build, what do you think?

EDIT4: Need help finding someone to build me a custom box that's affordable.

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[mat3833 10+ year member]

if you want true sound quality be prepared to spend a TON of time tuning everything. that headunit isnt too bad, but you will only have 2 sets of RCA pre-outs. i could spout off a list of good starter SQ gear, but chances are someone else will come in and say it all *****. i would take some time and browse the for sale sections. your 1000.00 can take you ALOT farther if you open up to used gear. you could pick up a complete system for ~600.00 if you go with a single DIN HU and go used. if you want me recomendations shoot me a PM and ill throw you some links.

Matt

 

[Arya]

if you want true sound quality be prepared to spend a TON of time tuning everything. that headunit isnt too bad, but you will only have 2 sets of RCA pre-outs. i could spout off a list of good starter SQ gear, but chances are someone else will come in and say it all *****. i would take some time and browse the for sale sections. your 1000.00 can take you ALOT farther if you open up to used gear. you could pick up a complete system for ~600.00 if you go with a single DIN HU and go used. if you want me recomendations shoot me a PM and ill throw you some links.
Matt

Thanks! Your PM box is full.

 

[mat3833 10+ year member]

Thanks! Your PM box is full.

cleared

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

Clarion cz 702. Deck. 1 good. 12 opposed to 2 lower level ones may get you better output. Like. A sa. Obsidian xfl just to name a few. The some components up front. Leave the rears stock. An amp kit and harnesses Custom box and good amp should put you at $1000- $1100 shipped new

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

kicker and sound quality should not belong in the same sentence. They are not too great for rap also.

no qualms on the speaker and 4 channel amp for this budget.

For your type of music, you'd really want a ported box instead of sealed or else you'll find the bass lacking on the bass lines in those songs. if you can fit it, do one good 15 or 12 inch subwoofer instead and have a custom box for it and get one big 1k-1.5k rms amp instead of two.

 

[Arya]

kicker and sound quality should not belong in the same sentence. They are not too great for rap also. no qualms on the speaker and 4 channel amp for this budget.

For your type of music, you'd really want a ported box instead of sealed or else you'll find the bass lacking on the bass lines in those songs. if you can fit it, do one good 15 or 12 inch subwoofer instead and have a custom box for it and get one big 1k-1.5k rms amp instead of two.

I'm pretty dead set on two 12" since I'm a stupid teen who will want to occasionally "bump" it. I thought sealed was best for SQ, but will ported really be that much better? I've had a few people suggest a ported, and I'm slowly leaning towards it.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

sealed is like your muting your subwoofers, you'll hardly get loud at all, it'll be accurate bass, but when your bumping it, its not gonna get much louder. In a good CUSTOM ported box, your not going to lose any sound quality. 2 12s is good but your going to want 2 quality 12s and two good 12s will put you over your budget. One good 15 will not break the bank and it'll have almost the same cone area as two 12s and there is no difference in sound quality when it comes to subwoofer size.

this single 12 inch sub setup will crush those two kickers you mentioned

 

[Arya]

sealed is like your muting your subwoofers, you'll hardly get loud at all, it'll be accurate bass, but when your bumping it, its not gonna get much louder. In a good CUSTOM ported box, your not going to lose any sound quality. 2 12s is good but your going to want 2 quality 12s and two good 12s will put you over your budget. One good 15 will not break the bank and it'll have almost the same cone area as two 12s and there is no difference in sound quality when it comes to subwoofer size.
this single 12 inch sub setup will crush those two kickers you mentioned

I changes my mind on the kickers over to two 12" Dayton Ho's.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

dayton hos are a good solid choice

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

I'm pretty dead set on two 12" since I'm a stupid teen who will want to occasionally "bump" it. I thought sealed was best for SQ, but will ported really be that much better? I've had a few people suggest a ported, and I'm slowly leaning towards it.

A driver that is DESIGNED to play well in a ported box will do just fine. Ported boxes generally get a bad rep because people don't build a proper box. Most of today's subwoofers are designed to operate in ported alignment.

I saw a TC-3000 (Audiopulse Axis) on the FS section a week or so ago for really short money. That is the best thing I've seen here for the money in quite some time. Otherwise Dayton's products are all good quality.

Ditch the rears and focus on some good components up front.

Really SQ and the music you listed doesn't belong in the same post, so I'll just assume you want to be loud without sounding like your computer speakers turned up too loud. Any mid-level component should get you there.

So budget:

225$ head unit

300$ sub and box

200$ components

125$ 2 channel or 4 channel amp for fronts

200$ 1000W sub amp (any larger and you'll need some electrical upgrades)

You'll likely need to come out of pocket another 100$ or so for wires and such, so if you can find a deal on the other stuff, do it, but that should be a good ballpark to buy decent equipment.

 

[Arya]

A driver that is DESIGNED to play well in a ported box will do just fine. Ported boxes generally get a bad rep because people don't build a proper box. Most of today's subwoofers are designed to operate in ported alignment.
I saw a TC-3000 (Audiopulse Axis) on the FS section a week or so ago for really short money. That is the best thing I've seen here for the money in quite some time. Otherwise Dayton's products are all good quality.

Ditch the rears and focus on some good components up front.

Really SQ and the music you listed doesn't belong in the same post, so I'll just assume you want to be loud without sounding like your computer speakers turned up too loud. Any mid-level component should get you there.

So budget:

225$ head unit

300$ sub and box

200$ components

125$ 2 channel or 4 channel amp for fronts

200$ 1000W sub amp (any larger and you'll need some electrical upgrades)

You'll likely need to come out of pocket another 100$ or so for wires and such, so if you can find a deal on the other stuff, do it, but that should be a good ballpark to buy decent equipment.

Sorry for the late reply, I was out for my brothers birthday dinner.

I'm ditching the rears like you said, but don't know what speakers I want upfront yet.

You pretty much nailed the whole SQ thing, I want to actually hear the song, I don't want to hear rattle.

So far what I've "spent" is-

$100(dash kit + steering wheel control adapter) + w/e headunit is

$300 subs

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Sorry for the late reply, I was out for my brothers birthday dinner.
I'm ditching the rears like you said, but don't know what speakers I want upfront yet.

You pretty much nailed the whole SQ thing, I want to actually hear the song, I don't want to hear rattle.

So far what I've "spent" is-

$100(dash kit + steering wheel control adapter) + w/e headunit is

$300 subs

I'd unplug the rears altogether. Looks good so far otherwise. Those JBL components are really nice for the money and the passive crossover is good enough that you won't need to get fancy running active to make them sound good.

I'd suggest putting a WTB thread in the classifieds and find yourself a nice 1000W mono amp and 75X2 stereo amp.

 

[Arya]

I'd unplug the rears altogether. Looks good so far otherwise. Those JBL components are really nice for the money and the passive crossover is good enough that you won't need to get fancy running active to make them sound good.
I'd suggest putting a WTB thread in the classifieds and find yourself a nice 1000W mono amp and 75X2 stereo amp.

I'm trying to buy everything new if I can, unless I see a crazy good deal.

What do you think of these two?

Autotek M1600.2 1600W Max Mean Machine 2-Channel Amplifier

Autotek M4000.1D 4000W Max Mean Machine Series Mono Amplifier

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

I'm trying to buy everything new if I can, unless I see a crazy good deal.
What do you think of these two?

Autotek M1600.2 1600W Max Mean Machine 2-Channel Amplifier

Autotek M4000.1D 4000W Max Mean Machine Series Mono Amplifier

I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole. Really I know of only a couple 1000-1200W amps that I'd vouch for and you won't get them for