2000.00 System HELP (what can be improved)

[ShankyMcPimp 10+ year member]

Looking to finalize my setup. Haters and Lovers alike, what do you think?

2000.00 is the final cost I can spend minus 200 to get someone else to install....i think.

Car: 2006 Scion Xb Stereo System Build for Feedback

Sound Baffling: How to thoroughly gut and eDead your xB...13 MEG of images - Scionlife.com

Material: 2 Rolls Dynamat = $ 330.00

Front Windows: 2 x Morel MDT -29 Large Format Tweeters = $ 110.00

Front Side Doors & Rear Panels: 4 x JL ZR 6.5’s = $ 1200.00 (anything not cost this much that may work ok vs. JL's?)

Rear: 1 x 12” Subwoofer (what box do I need to buy/have made?) = TC Sounds Epic 12" DVC Subwoofer = $ 200.00 + $ 200.00 box cost? = $ 400.00

6 Channel Amp: Zed Audio Leviation - III = $ 800.00

Pictures of car and amps included.....thanks again....

Click to read more...

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

this level of quality is going to require that level of install. Plan on $1000 at least for the install of the deadener and equipment

HAT Clarus set in front and the Hat Imagines in back. -$300 savings

The AQ 120.4 is a better amp than some costing twice as much..the specs speak for themselves.

The AQ 750D is a solid performer in it's power category..the specs speak for themselves. -$300 savings combined

MurderMat - $ 100 savings ( I think, maybe more?)

I would not put tweeters on the windows. I would suggest installing the comps and THEN deciding if the Highs were inadequate. -$110 savings

$800 savings and still maintain the level of SQ you seek + the $200 for install you have planned should get you there, depending on who builds your sub inclosure, which I would recommend ported.

..and of course, this is just my .02.

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

ps..the ability of the installer will determine the outcome of the install. The difference in SQ between a $600 set of comps and a $150 set of comps still lies in the hands of the installer.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

this level of quality is going to require that level of install. Plan on $1000 at least for the install of the deadener and equipment
HAT Clarus set in front and the Hat Imagines in back. -$300 savings

The AQ 120.4 is a better amp than some costing twice as much..the specs speak for themselves.

The AQ 750D is a solid performer in it's power category..the specs speak for themselves. -$300 savings combined

MurderMat - $ 100 savings ( I think, maybe more?)

I would not put tweeters on the windows. I would suggest installing the comps and THEN deciding if the Highs were inadequate. -$110 savings

$800 savings and still maintain the level of SQ you seek + the $200 for install you have planned should get you there, depending on who builds your sub inclosure, which I would recommend ported.

..and of course, this is just my .02.

AQ amps are probably not in the SQ arena.

High end JL comps sound very nice, but I'd shop Madisound for some really good componens. Leviahan allows active crossover at the amp, you have plenty of crossover options.

 

[CHEMMINS 10+ year member]

I would also check madisound or partsexpress for individual tweeters/midrange/midbass. You can get much better speakers for the price if willing to piece together.....and no, I will not go do the research for you, sorry.

The zed is a very nice amp. Has lots of power avail to run a nice 3 way front stage.

Wouldn't bother with Dynamat....it is expensive just for the name. Look into AudioTechnix or Murdermat. Both are sponsors here. AT has awesome customer service and you can also order your wire needed from him as well.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

Also look at cdt for components the Es and hd lines are very nice and in some cases can be had for way less The zed amp is sweet I'd stick with it

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

AQ amps are probably not in the SQ arena.
High end JL comps sound very nice, but I'd shop Madisound for some really good componens. Leviahan allows active crossover at the amp, you have plenty of crossover options.

The AQ has active HP/LP/BP options as well. I do not understand why you suggest it would not produce clean A/B output. The Leviathan is a very good amp, but given the budget, quality of the drivers and level of install required, I would recommend a cheaper amp that will do the job required for less $. You might give up a few pretty lights, but the difference in $ applied to the installation of properly installed midbasses and staged tweeters will more than make up for it in the initial investment.

A $2000.00 budget including install in the SQ Arena is not very much. I am well aware that AQ is associated with cheap..but it is good, solid and very capable. As are a couple of other brands. By initially spending $500 or less on amps that will hold decent resale value if, and that is a big IF, there is somehow an audible difference in fidelity attributed to the amps, OP can sell the equipment (or trade in) at a very good price and invest in more expensive amp(s) as a future upgrade.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

The AQ has active HP/LP/BP options as well. I do not understand why you suggest it would not produce clean A/B output. The Leviathan is a very good amp, but given the budget, quality of the drivers and level of install required, I would recommend a cheaper amp that will do the job required for less $. You might give up a few pretty lights, but the difference in $ applied to the installation of properly installed midbasses and staged tweeters will more than make up for it in the initial investment.
A $2000.00 budget including install in the SQ Arena is not very much. I am well aware that AQ is associated with cheap..but it is good, solid and very capable. As are a couple of other brands. By initially spending $500 or less on amps that will hold decent resale value if, and that is a big IF, there is somehow an audible difference in fidelity attributed to the amps, OP can sell the equipment (or trade in) at a very good price and invest in more expensive amp(s) as a future upgrade.

I'm sure if you needed tech support you could just call up AQ and talk to someone who has been leading the industry designing amps for the last 30 years too.

For 300$ difference you're not giving up just pretty lights. You are saving space, efficiency, crossover options, resale value, and more.

2K is plenty for SQ build if you buy right and do most of the work yourself.

 

[Brock79 10+ year member]

The ZR's are a fine set of comps nothing wrong with them or the tweets that come with them. I believe sonicelectronics have them for 479 or 497 a set, something like that. So there is another 200 in savings and forget the other tweets another 110 in savings.

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

I'm sure if you needed tech support you could just call up AQ and talk to someone who has been leading the industry designing amps for the last 30 years too.

Oh, ok, I misunderstood then. I thought you knew something about the AQ 120.4 that would indicate it was not suitable for mid/high duty, and I was hoping you would share that info. I used AQ as an example. There are a few others in that price range I would also recommend..

For 300$ difference you're not giving up just pretty lights. You are saving space, efficiency, crossover options, resale value, and more.
2K is plenty for SQ build if you buy right and do most of the work yourself.

Perhaps I misunderstood the OP too. But from what I read, this is not the case. And by further research, Not only would I possibly suggest AQ amps, but perhaps $200.00 - $300.00 comps front and rear (HAT IMAGINES for Example) to further decrease equipment costs to ensure the affordability of a meticulous professional install.

 

[Flex68 10+ year member]

[quote name='ShankyMcPimp']Looking to finalize my setup. Haters and Lovers alike, what do you think?

2000.00 is the final cost I can spend minus 200 to get someone else to install....i think.

$2k is a decent budget for an SQ/SQL install, but you're likely not going to find anyone to do such an install for only $200...

Car: 2006 Scion Xb Stereo System Build for Feedback

Sound Baffling: How to thoroughly gut and eDead your xB...13 MEG of images - Scionlife.com
Material: 2 Rolls Dynamat = $ 330.00
Front Windows: 2 x Morel MDT -29 Large Format Tweeters = $ 110.00
Front Side Doors & Rear Panels: 4 x JL ZR 6.5’s = $ 1200.00 (anything not cost this much that may work ok vs. JL's?)
Rear: 1 x 12” Subwoofer (what box do I need to buy/have made?) = TC Sounds Epic 12" DVC Subwoofer = $ 200.00 + $ 200.00 box cost? = $ 400.00

6 Channel Amp: Zed Audio Leviation - III = $ 800.00

Pictures of car and amps included.....thanks again....[/QUOTE]

eDead and Dynamat....hmmm. I assume this means you're looking at using the liquid eDead deadener plus Dynamat?
Not awful, and of course I see the standard forum boners, AT and the as-yet-untested MurderMat, have been suggested, but I will say you can do much better for your damping/deadening needs through the use of Don's products at Sound Deadener Showdown - Your Source for Sound Deadening Products and Information .

It will likely cost a bit more than your planned $330, but you will have a truly dampened/deadened ride when you get done, and the resulting increase in the SQ/SQL will reflect that (pun intended).

The sub is okay...maybe you can do better with the two Adire Koda 8s @whitedragon551 ; has listed, but the TC ain't bad.
Don't know anything about the Morel MDTs, and haven't heard the JL ZR's. However, I don't think you're going to need four of any 6.5s, and you can damn sure save money by going with used components, or with new that aren't JL Audio.
Rainbow , Focal , Morel, HAT , etc are all likely going to be at least as good as the ZRs and prolly at a lower $$

And, finally, as has already been mentioned, the quality of the installation and the enclosure(s) are going to be very important to the overall SQ of the system

 

[ShankyMcPimp 10+ year member]

suggetions for other comps vs. JL?

 

[ShankyMcPimp 10+ year member]

reading it all...taking it in...

I am a total noob to this and trying to learn. Let me work on this... THANKS everyone... I will come back for final feedback.

any post or info you can share on how I can make sure the SQ is optimized with the installers...and what I should look for vs. not want to see on an install that should be warning signs. I am not sure there are any install sites here in memphis that would do an install with others equipment. still trying to ID them. thoughts welcome....thanks shanky

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

reading it all...taking it in...
I am a total noob to this and trying to learn. Let me work on this... THANKS everyone... I will come back for final feedback.

any post or info you can share on how I can make sure the SQ is optimized with the installers...and what I should look for vs. not want to see on an install that should be warning signs. I am not sure there are any install sites here in memphis that would do an install with others equipment. still trying to ID them. thoughts welcome....thanks shanky

You will want to do a LOT of the work yourself if you want really fantastic sound in that budget. You can do a lot if that's your parts and equipment budget, but I can't see anyone doing real door deadening and just installing all that for cheap.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Oh, ok, I misunderstood then. I thought you knew something about the AQ 120.4 that would indicate it was not suitable for mid/high duty, and I was hoping you would share that info. I used AQ as an example. There are a few others in that price range I would also recommend..

For a 300$ difference I'd take Leviathan any day of the week over less power Chinese mid-fi. If OP isn't opposed to V2 Leviathan, they can be had through authorized dealers for same price as the AQ 4 channel + small mono block. The whole package will draw less current than the AQ 4 channel, take up less space, and generally have way more options and sound better.

Regulated power supply alone will make an amp sound much better playing music.