A couple of questions.

[Beerdrnkr 5,000+ posts]

Sorry it's a lot of questions. I currently have rainbow germamium components installed in my doors and they sound great and they're loud and I haven't even deadened my doors or baffled them yet. However I want louder but can't really afford louder speakers. I was wondering if I had some kick panels installed and put in some speakers (4", 5.25", or 6.5" depending if rainbow germaniums come in these other sizes) if it would make a considerable difference? I wouldn't want to use the speakers in the door as midbass only. Would I be able to run the new speakers as well as the components off the same crossover? If I were to buy a seperate amp for strictly the new speakers in the kick panels and my rear fill would that be ok or would they need a crossover? My last question is if just the 2 germanium speakers are too expensive I would probably want a set of SLC speakers to throw in the kick panels, would that sound funny because they don't match the sound of the Germaniums? Thanks in advance.

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[mastergunsx15 10+ year member]

i would say if you are looking to get louder, deaden your doors and baffle them and then move from there. you may realize that the germs are all you need once you do those things. alot of people here dont use rear fill and just get a good set of components with a nice, powerful amp. try that and let everybody know how it sounds for you.

 

[mike dressure 10+ year member]

sound deadening will make a large difference

 

[Beerdrnkr 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, I guess I'll do that first before I go spending a ton of money on other things. I just have a feeling that I'm gonna want it louder anyway. Just out of curiousity would a 4" SLC in kick panels ruin the sound or would it not make a difference in sound quality and just add to the volume. By the way I already have rear fill cuz I usually have people in the back seats. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Why buy speakers like Germaniums only to **** the soundstage by adding more speakers?

Install them properly, and if they still aren't loud enough for you, you might want to look into horns...

 

[LoudCrownVic 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, I guess I'll do that first before I go spending a ton of money on other things. I just have a feeling that I'm gonna want it louder anyway. Just out of curiousity would a 4" SLC in kick panels ruin the sound or would it not make a difference in sound quality and just add to the volume. By the way I already have rear fill cuz I usually have people in the back seats. Thanks for the advice guys.

HAHA! I would hope they weren't in the backseat of your ranger.

 

[Beerdrnkr 5,000+ posts]

lol...I got rid of my Ranger about 8 months ago. I got a 2006 suzuki grand vitara now. So once I get my germs baffled and matted if I think they're still not loud enough, is there pretty much no other option than to upgrade the components or maybe the amp (the amp I'll upgrade for sure later).

 

[headless 10+ year member]

What amp are you using to push the Germaniums? They get pretty loud on 100watts/side and they are painfully loud @ 200+w/side. You sure you're not just getting deafened by them? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Beerdrnkr 5,000+ posts]

NO LAUGHING! I got a Power Acoustik A520-2HP. STOP LAUGHING!

 

[headless 10+ year member]

haha. Buy a new amp, then try again. 75w per side is rather anemic for those germs. I was unhappy with mine @ 4x75, 2x130 and am now joyfully happy @ 2x320. Midbass performance in particular really enjoys having excess power on tap. I've seen my 4150xxk pulling in excess of 50 amps pushing just my germs //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif I'd estimate that's maybe 200w/side on the output side though i'm not sure on the efficiency #'s.

 

[Beerdrnkr 5,000+ posts]

Any amp reccomendations for about $200?

 

[headless 10+ year member]

Why spend 500$ on a set of speakers and then give them the shaft by powering them with a shitty amp? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Suggestions, cheapest on top per category:

Arc Audio:

2100XXK - http://www.arcaudio.com/arc-05/amplifiers/xxk_2100.htm

4050XKK - http://www.arcaudio.com/arc-05/amplifiers/xxk_4050.htm

2500XXK - http://www.arcaudio.com/arc-05/amplifiers/xxk_2500.htm

4150XXK - http://www.arcaudio.com/arc-05/amplifiers/xxk_4150.htm

JL:

300/2 - http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=253

300/4 - http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=254

450/4 - http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=255

Eclipse:

XA2000 - http://www.eclipse-web.com/amp/xa2000.html

XA4000 - http://www.eclipse-web.com/amp/xa4000.html

Zapco:

Ref 350.2 - http://www.zapco.com/prod/ref_prods/3502Frame.htm

Ref 360.4 - http://www.zapco.com/prod/ref_prods/3604Frame.htm

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Certainly a nice baffle, and mass load those doors. Rid of some door panel resonances. By doing this you will be able to play louder, and more controlled with the power you got now. Then decide if power is the next step, but certainly dont leave deadning last.

Deadning goes a long way, they should go hand in hand with aftermarket amplified speakers.

 

[headless 10+ year member]

I wish deadening wasn't so ****ing expensive //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif And could be moved from car to car. Such a ***** of an investment to make, 300$ on deadening only to sell the ****ing car off and never recover that $$$. Only to have to spend the 300$ again on the next car //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

One of these days, i'm going to do it anyway.

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

I wish deadening wasn't so ****ing expensive //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif And could be moved from car to car. Such a ***** of an investment to make, 300$ on deadening only to sell the ****ing car off and never recover that $$$. Only to have to spend the 300$ again on the next car //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gifOne of these days, i'm going to do it anyway.

$300?

When it comes to deadning ...

Some > None

To make 2 rings out of MDF, deaden the area of the speaker/baffle and add some clay can be done way under $50 for both doors if ridding of the car is an issue. A bigger disservice is not to provide a $500 set of speakers at least that much TLC.