Advice On Choosing SQ Equipment

[caragon]

Hello Guys,

I am in the process of saving up to upgrade my sound system in my 2005 Mazda 3, which currently has an Alpine CDA-9887 head unit and the stock Bose amp, speakers & 8" sub. My biggest dilemma is that I my taste for good SQ equipment far exceeds my budget. The system I am planning on is rather simple which basically consist (aside from my Apline 9887 head unit) of a 5-channel amplifier (around $500 budget), 6.5" components in front ($350-$450 budget), 6.5" components or coaxials in the rear ($350-$450 budget) and a 12" subwoofer ($250 budget). If money was no object I would go with a Genesis or DLS amplifier, any higher end Morel components & Morel Supremo subwoofer. Since money is limited please help me choose equipment within my budget keeping in mind my taste of the forementioned high-end SQ stuff. In other words what would be my next down level choice in those price ranges. Unfortunately, where I live most shops only carry Alpine, Kenwood, JL, Hifonics etc. i don't have access to higher end equipment. Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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[negolien]

CDT comps not sure about the sub you'll have to see what kind of amp you get since any half decent subs gonna be at least 500rms.

 

[gstokes]

You're on the right track with the 5-channel amplifier, instead of component sets requiring passive crossovers use component speakers, 1 speaker per channel. You're now totally active and using only the crossovers built-in to the amplifier, run channels 1 & 2 with tweeters and set the crossover for HP at 3kHz then add woofers to channels 3 & 4 and set the crossover for bandpass at 150Hz on the bottom and 3kHz on the top, run a pair of subs in 2ohm to channel 5 and play that funky music, LOUD and CLEAR.. Going active simplifies the entire system by removing the passive components and the amplifier now has 100% control over each driver, good luck.

Edit: there is a level control for each pair of channels plus the subwoofer, if the tweeters are too bright turn down 1 & 2 until the level matches that of channels 3 & 4, then adjust the sub level to match the others, instead of 5 individual amplifiers you're just using 5 individual channels in one amplifier..