Coming up with a decent single cab sound system! Need opinions!

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

If I had the money to dishout on a custom body-work on the bed then I would say 'Go for it'.
Sadly I don't.

it'll just make it a pain in the *** to sell... a single cab truck does not need as much power or cone to sound loud... it's a small space and those 2 kickers will be plenty loud

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Is there really needed or could I possibly operate without upgrading the big three and the battery?

If your battery is newer then you are likely fine... 1000w is pushing it w/o the big three but domestic truck alts are usually plenty big to properly run the system... I'd install it and if you get headlight dimming at night then do the big 3

 

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

he doesn't want to do modifications to the bed...
As for recommendations:

A) Just do 2 subs... adding a third isn't really going to help that much unless you give all 3 400w... and getting the correct ohm load isn't going to happen.... Get 2, 2ohm subs for a 1 ohm load and an 800w@1ohm mono amp... the hifonics will do the trick fine though. I like overpowered amps, just back the gains down....

Wouldn't three 4-Ohm subwoofers wired parallel give the amplifier a 2.6 Ohm load that would not overpower the subwoofers but give it a decent inbetween wattage?

And the Panasonic is probably the only decent head unit I could find for the price; anything red or silver would look trash in a vehicle with a large amount of blue LED lights. But if I was going to choose any other head unit, it would probably be this.

Actually this would would be my new favorite. >

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Wouldn't three 4-Ohm subwoofers wired parallel give the amplifier a 2.6 Ohm load that would not overpower the subwoofers but give it a decent inbetween wattage?
And the Panasonic is probably the only decent head unit I could find for the price; anything red or silver would look trash in a vehicle with a large amount of blue LED lights. But if I was going to choose any other head unit, it would probably be this.

3 4ohm subs = 1.33ohms.... those three in parallel can handle 1200w... but it's an issue of space and need... there really isn't a need for 3 subs... I know you want more boom but you are going to surprise yourself with 2 properly installed subs getting 800w, plus it lowers cost on the whole system (less powerful amp, less wiring, easier custom box etc)....

As for the panasonic it doesn't really matter what I think of it... however if you want a nice HU for cheap consider finding a used one in our classifieds section...

Also friends don't let friends buy Jensen, or Dual... that's just wrong..................

For HU's look at Kenwood Excelons, Alpine, Pioneer, and Eclipse....

For instance check this thread:

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243186

for a nice pioneer for $120 shipped. I can't vouch for the seller but these forums aren't usually all that dicey.

 

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

3 4ohm subs = 1.33ohms.... those three in parallel can handle 1200w... but it's an issue of space and need... there really isn't a need for 3 subs... I know you want more boom but you are going to surprise yourself with 2 properly installed subs getting 800w, plus it lowers cost on the whole system (less powerful amp, less wiring, easier custom box etc)....
As for the panasonic it doesn't really matter what I think of it... however if you want a nice HU for cheap consider finding a used one in our classifieds section...

Also friends don't let friends buy Jensen, or Dual... that's just wrong..................

For HU's look at Kenwood Excelons, Alpine, Pioneer, and Eclipse....

http://www.crutchfield.com/learning...l?suboptions=Mono_3-4ohm-SVC&amptype=mono

And with only two subwoofers I would not need a custom box; my mind is already set on the Hifonics TXi1008D there is no need to change that. My mind is also set on the 4g DHD NTX-Gold amplifier wiring kit.

I will look into other HU options and further into component options: But I would rather have more "boom" to compensate for the lack of low bass I will more than likely receive from the small box that has to fit behind the seat.

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

As for the panasonic it doesn't really matter what I think of it... however if you want a nice HU for cheap consider finding a used one in our classifieds section...
Also friends don't let friends buy Jensen, or Dual... that's just wrong..................

For HU's look at Kenwood Excelons, Alpine, Pioneer, and Eclipse....

I would second this here, personally recomend an Alpine, especially if you are going to have blue lighting.

2 subs keeps things simple and sometimes that adds to the look of the install, also by leaving out that third sub you could throw the money towards a better amp or maybe a better comp set with a comp amp and have a really nice sounding setup

Now what kind of music do you most usually listen to? are you looking for punchy tight base from like a sealed enclosure or booming base with deep lows from a ported enclosure?

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Now what kind of music do you most usually listen to? are you looking for punchy tight base from like a sealed enclosure or booming base with deep lows from a ported enclosure?

Or how about the incredibly accurate deep bass of a critically damped sub...?

but that really doesn't apply in a single cab truck install...

He should do 8 8" tang bands //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif just to be different...

 

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

I would second this here, personally recomend an Alpine, especially if you are going to have blue lighting.
2 subs keeps things simple and sometimes that adds to the look of the install, also by leaving out that third sub you could throw the money towards a better amp or maybe a better comp set with a comp amp and have a really nice sounding setup

Now what kind of music do you most usually listen to? are you looking for punchy tight base from like a sealed enclosure or booming base with deep lows from a ported enclosure?

Limited space would take the ported option completely out of the question probably.

I was looking at this HU.

Why would I need a better amplifier with two 400w RMS Kicker CompVT 4-Ohm when that amplifier can supply my two subwoofers with more than enough power?

Because if I am correct: Wiring up two 4-Ohm subwoofers to the amplifier a certain way will provide a 2-ohm load which will supply each subwoofer with 700watts of power while each subwoofer's peak wattage is 800w.

But I'm trying to throw as much "affordable" bass as I can into a regular cab truck without neglecting the hi's and med's as well.

Also, I don't know how to do anything considering components or how to place them inside of the door panel without butchering it completely or screwing up any of the inner-door mechanics.

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Limited space would take the ported option completely out of the question probably.
I was looking at this HU.

Why would I need a better amplifier with two 400w RMS Kicker CompVT 4-Ohm when that amplifier can supply my two subwoofers with more than enough power?

Because if I am correct: Wiring up two 4-Ohm subwoofers to the amplifier a certain way will provide a 2-ohm load which will supply each subwoofer with 700watts of power while each subwoofer's peak wattage is 800w.

But I'm trying to throw as much "affordable" bass as I can into a regular cab truck without neglecting the hi's and med's as well.

Also, I don't know how to do anything considering components or how to place them inside of the door panel without butchering it completely or screwing up any of the inner-door mechanics.

ok..... first... peak power means nothing.... ignore it entirely...

second... you can buy those subs in 2ohm config... get two so they wire to 1 ohm in parellel...

third... two of those subs handle a combined 800w RMS

fourth... the hifonics is rated for 1000w rms @ 1 ohm... this allows you to back the gain off a bit and totally avoid the clipping issue...

fifth.... you will butcher you mids/highs if you overpower them with bass... 2 is plenty, trust me...

sixth... if you are trying to be the loudest kid on the block and be "heard coming down the block" sell you single cab pickup, buy an SUV but never show your *** around here again... and buy some ear plugs...

that kenwood is ok but I'd stick with the excelon series when dealing with kenwood if possible...

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

Get a set of these and make MDF baffles to fit them PG RSD 6.5 Comps
and get this amp

And get yourself an amp kit from knukonceptz.com

What I meant by dropping the third sub and picking up a better amp was more along the the lines of this, getting a decent component set with an amp to go along that way you can drop out using the HU power and have everything amped and clean

 

[Imtjnotu 5,000+ posts]

Is there really needed or could I possibly operate without upgrading the big three and the battery?

well a cap isnt going to do anything....and for the price of a cap u could get a battery and some wire

 

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

ok..... first... peak power means nothing.... ignore it entirely...
second... you can buy those subs in 2ohm config... get two so they wire to 1 ohm in parellel...

third... two of those subs handle a combined 800w RMS

fourth... the hifonics is rated for 1000w rms @ 1 ohm... this allows you to back the gain off a bit and totally avoid the clipping issue...

fifth.... you will butcher you mids/highs if you overpower them with bass... 2 is plenty, trust me...

sixth... if you are trying to be the loudest kid on the block and be "heard coming down the block" sell you single cab pickup, buy an SUV but never show your *** around here again... and buy some ear plugs...

that kenwood is ok but I'd stick with the excelon series when dealing with kenwood if possible...

Yes I would like to be da crunkest guy wit da loudest bas and make tonz of peep kno i keep it real even wit my snd system!

But seriously though, why should I be exiled from a community where several members pride themselves on the amount of money they can spend to slowly handicap their hearing because I want to be a little...loud as well?

I would say two would be plenty if it was any other 12" subwoofer; but these shallow-mounts are smaller depth wise and I have only seen one person who has had firsthand experience with them while others have stated that they would not be able to hold up in comparison to their CompVR counterparts. So I was simply thinking that if I had the room than maybe three would help even the score slightly.

But since you obviously know more about the situation than me then I will look further into it before making any slight financial investments.

 

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

What I meant by dropping the third sub and picking up a better amp was more along the the lines of this, getting a decent component set with an amp to go along that way you can drop out using the HU power and have everything amped and clean

That sounds very nice.

Also would this head unit get the community's approval?

 

[Trepkos 10+ year member]

Not trying to sound like an *** in any of my previous posts...

Just trying to refine this plan for a system to every detail before I start spending and to hear several different opinions throw me for a loop therefore I like to try and dig as deep as I can into each opinion.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

I totally agree on finding out all the details and doing research. You can do a few searches and even learn quite a lot by simply lurking on this site. There are 2 threads over under the speaker section about components in a truck and have some good recomendations for budget setups.

I will be the first to admit I am not the most experienced with all this, but I do try and do my research and I am willing to help out whenever possible. Your heading in the right direction and I think you will be happy with your choices in the end.

I haven't read any reviews or anything on it but just by looking at what is listed on the ebay page it would be much better. For the most part with car audio you get what you pay for. That doesn't mean you can't get good sound for cheap, but your HU for the most part is what is going to be processing whatever music you are playing and from there any imperfections (or good signals) can only be amplified and then reproduced.

Acidic knows what he is talkin about and I would say to follow his recomendations. Get yourself a nice set of comps with a 2 channel amp to power them, maybe like what was recomended before. Then get your 2 kickers, and that hifonics amp to power them and some wire from knu or wherever and if you really want to, build your own box and so us some pics of the instal and finished product.