Completely Overwhelmed

[MakeItGoBANG 10+ year member]

Hello Car Audio Wizards. I know you see plenty of these threads everyday but I am a complete audio noob in need of your help. I have spent the last two days reading as many threads as possible around here. I love it here. I live in a place where big, booming, audio conversation is not easy to come by. I am trying to start building a new system because I have my bottom-of-the-barrel setup just isn't cutting it for me anymore. I want to gear the entire system around the subwoofers. I love subwoofers. In exchange for your advice I offer my subwoofer-romance story as well as a short list of bass-tastic songs I'll add at the bottom of the list.

The first song I ever heard on a system was Purple Pills by D12. It blew me away and within the week I got my first pair of car subwoofers. A couple of bottom-line Rockfard Fosgate Punch 12" with about a 300w amp. It sounded okay for a first system. Within 3 months I saved up for an MTX 6500D and 2 12" MTX 8000. Threw some dynamat in the back of my 1989 Cavalier Z24 Convertible and hooked it up to a Sony Xplod cdx-m770. God, I loved that deck. I still use the Infinity Reference 6x9 3-ways I originally bought for that ride in my current whip. At first I had these 8000s in a stock 2S box, but eventually bought a custom ported enclosure. It had separate chambers but I'm not sure of the measurements. It was probably at least 2.0 cubic feet per chamber. Got a 1 farad Lightning cap for dirty cheap ($15) and that was that. Had this setup in a 1992 Dodge Daytona for about 6 years and loved it. It pounded well but it also sounded very clean. Anything I bumped sounded good and I became well known in the area for pounding your face off when you came for a cruise with me....and I live in the rural midwest so we were ALWAYS crusing.

Now I'm stuck with a ****-*** Audiobahn A800T and a 2 12" MTX Jachhammer JH45's in a the MTX box they typically sell them in. I am ready to start from scratch and get another quality system going. I want to pump about 1,000-1,200 watts into some great quality subs. I want 2 12" subs that POUND with as little distortion as possible so that I can crank my volume and still get some reasonable SQ. I listen to NOTHING but 90s hip/hop. Tupac, Dre, Nas, D12, Busta, 3 6 Mafia, Obie Trice, Jay-Z ....need I say more? I am just overwhelmed by how far subs have come. Here is my basic info:

Car: 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GT

H.U: Clarion VRX755HD

Front Speakers: Currently Factory (Looking for 5 1/4 component)

Rear Speakers: Infinity Reference 6x9 3-way - HU powered

My completely uneducated first-impression is that maybe I want 2 SA-12" with a hifonics brutus (i'm thinking about 1500w class D). I'm eventually going to try and get a 4 channel hooked up to that (hopeful) 5.25 component and those 6x9's. I want to melt my face off, guys. But I still want it to sound good. I'm going to put it in the biggest ported box I can fit into my trunk. I really don't have the time or skills to fabricate, though, so I may have to just buy one somewhere. I am just looking for the right direction right now so I can start off by buying the subs and then I can get the box, amp, and throw it all in. I am going to be patient but I just don't know where to start.

Anybody see a younger version of yourself here and have some sage advice for me?

Oh yea the bass tracks:

1. Purple Pills - D12 (Devil's Night great bump album)

2. Where Da Bud At - 3 6 Mafia

3. Rainbow Colors - 3 6 Mafia

4. I Can't Wait - Sleepy Brown ft. Outkast

5. Holla - Busta Rhymes

6. Back Then - Mike Jones

7. Bang Bang - Dr. Dre

8. Bad Intentions - Dr. Dre

9. I - Petey Pablo ft. Timbaland

10. Buck Bounce - 8ball and MJG

11. We At It Again - Timbaland and Magoo

12. E.I. - Nelly

13. Never Scared - Bone Crusher

14. Like a Pimp - David Banner ft. Lil' Flip (Get Mississippi album by David Banner)

15. Game Over - Lil 'Flip

16. Dime, Quarter, Nickel, Penny - Nappy Roots

17. Many Men - 50 Cent

18. Virginia - Clipse (get that album)

19. Lady - Obie Trice

20. Purple Stuff - Big Mo

21. Moment of Clarity - Jay-Z

22. Blueberry Yum Yum - Ludacris

Love you, dudes. Keep it slamming, bros.

Click to read more...

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

cliffs? what is the goal? i don't have time for 'storytime' bro.

 

[ace_800 5,000+ posts]

First thing would be to know how much you have to spend, then start from there.

Are you good with used subs/amps or only new? The SA-12's are a very good start, I'm not sure on the Hifonics but you could always look for a matching Sundown SAZ1500. You will save a TON of money by building the box yourself or with a buddy. Shops are going to charge you a arm and a leg, there are box builders on here but shipping will kill it. If you willing to go as big as you can, build the box into the car.

Lose the 6x9's and put your money into the comps and a good 2 channel. Is anyone really going to hear the 6x9's with the subs right there?

 

[MakeItGoBANG 10+ year member]

I'd be willing to lose the 6x9 but I need them for now. I literally found them in a box in my basement and threw them in. I've never had the money to build a quality system before. They are 100w RMS and they sound better than you'd think.

Price ranges:

Subs - $200-$300/sub

Amp - $400-$500

Keep in mind I still need to buy new wires and that **** box situation, so I'd like to save money where I can. I constantly blew those 8000s so I'd like to go new. I've got time just trying to figure out what I'm shooting for right now. I could easily invest about $1,200 by XMAS. I'm willing to wait/spend extra for something that really pumps out hard, clean bass. All I ever hear anybody talk about around here are the Type-R's but I'm not sure if they are right for me. Never heard them before. I've been out of the scene for years now.

 

[MakeItGoBANG 10+ year member]

Goals:

1. 2 12" Subwoofers (new)wit very LOUD, STRONG bass that remains clean at high volumes for 90s rap/hip-hop (Tupac, Jay-Z, Eminem, Nas, D12, Busta Rhymes, B.I.G., The Lox, etc). $200-$300/sub. Need versatile subs that will sound good in a variety of boxes since custom enclosure build/tuning is NOT an option for me (wish it was). Looking for 2.0/chamber ported.

2. 1 well-matched reliable Class D amplifier. 1,000w-1,500w. $400-$500

Car: 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GT

Deck: Clarion VRX755VD

Problem: Complete Audio Noob has been out of car audio scene for a decade or more

 

[05fronty 5,000+ posts]

Refurbished SAZ-1500Dv2 : dB-r Electronics, Online Store

SA12 12 inch Dual 4 ohm Subwoofer [sA12D4] - $194.99 : dB-r Electronics, Online Store

he does good work and then you have some cash for extras for your electrical also make sure you port them

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Type Rs are great budget subs,, For $120 a peice they really cant be beat.. Put about 1500rms on a pair of the new Gen 4s and they will blow you away in the right box.. Also keep in mind the more power you add the more $ you need to put into your vehicals charging system.. Most car except for a civic can get away with 1500 watts on a small trunk battery and the big 3.. BUT if you have $200 for each sub the options expand pretty wide

 

[MakeItGoBANG 10+ year member]

Have been looking into Type R's. Lots of chat about them. I'm thinking SA-12 maybe DC Level 3. Do I need a couple 4 ohm subs? I still need 0/2 gauge wire. My stock alt is 140 amp running 75-80 at idle I think. Currently running an Audiobahn A8000T off 8 gauge with 1 farad cap. noobtastic.

In 2000s I had MTX 6500D and 2 12" MTX 8000 in 2.0/chamber ported box with 4 gauge. Still have my 1 farad cap. Loved that bump.

Thanks for the advice and big thanks for the links fronty.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

The coils are determined by yor amp. 1ohm stable amp=2 dual 4 ohm or dual 1 ohm... 2 ohm stable amp=2 dual 2ohm.. .5 ohm stable amp(if you got the power)=2 dual 2ohm

 

[MakeItGoBANG 10+ year member]

Gotcha. Currently have an 800x1 @ 2ohm amp so might use that briefly and focus on wire/electrical before getting a new amp. Of course, it is an audiobahn so it isn't pumping that much out.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Get 1 dual 4 600 watt sub and wire it to 2 ohms at the amp.. Upgrade amp to a 1ohm stable 1500 watt amp and add another sub..

 

[MakeItGoBANG 10+ year member]

If I have the cash can i go ahead and run 2 dual 4 on that amp and theb upgrade amp? I never understood, if you are running two subs at 2 ohm load does each sub get amp's full 2 ohm power?

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Subwoofer Wiring Diagrams

Use this tool.. the power is split between how many subs connected. I would not put 1200 watts worth of subs on that amp, you will end up clipping the amp and burning up the subs.

 

[martiandancer31 10+ year member]

If I have the cash can i go ahead and run 2 dual 4 on that amp and theb upgrade amp? I never understood, if you are running two subs at 2 ohm load does each sub get amp's full 2 ohm power?

if you're running 2x 4ohm subs in parallel, that gives each such HALF of the amp's 2ohm capability. For example, if the amp can push 1500 watts at 2 ohms, each 4 ohm sub will see 750 watts.

Also, i'd HIGHLY recommend the knukonceptz KCA power wire as budget 0 guage. It is very good for the money and very flexible.

 

[MakeItGoBANG 10+ year member]

Thank you very much for the wire recommendation. I needed a good affordable brand to look into.

Thanks for clarifying the amp/sub combo power issues. I would have never known that under-powering a pair of subwoofer could potentially damage system components. I'll be sure to keep researching and reading more threads around here.

Lastly, big thanks for the wire diagram link Haze. You've been a big help. That diagram will save me the trouble of asking many questions later.

Anyone have any thoughts on an MTX1501D vs SAZ1500D?