Component + Sub Questions

[The Tall Man 10+ year member]

Kind of long post, please bear with me (newbie here)...

I am thinking about below setup for my car

- good multi-channel amp form my car (5 channel)

- pair of good speakers for front, probably components w/ crossover; maybe reuse stock rears

- single 10" or 12" sub for the back

1.) What are some good 5 1/4" component speakers? I'll probably get 60-75 RMS to drive each

2.) If you have really good fronts (e.g. above) and a sub, do you really need the rears? People talk about "back fill"- is it needed? I did 4X55 RMS for STOCK fronts/rears in my other car + 2X90 for 8" subs and like that sound. Can I do as well with e.g. 2X75 component fronts and e.g. 200X1 to a 12" sub?

3.) What is a good 12" sub? How much does dual-coil matter? I guess I'd like to run at 4 ohm to avoid any kind of heat/stability problems at 2, but I want it to be loud enough.

4.) If I can arrange space in my truck properly, would two amps be better (a 4 ch and a good 1 or 2 channel). I don't think it is too much more $$ and if 4 ch has preamp out, it is pretty easy to setup. I don't know about fader + R/L control, though.

TTM

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[johnb 10+ year member]

First off you said you wanted to put a system in your car at the top of your post. Then you said if you can find the room and money to put the stuff in your truck. What is the exact vehicle? As for rear fills I personally don't feel you need them, if you have a nice set of fronts and power to them you should be fine. ITs gives you better imaging and sound quality. Is there a price range you are trying to stay within? THe people on this fourm can help you a ton if they know what kind of sound your looking for SPL vs SQ, what car/truck and how much money you are willing to spend. Answer those Q's and you will get more responses.

-John

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

ok, yes...for a truck, u don't really need rear fill. I didn't like the idea at first, but then i'm just going to get a great set of comps up front and amp them w/ a 2channel amp...and no rear fill for me in my truck. Save the money you were going to spend on rear fill, and use it for your comps!

FYI, check my sig if u have a truck. I'm thinking it's going to be a **** good system once i get done with upgrades. peace

NG

 

[Mac11 10+ year member]

i am just gonna guess that when he said "if i can arrange the space in my truck" hea meant truNk. just a guess. but yea these guys are right that if you let us know what kinda vehicle specificly and your price range they would be willing to do a lot more.

also its not necissarily the number of watss you send to your speakers its the quality of the watts you send to them thats more important. I have a 2 channel pioneer premier amp that would be killer for a set of comps that im selling if your interested. one of the cleanest amps you can find.

and you dont really need rear fill in your car unless you want to please you backseat riders.

 

[The Tall Man 10+ year member]

Wow- my typing is really bad. To clarify...

- I have a car, not truck; BMW 3 series- it has 'balanced differential outputs' from the head unit. I know of a converter that will do the conversion to standard RCA, or I can get an amp that accepts that kind of input (e.g. JL Audio). I think 'balanced differential' is different from 'speaker level' input, but maybe someone can confirm.

- I am looking to spend no more than about one grand or so for the whole setup, assuming that I do the install on my own. That means amp(s), components, sub(s), cables, whatever I need.

- The fronts need to be 5 1/4", I think the depth limitation is about 2". Current front speakers are Harmon Kardon stock speakers, there is a tweeter and mid/woofer combination in there. They don't sound horrible or anything, just not so good for some songs.

I'd been considering 5 channel amps from JL Audio, KenWood Excelon, and Phoenix Gold. I have had reasonable success with standard KenWood and Rockford Fosgate in the past, that is in my other car (a 4 X 55 watt rockford and 2 X 90 Kenwood).

The Harmon-Kardon stock audio setup actually has 12 speakers, and a many channel amp that I will need to remove (I think it is 8+ channels, but the wattage per channel is very low, the unit itself is small).

TTM

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

i would suggest NOT to get a five channel amp...they just are not the best. ALSO, if u want to get better stuff for the amount of money ur going to spend...JL is overpriced, and u can save money by going with cheaper but still very reliable brands... like jbl, us acoustics, elemental designs...etc. OK, i would suggest a set of infinity kappa 50.5cs components up front, a set of adire audio Koda dedicated midbass for the rear, and a us acoustics USX4085 powering them. So far, that is around $450-475. Then for the subs, i would recommend either 1 12" adire brahma in a sealed box(built by you, u sed u could install) with a jbl1200.1 or ed Nine.1...that would be about $500-550. That brings you to about $1000, but if u could psare the extra $50 fo some wiring...that would be a KILLER system, very loud while still sounding good too! ne more questions, just ask...and good luck. peace

NG

websites:

http://www.ikesound.com

http://www.etronics.com

http://www.thezeb.com

(these are for the amps/ components)

http://www.adireaudio.com

http://www.edesignaudio.com

(for the sub,koda midbass, and ed nine.1 amp)

pick up a scosche efx wiring kit at walmart (good quality and cheap)

or a knukoncepts wiring kit at http://www.knukoncepts.com

 

[The Tall Man 10+ year member]

Thanks for this advice- the US Acoustics amps seem to get very high marks from everyone, and are pretty reasonably priced.

TTM

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by The Tall Man Thanks for this advice- the US Acoustics amps seem to get very high marks from everyone, and are pretty reasonably priced.

 

TTM

yup, no prob. And i've owned a US acoustics amp before, and there are quite possibly the best amp out there 4 the money...plus, bullet proof!!lol, peace

NG