Design advice / experience please!

[CPDS3]

Hi all, I'm new here and would love your advice on my upcoming install. I drive a Citroen DS3 &live in Australia so all parts are at what I can get them here for.

I was originally going to get it done by a shop but was not happy with what any of the quoted me. This is my second install with my first being more basic (kicker all round) system in an older car.

My current thinking is:

6.5"

Polk MM6501 - 125wrms @2.7ohm - $330

Sub

JL 12" W0v3 - 300wrms @4ohm - $280

Amp

Pioneer GM-D8604 - 150x2 wrms @2ohm (fronts) + 300x1 wrms @4ohm (bridged sub) -

LOC

LC2i - $110

+ wiring & some deadening ~$200

I would love to know your opinions! And if you have had experience with any of these components or have better recommendations in these price ranges.

I'm aware not the highest quality amp but allows me to get the mm Polk over the db in my budget. Will it do the trick?

New HU is out of the question, I want to keep all features and not worth the hundreds of dollars in new HU, connectors + some lost features.

I have not been able to hear any of the components I have been considering as can't find anywhere that has them amped hooked up on display (or up at all).

I listen to mostly dance / electronic, R&B etc. Do like my bass and loud music but am planning to go for something higher quality sound in this install.

Cheers,

Chris

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[CPDS3]

Thought this would be a good place for a stimulating conversation with like minded people... Clearly not

 

[Boominburban 10+ year member]

they sound like a solid choice ...

 

[massivespl]

I ran the db comps and there's real nice for $100 for the set.. The MM are even nicer but for $230 id stick with the db.

Not sure exactly what brands are over there or if u can order offline but $230 for a jl wo, ouch. Jl is decent but I'd rather grab a sound qube woofer or a sundown E for like $100 and save money.

 

[CPDS3]

I ran the db comps and there's real nice for $100 for the set.. The MM are even nicer but for $230 id stick with the db.Not sure exactly what brands are over there or if u can order offline but $230 for a jl wo, ouch. Jl is decent but I'd rather grab a sound qube woofer or a sundown E for like $100 and save money.

I was originally looking at the db but through reading around a lot of people seemed to say the mm were worth the jump. I was trying to not skimp out and go for a quality install so was leaning that way haha. So you think I will get enough from the db? Clearly mm clarity will be better, but in what way would you say having heard both? Do you think I will notice the 25wrms less either?

Yeah prices here ****, and we pretty much only get the bigger mainstream brands. I just searched your recommended sub's and due to them not being supplied in aus will end up costing more than the jl without an enclosure! Do you have any other recommendations?

Below is a list of some i was looking at in that price range. Mainly chose the jl as it seemed decent and would work with the amp. Others I would have to find another amp (in the $ range) which can push enough to adequately power them.

Kicker VCVR124400wrms2/4ohm$310.00

Kicker VCWR122800wrms2ohm$299.00

JL AUDIO W0V3300wrms4ohm$280.00

Polk Audio DXi112 360wrms2ohm $329

Polk Audio DB1212360wrms2ohm $220

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

kinda overpaying on the 4 channel amp, you are definitely paying waay too much for the sub.

See if you can get an alpine type R

and if you can find a cheaper 2 channel amp and a seperate subwoofer amp.

I ran the db comps and there's real nice for $100 for the set.. The MM are even nicer but for $230 id stick with the db.Not sure exactly what brands are over there or if u can order offline but $230 for a jl wo, ouch. Jl is decent but I'd rather grab a sound qube woofer or a sundown E for like $100 and save money.

might wanna check their country first before recommending american underground, import and tax fees make these choices overly expensive for them.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

If you want to know whats good, go on youtube and look up the australia car audio scene and see what REAL gear there is in your marketplace. There's a good underground austrailian car audio scene on youtube, but forgot the channel name.

 

[massivespl]

I was originally looking at the db but through reading around a lot of people seemed to say the mm were worth the jump. I was trying to not skimp out and go for a quality install so was leaning that way haha. So you think I will get enough from the db? Clearly mm clarity will be better, but in what way would you say having heard both? Do you think I will notice the 25wrms less either?
Yeah prices here ****, and we pretty much only get the bigger mainstream brands. I just searched your recommended sub's and due to them not being supplied in aus will end up costing more than the jl without an enclosure! Do you have any other recommendations?

Below is a list of some i was looking at in that price range. Mainly chose the jl as it seemed decent and would work with the amp. Others I would have to find another amp (in the $ range) which can push enough to adequately power them.

Kicker VCVR124400wrms2/4ohm$310.00

Kicker VCWR122800wrms2ohm$299.00

JL AUDIO W0V3300wrms4ohm$280.00

Polk Audio DXi112 360wrms2ohm $329

Polk Audio DB1212360wrms2ohm $220

I'd run the jl out of those options

 

[CPDS3]

kinda overpaying on the 4 channel amp, you are definitely paying waay too much for the sub.
See if you can get an alpine type R

and if you can find a cheaper 2 channel amp and a seperate subwoofer amp.

might wanna check their country first before recommending american underground, import and tax fees make these choices overly expensive for them.

Holy S*** the type R sub is powerful!! 1000wrms unf! In all honesty I missed ones like this as I was mostly looking at ones that come in enclosures as a) I'm not handy enough to make one b) don't know enough about how to choose an appropriate box for it and assumed ones that come enclosed would be designed most effectively by the brand.

I can get the ALPINE SWR-12D2 / for around $220.

This says dual 2ohm, after a quick google this means it can run at 1ohm or 4ohms?

what sort of enclosure would be wise for this and are such enclosures normally expensive? (aware you don't know what's on the Aus market).

Would I need to power the type R to the full 1000wrms?

I will have to have a look into if I can power the setup off 2 amps for around the same budget. Is there any brands / models of amps I should avoid? Obviously the more expensive typically better quality product but will the lower ones do? I have come across Hifonics which are HEAPS cheaper, (HIFONICS BRUTUS ELITE BRE100 2 @$120, HIFONICS ZEUS ZRX1200.1D $190) but don't know much about their reputation. should i consider them instead of the below?

After some preliminary research I have come up with something like this:

LOC- lc2i $110

Sub - ALPINE SWR-12D2 1000wrms@1ohm $220

Amp1 - PIONEER GM-D8601 800wrms@1ohm 220

enclosure

6.5" - Polk MM6501 6.5" 125wrms@2.7ohm 330

Amp2 - JVC KS-AX5102 150wrms@2ohms 150

wiring & deadening ~ $200

This is now really stretching the budget. Do you think this would be a considerably better setup? Does this seem appropriate? will the sub & components be ok off these amps? are these amps decent?

Thanks for the input! I'm excited exploring a new direction!

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

The type r can work fine in many enclosures. If you go ported, find the biggest box you can. However you can go sealed box as well. Brutus elite is fine. Stay away from zues.

 

[CPDS3]

The type r can work fine in many enclosures. If you go ported, find the biggest box you can. However you can go sealed box as well. Brutus elite is fine. Stay away from zues.

Would you recommend ported or enclosed? from what I understand enclosed is more responsive? I have previously always gone for ported.

I found this ported one which is around the recommended volume on the alpine website and is pretty cheap.

($64) Aerpro SPB12 12inch Subwoofer Box - SPB12

Would you recommend

Amp2 - JVC KS-AX5102 150wrms@2ohms $150

or

HIFONICS BRUTUS ELITE BRE100 200wrms@2ohms @$120

Naturally I would lean towards the JVC as i have heard the brand but if I can save a few $$ and it is just as good I might as well. Just cautious as this is for the polk mms which are the sq part of my build.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Would you recommend ported or enclosed? from what I understand enclosed is more responsive? I have previously always gone for ported.
I found this ported one which is around the recommended volume on the alpine website and is pretty cheap.

($64) Aerpro SPB12 12inch Subwoofer Box - SPB12

Would you recommend

Amp2 - JVC KS-AX5102 150wrms@2ohms $150

or

HIFONICS BRUTUS ELITE BRE100 200wrms@2ohms @$120

Naturally I would lean towards the JVC as i have heard the brand but if I can save a few $$ and it is just as good I might as well. Just cautious as this is for the polk mms which are the sq part of my build.

I put that box onto an enclosure design software and that box is only 1 cubic feet after subtracting the space the sub and port takes up. If you buy a prebuilt box, you are going to want to find a 2 cubic feet to 2.5 cubic feet box to compensate for the BullSh*t specs they pull on unsuspecting consumers.

You'd want at least 500-750 watts rms to that sub.

Do you have a site where you shop at? link it to me.

 

[CPDS3]

I put that box onto an enclosure design software and that box is only 1 cubic feet after subtracting the space the sub and port takes up. If you buy a prebuilt box, you are going to want to find a 2 cubic feet to 2.5 cubic feet box to compensate for the BullSh*t specs they pull on unsuspecting consumers.

You'd want at least 500-750 watts rms to that sub.

Do you have a site where you shop at? link it to me.

Oh wow, now that's why I came to the experts! haha Those volume specs are so misleading.

Sorry, the above mentioned amps are for the 6.5" components up front.

The one I was looking at for the sub is the PIONEER GM-D8601 800wrms@1ohm $220.

The two that are best here are:

Car Audio Systems Australia, Cheap Car Audio Online - Ryda

&

Sound Master Car Audio - Best Prices on Car Audio & Accessories

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Oh wow, now that's why I came to the experts! haha Those volume specs are so misleading.
Sorry, the above mentioned amps are for the 6.5" components up front.

The one I was looking at for the sub is the PIONEER GM-D8601 800wrms@1ohm $220.

The two that are best here are:

Car Audio Systems Australia, Cheap Car Audio Online - Ryda

&

Sound Master Car Audio - Best Prices on Car Audio & Accessories

the pioneer amp is okay, but it does not have an adjustable subsonic filter so if you play a really low frequency bass note, the sub might bottom out in a ported enclosure so if you want to be safe, go sealed. However, if you dont listen to music that ever goes down that low then you should be fine.

I'd spend a few more bucks and get ($247) Kenwood KAC-PS917D D Class Mono Amplifier - KACPS917D

Buy a 4 ohm version of the alpine and get a cheap sealed enclosure. Your sub will be wired parallel down to to 2 ohms getting the full 1000 watts out of the amp and 1000 watts at 2 ohms will be a lot less stress on your vehicle's electrical system then amps doing power at 1 ohm.

 

[CPDS3]

the pioneer amp is okay, but it does not have an adjustable subsonic filter so if you play a really low frequency bass note, the sub might bottom out in a ported enclosure so if you want to be safe, go sealed. However, if you dont listen to music that ever goes down that low then you should be fine.
I'd spend a few more bucks and get ($247) Kenwood KAC-PS917D D Class Mono Amplifier - KACPS917D

Buy a 4 ohm version of the alpine and get a cheap sealed enclosure. Your sub will be wired parallel down to to 2 ohms getting the full 1000 watts out of the amp and 1000 watts at 2 ohms will be a lot less stress on your vehicle's electrical system then amps doing power at 1 ohm.

I listen to quite bassy electronic music so it does go low. Not sure if you mean by the quality of the music files or style of music though.

haha my budget keeps expanding //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

So you think the below would be a good set up:

LOC- lc2i $110

Sub - ALPINE SWR-12D4 1000wrms@2ohm $220

Kenwood KAC-PS917D 1000@2ohm $250

enclosure

6.5" - Polk MM6501 6.5" 125wrms@2.7ohm 330

Amp2 - JVC KS-AX5102 150wrms@2ohms 150 OR HIFONICS BRUTUS ELITE BRE100 200wrms@2ohms @$120

wiring & deadening ~ $200

Do you say sealed box as it won't need the same volume? Is there a particular volume I would need for the sealed box? and would it make that much difference (considering this sub is over 3x the power of my previous consideration)?

Also, I'm not sure if you said which you would choose between the JVC or Hifonics for the fronts?