**Help a Newbie**

[<NewbieAlert>]

Alright guys, I've been looking around for a long while now. I've gone to stores and asked around. I still don't know jack. So, I'm wondering if you can help me.

I've got pretty simple questions...

I've settled on one 12" Kicker Solobaric sub.

My questions are this.

-What power amp should I get to power it?

-Do I NEED a new CD Player/Head Unit to replace my factory unit?

-Do I need to replace my factory speakers?

...I've got two factory front speakers and two rears...They're pretty good, but they sound muddy at higher volumes -- the kind of volumes I'd want to listen to with the new sub...would this make a problem?

-Does the box make THAT big of a difference? Should I build mine, or buy mine?

-What are some high quality head units you'd recommend?

Thanks a lot, and ANY other advice you can lend to someone starting out would be GREATLY appreciated!

Again, thanks!

Click to read more...

 

[WeGoFootball20]

i can answer some of those. If you make a box correctly it will sound alright but i recomend buying a box. It will save you time and it will sound better. If your speakers sound bad to you at high volumes that you like to listen to then u might need new speakers. If anything i would save that for last because a head unit may solve that sound problem. I bought a head unit first and my car sounds pretty good with stock speakers. So you might want to think about that. And whatever head unit you want will be fine pretty much. People say they think sony explod sux and thats what my whole car is and it sounds awesome. Their more expensive units are better than the cheaper one. I can recommend the cdm620 model by sony its really nice. Thats about all i can say because i myself am learning too.

Brian

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

1. I would give the sub as much power as you can afford. Get a decent class D sub amp. I can't really recommend a particular one because the L7's come in 2ohm dvc and 4ohm dvc.

2. I know many people who are dead set against buying an aftermarket head unit. They use a line out converter to run a sub amp. I also know people that swear by aftermarket head units. SO if you got the money go for it. If not buy a LOC.

3. Get a sub and an amo first. Then go from there. If your factory speakers can't keep up. Then you have the answer to that question.

4. The box makes all the difference in the world. You can throw the best subs in the world in a crappy box and they will sound like poo

At the same time you could throw the crappiest subs in the world in well built correctly sized box and they will sound ten times better. AS for building your own it's not that hard. Do you have any woodworking experience ? Tell me what kind of room you have, what kind of sound your looking for. And I can help ya with the dimensions.

5. Pioneer,Sony ES, Alpine, Eclipse, the new JVC.

Any thing else let me know

 

[<newbiealert>]

Alright, did some more looking around according to your advice..

Coming back with this:

Solobaric S12L7 - Max power 750

EITHER:

DX350 or DX700 Sub Amps...Another question I realized was this...what does 2 Ohm or 4 Ohm mean? What is the difference in sound? Anything you can tell me about it, I'm totally clueless.

I figured the DX700 would be nice since the sub maxes at 750...but, that retails at $1100.00...A bit steap for me. I found one off ebay for $450, which can be spent, but didn't look like a too reliable dealer.

Main thing, HOW MUCH of a difference is there in 350 and 700? Will 350 still pull a good load of sound? Cuz I can find that for about $200 which would be really nice.

Next, I've pretty much decided to go with a Pioneer head unit...I've heard nothing but props from everyone about them. Maybe you could point me to a particular model that's nice?...Still need to look aroudn there.

Lastly, I'm probably going to buy a Kicker box if it's $100 or around there. I"m positive the money I'd save by me making it myself wouldn't make up for the quality of a professional box.

So, What the hell is an Ohm?

How much difference is there in 350 and 700 D amps?

Pioneer head units, recomendations?

Again, any other information you'd like to give to a newbie, please feel free to spill it.

Woo, thanks.

 

[<NewbieAlert>]

Alright, just came back from the pioneer website...Found their head units.

The DEH-P7300 looked about right for me...Although it is XM ready which I REALLY don't need.

Looking through their selection, I couldn't really tell a MAJOR difference in the different models, not enough for $100 jumps anyways...Do they just follow the normal rule of thumb "The more you pay, the better they are?"

Anyways, thoughts on Pioneer head units and recomendations, lemme have em

 

[<NewbieAlert>]

Alright, think I'm getting close to a decision here.

My lineup:

-Kicker Solobaric 12" L7 Sub - $234.003

-Kicker Amp DX350 - $239.95+shipping

-Pioneer Head Unit DEH-7300 - $260.00

-SubZero L7 Sealed Box - $59.00+shipping

Grand Total: ~$814.00

Got the prices off Ebay 'cept the box. Tell me if there are better options I could take. Again, all my previous questions mostly apply, so, yeah. Feel free to answer em