Help design my son's Christmas

[Z1NONLY 10+ year member]

Today, I feel old //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I feel your pain. This was one of my last "custom" installs before I took an extended break from the car audio game too....

 

[elsberry]

^ dont forget the sound stream rubicon series do rated for a decent price. They look good also.

And for the subs there are people on here that can design a box for you also. Which i bet you know is a must for the subs.

I had heard that the Sound Stream stuff went downhill. I only used their reference series amps, and then only briefly, but liked them, though they were kind of drab to look at.

Yes, cabinet design is critical for subs. It's been a while, but I think I remember most of the formulas, but will probably run it all by the group to be sure it's right. It's a pain in the *** to have to redo the whole thing for one stupid calculation that's incorrect.

 

[elsberry]

I feel your pain. This was one of my last "custom" installs before I took an extend break from the car audio game too....

Sweet! I had those exact two amps at one time. Swapped them out but I missed them. They were SO clean! you could rip the knob off and they never broke a sweat. I'd sell a kid or two to have pics of my last install, it was in the back of a Chrysler Conquest, and was so clean you couldn't see where the factory stopped and the custom work began. I'd like to do the same for my son, but his truck has some seriously strange curved panels in the back.

 

[murph 10+ year member]

Some nice subs to look at would be dc level 2 12's (dcsoundlab.com) or Incriminator Audio Leathal injection 12's (soundsolutionsaudio.com). For the dc's you would have to contact a rep they currently are out of level 2's and 3's and will start making them again late novemeber I believe.

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

Also you are going to want to seal up the front doors with sound deadening.

I really think a single 12" sub is going to fit your wants very well.

 

[Z1NONLY 10+ year member]

+1 on the DC subs. When I was shopping for a 10" sub for my 500/1 to push, the DC level 3's were at the top of my list. Had I not been given a 10W6v2, I would probably be running a level 3 right now.

My bass box pro software has never surprised me. (Subs have always sounded like they graph, relative to other subs and enclosures I model)

The DC's are a little more sensitive than most high-power subs I looked at and the response curve was nice too. (In the ported enclosure I was working with)

My W6v2 extends a little lower than the level 3 but I would have had 1 to 2db more output above 50Hz, if I were running the DC level 3.

 

[elsberry]

Also you are going to want to seal up the front doors with sound deadening.I really think a single 12" sub is going to fit your wants very well.

Sound deadening is in the plan. I planned on pulling the door panels, dash, seats, and carpet and making sure that wiring ran down separate sides of the car, and that all the wires were down cleanly on the floor pans, and while in there, putting Dynamat on the doors, hatch, roof, floors, etc.

I'm leaning towards a 12" DVC as well. I think that will work out nicely.

 

[skitzafit 10+ year member]

For sound deadening you may also want to look at Sound Deadener Showdown - Your Source for Sound Deadening Products and Information

 

[Moble Enclosurs 10+ year member]

If you need someone to do the enclosure design for you, I can supply that. Now, regarding how many drivers and size drivers you are looking at, considering some are saying single 12 and some dual 12, I would say, for your specific need of quality over pressure, that even 2 10s would be great. It will also allow for more room for the enclosure to do it's work. Just a recommendation.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

there's alot of good answers for you here.i too am an old timer being 48 myself ,i do remember the old school amps very well ,actually still have a fosgate ix 100.there are alot of woofers on the market now that will take alot more power than rated.i just did a system for my son with only 400 watts rms in a suv too ,consisted of a dc level 3 15 and a massive nano amp.and it was loud,he enjoys it very much and he has had louder.ok if you wanna keep it kind of stealth ,i would recommend looking into some of the mini amps like the nano ,aspm, audiopipe amp, arc mini's , and alpine .also because he listens to heavy metal like me ,a pair of 8s or 10 s would be perfect in a nice ported box.there is alot of options out there ,just take your time and what you want will come up.also the reference amps are still very good ,noy so much with all other soundstream amps ever since power acoustic took over a few years back.

 

[brodeisel 10+ year member]

Your best bet is to pick out the sub/s and then we can find you an amp and speakers for everything.

 

[funandgames 10+ year member]

Head Unit:

Amazon.com: Pioneer DEH-P8300UB CD Receiver with iPod/iPhone Control, Pandora Player and Graphic OEL Display: Car Electronics

Front speakers:

Imagine I61-2 6.5" Component / Coaxial Speaker Set - 12v Electronics

Front stage amp:

WoofersEtc.com - FD 2200 - ARC Audio 2 Channel 370 Watt Amplifier

Subwoofer: The Daytons come with a 5 year warranty from partsexpress and are a sound quality geared subwoofer. Very musical, accurate and has low distortion. The SSA Dcons sound great. SSA has excellent customer service and they are built in the U.S.A.

Dayton Audio RSS315HO-44 12" Reference HO DVC Subwoofer 295-467

or two of these:

DCON-12 D4

Subwoofer amp:

WoofersEtc.com - FD 600.1 - ARC Audio 1 Channel 620 Watt Amplifier

Right at $1000 with the Dayton sub and close to $1100 with the two Dcons.

It would be hard to find a better system than the one I linked for the same price.

I would move the Jl audio speakers to the back and run them off the head unit as rear fill. The Imagines I linked are supposed to be an excellent low budget sound quality offering from the up and coming team at Hybrid audio. Hybrid audio has built a solid reputation as making some of the best speakers out their regardless of how much speakers from other companies might cost.

Here is a review of their Hybrid audio Clarus line. caraudiomag.com rated them as the second best component set they have ever tested in their 20 year history.

Hybrid Audio Clarus C51-2 - Review Speakers - Speaker Reviews - Car Audio and Electronics

 

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

Never did hear what type of budget you have? I am not going to drop any brands but if you dont care about taking up the entire cargo area I would go for a pair of 15's. Subs up port back would be the way to go. A nice comp set up front that can keep up with the substage which will be hard to find but can be done.

 

[funandgames 10+ year member]

Never did hear what type of budget you have? I am not going to drop any brands but if you dont care about taking up the entire cargo area I would go for a pair of 15's. Subs up port back would be the way to go. A nice comp set up front that can keep up with the substage which will be hard to find but can be done.

$800-$1000 budget.

 

[funandgames 10+ year member]

The system that I linked is not just cheap, affordable, budget equipment. The equpment I linked is nice at any price range and your son will be extremely happy with it for years and years to come.