Help on new setup for 2012 Passat

[Texas Realtor]

Hi guys glad I found this site. I have a 2012 Passat and can use your expert advice in picking out a nice setup for this car. I don't want to waste money on unnecessary stuff but at the same time want to do it right the first time.

I have a Head Unit from factory that I like and I want to keep for the time being. I have already bought the LC6i for this reason.

Please help me pick the right equipment, also if somebody has any experience with this model that would help with some other questions I may have.

Here is what I have thought so far. (Open to other suggestions)

AMP: I only want one amp to keep the install simple. So I am going to go with the 5 channel amp.

Either JL Audio HD900 or XD700 (Open to other suggestions)

Front speakers:

Focal K2 Power 165KR or 165 V30

Rear speakers:

Focal PC165

Subwoofer:

JL Audio HO110RG-W3v3 (It is a JL ported box)

I have read that the rear speakers are not very important for a good setup but in VWs the rear speakers are very close the the front seats and you do hear them. So was not sure how much money to spend on them.

Click to read more...

 

[brandinooooo 10+ year member]

What are your goals for your audio system? Great sounding (SQ) or loud ground pounder (SPL) or a mix of both (SQL)?

I suggest getting a better sub with either a custom box you can make yourself or have one made for you.

 

[Texas Realtor]

What are your goals for your audio system? Great sounding (SQ) or loud ground pounder (SPL) or a mix of both (SQL)?
I suggest getting a better sub with either a custom box you can make yourself or have one made for you.

My goal is a great sounding system. Not really into very loud systems. But I guess this system would be way louder than my factory system.

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Soooo.... you want an SQL. Right?

 

[Texas Realtor]

Soooo.... you want an SQL. Right?

I guess you could say that. But not really anything that the car next to me will feel it.

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Hi guys glad I found this site. I have a 2012 Passat and can use your expert advice in picking out a nice setup for this car. I don't want to waste money on unnecessary stuff but at the same time want to do it right the first time.
I have a Head Unit from factory that I like and I want to keep for the time being. I have already bought the LC6i for this reason.

Please help me pick the right equipment, also if somebody has any experience with this model that would help with some other questions I may have.

Here is what I have thought so far. (Open to other suggestions)

AMP: I only want one amp to keep the install simple. So I am going to go with the 5 channel amp.

Either JL Audio HD900 or XD700 (Open to other suggestions)

Front speakers:

Focal K2 Power 165KR or 165 V30

Rear speakers:

Focal PC165

Subwoofer:

JL Audio HO110RG-W3v3 (It is a JL ported box)

I have read that the rear speakers are not very important for a good setup but in VWs the rear speakers are very close the the front seats and you do hear them. So was not sure how much money to spend on them.

If your interested, I have an Arc Audio KS 900.6 amp that I'm not using. It does 60x4 rms @ 4 ohms and you can bridge the sub channel for 550 rms @ 4 ohms. It is underrated by a little on the rms rating I feel though. Very good amp.

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Hi guys glad I found this site. I have a 2012 Passat and can use your expert advice in picking out a nice setup for this car. I don't want to waste money on unnecessary stuff but at the same time want to do it right the first time.
I have a Head Unit from factory that I like and I want to keep for the time being. I have already bought the LC6i for this reason.

Please help me pick the right equipment, also if somebody has any experience with this model that would help with some other questions I may have.

Here is what I have thought so far. (Open to other suggestions)

AMP: I only want one amp to keep the install simple. So I am going to go with the 5 channel amp.

Either JL Audio HD900 or XD700 (Open to other suggestions)

Front speakers:

Focal K2 Power 165KR or 165 V30

Rear speakers:

Focal PC165

Subwoofer:

JL Audio HO110RG-W3v3 (It is a JL ported box)

I have read that the rear speakers are not very important for a good setup but in VWs the rear speakers are very close the the front seats and you do hear them. So was not sure how much money to spend on them.

If your interested, I have an Arc Audio KS 900.6 amp that I'm not using. It does 60x4 rms @ 4 ohms and you can bridge the sub channel for 550 rms @ 4 ohms. It is underrated by a little on the rms rating I feel though. Very good amp.

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Hi guys glad I found this site. I have a 2012 Passat and can use your expert advice in picking out a nice setup for this car. I don't want to waste money on unnecessary stuff but at the same time want to do it right the first time.
I have a Head Unit from factory that I like and I want to keep for the time being. I have already bought the LC6i for this reason.

Please help me pick the right equipment, also if somebody has any experience with this model that would help with some other questions I may have.

Here is what I have thought so far. (Open to other suggestions)

AMP: I only want one amp to keep the install simple. So I am going to go with the 5 channel amp.

Either JL Audio HD900 or XD700 (Open to other suggestions)

Front speakers:

Focal K2 Power 165KR or 165 V30

Rear speakers:

Focal PC165

Subwoofer:

JL Audio HO110RG-W3v3 (It is a JL ported box)

I have read that the rear speakers are not very important for a good setup but in VWs the rear speakers are very close the the front seats and you do hear them. So was not sure how much money to spend on them.

If your interested, I have an Arc Audio KS 900.6 amp that I'm not using. It does 60x4 rms @ 4 ohms and you can bridge the sub channel for 550 rms @ 4 ohms. It is underrated by a little on the rms rating I feel though. Very good amp.

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Hi guys glad I found this site. I have a 2012 Passat and can use your expert advice in picking out a nice setup for this car. I don't want to waste money on unnecessary stuff but at the same time want to do it right the first time.
I have a Head Unit from factory that I like and I want to keep for the time being. I have already bought the LC6i for this reason.

Please help me pick the right equipment, also if somebody has any experience with this model that would help with some other questions I may have.

Here is what I have thought so far. (Open to other suggestions)

AMP: I only want one amp to keep the install simple. So I am going to go with the 5 channel amp.

Either JL Audio HD900 or XD700 (Open to other suggestions)

Front speakers:

Focal K2 Power 165KR or 165 V30

Rear speakers:

Focal PC165

Subwoofer:

JL Audio HO110RG-W3v3 (It is a JL ported box)

I have read that the rear speakers are not very important for a good setup but in VWs the rear speakers are very close the the front seats and you do hear them. So was not sure how much money to spend on them.

If your interested, I have an Arc Audio KS 900.6 amp that I'm not using. It does 60x4 rms @ 4 ohms and you can bridge the sub channel for 550 rms @ 4 ohms. It is underrated by a little on the rms rating I feel though. Very good amp.

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Just a thought...instead of buying all new speakers for your new car, purchase an amp and do some good sound dampning on your doors and then see how you like your sound with your factory speakers and your new amp. Just a thought to try and save ya some money. Since you don't want really loud maybe this might be all that you need to do. If it's not then proceed to spend that money man!

 

[Texas Realtor]

Just a thought...instead of buying all new speakers for your new car, purchase an amp and do some good sound dampning on your doors and then see how you like your sound with your factory speakers and your new amp. Just a thought to try and save ya some money. Since you don't want really loud maybe this might be all that you need to do. If it's not then proceed to spend that money man!

I do have a full box (9 sheets) of Dynamat extreme sitting in the garage that I plan on using. That should cover the trunk and the four doors for sure. This is going to be my ultimate system so not really looking to save money. But at the same time not looking to throw away money. For eg. an expensive set of components in the rear as well would be throwing away money in my definition. A really nice 5 channel amp and really great front with a nice clean base will be not.

I need advice on the set up that I have picked. I also want to know if there is a possibility to wire the same equipment in a active crossover mode instead of passive. Or do I need some special equipment besides what I listed.

 

[TheUnderFighter 10+ year member]

Just a bit of a heads up. For almost every big name-brand (JL), there is a better, and cheaper off-brand available. Especially if you're buying new and paying retail price, that stuff is never worth the money. Not saying it's bad gear, but for what you pay, you can get a whole lot better.

Like that Arc Audio for example would be great if the seller had a good deal on it.

As for the subwoofer enclosure, if you're going ported and want to sound good, you'll need a custom design for it. The pre-fab JL box will most-likely be junk. If you're willing to sacrifice output and run sealed, then a pre-fab is fine.

Also, there are processors you can use to run an active set-up; those will also let you do time alignment and extensive EQing to really get the most out of your system, but I'll let some more experienced people recommend those.

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

I would be willing to sell My Arc amp for $400/OBO, if your interested. It was used for less than a year with no flaws and was taken very good care of.

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Hi guys glad I found this site. I have a 2012 Passat and can use your expert advice in picking out a nice setup for this car. I don't want to waste money on unnecessary stuff but at the same time want to do it right the first time.
I have a Head Unit from factory that I like and I want to keep for the time being. I have already bought the LC6i for this reason.

Please help me pick the right equipment, also if somebody has any experience with this model that would help with some other questions I may have.

Here is what I have thought so far. (Open to other suggestions)

AMP: I only want one amp to keep the install simple. So I am going to go with the 5 channel amp.

Either JL Audio HD900 or XD700 (Open to other suggestions)

Front speakers:

Focal K2 Power 165KR or 165 V30

Rear speakers:

Focal PC165

Subwoofer:

JL Audio HO110RG-W3v3 (It is a JL ported box)

I have read that the rear speakers are not very important for a good setup but in VWs the rear speakers are very close the the front seats and you do hear them. So was not sure how much money to spend on them.

I have heard form others that those Focals have very bright tweeters, but with some processing you will be able to tone them down.

 

[Texas Realtor]

Final list:

AMP:

JL Audio HD900/5

Front speakers:

Focal K2 Power 165KR

Rear speakers:

Focal PC165

Subwoofer:

JL Audio HO110RG-W3v3 (It is a JL ported box)

Would it help to install components in the back as well or it does not do anything?