Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts
Gunz That Turn on Nunz
If you are a wood worker, definitely build your own box lol. @shredder2 can hook you up with a design thats easy to follow. The dayton is best bet for sound quality under 300$ range. if you want loud boom spl, it'll be another woofer.I asked that exact question at one of the shops today, if it would be worth getting a more powerful amp to make sure it was always running on less than full power in the interest of cooling and longevity. They looked at me like I was nuts.
If you think the Dayton is the way to go I will take a look at it. Best place to get a box? I am a woodworker but not sure if I can quite get exact enough to meet these needs.
Definitely avoid those shops. they sound like they have no idea about anything car audio other than selling to you and making a profit.