I was dumb about car audio in the 90's and still am to. But even then I was capable of getting the sound I wanted through basic knowledge from a couple of CA&E magazines and experimentation with what I could afford. It's not really that hard to find satisfactory results for most anyone looking to upgrade over stock. It's only rocket science for the addicted geeks that got so caught up in car audio that they fantasize during the day about systems and continue to think they have to get 100% maximum output in a daily whilst bashing anything less. They only feel better knowing the caps in their amps are made of magnesium argentite infused polycarbonite that's powering subs with carbon fiber polyglass dust cap designed in some guy's garage and built by sad factory workers in China or over paid, lazy american workers in some small town USA purchased solely for bragging rights and envy from fellow addicts.
The more I learn, the more I realized that 160+db's @ 30hz isn't really what I want. It bothers other people, it loosens up bolts, draws unwanted attention or what have you and unless you're a douche you can hardly get much opportunity to turn up the volume and make use of it without taking the county scenic routes. I also learned the ratio's of getting top notch SQ from a car isn't worth the time, money and effort for my 38 yr old ears either. Which leaves me with knowing that most of the detailed knowledge and theories of audio were always going to go to waste for some like me anyway. In recent years I went from products like Sundown all the way back to the basics of a manufactures pre built system, that being a JL HO112.
So next should come some responses from all the butthurts that just now got offended or feel must defend. Dumb or not, I'm not afraid to put myself or my opinions out there unlike some here. No one is born with instant knowledge on anything but many sure do like to use their countless time in research against others to satisfy their own ego and feel intellectually superior over others. You see this in every forum on the internet but anonymity alone can make even the nicest, honest person do or say things they otherwise wouldn't. Then you have the grammar nazi's and trolls but that is a whole different mental illness altogether.