Looking for guidance

[Andy2242]

I haven't had a system in over 15 years so I'm new to it all again kinda and I'm pretty bad at deciding what I want specifically. Back then I had a lot of help and mainly did the simple hookup and stuff. I don't know what's preferred these days and what brands are good. I have been doing some research and will continue to do so for another month or two before moving forward. Im just looking for some recommendations and opinions on certain products. Right now I'm just wanting to add bass to the stock system. Later on I plan on adding mid and high range upgrades and a new head unit. This is just going in an old 2007 jeep compass. I plan on doing one or two subs in a ported box depending on recommendations, an amp, wiring kit, LOC, and the big 3 upgrade. Seems like I should stay around 1000w if I don't want to upgrade alternator or battery? I have a few things to list below that I'm considering but I'm very open to new recommendations. Price range is flexible.

Subs:

Savard
Thinking a couple raps or a hi-q



Rockford fosgate
Power T1 12" or maybe some of the punch line?


Sundown
Sa classic
I like their x series but seems like way too much power needed at 2500w rms?


Jl audio

12W3v3-4

Cp212-w0v3

I've always known jl as a great brand. Seems like all of their stuff has low watt requirements though. Ive noticed that with a few other brands as well. Are they just weaker compared to today's high watt subs? Or is it that they are so good they dont need as much power to sound as good as the big power stuff?


DC audio
Level 3


Skar
EVL series bass package 12" single
I've seen so much hate on this brand but also seen a lot of love and talk of great bass for the price even if the quality is lower? Thinking about skipping this option though? Idk



Amps: haven't done a lot of research on these yet. I'm assuming that I want something with an output that matches my subs rms watts? Ohms I'm really fuzzy on. What is preffered and why? Seems that a lot of the subs have options for 2 or 4 ohms and occasionally 1 ohm. So the amp should match the ohm of the sub as well? Higher ohms seem to be better for quality but need a better amp? Lower ohms are more powerful but less quality and can use a lower power amp? One 4ohm dual voice coil sub wired in parallel will seem like a 2ohm load to the amp? So an amp that pushes 1000w at 2ohms will give all 1000w to the 4ohm sub because it is wired as a 2ohm load? Could use a crash course on this. Seems like after researching more that I might need to go lower than a 1000w amp due to the amps efficiency. So like if an amp pushes 1000w at 75% efficiency it will actually be pulling 1333w or so?


Down4sound

AudioControl

Stinger (seen a post somewhere that these put out over their listed watts? Any truth to that?)

Ct sounds

Rockford fosgate

Jl

Alpine

Taramps seems too good to be true? Super cheap for high output?



Wiring kit: haven't looked much yet.

Stinger

knukonceptz



LOC:

AudioControl
lc2i pro

Jl audio
Loc-22

Would something simple be decent for this older vehicle like a kicker or scosche?

If my amp and my loc both come with a bass control knobs which do I use or use both? lol



Box recommendations?
Don't have the ability to build one. Will need to try to find one with proper specs or find someone local to build.


Tuning amp?



Tuning box?



Sorry for the long and scattered post just kinda thinking and writing as I'm learning. Thank you all in advance!

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[shredder1 10+ year member]

Box recommendations?
Don't have the ability to build one. Will need to try to find one with proper specs or find someone local to build.
Tuning box?

This ^^^^... I'd focus more on decent not expensive gear and focus on install myself. I've had great luck with many of the subs/brands you listed but your list was like an encyclopedia and I'm not a brand nuthugger anyway.

I'd grab whatever is in your budget and then plan your power... not necessarily matching the rms rating. I've helped various users from the planning stage and when designing an enclosure with lets say a 1000w sub certain factors are easily apparent to the designer who can advise next regarding amp size at whatever loading is planned.

Then grab a design, DIY the thing and install everything else. No hate for brands here (boss audio rules!.. haha) I've seen a pair of SDR-12's actually stun the user on 1500w. I thought it was meh... but I hadn't realized this was slammin' to him. Point of view and experience matters.

Bottom line is to seek out someone trustworthy and local to you who can see your car, speak to you directly and advise you. Beware the salesman type that just happens to be slinging what he's recommending unless your American Express knows no limits... haha.

I'd ask around locally about FB groups and possibly how to join a local one. My experience says that someone will help. Avoid the groups who have a brand in their name, stay local.

 

[Old_Slapper]

yeh...
The bottom line is, how much are you willing to spend and how much bass do you want. Some people will say $500 is their low budget while another will say $1500 is their low budget. Also, do you have a brand preference. The name brands like JL Audio, Kicker, Fosgate, etc... make great gear, but can be quite pricey. Stinger makes a good budget amp and they are known to be underrated. I am not sure on their longevity, due to them being a China brand. However, there are brands like Precision Power where the amps are pretty solid and made in Korea, but they are overrated, as always.

As for avoiding a new alternator and an expensive power bank, 1000 watts would be a good number. You will still need a capacitor or secondary battery to help with the flickering lights.

The subs you mentioned are all good, but 2 of them will require more than 1000 watts. 15 years ago, people were rattling windows with a 500 watt amp and 2-12's. Well, that's still true today. With 1000 watts on one 12" sub in a ported enclosure, your Jeep will be louder than those 2-12's in a sealed box. It would sound like you're pushing 4-12's in a sealed box.