Need Advice: Oz Audio Matrix Elite 180CS with PPI Art Series

[Odd Soul 10+ year member]

Hi everyone, I just registered. This is my first post and I'll start off with a few questions.

My car is a 98 E-Class Benz sedan.

I just installed a Pioneer AVH-7850DVD in-dash DVD head-unit which is 6.1 capable and comes with an electronic crossover system in the hideaway unit. I'm thinking of getting Oz Audio Matrix Elite 180CS for the front stage, Oz Audio Vector V650X3 coaxials for the rear and a sealed IDQ10 for Sub. I will be powering them by these existing amps:

Front Stage - PPI art series A300.2 (75 x 2 @ 4ohms)

Rear & Center - PPI art series AX400 (50 x 4 @ 4 ohms)

Subwoofer - PPI art series A300.2 (300 x 1 @ 4 ohms bridged)

Question 1

Will the Matrix Elites be underpowered? The woofers are rated at 80/150 watts and the tweeters at 50/100 watts (RMS/Peak Power).

Question 2

Will a 10" sub be too weak? Should I go for the IDQ12 instead? I listen to mainly metal with a lot of fast double bass drum stuff so it's important for the bass to be tight and precise.

Question 3

Any recommendations for center speakers?

Thanks. Any advice and recommendations appreciated. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Click to read more...

 

[dimond 10+ year member]

i would give the 180cs more power, say about 150wRMS. if it was me i wouldnt worry about center speaker or rear fill, if your into that surround sound maybe. And for the sub it depends, if its the same sub just different size depends what kind of bass you like. Punchy,quick bass go with the 10, if you want a little deeper sound go with 12. All depends on install as well. Im pretty sure you will like the IDQ's good sq sub.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

if it was me i wouldnt worry about center speaker or rear fill, if your into that surround sound maybe.

He stated his unit is capable of 6.1 surround sound. The rears and center are an integral part of that.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Question 1

Will the Matrix Elites be underpowered? The woofers are rated at 80/150 watts and the tweeters at 50/100 watts (RMS/Peak Power).

Hard to say. If 75w is enough to power the speakers to adequate loudness for you, then they will not be underpowered. But that's really going to depend on how loud is "adequate" for you. Also remember that you would need to double the power to gain 3db (in a perfect world, realistically doubling power will gain you less than 3db). So you would need to double the power to make the effort of providing more power really worthwhile IMO.

But if you hook it up and 75w is enough for you....then you are not underpowering them.

Question 2
Will a 10" sub be too weak? Should I go for the IDQ12 instead? I listen to mainly metal with a lot of fast double bass drum stuff so it's important for the bass to be tight and precise.

Tight and precise is not a function of the cone diameter. Rather a function of the overall subwoofer and enclosure design. I personally prefer larger diameter subwoofers so that the subwoofer has to work less for a given output level. That and a relatively low excursion 10" subwoofer (like the IDQ) is going to have a hard time producing realistic output levels.

If you have the space and the budget, I would personally recommend you move up to something like a single 15" IDQ or 12" IDMax (sticking with the ID theme). Infinite baffle, that amplifier should really be enough power for either of them.

Question 3
Any recommendations for center speakers?

You could always purchase a 2nd set of the OZ ME component set, and use a single mid and single tweeter for the center channel. That way they tonally blend.

 

[suleman36 10+ year member]

Nice choices there. I have been curious with the OZ Matrix Elite 180CS myself. Does anyone have more info on them ?

I actually have 2 ppi a600.2's that can be put to good use someday.

Just wanted to say, i like your taste.

 

[Odd Soul 10+ year member]

Thanks for the advice, squeak9798. I will take it into consideration.

 

[Odd Soul 10+ year member]

Just wanted to say, i like your taste.

Thanks //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[addisdar 10+ year member]

The CS 180's will sound good at that power. I ran mine like that (75w) for a while until I picked up another amp. Now I feed them 180watts. And, that made a huge difference. Everyone who gets in my car can't believe how good they sound.

 

[addisdar 10+ year member]

I was going to mention that I can get you a good deal on some, but then I noticed your in Singapore.

 

[Odd Soul 10+ year member]

There are 2 other options that I'm considering for the front stage.

Option 1

Power the tweeters and woofers separately with the AX400's 50W x 4 channels and ditch the passive crossovers. This will give each side 100W.

Option 2

Bridge the AX400 to 200W x 2 channels and use the passive crossovers. However, I'm worried that 200W is too much for the 180CS to handle, especially since the art series amps are underrated. Oz Audio's website states the max power rating of the 180CS at 200W.

What do you guys think? Better signal separation or more power?

 

[04silverz 10+ year member]

out of all the subs ive owned, i prefer teh idmax sealed for quick punchy response. i'd go with a 12 myself. however from talking to id they recomend he idq for musiclike metal. ive never heard it so i cant comment on it

presonally i'd say go with the oz and power them with as much as you can and get an idmax 12 and be done with it.

 

[addisdar 10+ year member]

There are 2 other options that I'm considering for the front stage.
Option 1

Power the tweeters and woofers separately with the AX400's 50W x 4 channels and ditch the passive crossovers. This will give each side 100W.

Option 2

Bridge the AX400 to 200W x 2 channels and use the passive crossovers. However, I'm worried that 200W is too much for the 180CS to handle, especially since the art series amps are underrated. Oz Audio's website states the max power rating of the 180CS at 200W.

What do you guys think? Better signal separation or more power?

Option 2

You'll be fine. Just gain match it. I am running a US Amps 4300X bridged to 2 channels on my 180CS. And just like the Art series, US Amps are underrated. No problem, and the components will love it. Just set the tweeter attenuation correctly on the crossover. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[addisdar 10+ year member]

You can also go with the OZ Audio ME Subs. They are a high excursion woofer that rival the SQ of the IDMax. They can just get really loud if you want them to. Check out my sig to see my setups. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Better signal separation or more power?

You wouldn't really gain any better "signal separation" from the first option, only more flexibility since you would be forced to run active.

That said....if your installation is going to have the tweeter and mid located in the same location (i.e. both in kickpanels), I would say go with option #2. If you are going to be locating them in different areas (say, mids in kicks or doors and tweeters on the A-pillar) I would go for option #1 and run active....the passive xover will be less optimized for that installation scenario and you would benefit greatly from going active.

 

[Odd Soul 10+ year member]

You can also go with the OZ Audio ME Subs. They are a high excursion woofer that rival the SQ of the IDMax. They can just get really loud if you want them to. Check out my sig to see my setups. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Thanks for the recommendation. Your system looks BADASS.