Need Advise I dont know what to do.

[BMW Sidewayz 10+ year member]

I'm putting together a stereo system for my 2000 BMW 328 coupe and I don't know what to do. Here's what I have so far

JL 1000/1

JL 450/4

Focal K2P 165KF 80 RMS

KEF KAR Q160 6.5 UNI-Q DRIVER

A broken 300/4

I yet have to decide on what size subs, but I def know that they'll be 2 JL 12W6v2or 1 13W7, both applications in sealed enclosures . I'm also buying the top of the line Focal K2P (upgraded version) 100 RMS to each, but Im not sure if running 150 rms from the 450/4 would be safe or appropiate. I will used the K2P KFs for the rears. I've decided not to use the KEF KARs, I would rather use all Focals for mids & Highs.

HERE'S THE SAME PRODUCT

http://cgi.ebay.com/KEF-KAR-Q160-TWO-WAY-6-5-COAXIAL-SPEAKER-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ140072387377QQihZ004QQcategoryZ18800QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem.

I probbly dont make sence, thats how confused I am right now.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

, but please bear with me on this one.

Click to read more...

 

[msrpIZtooMUCH 10+ year member]

Not sure what your questions is, but overpowering is not a bad thing if you know what you are doing...in fact it is a good thing.

 

[BMW Sidewayz 10+ year member]

I just didnt want to go over its recomended rated power. Those K2p cost too much for me to blow them up. I guess it'll be ok as long as I dont turn it up too loud or beyond its thermal rated power. And how about the subs, what do u think? 2 12w6v2s or 1 13W7? As you can see, Im aiming for an SQ setup.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

I just didnt want to go over its recomended rated power. Those K2p cost too much for me to blow them up. I guess it'll be ok as long as I dont turn it up too loud or beyond its thermal rated power. And how about the subs, what do u think? 2 12w6v2s or 1 13W7? As you can see, Im aiming for an SQ setup.

Adjust your gains down so the speakers never see the amp's full output potential. The speakers receive their proper power while the amplifier doesn't have to work 100% to give the speakers all the power they need/want. Today that's called headroom, and like said above, can be a positive thing IF you know what you are doing. If you dont know, it can [easily] be fatal to your speakers.

For strict SQ, Id chose the W6v2 over the W7 any day of the week. W7's aren't bad sounding, but not a 'SQ' driver like the W6 is imo.

What role will the broken amplifier be playing in your system?

 

[BMW Sidewayz 10+ year member]

That's what I was planning, going with the w6v2s. I owned a pair of 10s and I was happy with them. I just thought that the W7s be a step up. The Broken amp 300/4 channels 3 & 4 sound very distorted. I will not be doing nothing with it. I was planning getting it fixed, but I dont think its worth it and I reallly appreciate you taking time out to share your thought and Ideas as I am taking them in serious considferation. Thanks again.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[TreyE 10+ year member]

i can get you a BNIB with warranty 13 W7 for $400 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[BMW Sidewayz 10+ year member]

i can get you a BNIB with warranty 13 W7 for $400 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

Whats the catch? Reconed? refurb?

 

[TreyE 10+ year member]

you have to wait about a month to recieve it...idk why but thats what he has to do on all the items he sells..i got my amp it just took a month...PM me if ur interested

 

[JLAudioCavalier 10+ year member]

sounds like stolen equipment to me, homes... realy good to advertise shady business practices like selling a sub for almost half price "brand new but need to wait a month"...... seems sketchy to me.

but to answer a question for the OP: More power, when regulated correctly is going to be far better than trying to get more out of less power.

Example:

Lets say your speakers handle 100 Watts RMS. And you want clean, clear quality sound at most volumes....

Option A: go conservative, get an amp with lets say 80-100 watts rms of power output per channel. You notice they're not getting loud enough for you. So you play with the gain and volume a bit, get it loud... but start sending a clipped signal to your speakers because you are asking more from the amp than it wants to give you cleanly. This is going to hurt your speakers big time.

Option B: You get an amp with 200 watts RMS of power output per channel. You notice that your speakers get louder easier, with less gain. Well this is because with the more power on tap out of that amp, you don't need to push it all that hard to give your speakers what they need to realy shine. And the signal stays clean and unclipped and everyone is happy..

Moral to the story: Headroom is far better than being conservative //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

sounds like stolen equipment to me, homes... realy good to advertise shady business practices like selling a sub for almost half price "brand new but need to wait a month"...... seems sketchy to me.
but to answer a question for the OP: More power, when regulated correctly is going to be far better than trying to get more out of less power.

Example:

Lets say your speakers handle 100 Watts RMS. And you want clean, clear quality sound at most volumes....

Option A: go conservative, get an amp with lets say 80-100 watts rms of power output per channel. You notice they're not getting loud enough for you. So you play with the gain and volume a bit, get it loud... but start sending a clipped signal to your speakers because you are asking more from the amp than it wants to give you cleanly. This is going to hurt your speakers big time.

Option B: You get an amp with 200 watts RMS of power output per channel. You notice that your speakers get louder easier, with less gain. Well this is because with the more power on tap out of that amp, you don't need to push it all that hard to give your speakers what they need to realy shine. And the signal stays clean and unclipped and everyone is happy..

Moral to the story: Headroom is far better than being conservative //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Im sorry, but that's a terrible moral. If anything, your moral should be 'know how to set your gains properly and power your speakers realistically'.
Im not arguing against headroom, it certainly has its place, but Im getting a little tired of seeing people take the positives from providing headroom, and twisting them into some form of necessary situation. If the guy in option A didn't know enough to 1) understand how to set his gains correctly, and 2) understand the consequences of adjusting them artificially high, then I do not buy that by simply buying a bigger amplifier, he will miraculously then know, or find some form of moderation he wouldn't have otherwise shown. In other words, if he was dumb enough to turn the gains too high with the smaller amp, for more output, I see no reason to think he wouldn't do the same thing with the larger amp. More has to be better, right?

If the guy is too dumb to know how to adjsut his gains correctly with the smaller amp, no way he'll be sophisticated enough to know how to adjust the gains artificially low like you do with true 'headroom' setups. Running true headroom takes knowledge, abit of experience, and plenty of self control. The guy in option A showed none of those traits. And unfortunately, he's pretty typical of today's car audio enthusiast (louder = better, at all costs).

I agree with you about the w7, sounds like a thief making out next month's shopping list.

 

[JLAudioCavalier 10+ year member]

I definately think you hit the nail on the head. I whole-heartedly agree with all of that.

if someone doesn't have the know-how to set a lower power amp properly as to not send a clipped signal, they probably aren't going to know how to properly set the gain on a higher powered amp as to not send too much power... I basicaly dumbed down what I was trying to say. so let me rephrase it..

Moral of the story(revised): Headroom is a better concept than underpowering, if you know how to set the amps gains in the first place. If you don't, get ur hands off your electrical system and seek a pro