New Guy with Big Ideas

[e46]

Hello everyone,

As you all know I'm new here and to the car audio world. I would like to be guided to get the best system I can, and i believe this forum is the right place. As of now I'm on a budget so I've been scrolling through woofersetc.com and found some good deals.

First off I'm looking for equipment advice. I found some 12" MB Quarts, Infinity, and JL subwoofers for around $70-90. Then amp wise I am completely unaware of what I need. I want to run two subwoofers.

Here are my ideas:

Since I drive a BMW, they have well sound proof cabins therefore I need a lot of kick/power or get the into the cabin through the ski pass.

Using the ski pass, I don't need the plexiglass because that gets to complicated.

Possible easier design, again without plexiglass.

Last option I'm considering.

ANY suggestions or ideas are welcomed, PLEASE help me out.

Music: almost anything..

Trance

Techno

Metal

Rap

Click to read more...

 

[byrdman75 10+ year member]

first question is can u build those enclosures? or buy them?

 

[e46]

Great question, I believe with MDF instead of fiberglass, I could construct them.

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

You need to be looking at more than woofersetc.com, bro. Visit the following websites and become familiar with most of the solid, less mainstream brands that offer great equipment.

http://www.incriminatoraudio.com

http://www.ficaraudio.com

DC Audio - Home

Digital Designs Speakers Made in the USA - Car, Home, and Personal Audio | ddaudio.com

http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/store/categories/Sub-Woofers

Audioque

[ SoundSplinter Subwoofers - High Excursion Professional Subs - DIY Audio Drivers ]

Sundown Audio - Sundown Audio - Quality Mobile Amplifiers & Subwoofers

Ascendantaudio.com

That's a good start.

Woofersetc.com is a nice place to look around, but there are dozens of extremely good brands that they don't carry.

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

first question is can u build those enclosures? or buy them?

Any enclosure you see can be built (or else they wouldn't exist). The level of difficulty swings from amateurish to extreme. As a new guy, even attempting some of the things you've listed will be of extreme difficulty. Starting with something modest is the way to go, unless you have deep pockets and/or previous wood working experience.

If you can afford to have your enclousre built, there are many fantastic designers/builders on the forums. The first to come to mind are SPY, PoundThatSound, Argent Audio and Zierbox.

 

[byrdman75 10+ year member]

Any enclosure you see can be built (or else they wouldn't exist). The level of difficultly swings from amateurish to extreme. As a new guy, even attempting some of the things you've listed will be of extreme difficulty. Starting with something modest is the way to go, unless you have deep pockets and/or previous wood working experience.
If you can afford to have your enclousre built, there are many fantastic designers/builders on the forums. The first to come to mind are SPY, PoundThatSound, Argent Audio and Zierbox.

i was just asking cause its great in all if he likes them but if he cant build them then wtf? those links misfit put are the best in the biz, rly check them out

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

I've been doing car audio for 15+ years and I'd have a tough time pulling off the first two installs the OP linked. However, the 3rd one isn't all that impressive.

 

[e46]

Okay, thank you for all the words of advice, I guess I'm thinking over my head. I just didn't want to stick a box with two subwoofers in my trunk which looks awful. I will try to think of some other ideas.

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

i was just asking cause its great in all if he likes them but if he cant build them then wtf? those links misfit put are the best in the biz, rly check them out

Dude, I didn't even notice that the post was made by someone other than the OP...

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

Okay, thank you for all the words of advice, I guess I'm thinking over my head. I just didn't want to stick a box with two subwoofers in my trunk which looks awful. I will try to think of some other ideas.

Oh, make no mistake about it. I'm not telling you to settle for something you don't want. I was just letting you know that all that flashy plexiglass and stuff takes talent and/or lots of cash to implement.

There are box builders on ebay who offer vehicle specific, "false wall" enclosures for many sedans. That's pretty much what you posted in the pic titled "Last option I'm considering".

 

[IMOVeCHICKENS! 10+ year member]

go get some duals from best buy and a sony 4 channel brah then you bangin cuh

 

[Wingman0121 10+ year member]

sumthin' like this?

BMW E46 Coupe, Sedan Dual 10" Deck Mount Sub Enclosure - eBay (item 350276360114 end time Jul-05-10 22:04:41 PDT)

Or this?

BMW 323 325 330 E46 SUB BOX ENCLOSURE 4 DOOR SEDAN 10" - eBay (item 350321666852 end time Jun-25-10 12:00:00 PDT)

 

[e46]

Oh, make no mistake about it. I'm not telling you to settle for something you don't want. I was just letting you know that all that flashy plexiglass and stuff takes talent and/or lots of cash to implement.
There are box builders on ebay who offer vehicle specific, "false wall" enclosures for many sedans. That's pretty much what you posted in the pic titled "Last option I'm considering".

I am not going to do the plexiglass most likely, I just like how you can see the subs through the ski pass and have a solid box in the back with the amp mounted on the back of it.

go get some duals from best buy and a sony 4 channel brah then you bangin cuh

Why do you suggest a four channel amp, running two subs wouldn't a 2 channel amp suffice?

sumthin' like this?
BMW E46 Coupe, Sedan Dual 10" Deck Mount Sub Enclosure - eBay (item 350276360114 end time Jul-05-10 22:04:41 PDT)

I have considered this because this will use minimal space and it's still up in the air depending on the costs of the others and how much space they will take up.

Thank you everyone so far for the suggestions and for helping me think this through.

 

[byrdman75 10+ year member]

go get some duals from best buy and a sony 4 channel brah then you bangin cuh

omg lol dont listen to him, that is beggin to ****

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

I am not going to do the plexiglass most likely, I just like how you can see the subs through the ski pass and have a solid box in the back with the amp mounted on the back of it.

You'd want to seal off the trunk if the subs are firing forward into the cabin. This is sometimes difficult and it's often ugly. Also, eliminating the plexiglass only decreases the overall difficulty of the install so much. You'd still need serious woodworking skills in order to pull off the first two installs you linked.

Why do you suggest a four channel amp, running two subs wouldn't a 2 channel amp suffice?

A mono amp would suffice for subwoofers.