New to car audio but have an idea and need some opinions.

[Jack Tripper]

I would like to start off by saying I look forward to getting some great opinons. I am not sure how much I will have to offer on Audio but... I am looking to out a potential system into an ISF. I have read the stock ML system is really goof but the bass is terrible. I owned one but it was all after market JL amps and components in the rear and Focal up front. Not sure what model since I bought it used. My current Rav4 had Focal PS 165 FX up front and Hat Unity in the rear a 10" JL dub powered by an Arc Audio 1200.6. Before the Focal I had HAT Legatis L6V2's. Focals seemed more up front and musical. The HATs sounded more subdued and full if that makes sense. Neither on worse over the other just different. But if I had to chose. I could flip a coin they both did different types of music different. The HATs actually were nore bright to my ears. The Arc is wonderfull. But seems to drop the bass off as the midd and highs get up in volume. The 5 and 6 channels are bridged. So I have been looking at Audio Frog and Arc or Arc all the way through. Up front is a 2.5 for center, 1", 2.5" and 6.5" in each door. Rear is 1" and 4" in each door and the rear deck is 2 2.5" and one 8". Opinions will very and some will say that a DSP can make any speakers sound good but I am not sure I firmly believe that. Also there will never be anyone in the back seat so maybe I can save some cash on the rear components. Opinions guys and girls? 5k tops for everything 4k more realistic.

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[jeepguylv]

if your looking to go sound quality then running everything active and tuning with a dsp is the way to go imo, and you won't need much in the rear if any, are you planning on putting all new equipment in or working with what you have, also you want to think about speaker placement as well

 

[JohnKuthe]

if your looking to go sound quality then running everything active and tuning with a dsp is the way to go imo, and you won't need much in the rear if any, are you planning on putting all new equipment in or working with what you have, also you want to think about speaker placement as well

I agree, and the more I get into my stupid little install, the more I wish I would have heeded the warnings of this group. I know my stock speaker mounts are junk, but they are the best I'm gonna do right now. I really began this install project of mine with much higher aspirations than I'm gonna achieve right at first.

John Kuthe...

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

A good tune can fix many location issues if you can narrow them down to a small passband. It will just take time and patience. I keep a note book in the car. If I'm listening to a song that don't sound right I write it down. Listen to it on headphones to find the issue. And try to fix it.

 

[Jack Tripper]

I bet that can get quite challenging. I don't have a home stereo where I live currently if you were reffering to listening via headphones. But probably through the aux jack on the receiver is what you meant?

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I bet that can get quite challenging. I don't have a home stereo where I live currently if you were reffering to listening via headphones. But probably through the aux jack on the receiver is what you meant?

Phone or receiver if I'm home. It's a good way to check staging and tonality. Not so good at judging space. Unless you have open back headphones.

 

[Jack Tripper]

Well like I was saying. I will be buying the car with the factory ML most likely. I have read people say that i is actually a very good clear setup minus the subwoofer which is junk. But I just's don't believe these paper speakers will last very long especially if the car is already 8 years old. So that is why I have thought about keeping the rears the same or upgrading with something cheaper, keeping the fronts real with either Audio Frog and Arc or Zapco amps. Now I am considering Zapco since I can get a deal on them, or all Arc or maybe even Focal again since I have a Focal dealer right down the street and honestly there are not many quality stereo places around here. And the install place down the road won't install anything they don't sell to you which I find kind of ******. Money is money especially when their only choices are Focal and Mephisto

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Well like I was saying. I will be buying the car with the factory ML most likely. I have read people say that i is actually a very good clear setup minus the subwoofer which is junk. But I just's don't believe these paper speakers will last very long especially if the car is already 8 years old. So that is why I have thought about keeping the rears the same or upgrading with something cheaper, keeping the fronts real with either Audio Frog and Arc or Zapco amps. Now I am considering Zapco since I can get a deal on them, or all Arc or maybe even Focal again since I have a Focal dealer right down the street and honestly there are not many quality stereo places around here. And the install place down the road won't install anything they don't sell to you which I find kind of ******. Money is money especially when their only choices are Focal and Mephisto

Don't worry about name. Get the most power you can get. That's where dynamic, headroom, output come from.