question on building my system

[kidnapster 10+ year member]

hey guys im looking into getting a whole new sound system from my stock 2000 honda civic ex coupe. im mainly looking for something with good bass for rap. What im looking into getting is 2 12 kicker L7s. would you guys think this is a good choice? i was hearing good things about the pioneer speakers and amps but im open to suggestions. although i would like to keep my budget around $1400. thanks.

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[3Series Banger 10+ year member]

look into some phoenix rsd comps + rear speakers. get an alpine MRP-F450 and your set for your speakers.

Thats around $300-$400...so looks like you got $1000 left over

thats PLENTY to work with...

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

Rear speakers for a Civic? Not needed at all.

Focus on a good front stage and the sub stage.

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

^ I hate when people say that a rear fill isnt NEEDED.(or to just ditch it period) You know some people like to have SOMETHING in the back for their passengers(for all you selfish people out there). Yes I know the front is much more important than the rear but let him explain a little bit more before you say its not "needed"

Dude with $1400 you can get one hell of a system in your car. Instead of going with 2 12's you can go with a single 15 inch L7 and be just as loud. Hifonics makes great budget amps, the 1606d(you can get for about 200 used, 220 new some places).....many many other amps to choose from.

But yeah welcome to the forum and just keep reading about topics and ask as many questions and you will learn alot of useful information.

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

^ I hate when people say that a rear fill isnt NEEDED.(or to just ditch it period)

That's because it's not needed.

If the front stage is installed and imaged properly, why screw all that up by pulling the sound stage and imaging towards the back with rear speakers? Rear speakers isn't about being selfless to your rear passengers at all.... with a strong enough front stage that is installed and imaged properly, rear passengers won't need those rear speakers to enjoy the music. And besides, how often do you get a passenger or two in the back seat whom you are more concerned with their listening comfort than yourself in the driver's seat of your own car? If they are that important, I somehow doubt they're going to be begging to be crammed in the back of Civic and subjected to the 130+ dB of SPL for the duration of their trip. Not like the car is being used as a commercial taxi or for presidential transport duty. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

For ****s sake people... we're dealing with stereo here... that means TWO channels of audio information. Those channels are LEFT and RIGHT. Therefore rear speakers ARE NOT NEEDED...

However anytime we say, "hey you don't need those rear speakers" it's the person's choice whether or not to do the rear speakers. If they don't like talking to their passengers and carry 3+ passengers on a regular basis then go for it... but how often do you think he stuffs a couple people in the back of his coupe?

So next time you decide to get on a high horse stuff it if you don't understand what you are preaching... I CHOOSE to not run a rear stage because when I have passengers they are generally intelligent enough to have a conversation with, so I turn the stereo off. It is there solely for my enjoyment so I have no use for the rear stage...

As for what sub/amp choice is loud?? The choices are limitless, and a hifoncs/L7 setup will be plenty loud with a proper installation. Being that you are installing this in a small honda coupe you might want to start by measuring how big of a box you can fit, then work backwards. You might not have the room to do a dual L7 setup. Also jap cars generally have 80amp alternators. You should look into that too. From experience 80amp alts are generally good up to about 1000w RMS with the big3 done before you get serious voltage drop offs. So check how many amps your alt puts out and factor that in as well.

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

THANK YOU, Acidic.

 

[kidnapster 10+ year member]

yes ive heard goood things with hifonics so ill go with that along with the L7s. im not sure about the alternators with my car since im pretty new to car audio and have a decent understanding on the subject. i too have heard about ditching the rear speakers. the points brought up were good as long as it doesnt effect the hearing differently. i was also planning on buying the subs already in the enclosure. also i was wondering if i do get the L7's, would they compare to my friends 2 12 tc sounds t9 subs?

 

[skylineTT 10+ year member]

i think you can skip the alternator process by doing the "Big 3" and letting the power flow better. *correct if wrong*

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

i think you can skip the alternator process by doing the "Big 3" and letting the power flow better. *correct if wrong*

Well it's two different problems...

The Big 3 corrects the problem with the stock wiring not being able to deliver the full potential of the alternator and enlarging what is often a very inadequate ground for the chassis.

However the Big three does NOT make any power. So if he wants to do 1500w RMS and play it loud every day he will end up doing the alternator, assuming it's an average 80amp alt (most honda/toyota/mazda etc cars are 80amp)...

Cost on that is ~350-450 bucks and an hour or two of labor...

The big 3 will cost ~$50-75 and a couple hours, which anyone can do (alts are easy as well)...

The proper way to go about it if you are borderline is do the big3 first, since if you do the alt you need to do the big 3 anyways... and it might solve the problem by itself...

Last note: 80amps is borderline at right around 1000w RMS so do the install, do the big 3 then see how the dimming is. I would not plan on doing more than 1200w RMS unless you plan to do the alternator as well.... assuming of course it's an 80 amp alt