Rainbow or Image Dynamics?

[cbriggs89 10+ year member]

I'm looking to upgrade my current system (Kenwood 2-ways all around) to some nice components up front and coaxial 2-ways in the rear. My friend has been helping me do some research, because I'm new to the whole high end car audio thing, and he's got some experience. Anyway, he's been strongly recommending Image Dynamics and Rainbow speakers. I'm looking to spend around $200 for the front components, and maybe a little less on the rear coaxials.

We have been looking at the Rainbow SLC265 2-way component set for about $220 and the ID CTX65CS comp set for about $180. I wish I could afford the nicer Rainbows, but I can't justify putting that much money into my audio system right at this point.

For the rears, my friend had pointed me in the direction of the Rainbow SL165 2-way coaxial ($180), and the ID CTX65 2-way coax ($150).

All of this is going to be hooked up to a 4ch amp of some kind obviously. I have been looking at the Infinity 7541a, Orion 4004, Hifonics ZX6400, or whatever you guys think would work. If you have an opinion on the amp, I'm looking to spend around $100, any suggestions are welcomed.

What do you guys think would be my best set up? Looking to spend around $200 on front speakers, $180 or less on rears, and around $100 on 4ch amp. Any suggestions of other brands or models are welcomed.

Thanks,

Craig

Click to read more...

 

[SQPL 10+ year member]

focus on front components only. leave the rear speakers or kill them.

 

[troy_audi0 10+ year member]

X2

Front stage over realfill

 

[headless 10+ year member]

x3 - instead of spending 400$ on 2 pairs of speakers, just spend that much on 1 set - like a set of rainbow germaniums Then you only need a 2 channel amp..

A decent budget amp that'd make a set like the germaniums happy would be:

http://www.gooddeals18.com/product/AP1000?meta=FRG

2x160watts @ 4 ohms.

Or go 8$ over your limit and get this instead - 2x200watts - for some headroom

http://www.gooddeals18.com/product/AP1200/PROFILE_California_AP1200_1200W_2_CH_Amp_with_Bass_Level_Remote_Control.html

 

[sqhertz 5,000+ posts]

personally , i wouldnt throw a $400 set of rainbows on a profile amp. or hifonics.

look into sundown 2 channels. soild amps and customer service should anything happen.

 

[jagblazer01 10+ year member]

Save the money, forget about rear speakers and set up a really nice front stage...You may also consider looking at a 3way front setup. Rainbow all the way

 

[cbriggs89 10+ year member]

Thanks for all the responses. . .should I really consider only the front speakers? it's a 4dr sedan, and I do want it to sound good for the ppl in the back too. . .plus i'm still looking to get loud as hell, and still sound really nice

Craig

 

[KOL 10+ year member]

×6 Forget the rears & invest in the front stage. Ohh & deaden your doors well.

 

[headless 10+ year member]

You've only got so much 'loud as hell and sound really nice' for your pricerange... If i was limited to your budget i'd get a set of germaniums up front and amp them with 2x200w. I don't like rear fill. Even if I did, i'd have them turned way down so could even run the rears off of the headunit power while the fronts are amped.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

Get an ID cx set and a nice to decent amp. you should beable to get a good mids/highs amp for 150 or less.

 

[cbriggs89 10+ year member]

Wow, I never thought so many people would suggest that I leave out the rear speakers. I'm gonna start looking into some 2ch amps for the front stage. I don't know much about these, but I have been told that Sundown, and Orion are nice, I can't even remember any of the other brands my friend has suggested. Sundown is a bit out of my price range though. Looking to spend around $100 on the amp (probably getting a used one obviously). I might go a little higher on the amp, but definitely not anything over $200. What should I consider for amps?

**Edit** To headless: I realize that I'm not going to get anything amazing for what I'm spending, but I do want the best of both worlds, loud and SQ, well, at least the best I can get for what I want to spend.

 

[khanhfat 10+ year member]

hmm even at 200$ it's hard to find yourself a good amp to power those quality germaniums . Save some more and get the one that is build for your set up. Cheaper amp gets the job done but i'm not recommended since it'll never get the best out of your Comps. ANother thing you need to set budget on is a good SQ HU ( very important) and deaden your doors. Probably that will run your budget over 1G . //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif. Some amp runs stronger when bridge so consider that in mind as well.

If you have your tweeters set on the A pillar, The people in the back still be able to hear your music nicely . Adding the rear is just gonna give them more headache .

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

Out of everything that you can do to/for a sound system amplifiers would be last on the list as processing (crossover/eq), install, head unit, and the speakers actually used will typically make a much larger effect than what amplifier you use.

 

[vellocet 10+ year member]

Sundowns are wonderfull amps, but for budget look into a cadence txa 300.2. Will run you a bit over a bill on ebay. Knuconceptz for wires, you really won't find a much better deal on wires.

 

[Hoodlum007 10+ year member]

CTX65cs comps for the front run off this Cadence amp would be nice.

http://woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=6097