Reborn into car audio

[Ceezer 10+ year member]

Howdy, folks. I used to be pretty big into car audio in the early to mid 90s, and I'm wanting to get back into it. I have a 97 Impreza Outback Sport that I'm thinking about showing, but I don't know where to begin. I'm sure things have changed some over the last 10+ years, and advancements in technology have introduced new equipment. I've probably forgotten most of the basics, too...

If I was wanting to show, do people still do carpeted boxes, or is it all fiberglass now? I'm wanting to go with SQL, and don't mind putting a little money into it, but at the same time I'm paying my wife's way through college, and my daughter is into very expensive activities (which I have trouble denying her...). I don't have to have the top of the line, cream of the crop, but better than average for show purposes.

If anyone has recommendations of reputable brands these days, or suggestions as to where I can find the information to get back in the game, I'd really appreciate it.

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[nauc 10+ year member]

as far as decks go, alpine, eclipse and pioneer are prob the most used

speakers, re, adire, eD are pretty good for the money, mainly internet companies

subs re, adire, eD, aa, soundsplinter, again mainly internet companies

amps, re, eD

http://www.reaudio.com

http://www.adireaudio.com

http://www.soundsplinter.com

http://www.edesignaudio.com

http://www.ascendantaudio.com/

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

a lot of people use carpet for their boxes, but people who show their cars use all kinds of stuff

 

[jujumantb 10+ year member]

If you're not into "underground" brands..

Speakers- higher end: CDT, JL (XR's), Boston, Focal

Subs- JL, Alpine, MTX

Amps- JL, Apline, MTX, Kicker, US Amps, Zapco, Tru... too many good ones to name

I'd suggest you stick around here for like a week just lurking, asking questions ETC to see what people are gettin.

And yes most people still carpet boxes.

 

[Chevyaudio 5,000+ posts]

if price is a factor i would go with the internet brands, because some mainstream brands can get pricey, ex. JL, Kicker, US amps

 

[Ceezer 10+ year member]

Are these internet brands reputable?

12 years ago, there were only a handful of brands, and most serious folks went with JL subs, MB Quart components, Phoenix Gold or PPI amps/crossovers.

The headunit I already have, it's a Pioneer DEH - 7600, or something like that; 3 or 4 months old.

 

[Ceezer 10+ year member]

a lot of people use carpet for their boxes, but people who show their cars use all kinds of stuff

I don't know that I'd have the skill to build one from fiberglass, let alone the location to do it (renting an apartment right now, since I just recently moved to SC). If I went to a shop, could you take a guess at what it would cost to have my hatch glassed in to hold, say, 4 10s (2 on each side) and an amp rack in the middle?

That is, if 10s are still ideal for sound quality and crispness. Last I knew, 12s were deeper and louder, but still kinda sloppy sounding.

And what other kinds of materials do they use for shows? Maybe I should pick up a couple magazines this weekend.

 

[Chevyaudio 5,000+ posts]

the brands you listed are really good, most people on hear seem to use the internet brands, ill let them tell you more about them, being that ive only heard certain ones, and only have heard thema hand full of times. But if money is not a factor JL audio is a great brand.

 

[traksta15 10+ year member]

fiberglassing 4 12's covered in vinyl would be sweet...........do you have an exact budget??

 

[Ceezer 10+ year member]

No, not yet. Just kind of looking around, taking in suggestions and deciding how I want it mapped out, then I'll worry about things like budgets :c)

But why would you put vinyl over fiberglass? Don't most people paint it? Not that I think it's a bad idea, just asking.

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

all the internet companies that i listed are reliable, tho eD had some problems with their older version, flat cone subs, but they have all new subs and people swear by them

check out http://www.icixsound.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=24 theres a whole eD forum there.

as far as size and sloppy subs, the 12s, 15s and 18s can be as tight as a 10, its all about what you do with them

dont have a clue how much boxes for 4 10s/amp racks run

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

and read this, or at least what Ben Milne is sayin http://www.icixsound.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13843

 

[Ceezer 10+ year member]

the brands you listed are really good,

I had already looked around at some PG amps on Ebay, since I'm familiar with them and well aware of their excellence. If I went with 4 10's, then I was looking at (2) PG Xenon X200.4; if I remember correctly (I am getting old, ya' know), then as a 4 channel amp, I can run 2 subs per amp, and bridge 2 of the channels for each sub, which should draw about 400W per sub. Right? Is that too much for some 10s?

For the components (undecided, but I have 6.5s in front doors, and 4s in rear doors), I was looking at a Xenon X100.4, which if I ran regularly as a 4 channel, would be 100W to each speaker.

With this setup, though, would the subs drown the components out? Should I lower the wattage to the subs to even it out a little? I would like it to be a loud, but my main priority is quality. Maybe just 2 subs, and 2 of the X100.4s (one for components, and one bridged to push 200W to each sub)? Or keep 4 10s, and get the X200.4 and run one to each channel?

As for the subs themselves, I used to run JL 10w0s and 10w1s. I see the 0s are still around, and 1s seem to be discontinued; all the rest are new, to me. Are the 0s still a good clean sub? I see they have a power rating of 175W, though. Will that be loud enough? Would they handle the Xenon amps at 200W if I turned the gain down some? Or is there a better choice?

I apologize for all the questions. The more I look into things, the more I realize how much changed (yet, some things remain the same). //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

tho eD had some problems with their older version, flat cone subs,

The had problems with one specific model. Stay away from the 15A's...the rest of the series is fine.

yet, some things remain the same

Physics doesn't change. Ohm's Law is still the same as before //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Ceezer 10+ year member]

Physics doesn't change. Ohm's Law is still the same as before //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

That's not the problem, my memory is. Even though I was an electrical engineering tutor in college, I don't remember much of it... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif