I'm in the process of lightly updating the OE system in my Acura MDX. I want to keep the head unit AS IS.
Phase 1: I've installed a Arc Audio amp and am powering the OE 10" sub from it. Surprisingly it sounds good -- really good actually. The OE 10 1/2" Alpine is only rated at 20w, but so good so far.
Phase 2 was to replace the OE speakers with Polks (or something with a smooth and not too bright tweeter) and replace the OE sub with a slim depth Infinity, but the local shop suggests installing another Arc amp and a Rockford Fosgate 3sixty.1 on the OE speakers. They said that may sound better than replacing them. I talked to a guy at Arc who agreed that some OE speakers sound great with clean power. The shop has the Arc FD4100 50x4 on clearance for $150 which seems like a good price next to the $399 sticker.
I've searched online and see many people posting issues with the 3sixty malfunctioning (works one day then not the next). I don't own a PC, so the biggest concern there is complicating my system and having to deal with issues and going in to fix them.
On a MDX forum people are having good luck swapping out the OE Alpine speakers with effecient after markets. Wish there was a way to hear the difference first!
So go for the 2nd Arc amp with the 3sixty.1 installed for close to $500?
Or for half that replace the 4 door speakers and get a new sub?
Or I could just forgo the 3sixty.1 and use high to low adapters on a 2nd amp?
Oh, and I should note, I mostly listen to XM which isn't the cleanest source anyway.
