Seeking Advice/Help on System Upgrade.

[jbraves97]

My stock door speakers in my 99 silverado (NBS) regular cab are blown, so I'm looking at upgrading my system. Not looking to break the bank, but just improve my sound quality and add some bass that isn't overpowering. I do have a Alpine-7893 HU in the truck right now.

The only place close to me where I can listen to speakers is Best Buy. They have the "typical" stuff. They didn't even have any components I could listen to, the best coaxials I heard were the polk db651's.

The 99-02 silverado's have 6.5's and a seperate tweeter, so I do want components. I used to have Diamond Hex's in an older eclipse...they were amazing. But, kinda outta my price range at this point. Not sure how their D6/D3 lines compare. Hard to find many reviews on those D6/D3's. So...at this point I've kinda narrowed it down to the JL C2650's...people seem to really like them. There are sooo many options out there...just unsure of what to go with.

I've narrowed my sub to the Kicker TCVT8..which is a boxed by Kicker 8" sub. Not ruling out the 10", but I think 8" will give me plenty of bass. I did listen to the Kicker TC10 at Bestbuy...and thought the bass it produced sounded really good.

I was thinking a 4 channel amp. 2 channels for components and the other 2 bridged for the single sub. This is where I'm totally lost! The options seem endless. Different classes, manufacturers, producing to much heat, etc... I'd like to keep the amp at $150 or under if possible. I'm not opposed to buying used it if its from somone reputable and the amp is in good condition. Hoping I can get some advice from some of the guru's out there that know their stuff.

My truck also has 4x6's in the pillars behind each seat...not sure whether to just leave those as is, replace and run off the HU, or disconnect altogether.

Any advice/help would be great.

Thanks

JD

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[imp4pdabest 10+ year member]

Well those JL's you listed are coaxials, but above you stated you want comps. Those JLs are good, but better can be had for the price. Those JLs can be had for 129 shipped with warranty. For about 10 bucks more you can get the Boston SR65's and they will get much louder while sounding a little better. Those Bostons can take 3x the rated RMS. As for Diamond, I would stay away if you're not buying their higher line products. For the price of their lower lines, much better can be had for the same price. If you want to replace those speakers in the back, the Boston SE45's would be a great choice.

And as for a sub, you should check out the Sundown SA8, it's the most liked 8" around here. The SQ is amazing and everyone that owns them are amazed at how much louder they get than what was expected.

I don't know if you're planning on buying from Best Buy because you'd rather buy local and want to check out what you're buying first hand before you buy, but you can get much better products at better prices online.

As for the amp, I suppose you can find something used in the classifieds within the $150 range. You gotta check the classifieds regularly. As for brands, there's a lot of good brands for amps, there's even more I personally would never buy.

 

[jbraves97]

Thanks for the heads up on the boston's. I'll check them out.

I am planning on buying online...was just stating that Best Buy was the only place I could go listen to some audio stuff...but what they carry is pretty basic and limited. So was trying to get input on things that I most likely won't listen to before I purchase them.

I have read on the Sundown 8" and it sounds great. I guess I was looking at the kicker because it comes boxed, and its specifically made for truck applications with limited space. I didn't want to have to hassel with getting a custom box made, or buying a unloaded prefab for $100+.

Can you be more specific with Amps? That's where most of my uncertainty lies.

Thanks.

 

[imp4pdabest 10+ year member]

Please do check out the reviews of the Bostons.

If you can get a good price on a custom 8" box for your truck, spend the extra $ and get the SA8. That's what I would personally do, save some more cash and put it towards the SA8, it'll be well worth it.

Now for quality amps, it comes down to the brand. There's lots of good brands out there, but for 150 you're gonna have to go used if you want something good. Some of the good brands, you'd be lucky if 150 gets you a used amp. Probably the best amp I can recommend is a used MB Quart Discus 4125 or 480. AVOID the Onyx line, look for the discus(DSC) series. Used ones pop up here from time to time. Those amps are amazing for the price, and YES they will do rated.

Though I just bought this old school Rockford, I would never buy any of their newer stuff.

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/amplifier-classifieds/549358-fs-t-rf-800a4-usa-made-4-channel-beasts.html

This one isn't in the best condition, but it will do rated for sure, has good SQ and you could get it for about $50 less than your desired spending limit.

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/amplifier-classifieds/548634-mb-quart-raa4200.html

Just giving you an idea of a few good amps. Your best bet is to ask about any specific amp you have in mind BEFORE purchasing.

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

Aura 4600RPM 4"x6" 2-way Coaxial Speaker Pair 269-179 don't know anything about these either..lol...i'm just giving you another neat research website.

If you could stretch the budget a little, here is a vertical mount Soundstream:

WoofersEtc.com - DTR4.680 - Soundstream 4-Channel 680 Watt RMS Amplifier

or:

WoofersEtc.com - ZRS-C9 - Cadence 1000 Watt 4 Channel Competition Amplifier

If not..

WoofersEtc.com - S580.4 - Precision Power 580W Sedona Series 4 Channel Amplifier

I am just posting these as an example of what is available new..You might do better in the Classifieds. The PPI specs good, but since they recently revamped their Company Operations, there are not any decent reviews on their products. I would like to think they maintained some quality engineering in their products...but it remains to be seen.

and there are a few by Maxxsonics: MB Quart and HiFonics you might look at, but they would be close to the bottom of my list in your price range....Good luck!

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

Please do check out the reviews of the Bostons.
If you can get a good price on a custom 8" box for your truck, spend the extra $ and get the SA8. That's what I would personally do, save some more cash and put it towards the SA8, it'll be well worth it.

Now for quality amps, it comes down to the brand. There's lots of good brands out there, but for 150 you're gonna have to go used if you want something good. Some of the good brands, you'd be lucky if 150 gets you a used amp. Probably the best amp I can recommend is a used MB Quart Discus 4125 or 480. AVOID the Onyx line, look for the discus(DSC) series. Used ones pop up here from time to time. Those amps are amazing for the price, and YES they will do rated.

Though I just bought this old school Rockford, I would never buy any of their newer stuff.

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/amplifier-classifieds/549358-fs-t-rf-800a4-usa-made-4-channel-beasts.html

This one isn't in the best condition, but it will do rated for sure, has good SQ and you could get it for about $50 less than your desired spending limit.

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/amplifier-classifieds/548634-mb-quart-raa4200.html

Just giving you an idea of a few good amps. Your best bet is to ask about any specific amp you have in mind BEFORE purchasing.

That Quart is a good deal, if you don't mind the cosmetics

 

[imp4pdabest 10+ year member]

That Quart is a good deal, if you don't mind the cosmetics

This is even better but unfortunately the guy doesn't log in often:

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/amplifier-classifieds/548948-fs-eclipse-pa5422-4-channel-amp.html

That Quart is good & even with the cosmetic condition, it's still 100% functional.

 

[Jaguar 10+ year member]

As for Diamond, I would stay away if you're not buying their higher line products. For the price of their lower lines, much better can be had for the same price. If you want to replace those speakers in the back, the Boston SE45's would be a great choice.

I'm confused why would you recommend Boston SE45's, those are 4" Coaxials, he needs 6"s. I paid $100.00 a set for my Diamond D363i's, bought two sets at the time. At the time I bought those I put an incredible amount of research into those and it paid off believe me. I'm not sure what your talking about Diamond audio making lower end stuff either, can you enlighten me with your experience with a specific model. Diamond Audio | Car & Truck Audio

I've narrowed my sub to the Kicker TCVT8..which is a boxed by Kicker 8" sub. Not ruling out the 10", but I think 8" will give me plenty of bass. I did listen to the Kicker TC10 at Bestbuy...and thought the bass it produced sounded really good.

If you end up going with the Kicker, make sure they don't sell you the TCVT8 with the silver top subwoofer, those are the older models, the black tops are the newer models. The TC10 happens to be hold a standard entry level Kicker Comp sub, the Kicker CVT8 is the next line up in quality and Rms, but I would definitely try and listen to what others have suggested about being open to getting other subs like Sundown. I know it's might be hard to try and get what the people here are saying at first, but trust me some of them really know what they are talking about. http://store.soundsolutionsaudio.com/categories/sub-woofers/sundown-audio/e-series.html.

 

As for Best Buy, your better off going to your local car audio shop and discussing your options with someone who knows what they are talking about. It seems like you wanted to buy an sub with an enclosure to make things easy, get a Sundown 8" or 10" e-series, and let them recommend what box to use for you at a shop. Believe me they have many of them in front and another 50 in the back. Make sure you ask them if the material the box is made out of MDF.

 

[jbraves97]

Thanks for the reply Jag.

I was able to travel a couple hours and hit up the 2 audio stores available. One, didn't have much selection at all...Kenwood, Kicker, and RF. I hit up the other store and was able to listen to the JL C2's. They sounded really good. Then the guy said...check these out....he fired up the Hertz Energy 6.5 comps. I was really impressed with them. They sounded really clean under several different music genres. They were being pushed with an Audison amp. Not sure how they compare with the Boston's, but I was really impressed with them. They were as clean sounding as my diamond hex's I had 5-6 years ago.

Unfortunately there is no Sundown dealer in Utah. So, no way I can listen to the 8" sub reccomended, but I'm sure it's as good as everyone says and everything I've read.

I was looking through some amps after some of your guys's suggestions yesterday.

I found this new CADENCE ZRS-C9 600 WATT RMS 4-CHANNEL for $145 shipped. Any thoughts on this amp? Can i do better for the price?

Thanks again

JD

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

Thanks for the reply Jag.
I was able to travel a couple hours and hit up the 2 audio stores available. One, didn't have much selection at all...Kenwood, Kicker, and RF. I hit up the other store and was able to listen to the JL C2's. They sounded really good. Then the guy said...check these out....he fired up the Hertz Energy 6.5 comps. I was really impressed with them. They sounded really clean under several different music genres. They were being pushed with an Audison amp. Not sure how they compare with the Boston's, but I was really impressed with them. They were as clean sounding as my diamond hex's I had 5-6 years ago.

Unfortunately there is no Sundown dealer in Utah. So, no way I can listen to the 8" sub reccomended, but I'm sure it's as good as everyone says and everything I've read.

I was looking through some amps after some of your guys's suggestions yesterday.

I found this new CADENCE ZRS-C9 600 WATT RMS 4-CHANNEL for $145 shipped. Any thoughts on this amp? Can i do better for the price?

Thanks again

JD

Spec wise, I have not seen better.and they are rated at 13.8v...I like that..the ZRS C-9 I posted on post # 5 was $200.00

 

[imp4pdabest 10+ year member]

Audison is second to none when it comes to SQ. That's part of the reason why they sounded really good. I wish you could have heard Bostons on that same amp. Which model Hertz did you hear?

 

[jbraves97]

It was the ESK components

 

[imp4pdabest 10+ year member]

The ESK's are nice, but they're well over $300. I thought you said you wanted coaxials, not comps. For comps, you can get 2 pairs of ID CTX65s comps for less than $300. Everyone around here loves those. The midbass and tweeter are really good.

 

[jbraves97]

I was originally looking at components, since my stock door speakers have 6.5's and a tweeter...which i believe came in the 99-02 silverados. I think it would be better to not invest in the rear pillars (4x6), from everything ive read, and invest that money into better speakers or amp.

The price on those energy's was 199.00. Im just not sure I want to buy something that I can't listen to prior to installing...ya know?

 

[imp4pdabest 10+ year member]

I must have checked out the wrong model. I definitely prefer to experience first hand before buying. But 90% of my car audio purchases have come from reading consistent reviews of products. I wish you could hear those ID comps, they're nice. But just keep in mind, Audison is top of the line SQ when it comes to amps. A $150 4 channel amp isn't gonna make those Hertz sound as good. The difference in quality will be noticeable.