upgrade and setup (take it easy on me Im new)

[lost1818]

Hello all, I new and really have limited knowlage of car audio. The last time I messed wih any of this was back in high school (16-17 years ago). I am sure things have changed, hence I am looking for advice and some expert opinion in my system setup. From reading on this and other car audio forums I have learned that I will need to be spacific on my goals and equipment.

So lets get started!!

2003 Trailblazer LS I6 engine

Battery-DieHard Platnum 875 CCA

Stock Alt (Trailblazer OEM Alt is HO)

no big 3

Current system that was installed by previous owner: Memphis Audio 12 sub in sealed box, Memphis Audio Power Referance 150x2 amp instaled in rear storage compartment. Rockford Fosgate P163c 6 1/2 inch componint mounted in stock location (in door). Stock head unit (single cd no HD or xm radio) no bose sound system, and no onstar.

Non audio: 400w power inverter hardwired under back bench seat, garmin GPS hardwired.

I listen to a mix of everything but lean toward rock and country. I really like to hear a good full bass responce, and really am looking for real good CLEAR mids and highs.

Budget: while Im not wealthy, I really dont have one. I would like to go mid to high end, but want to stop short of the point of diminishing returns on my investment.

Here is my thoughts of upgrading, please tell me if I am heading in the right direction.

Sub:JL 10w7

Front/rear keep the fosgates and add qlogic custom kick panel inclosure in front floor boards with 6 to 6 1/2 components (undetermened brand). The dash has stock mouning positions for tweeters. I would like to add some tweeters there (undetermened brand)

JL audio clean sweep sound prosseser (I would like to keep the headunit stock

Amps: 2 Alpine PDX 4.150 one alpine PDX 1000.1

I also would like to add a second battery (deepcycle) in the read to the truck. (I do use a laptop and dvd player alot) sometimes with the engine off and have draned the starting battery before.

I have dynamated the doors and back hatch and plan on doing the roof and floorboard.

Sorry for the long adderall post but I wated to get it all out there in one shot.

What do you experts think. any ideas on the mid and high speakers? are the PDX amps any good? should I keep the fosgates?

Thanks to reading

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[Snow90 10+ year member]

I would ditch the fosgates and go with Diamond Audio Hex, CDT Audio, Focal, and there are many more good brands. The PDX amps are very good from what I hear and have very small footprints. Also, typically you can run from 1000-1200 watts off stock electrical before you have to upgrade to a H.O. Alt. Why are you looking for two PDX 4.150? I would just get one and just run a pair of speakers up in the front of the vehicle, just sounds better to me and sounds like the sound is coming from right in front of you. Hope this helps at least a little.

 

[bigaudiofanatic 10+ year member]

I would ditch the rockfords and go with polks they are a great brand and at a great price.As for the alt. you are fine as with what snow90 said.

 

[528hz 10+ year member]

On the comps, you may could even find some Rainbow SLCs. They're relatively cheap and love mine! Others mentioned Polk and CDT and they're nice too.

Are you sure you want to just run one 10?" You could make that Trailblazer really loud if you wanted to with all that room...

 

[lyttleviet 10+ year member]

I'd take a hard look at the JL HD line of amplifiers. When my buddies put in a PDX 1000.1 it didn't even move a sealed FI Q //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif.

 

[Snow90 10+ year member]

Also I would ditch that JL sound thing and just get an aftermarket Headunit. Theyre actually pretty easy to install yourself.

 

[Snow90 10+ year member]

I'll take that PDX amp then if he's not happy with it.

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

If I were to suggest only one thing, it would be to ditch the stock head unit idea. For the price of that cleansweep and a bit on top, you could get a nice unit that you could use to actively run your speakers. That would be the biggest return on your investment, IMO. Make sure your doors are deadened properly, as listening to rock and country, midbass response is extremely important. Another idea would be horns and a pair of 8" drivers in the doors for your front stage.

As for your sub stage, it looks like you're going for something that takes up relatively little room and sounds good more so than ability to get loud. With 1-1.5 kW, you could run a pair of sealed Stereo Integrity Mags, a Single Fi Q, or Incriminator Audio Death Row. (to name a few). If you don't mind losing some room in exchange for stronger output, get a larger sub.

Also, where in the Midwest?

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

Also I would ditch that JL sound thing and just get an aftermarket Headunit. Theyre actually pretty easy to install yourself.

Someone people don't like the look. I don't... however, function over form for me.

Another brand of comps you might want to look at is Hertz. I have a pair of Hertz ESK165's (Their lowest line, IIRC). I got it for $180-ish and the beat the hell out of my other CDT speakers I had. (I had the EF-61FG's and the EF-61's with T-25 tweets)

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Like the amps, not a big fan of the sub. You could something better for less. Sounds like you are off to a good project.