What amp (4 ch) and front speakers?

[tivoom]

Any Recommendations/opinions for a good SQ system? I really don't care at all about how loud it goes, currently I have a Kenwood HU and I never even turn the volume up halfway so...

I'm hoping to spend around $300 for the amp and 6.5" component speaker set. Eventually I'm going to be going with a carputer instead of the dying HU (stupid D-mask) which is why i want/need the amp.

So I've been looking at the (prices are shipped estimates):

Speakers

Alpine Type R SPR-17ls - $140

A/D/S 346cs - $165

CDT CL-61A w/ silk tweeter - $150

MB Quart RCE 216 - $150

Amplifier - 4 channel

Alpine MR-f250 (40x4@4) - $155

Phoenix Gold Xenon 100.4 (100x4@4) - $230

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Phoenix Gold Octane R.8.0.4 (75x4@4) - $150

Soundstream XTA480.4 (4x60@4) - $155

I've had a hard time looking for reviews/info on amps as most recommendations seem to be for much more powerful (and therefore?) expensive amps but I really don't think I need that much power. Also I'd like the amp to fit under the driver seat (don't want to lose trunk space) if that makes any difference.

Would the A/D/S's or CDT's sound good at lower sound levels? I read in another thread that they are power hungry?

Thanks for your time/opinions/suggestions/help, I really am a noob in the car audio thing!

Edit: modified amp list

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[j3bus2k3 5,000+ posts]

I have the RCE216 set...had them amp'd and sounded great although the tweeter could get harsh at times. I"m actually looking to sell them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif As for a 4-channel, I used and am about to re-use, my JBL Px300.4. does 123.5x4. Looked sexy as hell, did rated power and then some and never caused a problem...

 

[Hoodlum007 10+ year member]

i would go with the cdtcl61 comps with a P.Gold octane R 8:0:4 amp, the amp should be about $150 online.

The Cdt cl61 are not power hungry i was running my cl61 off my HU before i got my amp and they sounded pretty good, With enough power the Cl61 will produce a very nice detailed and natural sound reproduction with excellent sounding smooth tweeter frequencies and tons of clean midbass

 

[tivoom]

That is my biggest concern w/ the mb's (that they will be too harsh

Do you know what the difference between the octane and xenon is? looking at phoenix gold's site (they don't have the xenon) it looks like the octane series is the lower end/higher power series, but given power isn't so important to me I wonder if it makes more sense to go with a lower powered amp which would either be of higher quality or lower price?

Another amp I'm adding to the list of one's i'm looking at is the soundstream, i forgot about them when i typed the thread, from other threads, especially mp3car, they sound very nice and are reasonably priced.

Any more opinions on the speakers? - 1 vote for the mb's, and one for the cdt's...

I'd actually been leaning towards the a/d/s's, i am mainly worried they won't work well at lower output? - i guess the biggest reason i was leaning towards them is they seem like such a great deal $170 for a speaker that retails for 500...

Thanks!

 

[tivoom]

how much power do you think i need anyway? I know its probably hard to guess given that you've never heard how loud i listen to music and whatnot, but what would be the RMS of a song being played loud, but not ear-hurting loud? i guess that's probably pretty subjective too... hmm...

my HU (Kenwood X859) has a max power output of 50x4, and i think an RMS of 22x4, and given i've never cranked it up all the way, it seems reaonable to assume I won't be using near 50 watts rms, no?

Sorry about my n00bness, and thanks!

 

[acold7dusta 10+ year member]

all you really need is about 75-100 RMS for an average set of comps. im sendin my rainbows 200 rms and i hear every detail in music. But they can take the added load and i was careful with my gains, so what it really comes down to: how efficient the drivers are, and how sensitive they are to get going. In reality though, if you dont crank the volume, all you probably need is a decent 50 x 4 amp, which are plenty available