What if you cant afford the BEST equipment?

[reneeb7363 10+ year member]

JL, TypeR, XXX, DD, Eclipse...I am sure you know all the brand names and what seems to be the most popular. (And expensive)

I am ashamed, and a little put off, that most of the threads I have visited in this forum completely disregard and consider you worthless unless you are buying/installing/ playing with the best equipment in the market. Car audio is a terrific pastime (or sport) and I assure you if I (or others) had the money, I/we would be buying the best equipment. The track record of a JL audio, XXX or double D subwoofer speak for themselves.

BUT, does this make the people whom can only afford an MTX (or other ‘less than best’ quality) subwoofer worth any less respect or not worthy of your advise on building a box, aiming their front stage speakers, or building a fiberglass enclosure/kick, etc? When you were a teenager, just discovering/starting out and getting your feet wet with all the information, didn’t you get upset walking in to the local Audio shop to be treated like you didn’t matter?

A lot of people feel the same way about this forum. (personal friends and people I have spoken to in other forums.) If the person posting isn’t installing, ordering, or talking about any of the top components, then they/we are made to feel that we are sub-standard and don’t have the right to appreciate what we can afford. I piece my system together and have done so from the start. I didn’t, nor can I, drop $500 dollars or more for just one component in my system.

I may not be the best at every aspect of the car audio industry, but do have real life experience in this field, and similar fields in which I hold state and federal licenses. This certainly doesn’t make me better than any one else by any means, but it also shouldn’t mean that my thoughts, opinions, and sometimes-stupid sounding “Newbie-esk” questions should be dis-regarded.

On a lighter note, there are many generous people on here whom have helped me and treated my questions like they were important. This, by far, compared to similar forums, is the best informational resource I have ever found on the internet and would love to, with a clear conscious, and faith in the content, promote these hallowed pages. I HAVE learned VERY much and with this knowledge I plan to expand my installation skills and become better at what I do in the car audio industry as well as my own Private Small Business. So, to those that have been delightfully generous, THANK YOU!!!! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

For the smarta$$ reading this… don’t bother posting, retaliating, or screaming at me for being negative. That is not the intent of this post. It is simply a point of view from a newbie to CarAudio.com. I still love this site and will continue to use it. I know there will always be someone that brings down the quality of a service, company, etc. and there is nothing we can do about that but be better at what we do and prove to others this is the BEST place to be with the most Knowledgeable people available to assist us!

**** To be a Teacher of others you must first acknowledge and ACCEPT you are also a Student! *** - Me

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[psych0ticnemes1 5,000+ posts]

you have a point... i notice that a lot around here... The best isn't always the best for everyone

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

Good post, but I wound't consider the type R expensive. Even someone who normally buys 15 dollar wal-mart subs could save for a reasonable length of time and pick one up.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

It's not a question about affording the best equipment, it's knowing what to do with that equipment.

If someone came to me that was honestly trying to learn, and wanted to progess beyond the "system as a sub and an amp" stage, I'd be glad to help them regardless of their equipment. That being said, I think there's a minimum level that one needs to get to, otherwise why waste your time with junk?

I have a lot more respect for someone with a willingness to learn and moderate equipment than someone with a cocky attitude and the best gear in the world.

 

[Safe-N-Sound215 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif

J/k

I agree with you, there are a lot of bashers on here, but there's also a lot of helpful people

 

[1loudsuv 10+ year member]

car audio expensive heh try going home audio now thats expensive

but yah me i help people out when they ask no matter what they run or plan to run. ive seen small setup if done right impresses me. and ive seen people use the best and it sounds like crap or not be loud.

 

[killahbean 10+ year member]

yes but even if you have the best equipment out there and not know what to with them it'll still sound like crap......on the other hand you can make less expensive systems kill all other systems

 

[mannyb18b]

It's not a question about affording the best equipment, it's knowing what to do with that equipment.
If someone came to me that was honestly trying to learn, and wanted to progess beyond the "system as a sub and an amp" stage, I'd be glad to help them regardless of their equipment. That being said, I think there's a minimum level that one needs to get to, otherwise why waste your time with junk?

I have a lot more respect for someone with a willingness to learn and moderate equipment than someone with a cocky attitude and the best gear in the world.

True. I had a NICE 144db on music system at 17years old with no job. That included a Premier deck, also a Clarion dvd. CDT front components on a Profile ap1040. 18" SX RE12.1.

I still dont really have a job and its just getting better.

 

[johnson 10+ year member]

..

 

[reneeb7363 10+ year member]

It's not a question about affording the best equipment, it's knowing what to do with that equipment.
If someone came to me that was honestly trying to learn, and wanted to progess beyond the "system as a sub and an amp" stage, I'd be glad to help them regardless of their equipment. That being said, I think there's a minimum level that one needs to get to, otherwise why waste your time with junk?

I have a lot more respect for someone with a willingness to learn and moderate equipment than someone with a cocky attitude and the best gear in the world.

X2!!!

jim, You have certainly been one of the members I have gained a lot of useful information and insight from. I see many posts by you and really appreciate all that you do for this community!

KUDOS to JimJ !!!!!

(gotta go home and move a refridgerator-- I will be back on later! Thank you for all your replies! I LUV YOU GUYS!! LOL //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

i can think of a handful of members on here that actually have the best equipment. HebrewHammer is the only one that comes to mind at the moment though.

i see your point though. its vaild

 

[mannyb18b]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif lol

this was to go before eugenics post

 

[MBrock4u 10+ year member]

That is a vey good post. It is very true about some people on here about having top of the line gear. Lets face it, that kind of gear is very expensive and alot of us just don't have the funds to buy it. I think the majority of people in here are most willing to help out regardless of budget. We all want our equipment to perform to its full potential weather it be IDMAX or Roadmaster, Alpine or Kraco. There are alot of knowledgable people on here that can help put togeather a budget system that will meet your needs and sound good doing it. I have had alot of help on here putting togeather a system, tweeking, gain setting ect. This is a wonderful place to learn. There will always be the bashers and the na sayers. Thats just life. The most important thing is to take what you need here and leave the rest. Get the best out of what you do have and can afford until you can do better. When you can afford better, this is the place to be for knowledge. The moderators on here simply amaze me sometimes with what they know. Have fun in here and thanks for the post. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I still rep the pioneer brand. They have good subs at all price points. Hell the subs I got set a world record in its day, not to say that I can. I still give props to the pioneer subs for budget SPL, but they don't really offer anything in the SQL area. So, I have to spend more on a company that does.

 

[MBrock4u 10+ year member]

Yeah, but the sure have nice head units!