Which Should I Buy First?

[Jonahdude 10+ year member]

See my signature for what I have now. I'm not sure if I should buy subs and an amp first, or if I should upgrade my front speakers to components and get a 4-channel amp. I'm in high school and I don't have a job right now, so I'll only be able to do one or the other until I get a job. I'll most likely be getting 2 12" Pioneer TS-W305DVC subwoofers with a Profile CL1200 amplifier, and Pioneer TS-C1653 or TS-C160R 6 1/2" component speakers with a Profile CL440 amplifier. In the long run I'm going to get both, I'm just wondering what I should get for now.

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[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

See my signature for what I have now. I'm not sure if I should buy subs and an amp first, or if I should upgrade my front speakers to components and get a 4-channel amp. I'm in high school and I don't have a job right now, so I'll only be able to do one or the other until I get a job.

What is the point of having a sub and no amp to power it. Or and amp with nothing to play on it??? Kids these days.

 

[Jonahdude 10+ year member]

What is the point of having a sub and no amp to power it. Or and amp with nothing to play on it??? Kids these days.

?????

I'm deciding between subs AND a mono amp, OR component speakers AND a 4-channel amp. I said nothing about getting subs without an amp or an amp by itself.

 

[EmEsDub 10+ year member]

Well.... I think it depends a lot on what's more important to you...

If you're more into SQ, get the components first.

If you're more into SPL, get the subs first.

 

[nosaj070 10+ year member]

Speakers and amp without question. Subs will simply drown out all the important frequencies of the music, aka above 80hz. I would look else where for components than the pioneers, the only pioneers that i have enjoyed were the rev series, and even so there are others to consider. Give us a price range, and that amp is a great budget amp, good choice.

 

[Jonahdude 10+ year member]

Well.... I think it depends a lot on what's more important to you...
If you're more into SQ, get the components first.

If you're more into SPL, get the subs first.

I'm definitely more into SQ, but the subs will also help with that by filling in the lower end of the frequency spectrum.

 

[Jonahdude 10+ year member]

I really don't want to spend more than $100 for a pair of speakers, but $150 is probably my max. I've heard nothing but good things about the TS-C1653 component set, and I can get it for less than $100.

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

?????
I'm deciding between subs AND a mono amp, OR component speakers AND a 4-channel amp. I said nothing about getting subs without an amp or an amp by itself.

Ahh first sentance mixed me up with this one "I'm in high school and I don't have a job right now, so I'll only be able to do one or the other until I get a job"

I did not realize it was amp and comps or amp and sub.

I would choose to get the Amp and comps. Unless your a Bass head.

 

[swimfreak26 10+ year member]

Because you've already got aftermarket speakers all around, even if they're not the best, I would do the subs first. You will notice more of a difference from the addition of real bass then from the switch to components.

This is nothing against components, they are wonderful and I wish I could afford them but I would upgrade to subs prior to upgrading your already aftermarket parts.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

You will notice more of a difference from the addition of real bass then from the switch to components.

I'm going to disagree with that. You'll notice a bigger and better change in your system overall by upgrading to good set of amped components.

Do your speakers and an amp first, then worry about the subbass. The speakers will be what makes or breaks your stereo, and are what gives your stereo it's "sound". Why upgrade something that plays less than 1% of the music you hear before you upgrade the equipment that plays the other 99% (and that equipment also plays the most important frequencies)?

 

[imready77 10+ year member]

I was told in the past to work on the soundstage first then work on subbass.

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

comps.

but spend a little more maybe ~120 on some real comps and tweets rather than go with some pioneer. im sure they work, but im sure you can get MUCH better for a little more

whats the sense in upgrading to somthing that isnt much of an upgrade and having to do it again and sell the old ones?

im sure when you get your job, you will understand. $20 isnt hard to come by. spend the extra bit, and get the extra bit. that my .02c

 

[Jonahdude 10+ year member]

spend a little more maybe ~120 on some real comps and tweets rather than go with some pioneer.

What would you recommend?

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

I say get the 4ch- amp some components and bridge 2ch of it to a single sub- best of both worlds

Then you can add another sub and a dedicated amp, and rear fill in the future

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

i think i seen some 6.5 alpine type x components for $150 at crutchfield of all places.

 

[Jonahdude 10+ year member]

I say get the 4ch- amp some components and bridge 2ch of it to a single sub- best of both worlds
Then you can add another sub and a dedicated amp, and rear fill in the future

That could work, most 4-channel amps bridge to 4 ohms, and I have a Pioneer TS-W305C in my room, single voice coil 4 ohm. Should I do that and hook my rear speakers up to the head unit, or leave them unhooked until I can run them off the amp?

 

[Jonahdude 10+ year member]

Also, if I was to get another brand of components, would they sound good with Pioneer coaxials for rear fill?

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

go into the speakers forum and look around. youll find a favorite here is CDT and MBQUART, can be had for sub $150 with no problem.

id do what he suggested, 2 comps up front with tweets, and bridge the second 2 channels to 4ohms for that sub and seal it until you upgrade. you can run the back stage on the HU if ya want, or you can leave them.

but get comps. they are so much better (ive blown 3 sets of coaxials UH: )

msg TPLAYA07, he is my CDT dealer, and *might* be able to get ya a deal on a set.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

if he can't get you a deal then try these http://www.thezeb.com/p-CDT-Audio-CL-61T-6½-inch-Component-System-109415.htm

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

go into the speakers forum and look around. youll find a favorite here is CDT and MBQUART, can be had for sub $150 with no problem.

Notice, they are the boners here. Don't limit yourself to just those brands, there are many that are just as good or better for the money.

THese are the Alpines some one mentioned earlier.