brands to buy or not to buy?

ACCSlvCivic · 12-14-2001, 05:01 PM

Ok, for those of you who are wise.. tell us how good the: head unit, subs, speakers, and amps are for each of these companies. this is for newbies and for people who are just not sure.

Panasonic
Visonik
Lanzar
Rockwood
Kenwood
Profile
Pioneer
Jensen
Pyle
Mobile Authority
Crunch
Legacy
Power Acoustik
Cerwin Vega
Boss Audio
Audiobahn
JVC
JBL
JL
Ultimate Audio
American Pro
Rockford Fosgate
Lightning Audio

That's all i can think of right now

i have Pioneer Head unit, ultimate components all around, an autotek 200w amp and 2x 10" JL w0s and i'm sounding prety good
i'm trying to decide what amp to grab.. i've seen some killer deals on Power Acoustik so i wonder if they are anygood or if they are another Legacy type...

Thanks for any replys (btw.. this would make a great sticky post if and only if people reply.)

LjasonL · 12-14-2001, 05:11 PM

okay heres what i know from my experience.
panasonic=good
kenwood=alright
sony head units=alright
sony speakers/amps=suck
bazooka=suck
power acoustic=very good
clarion=very good
infinity high range speaker=very good
infinity subs=decent
jl anything=very good
ma=very good
mtx=alright
jensen=crap including jensen sub-brands like phase linear
rockford speakers=good
rockford amps=very good
pioneer head units=good but seem to overheat if not well ventilated, your cd comes out all hot, experienced this in several pioneers, one even caught fire in my dash!

i definately reccomend power acoustic amps best amp for the money i say

ACCSlvCivic · 12-14-2001, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ldelaysionl
okay heres what i know from my experience.
panasonic=good
kenwood=alright
sony head units=alright
sony speakers/amps=suck
bazooka=suck
power acoustic=very good
clarion=very good
infinity high range speaker=very good
infinity subs=decent
jl anything=very good
ma=very good
mtx=alright
jensen=crap including jensen sub-brands like phase linear
rockford speakers=good
rockford amps=very good
pioneer head units=good but seem to overheat if not well ventilated, your cd comes out all hot, experienced this in several pioneers, one even caught fire in my dash!

i definately reccomend power acoustic amps best amp for the money i say

Ok, on the Power Acustic.. is there a knockoff brand called power acoustik? because if not i'm going to buy this amp right now.. 4APC960.. it's a 4 channel 960 watt max for 130$!!! omg!
let me know if you think that's a good deal?

How good are power acoustik subs?

Also, someone give a quick rundown on THD.. what good and bad numbers are. OHMs.. what good OHM numbers are to run at.. (ex 4x80w @4 (RMS) ohms vs. 4x100w @ 2 Ohms (RMS) etc..)

Also maybe explain RMS vs. Max output?

i would explain it all but i am still learning a lot.. i have a long way to go..

thanks for replys

LjasonL · 12-14-2001, 05:34 PM

shit my bad its power acoustik as far as i know there is no "power acoustic" yeah buy it sounds like a good deal! the power acoustiks are basically bulletproof as long as u donr bridge them down below their recommended ohm load, i blew up 2 1500 watt power acoustiks in one week doing that the shop i bought it from said im the only person they know who ever blew up even one. but they put out a good deal of power, and arent very "power hungry" which is good cuz nobody likes a dead battery!
as far as i know the power acoustik subs arent very good though, but maybe ive just never heard them in the right box, but id spend a little more money and get a diff brand sub, may i reccomend jl audio?

ACCSlvCivic · 12-14-2001, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ldelaysionl

as far as i know the power acoustik subs arent very good though, but maybe ive just never heard them in the right box, but id spend a little more money and get a diff brand sub, may i reccomend jl audio? [/b]

JL or audiobahn are the only way i'll go with subs.. they own!

LjasonL · 12-14-2001, 05:51 PM

boston acoustics are great, but u better have a rich daddy or something. but in the real world where i have to pay for all my system ill stick with jl. i want the new 12w7...

kicker1_solo · 12-14-2001, 06:27 PM

I had 4 12" JL Audio W6s in my prelude when I had it. I would recommend those to anyone.
I had 5 MTX amps, I would also recommend those to anyone.
And I had 2 12" Kicker solo barics, those are some awesome subs.
Now I have 2 12" kicker gold series subs, they're alright.
And I have 2 15" Pyle subs, they're better than my kickers, but they're not as good as jl's or the solo barics.
I used to have an eclipse head unit, I love it.
Now I have a kenwood head unit, I love it too.

spy54 · 12-14-2001, 10:19 PM

i recommend audiobahn amps and subs and alpine head units

i had 2 audiobahn subs in a sealed box 1200 watts and an audiobahn sub it hit hard my mom yelled at me alot when i would drive up b/c it was to loud and it had it at not even half power

alpine head unit was sweet all i gotta say

Self · 12-15-2001, 12:18 AM

Panasonic - good heads and dvd player, that's all
Visonik - don't know
Lanzar - Great amps, ok mobile tv's
Rockwood - don't know
Kenwood - Good heads, tv's, dvd's
Profile - don't know
Pioneer - good heads, OK speakers
Jensen - OK inexpensive heads
Pyle - no good at all
Mobile Authority - good mobile entertainment stuff
Crunch - no good at all
Legacy - no good at all
Power Acoustik - pretty darn good for the price
Cerwin Vega - Good amps, great subs, good component sets
Boss Audio - don't know
Audiobahn - GREAT subs, GREAT amps, ok speakers
JVC - just ok
JBL - pretty nice amps, don't know much about the rest
JL - Good subs, GREAT amps
Ultimate Audio - don't know
American Pro - entry level stuff only, but better than some
Rockford Fosgate - Good amps, ok subs
Lightning Audio - ok

cowgod · 12-19-2001, 08:36 PM

I am rolling with my 89 Accord Lx with
twin 10" kickers 480WaTT
solo 12" Jensen Competition Sub ...

I know what all of you are thinking ... Why JennY ?
2 reasons
1 :... the prices ... ( just to test it out ... 59.99 $$ Canadian )
2: ... the sub is really re-inforced very well ... looks like it'll punn out ...

so ... it's been 2 weeks now with the added 12" 525 Watt in my trunk ...
It's a great sub ... Jensen really fixed up a sub that can stand reggae, hiphop and R&B low/mid and high bass demands ...

The sub looks like any other ... but the way it is re-inforced is very impressive ... the sound is "Pioneer" quality but the bass wave is stunning ... They made a good sub for a change ... still pumping loud ...
check the sub's out if you want ... It's worth the look ... check your local
WALMART ... that's where I scored mine ... or check this link ...
http://www.jensen.com/mobile/subwoofers/xs1212.htm 12 INCH
http://www.jensen.com/mobile/subwoofers/xs1010.htm 10 INCH

you cannot judge these unless you wire them ... trust me ...
I was stunned ... big surprise ... little price ... 1 year warranty ... :-)

CoWgOd

sparq · 12-19-2001, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cowgod
I am rolling with my 89 Accord Lx with
twin 10" kickers 480WaTT
solo 12" Jensen Competition Sub ...

I know what all of you are thinking ... Why JennY ?
2 reasons
1 :... the prices ... ( just to test it out ... 59.99 $$ Canadian )
2: ... the sub is really re-inforced very well ... looks like it'll punn out ...

so ... it's been 2 weeks now with the added 12" 525 Watt in my trunk ...
It's a great sub ... Jensen really fixed up a sub that can stand reggae, hiphop and R&B low/mid and high bass demands ...

The sub looks like any other ... but the way it is re-inforced is very impressive ... the sound is "Pioneer" quality but the bass wave is stunning ... They made a good sub for a change ... still pumping loud ...
check the sub's out if you want ... It's worth the look ... check your local
WALMART ... that's where I scored mine ... or check this link ...
http://www.jensen.com/mobile/subwoofers/xs1212.htm 12 INCH
http://www.jensen.com/mobile/subwoofers/xs1010.htm 10 INCH

you cannot judge these unless you wire them ... trust me ...
I was stunned ... big surprise ... little price ... 1 year warranty ... :-)

CoWgOd

OMG, you praised Jensen... would you like a job?

Sorry but anyone that says Jensen is crap, has NEVER used anything within the last minimum like 2 years. Just because they dont have 2000 watt class D amps and 1000 watt RMS subwoofers doesnt mean its garbage. Jensen is an awesome company, with very reliable products. Ive had a pair of their 6x9's and zapped em with 500 watts to the pair, and they ran that way all day every day for like 2.5 weeks while I waited for my sub-box to come in... and they ran perfectly!

Audio ISNT about the products, 10% of it is product... 90% of it is in the install ~ I challenge anyone that says Jensen is crap to take TWO 10" subwoofers w/ ONLY 500 watts max ~ and hit 141.2dB or higher... Ive scored that in my old 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL... so dont try and tell me Jensen is crap!

ExExGuy · 12-20-2001, 04:17 AM

And our dear friends at Phoenix Gold didn't make the cut. Or my personal enemies over at WildCat... lol... I blew two 10" WildCat subs in a week and a half, running a QX series 180watt amp to each... (they did have a two year no-fault warranty so it cost me nothing but time... even still...)... Phoenix Gold XS series is DEFINITELY a good buy though...

sparq · 12-20-2001, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ExExGuy
And our dear friends at Phoenix Gold didn't make the cut. Or my personal enemies over at WildCat... lol... I blew two 10" WildCat subs in a week and a half, running a QX series 180watt amp to each... (they did have a two year no-fault warranty so it cost me nothing but time... even still...)... Phoenix Gold XS series is DEFINITELY a good buy though...

WildCat? Sounds like a local brand

Of course I didnt see Arc Audio or Rainbow on there, or Crystal Mobile Sound, CDT Audio, I could go on for days...

ACCSlvCivic · 12-20-2001, 09:44 AM

I haven't been in car audio that long, so if you notice brands that i didn't list go ahead and make a comment abuot thier quality. It's nice for people who are new to car audio or still starting to learn to have a nice reference.

The people up at Circuit City always push Alpine everything (headunits especialy), MTX amps, and inifinty mids and his. I'm on board with the inifinity deal, but the other two i don't know as much about? lights anyone?

How about Polk components.. haven't heard much about them in my young car audio age, but i've been told they were pretty good?

cowgod · 12-20-2001, 08:59 PM

I love it ... I pump so hard with it right now ...
for the price ... you can pump jenny's real loud ... !!
I love them ... but you can find better sub quality ... but never for that price ... you can pump lanzars for that price ...

BTW ... the new Jenny subs ... Better then the older models ... bigtime re-inforcement ... !!

CoWgOd

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