Sound System

Ilovefirebirds · 01-31-2005, 03:37 PM

I am looking to put in a new sound system in my 99 TransAm(with monsoon) . I want to just put 2 10" subs in the back. I have a few questions...

1. Will i have to purchase a new amp if i wish to install subs?
2. Where can i find a quality amp for around $100?
3. What are some good sub ideas? I would like to keep it cheap but not lose any punch, if possible.
4. Where is a good place to look for my equipment?
5. If i get a new amp, will i need to replace my stock component speakers or should they be ok?
6. I don't know where i would put the subs other than the trunk where the t-tops go. But won't they have to make a custom fit box? If so, how much do you guess it would cost?

blindeyed · 01-31-2005, 05:48 PM

1. Will i have to purchase a new amp if i wish to install subs?
- Yes. You will need a seperate amp to power the subs.

2. Where can i find a quality amp for around $100?
- My suggestion.. eBay. Most amps cost well over $100. So if your on a budget, then eBay's the way to go. Just be sure to expect to get what you pay for. My friend bought a really cheap amp off eBay, and it got fried and started smoking the first time he used it. I'd go the extra step and get a nice quality brand. It's well worth the price.

3. What are some good sub ideas? I would like to keep it cheap but not lose any punch, if possible.
- I've always liked Pioneer subs. They're cheap (you can get them at Wal-Mart) and sound great. But that's just me, I'm not too picky when it comes to my stereo system. I'm sure others would reccomend brands such as MTX, Audiobahn, Rockford, etc..

4. Where is a good place to look for my equipment?
www.crutchfield.com

5. If i get a new amp, will i need to replace my stock component speakers or should they be ok?
- Your stock speakers will be fine. Your subs wont be wired into those at all.

6. I don't know where i would put the subs other than the trunk where the t-tops go. But won't they have to make a custom fit box? If so, how much do you guess it would cost?
- Again, I reccomend www.crutchfield.com. They have a couple different types of custom enclosures.

jason-1995fbody · 01-31-2005, 06:07 PM

if yer good with your hands and can use a screw driver you clould buils your own box but the ones from cruthfield are really good looking

jason-1995fbody · 01-31-2005, 06:09 PM

like this its a 15 but when the trunk is closed it cant be seen[IMG]

[/IMG]
this box only took about an hour to make and about 5 hours to install the amps and other goodies

CreepingDeath94 · 01-31-2005, 08:36 PM

That Q-Logic custom box for firebirds looks factory in the trunk, however, it costs about $300. You could probably make a wedge style box that could sit on top of that shelf over the gas tank if you want to save your trunk for the t-tops. As far as speakers go, I would buy them new and almost any speaker sounds good in the hatch of a firebird and takes very little power to do it...just an awesome funneling design the firebird has going for it. Pioneer are good as well as the regular Punch speakers if your ona budget. I had a '94 T/A with that Q-Logic box($300), a 300 watt rockford amp ($275), and 2 Punch 12's ($150-200) and it sounded very good/professional. You could probably get a good system for about $500-700 if you look around and are willing to buy used components...all mine were new just because I don't trust what other peop,e have done to their systems. good luck and let us know what you do.

Ilovefirebirds · 01-31-2005, 09:12 PM

Thanks. I appreciate all the help. I'm a child when it comes to car audio. I will let you know when my project begins.

pontiacpmpn · 02-01-2005, 07:11 AM

Hey, just thought i'd give you a couple more ideas. If you dont know too much about car audio, but want something that sounds good, I would suggest going to ebay and searching for Volfenhag 10" subs. You should be able to find a kit including 2 10" subs, and a very good amp for them for under 200 bucks. Also the volfenhag subs hit extremely hard. They are aluminum cones, bumped and vented with dual voice coils and rubber surrounds. I have 2 15" volfenhags and a 2000 watt 2 channel amp that I bought as a kit off ebay for 350 bucks, for my saturn, but they wouldnt fit in my trunk so I sold them to my freind, they sounded AWESOME... Also brand new ones in factory sealed boxes are all over ebay for cheap. Otherwise my personal favorite for quality audio is always alpine. I have mostly alpine stuff for my firebird, but I havent installed it yet, but alpine is not cheap. Also if you are going to build your own sub box, go out and find some Medium Density Fiberboard for the box, and some fiberglass insulation to glue inside, this will make it sound a whole lot better. All manufatured boxes are made out of fiberboard. Plywood or particle board or whatever that is in the other pic will KILL your bass.. and sound quality... it absorbs it and traps it in the box instead of resonating it and making it deeper and better.... just a tip... Also if you carpet your box, that will improve both the sound quality, and the looks.

My system in my saturn includes 2 12" Audiobahn subs, 1400 watt 2 channel sound storms amp, 1 farad Lightning Audio capaciter, 4 6 1/2" Alpine Type S mids, 2001 Alpine Deck, 2 Alpine type S tweeters.
I got this kit for my saturn off ebay including Amp, subs, and box for about 300 bucks... brand new...

ponchonutty · 02-01-2005, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilovefirebirds

I am looking to put in a new sound system in my 99 TransAm(with monsoon) . I want to just put 2 10" subs in the back. I have a few questions...

1. Will i have to purchase a new amp if i wish to install subs?
2. Where can i find a quality amp for around $100?
3. What are some good sub ideas? I would like to keep it cheap but not lose any punch, if possible.
4. Where is a good place to look for my equipment?
5. If i get a new amp, will i need to replace my stock component speakers or should they be ok?
6. I don't know where i would put the subs other than the trunk where the t-tops go. But won't they have to make a custom fit box? If so, how much do you guess it would cost?

Funny, I just did a SS Camaro a few days ago. I sold the guy all Directed Audio pieces because they require very small enclosures and she didn't want to load up the whole rear with stuff. So, I built a box that housed 2 10" subs and mounted it all the way in the bottom of the rear trunk area. Then, I mounted an amp sideways where the OEM CD changer would go. Since she wanted to scrap the whole BOSE system, I installed a 4ch amp and rewired the whole car. Man did it slam hard!!!!

TransAm403power · 03-24-2005, 07:01 PM

Go with the Infinity 10" subs. They freaken pound the shit out of my truck. You can pick them up for under $100 each at Circuit City!

custom mccannix · 03-24-2005, 09:43 PM

circuit city also has bazooka sub packs for around 200.00 with two tens and amp as for your enclosure custom is the way to go but don't do like jason-95f-body and use thin wood that will get blown apart use at least 3/4 inch and preferably use birch plywood. crutchfield is ok for boxes but you can find used one on e-bay a whole lot cheaper

ponchonutty · 03-25-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by custom mccannix

circuit city also has bazooka sub packs for around 200.00 with two tens and amp as for your enclosure custom is the way to go but don't do like jason-95f-body and use thin wood that will get blown apart use at least 3/4 inch and preferably use birch plywood. crutchfield is ok for boxes but you can find used one on e-bay a whole lot cheaper

Sorry but don't take this the wrong way but everything you said I don't agree with. Bazooka makes OK tubes and that's it. DON'T USE ANY PLYWOOD. Commercial HDF is the only way to go especially if you have high powered, sealed enclosures. Never buy prefab boxes especially for a hatchback car.

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