Looking for some good car audio...
gtkriss
05-21-2004, 10:45 AM
Hey guys, I usually don't post on this section of the forum, but I need some help some car audio. Well, I need more than some help, I'm a newb when it comes to subs and the like.. so any help is appreciated.
I just bought a 1994 Thunderbird as a project car, fixed it up, and now she's ready. got a body kit, rims, and new paint too. Problem is, the sound is all stock. As you can tell, this is the kinda car in which you would go really, really, slow, and have a lotta bass pumping through out the cabin. Trunk space isn't a problem, there is more than enough. I was thinking about buying 2 jl 12Wv6's, with an amp to match, but I want to see if I could get more bang out of my buck. Also I was looking for a cd player w/ remote, but i'm not sure what to buy.. Also, what about in car dvd? Any suggestions would be helpful.
I just bought a 1994 Thunderbird as a project car, fixed it up, and now she's ready. got a body kit, rims, and new paint too. Problem is, the sound is all stock. As you can tell, this is the kinda car in which you would go really, really, slow, and have a lotta bass pumping through out the cabin. Trunk space isn't a problem, there is more than enough. I was thinking about buying 2 jl 12Wv6's, with an amp to match, but I want to see if I could get more bang out of my buck. Also I was looking for a cd player w/ remote, but i'm not sure what to buy.. Also, what about in car dvd? Any suggestions would be helpful.
psychobadboy
05-21-2004, 10:51 AM
i don't know how much you're willing to spend...for great sound quality, you should get an Eclipse cd player. they're a little more expensive and don't look as fancy, but they do have a lot of features and some of the best sound quality. Alpine is also good. I have a sony and that sounds good too, but a whole lot of people don't like the sony cd players though. It's really up to you.
and i think all of them pretty much come with a remote too...depends on the model
and i think all of them pretty much come with a remote too...depends on the model
gtkriss
05-21-2004, 05:47 PM
basically what i'm looking for is a good combo of cd, dvd(if not too pricey) subs, amp, enclosures, tweeters, and anything else I can't think of. I want the audio to be the best on this car. I would like to keep the $to about 500, but willing to spend more if the purpose warrants it. over all, I would like perhaps 1500-2000 watts? What I need to know is, what should i buy? What brands are shit, and which ones should I purchase? Is it worth the $$$ or am i buying a name brand? I am going to try to keep it as cheap as possible without losing quality. Give me some cd/amp/sub setups, anything useful.
P.s. I don't wanna from place like best buy, wanna buy from like ebay if at all possible.
P.s. I don't wanna from place like best buy, wanna buy from like ebay if at all possible.
sr20de4evr
05-21-2004, 06:08 PM
$500 for 2000 watts?
You can barely even get a good 2000 watt amp for $500, much less a 2000 watt amp, headunit, sub, and components.
You can barely even get a good 2000 watt amp for $500, much less a 2000 watt amp, headunit, sub, and components.
gtkriss
05-21-2004, 09:21 PM
then what would you suggest??
sr20de4evr
05-21-2004, 09:27 PM
Honestly I don't know what you can get for $500
You could get a very cheap headunit, an inexpensive 12" sub on a cheap amp, and maybe a pair of decent components. At the most you're going to have about 300 watts.
Look at the low model Alpines for a headunit, for a sub check out the Adire Shiva, Image Dynamics ID, or the new Elemental Designs Kv2. For an amp you can get an inexpensive JBL that would power one of those subs for pretty cheap. After all these you're going to have about $150 left, that might buy you a pair of Focal Access components if you're lucky, if not those then maybe some Infinity Reference components. Of course once you add in wiring and materials to build a box you're over $500 most likely.
You could get a very cheap headunit, an inexpensive 12" sub on a cheap amp, and maybe a pair of decent components. At the most you're going to have about 300 watts.
Look at the low model Alpines for a headunit, for a sub check out the Adire Shiva, Image Dynamics ID, or the new Elemental Designs Kv2. For an amp you can get an inexpensive JBL that would power one of those subs for pretty cheap. After all these you're going to have about $150 left, that might buy you a pair of Focal Access components if you're lucky, if not those then maybe some Infinity Reference components. Of course once you add in wiring and materials to build a box you're over $500 most likely.
aznxthuggie
05-21-2004, 09:37 PM
o man, for $500 u could barely buy the top of the line alpine or the 2nd to the best eclipse, if you want like bass pumping out of your car with everyone around you complaining, look for atleast $2000+ and with dvd add another $500-$1000 to it
since you want loud, i would suggest mb quart speakers, its a pretty good brand, around $150+ for component, and around $100 for 6x9 (i dont know your speaker sizes) it gets clear and loud, but there is better, and for subs, JL isn't the only brand out there, if you want loud, you should try the kicker square subwoofers, i think a 15' L7 will cost about $280 lol they aren't clear but you wanted loud right? put that in a 5 cubic foot vented box and buy a hifonics brutus BX1000d which cost $235 (shipping included) on ebay, im not sure how much quality you want, but you can get a MP3 cd head unit from alpine for under $300, and you need an amp for the speakers, which should cost liek $250 for a 60rms+ x 4 amp, after all that your car will be LOUD and CLEAR, mostly loud from the sub, and the speakers will be clear and loud also, all this will be around $1200, not that much for a decent system, my system is decent right now, its not really loud, its just good in my view, i spent like $600 for speakers / head unit / amp / sub
since you want loud, i would suggest mb quart speakers, its a pretty good brand, around $150+ for component, and around $100 for 6x9 (i dont know your speaker sizes) it gets clear and loud, but there is better, and for subs, JL isn't the only brand out there, if you want loud, you should try the kicker square subwoofers, i think a 15' L7 will cost about $280 lol they aren't clear but you wanted loud right? put that in a 5 cubic foot vented box and buy a hifonics brutus BX1000d which cost $235 (shipping included) on ebay, im not sure how much quality you want, but you can get a MP3 cd head unit from alpine for under $300, and you need an amp for the speakers, which should cost liek $250 for a 60rms+ x 4 amp, after all that your car will be LOUD and CLEAR, mostly loud from the sub, and the speakers will be clear and loud also, all this will be around $1200, not that much for a decent system, my system is decent right now, its not really loud, its just good in my view, i spent like $600 for speakers / head unit / amp / sub
gtkriss
05-21-2004, 09:38 PM
hmm.. well I have the box, and an equalizer... i just want to get the most bang for my buck... This car is one of those cars in which the sound HAS to be key. What would I have to spend to pick up some rumble, about 1000 watts? Thanks for the help.
aznxthuggie
05-21-2004, 09:45 PM
hmm.. well I have the box, and an equalizer... i just want to get the most bang for my buck... This car is one of those cars in which the sound HAS to be key. What would I have to spend to pick up some rumble, about 1000 watts? Thanks for the help.
you mean 1000watts RMS or PEAK? because with 500watts rms and the right kind of sub/box you can be heard down the street no problem with one sub, also if you go past 500rms like almost to 1000rms your lights will start to dim, and you'll need to spend alot on like new batteries, alternator, regrounding (cheaper way), i mean if you have 1000rms in a bandpass box you'll wake the dead, it just won't be clear
you mean 1000watts RMS or PEAK? because with 500watts rms and the right kind of sub/box you can be heard down the street no problem with one sub, also if you go past 500rms like almost to 1000rms your lights will start to dim, and you'll need to spend alot on like new batteries, alternator, regrounding (cheaper way), i mean if you have 1000rms in a bandpass box you'll wake the dead, it just won't be clear
gtkriss
05-22-2004, 11:10 AM
this may be the stupidest question ever asked, but what is the difference?
sr20de4evr
05-22-2004, 11:36 AM
RMS is real power
Peak is the manufacturer's marketing dept getting away with false advertising through a loophole in the system
Peak is the manufacturer's marketing dept getting away with false advertising through a loophole in the system
aznxthuggie
05-22-2004, 12:20 PM
RMS is real power
Peak is the manufacturer's marketing dept getting away with false advertising through a loophole in the system
:iagree: yea ok now that you need your whole system built with $500, just go with a bandpass box, its the most dirty bass you'll ever hear, but its the loudest for the $ u spend
in my opinion find a way to increase your budget, get a good head unit first, then speakers, then an amp, sub and sub box, because if you try to get everything at once with $500 you will not be happy
Peak is the manufacturer's marketing dept getting away with false advertising through a loophole in the system
:iagree: yea ok now that you need your whole system built with $500, just go with a bandpass box, its the most dirty bass you'll ever hear, but its the loudest for the $ u spend
in my opinion find a way to increase your budget, get a good head unit first, then speakers, then an amp, sub and sub box, because if you try to get everything at once with $500 you will not be happy
Haibane
05-22-2004, 01:16 PM
:iagree: yea ok now that you need your whole system built with $500, just go with a bandpass box, its the most dirty bass you'll ever hear, but its the loudest for the $ u spend
in my opinion find a way to increase your budget, get a good head unit first, then speakers, then an amp, sub and sub box, because if you try to get everything at once with $500 you will not be happy
don't get a bandpass, not worth your time.
in my opinion find a way to increase your budget, get a good head unit first, then speakers, then an amp, sub and sub box, because if you try to get everything at once with $500 you will not be happy
don't get a bandpass, not worth your time.
gtkriss
05-22-2004, 02:01 PM
then what kind of box should I get? I totally don't know anything when it comes to car audio, I just like fix mechanical things on cars, like engines, brakes, etc.
psychobadboy
05-22-2004, 04:47 PM
The best box you should get is a sealed box, built as per the specs of the subs you're getting. if you want something louder, get a ported box, but the sealed box has better sound quality. I also agree with not getting a bandpass. You'll get crappy sounding bass...loud, but crappy sounding
Haibane
05-22-2004, 05:01 PM
The sound quality is not that big of a difference to switch to ported, sometimes better if you do it right. Do you want a cheap pre fab box or a custom box?
gtkriss
05-22-2004, 08:59 PM
well i have a custom box... It was made for a my hatchback mustang before I totalled it, it's never been used. Holds 2 tens. It's just a box to drop them in, and has carpet on it. Don't look like there is any place for it to "breathe," just screw it in and go.
Haibane
05-22-2004, 10:32 PM
Custom boxes are made for certain subwoofers, not for cars. You would need a different box for the subs made custom otherwise it would be a prefab box and you would probably want to flip the subs inverted to get proper volume if you say it is a tight fit.
aznxthuggie
05-22-2004, 10:59 PM
hey haibane, how did you get your box? did you make it yourself, because i need a custom box for the next sub im getting, for right now i got a box, but it is just a generic vented box, well its like 1.88 cubic feet (without the vent) with a 1 1/2 X 12 vent, so what kind of tuning is that
Haibane
05-22-2004, 11:04 PM
haha, 1 1/2 x12, there are also internal dimensions. Hard to tell off the top of my head. Yes, my box is made by me. well not the one I currently have, but I make boxes and have used one of mine in the past. It is just when I got the sub, a box came with it.
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