Sub/Amp Suggestions

I'm going tomorrow to buy a new head unit for my car, my current one is really messed up. I have 4 - 6 1/2 Sony Xplods. I only want to spend about 200-250, 300 dollars max on a sub and an amp, but I don't want something that...big, in terms of sound and stuff. I'm just looking for a little more bass than what I currently have, but something worth the little bit of money I'm willing to part with. Any suggestions would be great. Also, I know next to nothing about car audio, but I've been reading different pages about the RMS and ohms and what all that stuff means, if that helps...

how much space are you willing to give up?
are you planning on buying this when you get your headunit or are you open to buying online?

As far as HU goes look into Alpine (best), Eclipse(right there w/ alpine), Pioneer (good), and Panasonic (good and good prices w/ nice features.... and some BLING). For a sub I would check into Adire's shiva's and tempests (www.adireaudio.com) You might also wanna check out RE's RE line (www.reaudio.com) Along with some of the products from sound splinter(www.soundsplinter.com) and let's not leave out Ascendant's atlas series (www.ascendantaudio.com) The atlas subs has been getting GREAT reviews so far and have a nice little variable Q coil. look on ebay at profiles CL, CA, and AP lines for an amp. Since your not looking for big BOOM I'd go sealed with your sub selection. Keep in mind if space is an issue you may want to do a single sub setup and stay away from the big box loving tempest. A single 12 sealed can have lot's of output (atlas 12 get's my vote and it can run in small boxes).

you told me shivas and tempests need to be taken care of with a watchful eye (or a listenful ear rather lol) I dont think she? should go with a sub that needs a trained ear. I think this a case where she shouldnt be pushed towards adire, RE, ED, etc.. shes not big up on car audio knowledge, so I say go with some retail equipment (like wal mart or best buy, circuit city) so that if anything goes wrong with it, you just walk in the store and exchange it, no matter if its your fault or not. If she crosses a wire, or fries a sub or amp, she cant send it back to adire because they wont take it. Those other places dont investigate the cause, you just say.. its messed up I want another one, and presto, youve got it. Maybe when she desires some pristine sound quality and has learned a little more about this stuff, then go with adire, RE, etc.. but not yet.

I'm most definitely planning on buying it from a store that I can just walk into, however, NOT walmart. I've already gone through three head units from there. I plan to buy a Pioneer head unit from Best Buy, one under the 200 dollar range. I don't really have too much space (I drive a 94 Tracer). Would just plain 6x9's be good enough for what I'm looking for? I heard that suggestion last night from a friend and I was considering just doing that.

if you arent wanting car shaking bass, but just enough to hear it and it sound good and loud, then 6x9s will work, just get a good pair. Try to find the best deck you can with at least 50 watts X 4, and get a pair of 6x9s for about 100 bucks from best buy. I's still recommend an amp for you 6x9's if you can afford it.

The 6x9's most suitable for bass are the Pioneer Rev series, and there fairly cheap also. go with sum Rev 6x9's n the back an what you can fit up front, amp them an you should be happy

BTW rick shivas and tempests do need to be watched closely reason being they will continue to sound good until bein pushed past their limits, which is great for audio nerds, not so great for the high school boys just gettin their car w/ mommy and daddy's money and wantun to bump 1000 clipped watts. RE's however can take a beating.... better then any mainstream sub i have to see to date. Back to Stacy if that's ur name. I'd try to get the stuff from a car audio shop. Best Buy prices are set firm at retail, you can usually talk the shops down in price. As for bass from 6x9's i wouldn't reccomend it. A JL 10 or 12 w3v2 would be nice for extra bump that sounds good.... even a w1v2 would work i suggest listening to some different things then deicde what you like.

BTW rick shivas and tempests do need to be watched closely reason being they will continue to sound good until bein pushed past their limits, which is great for audio nerds, not so great for the high school boys just gettin their car w/ mommy and daddy's money and wantun to bump 1000 clipped watts. RE's however can take a beating.... better then any mainstream sub i have to see to date. Back to Stacy if that's ur name. I'd try to get the stuff from a car audio shop. Best Buy prices are set firm at retail, you can usually talk the shops down in price. As for bass from 6x9's i wouldn't reccomend it. A JL 10 or 12 w3v2 would be nice for extra bump that sounds good.... even a w1v2 would work i suggest listening to some different things then deicde what you like.

x2.. see what audio shopes you have close to home, and then find a nice 12 to go in a sealed box. i think that youll be satisfied with the 6x9s for a little while, but the time will come very soon when you will want something cleaner that will give more bass and still actually sound good at a higher volume. you dont have to go crazy. you can just spend prolly a hundred bucks or so on a sub and maybe 150 on an amp.. youll have good bass and you wont regret the couple hundred you spent on it. and sometimes the good audio shopes will exchange subs or amps that were fried, even if its your fault. but trust us the money is worth it.

Ditto. Best advice so far.

I'm most definitely planning on buying it from a store that I can just walk into, however, NOT walmart. I've already gone through three head units from there. I plan to buy a Pioneer head unit from Best Buy, one under the 200 dollar range. I don't really have too much space (I drive a 94 Tracer). Would just plain 6x9's be good enough for what I'm looking for? I heard that suggestion last night from a friend and I was considering just doing that.
Your best bet would be to just throw in something like a Bazooka tube. You can get them in a 8" tube that's not too big but will have just enough bass to help give your car a little more low end. I have done a lot of customer's vehicles that way with no problems.

Bazooka tubes sound like ARSE.10w1v2's are cheap (I bet 10w0's are dirt cheap right now since the new models are comming in ) I'd pick up one of those.