Help a newb w/ choosing sound system

Ok, I will be getting my license within the next few weeks to a month, which means I'll be getting a car to drive. It's going to be a pass me down 1990 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight. It's maroon which sucks, but its better than having to buy my own car, cuz i'll wait till college when parents will get me a better car. So within the last few days I have been looking at audio info online and I am lost.

I have already read http://www.bcae1.com/, but it didn't help because I suck at science and he coulda written it in japanese and I might have understood it better.

Starting off whats the deal with the different kind of amps. There is mono, two channel, and multi channel. Is mono ment for using w/ only one sub? Does two channel power two subs? Does multi channel power speakers and subs? What is the difference with all of these? Oh, and an amp just increases the the power potential for a sub right?

Ok, I was reading about dB and ohms and does it mean if something is 2 ohms it will give it more power and 4 ohms give less? And does the more dB mean the louder a sub will be?

One more newbie question, but what is it with crossovers? Do they make it so that you can only hear certain sounds from your speakers or subs?

With my subs I am looking more for quality in sound rather than loudness, but I still want it somewhat loud. I believe you guys refer to that as SQ subs? And how does a box refer to how well a sub sounds, like I thought I read someone said they don't like sealed boxs?

Ok, so I was looking at different stuff and reading threads so I came up w/ an idea of what I want.

For my head unit I want to get this Pioneer:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/PIODEHP7700MP

Then after that is what I have no idea. Would that head unit be fine?

Ok, so I was looking and I want to get some MTX subs. I want to spend like $200 or less on subs. For an amp I wanna spend like $250 or less. For amps I was looking and I want to get Phoenix Gold.

For the subs I don't know what to do though. I like to listen to more of the rock type of music rather than rap. I don't get how that affects it but you guys always seem to ask people. I was wondering would it be good to get two 10" subs or one 15". Like for MTX I found either:

Two 10" MTX Thunder 4500
One 15" MTX Thunder 5500

Both of those cost $180. Whats the deal w/ a box for those? Any links of boxes that would work?

Then for the amp for a phoenix gold I have no idea what amp would be good because I was reading something and it said you want the right amount of ohms and watts otherwise you will mess up your sub. What amp would be good that is Phoenix gold?

I want more of quailty than quantity. Total between the sub and amp I only wanna spend like $400. I guess if I really wanted to i'd be willing for 450, but prefer stay on budget of 400.

Thanks for reading my post. I know next to nothing on speakers so if I sound like a total dumb noob its cuz I am.

Ok, I was just looking and I found that this Pioneer head unit seems to have pretty much the same features and is $50 less (I liked how the more $ one looked, but oh well I like $50 better):

http://www.cardomain.com/item/PIODEHP6700MP

That would be better than this right?:

http://www.cardomain.com/item/PIODEHP7700MP

I don't even seen any real difference except looks and that more expensive one can play AAC files.

Mono amps only have one channel. they can be class D or class A/B or other classes, but generally intended for use with subwoofers. It does NOT mean you can only hook up one subwoofer. You can hook up as many subs as you desire to any amp wih any number of channels as long as the impedance load on the amp and each channel is not below the lowest load for the amp to safely drive. DB stands for decibals and is a measure of loudness. Ohms is the measure of impedance which is the resistance that the coil of a speaker or subwoofer presents to the amplifier. Ohms and decibals are not directly related, however if your speakers are not wired correctly you can change the wiring to present a different impedance (lower) and gain more db's from the amp producing more power. Crossovers cut out certain frequencies so that a speaker or subwoofer is only sent the frequencies that is meant to be played. There are two types active and passive. A low pass xover cuts off all frequencies above what freq. it is set to. A high pass xover cuts out all freq. below. A banpass xover has two points a high pass and a low pass. A subsonic filter is an xover which prevents ultra low bass from being played on subwoofers generally used on all boxes ecept sealed. SQ sands for sound quality. SPL is loudness. SQL is the term given for getting loud while still sounding good...... this is what your after. Different boxes give different responses. Sealed boxes and ported boxes are the two most common and you will most likely use one of the two in wanting SQL (transmission lines loaded horns ABC box ect.... can also be used, but are much too difficult to make for first timers). Sealed boxes tend to yield a flat response depending on the QTC and generally give a better midbass transition. Ported boxes have a peak in their frequency response and get louder then sealed boes even with less power. Ported boxes to some sound better then sealed and most will agree that great SQ can be had from a ported box. The head unit ou have picked out is a good one. Phoeni Gold makes very solid products, but I would stay away from MT subwoofers. Go to www.reaudio.com www.incriminatoraudio.com and www.ascendantaudio.com for good subwoofers. I would get a single 15 with you budget...... SE from RE LI from IA or Atlas from AA.

definately go with the one 15, rather than the two 10s. you will get deeper bass and spend less on a box for it.

How hard would it to be to install these if I wanted to try and learn? I would probably have my sister's fiance help me cuz I think he installed his own too.

His subs are baja. I had never heard of those before. Are those any good?

What does the RMS mean after watts?

Yea, I like the idea of going with one 15" rather than the two 10"s. So about going with the 15". I don't want to spend a fortune on a sound system so I like the idea of going with the MTX Thunder 4500.

Would I notice much difference between the:

MTX Thunder 4500
MTX Thunder 5500

I saw that the 5500 seemed to have more watts and a lower dB rating. Does that just mean its louder? I mean for being a newb and getting into all this car audio would I even notice a diff if I just go $60 cheaper with the 4500? I think I just wanna go with 4500.

Ok, now on to amps. I know notta, but would this amp work and give the 4500 its max power w/out ruining it?
http://www.cardomain.com/item/PHOR501

Or could I go one less and get this:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/PHOR201

Those are mono amps cuz I don't plan on powering anything but the one 15" sub at the moment. That works right?

Thanks sooooo much for the help and advice. You guys are awsome.

Seriously don't get the MTX get one of the subs I reccomended you will be MUCH more happy w. it

Ok, I know I sound retarded and ignorant, but I am going w/ the MTX regardless of what you guys say. I am not big into the whole audio thing and for my first try at it I want to go w/ better known company because I just prefer that. If I get more into maybe i'd go w/ the more small specialized companies. Nothing against you or anyone on this forum at all. Just my choice.

But for real w/ that out of the way whats the deal w/ the box I asked about and the amps?

W/E all your doin is wasting your money. RE is far from a small company their getting pretty damn big now. But if you insist on paying for overpriced mainstream garbage at least get JL, ARC, or sumthin half decent.

W/E all your doin is wasting your money. RE is far from a small company their getting pretty damn big now. But if you insist on paying for overpriced mainstream garbage at least get JL, ARC, or sumthin half decent.

Ok, but why such hostility in a sense, when someone doesn't get the brands you guys prefer. From what I have seen on this forum, you guys have no respect for other people when they want to do something different. Ok, I haven't been around here or whatever, but from the few posts I read its been like that. Now, I am sure not all of you are like that, but when I say guys I am refering to those of you like bumpin who are. Now I do not doubt you guys that those brands are probably better than the mainstream stuff, but so what if someone wants to get the mainstream stuff. Post your suggestion of better brands once, but if they say no, just let it be. Don't be like well, whatever, and show all the disrespect. It is like all of you are getting paid by all these small companies to advertise to no end and antagonize people into getting these speakers.

Please, though, could someone answer my questions about the box and amp or do I have to go to somewhere else where people w/ actually help me?

Did I antagonixe you? NO I said fine if you didn't wanna get better stuff for the price THEN I even reccomended two mainstream brands who have really good subs ...... want me to name more? Image Dynamics, Orion, PPI, Eclipse, Alpine....... And the reason we persist people to get internet brands is because you will get better performance for a fraction of the price of mainstream stuff. Take an xxx15 for example. It sound a hell of a lot better (in most people's opinions) and has the potential to get WAY louder then a JL Audio 13w7 yet it costs LESS then half the price of a 13w7.

Ok, but why such hostility in a sense, when someone doesn't get the brands you guys prefer. From what I have seen on this forum, you guys have no respect for other people when they want to do something different. Ok, I haven't been around here or whatever, but from the few posts I read its been like that. Now, I am sure not all of you are like that, but when I say guys I am refering to those of you like bumpin who are. Now I do not doubt you guys that those brands are probably better than the mainstream stuff, but so what if someone wants to get the mainstream stuff. Post your suggestion of better brands once, but if they say no, just let it be. Don't be like well, whatever, and show all the disrespect. It is like all of you are getting paid by all these small companies to advertise to no end and antagonize people into getting these speakers.

Please, though, could someone answer my questions about the box and amp or do I have to go to somewhere else where people w/ actually help me?

Well, I understand your point...but here's my point:

You admitted you know nothing about caraudio. You read up a little on www.bcae1.com but this in no means makes you an expert...as you probably know. So, the whole point of you coming here was to get advice from those who are more knowledgeable than you. We've been there...done that. So why ask for advice from those WAY more experienced than you, then immediately say "Regardless of what you say about subs...i'm not doing that..." :rolleyes:

I've owned MTX 6000's and MTX 8000's...neither are worth a shit...the 8000's are ok when you get them wholesale for like $37 shipped when they had a blow-out on the 10's. But, listen to us...for real. You say you want to "be different" or whatever...but then say you want to get some generic low-line MTX subs, what a contradictory statement.

So, with that in mind...listen to us. We know more than you...we've used the products...especially me...extensively. I'm not advertising in any way, it's just I HATE to see people get ripped off...and I like people doing it right the FIRST time...epsecially when they can get something better for the same price.

So, if you don't want to listen to us...that's fine. But don't beg us for help, admit you're a "total dumb noob" (as you put it) then reject our more experienced advice.

As far as the box, I design custom ported box enclosures. Full plans for you to build (or have a shop build...but I can walk you through building it yourself to save tons of $$). As far as the amp, it will depend on what Voice Coil configuration on the subwoofer(s). peace

NG

PS: When you asked about Baja, they suck...a lot. They're made by Profile (decent budget brand for amplifiers, i recommend their Clarus line) but their subs are horrible and the Baja is their lowest line :(