Sub and amp - budget, frequency response

Hey guys,

I just registered for this forum as I see many knowledgeable people on here. I am not very familiar with car audio as im in the beginning of my research. Here is what I've decided:

1) Budget: $300 max for an 10" enclosed sub and a mono amp to power it.

2) I am after quality, not loudness as I WONT play the sub loud. I dont want to rattle my windows or break my trunk , nor annoy the neighbors http://www.caraudioforum.com/vbb3/images/smilies/smile.gif

3) I researched and this is what I chose:

RF PL1 110
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3jHcOE...510&I=575PL1110 (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3jHcOEEjgiL/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=510&I=575PL1110)

Alpine M450
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3jHcOE...20&I=500MRPM450 (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3jHcOEEjgiL/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=500MRPM450)

4) Frequency, the sub I chose repsonds to 20 - 200 Hz, however, as I was reading reviews i realized that these are the lowest frequencies and the guy was explaining that it will not provide midrange bass. So I looked at the Alpine type R's and theirs is like 20 - 500 Hz -- seem it would do the job MUCH better than the RF PL1 110. However, i cannot find online store to sell Alpine 10" Type R enclosed.

5) I have a brand new car so certified tech have to do the install as i dont want to void my warranty. The choice is between Best Buy guys or CircuitCity guys. Honeslty, I dont trust any of them, but I have no choice, it is my new baby, one month old... I am actually very worried they will break stuff and wont put thing back together properly which makes me even recondider adding bass to my car!

I am installing the sub and amp with stock HU and stock speakers. Basically I want to add quality bass in my car.

Can you guys help me on those 5 points above and ideally suggest me a better setup for my budget for an enclosed sub and an amp to power it.

Cheers,
kc

Welcome to AF.:wink:

My :2cents: : I strongly, strongly, suggest you consider an Infinity Basslink or Basslink II as I believe it is more suited to your needs and price range overall. 200-250 watt (depending on what version you choose) powered sub that provides great, meaningful bass that isn't excessively loud and has speaker and line level inputs so it will be a breeze to hook up plus there is no need to get a line output converter, which would be needed to hook up that RF sub/Alpine amp to your factory deck. Plus it also has a wired subwoofer volume control to control the bass volume as a place on the dash for your convenience. Something you wouldn't be able to get as easily if you got a sub & box. It is priced at a little under 400 bucks on Crutchfield (full retail car audio source), but head to ebay as it is a much, much more inexpensive source for car audio (as cheap as 150 bucks for the II). Just make sure it is brand new and not refurbished. I don't think it will help the midrange that much, but I don't believe you should use a subwoofer for midrange anyway. However with the cash you'd save, you could invest in some speakers also to help the midrange.

As for installation, Best Buy generally seems to be the better of the two (I also wouldn't go to either one).:)

you will NOT want to play a sub above like 110-120 Hz .... much lower if the sub is in the trunk/hatch

Infinity Basslink -- that was originally my choice. The moment i heard it plugged in in BestBuy tho -- I said forget it. It sounded boxy and it seemed it could not get descent bass at all. I am not talking about loudness, loudness i least thing im worried about.

So since I heard the basslink not being good enough, I decided i definitely need an enclosed sub (or sub + box) and amp for 300 tops.

As far as installation, I just found about two other chains around my area -- tweeter and Myer-Emco.

Are those better for install, guys? I think tweeter is a bit priceyer than bestbuy, but ...

It may go a little past your budget, but I say just buy a 10" Type R off ebay and put it in a box yourself. I got my box at Wal-Mart (a 10 would be like 20 bucks) and they make putting together a box so easy, a 5 year old could do it. Just need a drill. Then just get an amp that puts out 300 watts or so. You will also need a good line output converter to connect it to the factory deck.

Infinity Basslink -- that was originally my choice. The moment i heard it plugged in in BestBuy tho -- I said forget it. It sounded boxy and it seemed it could not get descent bass at all. I am not talking about loudness, loudness i least thing im worried about.

So since I heard the basslink not being good enough, I decided i definitely need an enclosed sub (or sub + box) and amp for 300 tops.

As far as installation, I just found about two other chains around my area -- tweeter and Myer-Emco.

Are those better for install, guys? I think tweeter is a bit priceyer than bestbuy, but ...


I put a basslink in my moms KIA, it sounds awsome. It depends on how its tuned and what other stuff you have to compliment it. Its not to loud but you can still here it, and it sounds clean. Most guys at BB and CC are idiots, the guys at tweeter arent much better but tweeter is alot better for installs, at least the one down here is. BUt the type-r might be your best bet, i have one in my girls car and she loves its.

a sub will sound VERY different in a large demo room than it will in a trunk/hatch