My first new car. I've got a 2006 xb. Can't afford rims at the moment, so I'm opting out for the next best upgrade that I can afford...a stereo system with some bass! Unfortunately I know nothing about car stereo's, but I'm willing to learn.

http://www.carstereoexpo.com/pk2xauawsuxp.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-VOLFENHAG-2000...QQcmdZViewItem

I came across some package deals on ebay and a few sales on the net that include speakers, amps, crossovers and what not. I'm tempted to buy one because they seem to include everything that I'd need to install a stereo? I know that Rockfords, Sony, and Alpine make some mean components, but can I get by with a system made up with AUDIOBAHN, LEGACY, VOLFENHAG, OR PYLE?

I only need something with a little bump, not a whole marching band in my hatch back. I want to get something on the cheap end, but not a system that I will immediately have to replace because the quaility is terrible.

I appreciate your help because I know nothing about this subject, or the brand names to avoid. Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

If you want to fill in and add bass without sacrificing cargo space, the Scosche is great.

The Scosche will add bass but not a ton of real loud, real deep stuff. I had one for about a week and sent it back to Crutchfield. It had 300wrms to it. But thats just me. It filled in the stock radio real well.

The links you gave...you asked about brand names to avoid...thems the ones, imho. There are no actual specs-just "1600 watt amp"-which tells you absolutely nothing. Volfenhag?? WTF is that? For that little $$? Those are swap meet amps. 1000 watts for $10.00 buy it here!

I have no experience with the Bazookas, but it looks like it will cost you some cargo space and stealth. They do sound OK, though.

Shameless plug: I am real happy with my Elemental Designs equipment. Real solid stuff at a "no middleman markup" direct to you price. Warranty is the clincher...3 year transferable!

IMO, those link packages are exactly "I want to get something on the cheap end, but not a system that I will immediately have to replace because the quaility is terrible." equipment. You *can* pay too much, but I feel that you can also pay too little and end up doing it all again.

Just my .02

 

Thanks for the post tanakasan. I'd much rather just do it right the first time around, and now I'm seriously considering just how much boom, I really want. I need to go to best buy or somewhere and get a chance to listen to the difference in speakers. At this point, I just don't know enough. One 12, or one 15? Two 10's or two 12's? I've spent most of the day trying to PM people and it seems like most people have had a simular experience to you. The more bass that you get, the more that you want. May as well do it right the first time.

I've got a lot of research to do before I get started. I've got to learn about amps, and the best way to fit that stuff into such a small space. Thanks again.

 

DO NOT BUY SONY!!! sony sucks with car stereos equipment....stick with either alpine or pioneer, maybe even kennwood. One problem with the factory radios is that u have to put in a hi-low converter to make RCA outputs for amplifiers....best bet would be to change the deck....unless u want the "ok" sound from the hi-low....thats just from my expirience as an installer at best buy....

ohh yea and infinity is pretty good too!!!! STAY AWAY FROM NO-NAMER BRANDS...mainly in car audio you pay for what u get (you buy cheap you get cheap stuff) for a decent system just amp and sub you should plan on spending at lease 400 for just the equiptment not including wiring and all that stuff!

But if you need any hook-ups let me kno ill get you some good places to shop around....highly consider not shopping for car audio on ebay (from first hand expirience)

 

Actually, Crutchfield might be a great resource for you.

You can buy whatever and install it. You can return it, no questions asked, for (I believe) 30 days. Lets you actually hear the system-installed in your car- before you commit to keeping it. You can also upgrade/change equipment until you find the right setup for you. No headaches.

Downside for Crutchfield? Slightly higher prices, but with free install kits, wiring harnesses with no splice factory connectors and the return policy, it is great for starting systems.

The key is to look ahead slightly so you don't keep buying/selling stuff as your experience and wants grows. Raise the quality/power as a balanced system. You don't want a 10 watt HU with 1000 watt substage. I try to have at least 2x~3x sub power to frontstage power. Again, thats just me.

And go somewhere with a good return policy. What sounds great in store might sound bad in your car.

Not sure your budget, but a 11kv2 or 13kv2 on a bridged nine.2x and a pair of eDi6000s on a nine.2 would crank. Don't need that much power-get a nine.4. Run stereo on the fronts and bridge the sub off the rears. Click> www.edesignaudio.com ...Check them out!

Good luck!

 

Thanks peeps. You guys have me pointed in the right direction now (at least I know what to stay away from). I've learned a lot this weekend, and I think that after I read a few installation tuts, and some other general info, I'll be ready to start shopping. I'll repost in a few days to let yall know what I decide on. I'm looking forward to the challange of installing! Thanks again.

 

Elemental Design!!! great products and excellent customer service... PM "mandos" on here, he's an eD tech/salesman

 

I buy stuff from www.Savinglots.com

They have the best prices around!! Trust me.




As mentioned above, avoid sony and No-Namers such as Legacy, Lighting Audio, Mobile Athority, Lanzar, Etc.

IMO, the best bang for the buck is Pioneer.

You need to realize what you think your demands are. What kind of bass are you looking for? Alot of people end up redo'ing their setup because they say, "well hey, i just want a little thump and that's all for me", when in fact they were only kidding themselves. Think about how much space you're willing to sacrifice. Figure out what type of sound you want--> sealed, ported/vented, bandpass, etc. Most importantly, set a budget.

 

Ok, guys. I've done some research and I think that I've narrowed down the field to come up with what I believe I need in a system. Please take a look, and let me know what you think.

Speakers= I'm sticking with my stock speakers, and just adding a nice sub.
ALPINE SWX-1242D 12" - 500-1000 watts rms & 3000 watts peak.
Will this be too much for my alternator & will I need a new one?

Amp= Kenwood seems cheap, & I hear the quality is good?
Kenwood KAC-9152D -
500 watts x 1 chan. @ 4 ohms
900 watts x 1 chan. @ 2 ohms
900 watts x 1 chan. @ 1 ohm
1800 peak

Bandpass box= One sub, one amp, single sub box!

I plan to buy this all off of ebay. I know, I know, most of you are against this. Only thing is, the sellers on ebay are selling this stuff cheap, and it is all under warrenty, so if something goes bad, I guess I'll have to deal with the manufacturer. If you've personlly had a bad experience on ebay, please let me know.

I figure that one really good sub will help me aviod needing two, and will save space. I mainly want to know if the set up will work, and if it is too powerful for my alternator, or if I may need crossovers? Should I seriously consider replacing my stereo deck? I plan on ordering as soon as this week, or maybe next week. So your input is critical right now! Please let me know what yall think! Thanks

 

listen with that amp get the alpine type r's not the type x. you will never power the type x with that amp. it does not go down to 1 ohm. iv got a similar set up. iv got two of thoes kenwods and 2 type r's. it thumps realy hard. and im running it off a line output converter. sounds great.... i actualy only need 1 type R. i only turn the oter one on when i hear a nother system i want to drownout . i also run it with no cap and it does not even dim the lights when its on... dont know why maby cuz my xb is new too.
but u can by it onlin especialy if its cheaper, it just really har to return if it dont work, i got myne at best buy... but then again i work there so i got it all dirt cheep.

so again dont get the type x... it really a show grade sub not for everyday people, and the keenwod does not got o 1 ohm

 

I'm going all pioneer on my xB(props to Prototype xB for inspiration , but if your cheap I will vouch for Volfenhag, I ran two of their 12's and a 1k watt amp from them for two years and they were some of the cleanest sounding subs i've ever heard, I had a custom built to spec box and they were great, wont win you points at shows, but ifyour cheap and just want to hear some good tunes out of no namers I have tried those back in my ebay buying days

 

http://www.justkenwood.co.uk/stock01/kac9152d.asp

That amp IS stable to 1 ohm and makes 900 watts there.... I'd say as long as you get a Dual 2 ohm sub, you'll be golden..... Don't get a bandpass box though... bandpass boxes are made to be efficient... small power, big sound... plus they won't give you a good frequency response, there will be a particular "band" of Hz that will be allowed to "pass" or be played... get a sealed or ported box...

 

Try Cardomain.com for good prices. You pay your money and you take your chances on EBay.

 

Ok, I guess going with the type X may be a little overboard. Also, I think that I will go with the sealed box since it takes up less room, and is effecient with the bass.

I think I'll go with the type R Alpines as suggested, but I guess I don't fully understand the Ohm ratings? Just for reference, could someone explain, or show me an amp that could push one type x alpine sub? I thought that the RMS watts rating was the important thing when matching a sub to an amp?

Again, thanks for the help EVERYONE. I've been reading about this for weeks, and I guess that there are just some topics that aren't covered and it's hard to know what is important. I'm close to defining my needs, and I can't wait to install.

 

Ohm is the amount of electrical resistance.... amps need to have subs with a certain resistance so the amp doesn't try to over-do itself and blow.... amp's are rated at specific ohm loads... if the RMS of an amp at a certain ohm load is close to the RMS of a particular sub with that ohm load, you'll be good... dual voice coil subs are produced for wiring flexibility... a dual 4 ohm sub can be wired in series for an 8ohm load or in parallel for a 2ohm load...

I generally use more power than the RMS of a sub but I never exceed max power for that sub... I've been in car audio and this is OK as long as you know that your gains are properly set and you don't do things such as play test tones for more than a second or 2 and make sure you don't drop below tuning (for a ported box) as this will over-excurt the sub...

a type X alpine sub is 1250RMS watts.... it's a dual 4ohm VC sub, so you have the option of going with mono 2 ohm or mono 8ohm (depending on how YOU wire the sub to the amp)

knowing this info, you'll need an amp that could push 1250RMS watts x 1channel @ 2ohm mono.... this could be a 2 channel amp that you bridge or it could be a 1channel mono class-d amp (better for subs)...

 

Ahmen! Dam, I think everything just came together for me with that last post. I think now I fully understand the relationship between the amp and sub now that I understand how Ohms fit into the picture! I'm glad that I updated this thread before I order this stuff, or I would have ended up with a system that wasn't balanced correctly.

Big props to the community for helping me out. I'll update with pics and more after I get everything in my box. thanks.

 

Hey, that's what we're here for....

If you have any other questions, ask... don't be scurrred

 

If you know nothing about car stereo's, why switch the stock system out at all?? The only way you could say it sucks is if you don't listen to music, but want to feel it. The stock system sounds fine. I'm a musician, Bass is my #1 instrument, and I can get great sound out of the stock stereo with-out a sub woofer. It seems like your money could be better spent elsewhere. Then again, I've never understood music with the bass so loud that thumping is all you hear (Feel). I guess that makes it "cool".....Cool....I can't hear my motor....even at 6,000 rpm's.....

 

oh we got a hater upin here... "why switch the stock system?"... cuz it suxs. i have never gotten in to a car with a stock system that i liked. going dwon the road at eighty miles an hour with the stock system cranked so u can hear it... bad idea. there is alwaasy somthing to be done to make it better

 

man dont get me started.
1.shuddap
2.there is more to car stereo than just bass and we all know that.
3. shuddap
4. i cant feel sh*t with my old stock system.
5. stop being a hater.
6. u may feel the bass outside but inside is totally different.
7. stop stereotyping us young people as just being bassheads....well u can stereotype me cause i am a basshead:D.