Sound System Suggestions
03-21-2006, 03:38 AM
#1
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Sound System Suggestions
Ok, I need some help picking parts for my sound system. I will have about $2000 to spend on it. I think I will be doing alittle competing with it. I would also like some video components to. So can you guys help me decide what to put in my xb?
03-21-2006, 06:20 PM
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Agreed. I am a novice myself, but I know as well that if you budget yourself $2000 and want to include video, you aren't going to get very far.
If you drop the video, you can build a pretty decent system for $2000. And with the right components you can design and build a system with good sound quality that still hits pretty decent SPL. My suggestion is to go for SQL over SPL. If you go SQL, at least you know it will (can) sound good. Building a system for SPL often means sacrificing sound quality.
Subwoofer wise I would take a look at Image Dynamics, or if you want to save some money there check out Diamond Audio.
If you drop the video, you can build a pretty decent system for $2000. And with the right components you can design and build a system with good sound quality that still hits pretty decent SPL. My suggestion is to go for SQL over SPL. If you go SQL, at least you know it will (can) sound good. Building a system for SPL often means sacrificing sound quality.
Subwoofer wise I would take a look at Image Dynamics, or if you want to save some money there check out Diamond Audio.
03-21-2006, 06:39 PM
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^^ agreed, an SPL system is generally ported and tuned toward the cabin gain frequency of the car... that in itself kills sound quality.....
How much space are you willing to give up in the trunk?? If you're wanting to still be able to compete in SPL competition, I'd stick with a standard MDF ported box (tuned of course, not pre-fab)... get 2 amps, one sub, and a component system...and a HU
How much space are you willing to give up in the trunk?? If you're wanting to still be able to compete in SPL competition, I'd stick with a standard MDF ported box (tuned of course, not pre-fab)... get 2 amps, one sub, and a component system...and a HU
03-22-2006, 11:38 AM
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one thing's for sure, don't skimp on your HU... it's the base of your system.... if you want to expand, you want you HU to be able to handle the addition.....
good brands to look at are:
Kenwood eXcelon, Pioneer premier, Eclipse, Alpine..... expect to pay no less than $300 for the HU alone... some really good HU's go for $500-600....
as far as amp and subs, are you wanting it to just be loud, or be loud AND sound good?? keep in mind that if you exceed 1500watts in amp output, expect to be in the market for an upgraded battery, upgraded wiring, and possibly upgraded alternator...
Resonant Engineering makes some killer SPL subs... as does TREO and KICKER....
Elemental Design, JL Audio, Boston, Focal, Eclipse, Image Dynamics, Adire Audio, and crystal all make excellent SQL subs
as far as amps go, Memphis, Kicker, JL Audio, Rockford Fosgate, Soundstream, Audison...
good brands to look at are:
Kenwood eXcelon, Pioneer premier, Eclipse, Alpine..... expect to pay no less than $300 for the HU alone... some really good HU's go for $500-600....
as far as amp and subs, are you wanting it to just be loud, or be loud AND sound good?? keep in mind that if you exceed 1500watts in amp output, expect to be in the market for an upgraded battery, upgraded wiring, and possibly upgraded alternator...
Resonant Engineering makes some killer SPL subs... as does TREO and KICKER....
Elemental Design, JL Audio, Boston, Focal, Eclipse, Image Dynamics, Adire Audio, and crystal all make excellent SQL subs
as far as amps go, Memphis, Kicker, JL Audio, Rockford Fosgate, Soundstream, Audison...
03-22-2006, 08:45 PM
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I have to throw Diamond Audio into the ring for Sound Quality as well. I know there are people who don't care for their subs, but I love them. I have never heard a better shallow mount sub for the price than Diamond. When I switched from my old Rockford Fosgate subs to my Diamond CM3s the difference was night and day.
03-23-2006, 12:14 AM
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As for HU I'd stick with alpine (last year's or earlier), eclipse, or kenwood excelon. I'm personally not a fan of kenwood units in general but all 3 of those brands have a ton of features for the money. As for speakers, I'm a HUGE fan of CDT audio...I've had a set of the 6.5" HD components for about 2 years now and they honestly sound as good as a set costing 3 times as much. For the rear speakers you really should spend little or no money on them no matter whether you're going for SQ or SPL because they're worthless for both. For subs I'm a huge fan of Image Dynamics, for SPL and SQ the IDMax is amazing, but huge...so you'll have to sacrifice space. I'm running a single IDQ 10 right now and it really rounds out the sound without sacrificing space. Other good brands include Elemental Designs, Adire, and JL audio (if you want to spend some money). Finally as for the amps...I used to run the old school JBL power series amps that are a great value for the money if you can find them still. Also the alpine v-12 amps from a couple years ago are pretty respectable and they look nice. If you can find some good deals on Arc Audio amps they are pretty amazing too.
03-23-2006, 03:35 PM
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Listen to SCI_TC_GUY. He know what he's taking about. I would have said pretty much what he said (except for the JL audio suggestion 
). To be honest with you if you're not sure what you want to go with then get an Alpine set up. You can't really go wrong with Alpine. If you want a little more "bump" get some kicker subs. Other than the SOLO Barics you can put a kicker in almost anything and it'll hit.
). To be honest with you if you're not sure what you want to go with then get an Alpine set up. You can't really go wrong with Alpine. If you want a little more "bump" get some kicker subs. Other than the SOLO Barics you can put a kicker in almost anything and it'll hit.
03-23-2006, 06:37 PM
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Sound Pressure Level....measured in decibels
SQ is Sound Quality
SQL is Sound Quality + Loud << that's what most people desire
If you're wanting to be serious in SPL, I can tell you right now that your substage(subwoofers) is gonna sound like poop... but it'll be loud.... you could go with SQL and it'll be not quite as loud, but it'll sound ALOT better with music...
for SPL, look into TREO, KICKER SOLOBARIC/SOLO X, Resonant Engineering, JBL GTi, Digital Design, Crossfire,ummm....???
good place to start would be you HU... it's the base for you system... look at Alpine, Kenwood eXcelon, Pioneer Premier, and Eclipse...$300+ for HU
SQ is Sound Quality
SQL is Sound Quality + Loud << that's what most people desire
If you're wanting to be serious in SPL, I can tell you right now that your substage(subwoofers) is gonna sound like poop... but it'll be loud.... you could go with SQL and it'll be not quite as loud, but it'll sound ALOT better with music...
for SPL, look into TREO, KICKER SOLOBARIC/SOLO X, Resonant Engineering, JBL GTi, Digital Design, Crossfire,ummm....???
good place to start would be you HU... it's the base for you system... look at Alpine, Kenwood eXcelon, Pioneer Premier, and Eclipse...$300+ for HU
03-24-2006, 12:04 PM
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Most people would reccommend that you go to some shops and look around and find stuff you like... What shops do you have around you?
I'm kinda thinking you'd be good with one badass 12" sub in a ported box, or 2 really good 12's in a ported box...
Do you plan on installing this yourself, or are you going to have a shop do it for you? Having a good install/wiring job is essential in the stereo world.... a shady wiring job can cause alot of problems that you don't want..
here's a killer deal on a Kenwood receiver...
KENWOOD CLICK HERE
I'm kinda thinking you'd be good with one badass 12" sub in a ported box, or 2 really good 12's in a ported box...
Do you plan on installing this yourself, or are you going to have a shop do it for you? Having a good install/wiring job is essential in the stereo world.... a shady wiring job can cause alot of problems that you don't want..
here's a killer deal on a Kenwood receiver...
KENWOOD CLICK HERE