What audio setup should I go with?
April-14th-2002, 03:31 PM
#31
**Punani Lover**
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Hawaii (duh!)
Posts: 1,861
amps around $200?
-autotek
-visonik
-gs design (tends to get warm fast)
-kenwood
-pioneer
actually, it kinda sounds like you're not too impressed with the aftermarket car audio thing, so really any amp u get should be just fine. you could shell out a few more clams and go rockford (which are really good) but the ones i listed will are good. oh, and u could probably get away with sony's xplod (es) amps. they are rated right at what they claim and are relatively cheap.
-autotek
-visonik
-gs design (tends to get warm fast)
-kenwood
-pioneer
actually, it kinda sounds like you're not too impressed with the aftermarket car audio thing, so really any amp u get should be just fine. you could shell out a few more clams and go rockford (which are really good) but the ones i listed will are good. oh, and u could probably get away with sony's xplod (es) amps. they are rated right at what they claim and are relatively cheap.
April-15th-2002, 12:21 AM
#32
...and loving it!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Texas, US
Posts: 286
I've seen some others in that range, too: JBL, Jensen, US Acoustics, Profile--are any of these any good?
I recognize the JBL name and they generally make at least OK stuff. (I have a JBL shelf system in my office and it's decent for what it is.)
Oh, and how are MTX amps? I know they're a little more expensive, but one of the local dealers seems to put them on sale every couple months or so...
Rockford makes good amps? That's a surprise, as I'm totally underwhelmed with their speakers... I thought at the same price the Infinitys blew them away--but that's speakers, not amps.
Thanks for the advice, by the way, much appreicated.
Oh, and as for my comments about car audio--it's not that I'm not impressed with the quality of the products, it's just that I don't see pouring $1500 into a car stereo. You could spend $5000 on car stereo and it still won't sound as good as what you can get for $800-1000 in your living room (unless your living room has *really* bad acoustics). I just have a lot of other things to do with my money and the marginal return on spending more on car audio just doesn't seem worth it to me. That's just me, though, I don't begrudge anyone else spending the money--some of the installs I've seen (including yours, onehawaiian) look pretty cool.
I recognize the JBL name and they generally make at least OK stuff. (I have a JBL shelf system in my office and it's decent for what it is.)
Oh, and how are MTX amps? I know they're a little more expensive, but one of the local dealers seems to put them on sale every couple months or so...
Rockford makes good amps? That's a surprise, as I'm totally underwhelmed with their speakers... I thought at the same price the Infinitys blew them away--but that's speakers, not amps.
Thanks for the advice, by the way, much appreicated.
Oh, and as for my comments about car audio--it's not that I'm not impressed with the quality of the products, it's just that I don't see pouring $1500 into a car stereo. You could spend $5000 on car stereo and it still won't sound as good as what you can get for $800-1000 in your living room (unless your living room has *really* bad acoustics). I just have a lot of other things to do with my money and the marginal return on spending more on car audio just doesn't seem worth it to me. That's just me, though, I don't begrudge anyone else spending the money--some of the installs I've seen (including yours, onehawaiian) look pretty cool.
April-15th-2002, 12:37 AM
#33
Show Layne some respect
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Long Island,NY
Posts: 2,458
Stay away from the Jensen and the Profile - anything you can buy at Kmart or Pep Boyz is not worth the box it's in.
I bought two Rockford amps - soon to be installed. They have been highly reccomended to me (on this board, among other places) for a good combination of quality and value. We'll see I guess, but I do like that they are rated fairly for output - my 360.2 will do 360 RMS at 4 ohms bridged - and the test sheet that came with the amp stated that amp tested at 546 watts max - nice.
I had an MTX amp a few years back (pushing a 12" JBL ported tube), and while it hit hard and loud, it also hit too "deep" for my tastes. It was a replacement for an OLD Kenwood that blew on me, and was just crossed over too low (and not adjustable) - I listen mostly to rock music, so I missed some of the higher range bass that the MTX didn't amplify as well as the Kenwood.
Another idea - do your own install!! It's really so simple to put in an amp and sub - you really don't have to know very much at all. And you can take the $100 or so you save and put it toward some better equipment - and $100 can go LONG way when you are talking about modest equipment. For example - I got a JBL 10" sub for about $70, and turns out is a dual voice coil, and really impractical for my use (I made a mistake) - well, I got an Infinity Perfect 10.1 instead for about double that price, and ask almost anyone here - I think they would agree that these subs are not even really in the same league. That $100 savings can buy a LOT of sound quality.
I bought two Rockford amps - soon to be installed. They have been highly reccomended to me (on this board, among other places) for a good combination of quality and value. We'll see I guess, but I do like that they are rated fairly for output - my 360.2 will do 360 RMS at 4 ohms bridged - and the test sheet that came with the amp stated that amp tested at 546 watts max - nice.
I had an MTX amp a few years back (pushing a 12" JBL ported tube), and while it hit hard and loud, it also hit too "deep" for my tastes. It was a replacement for an OLD Kenwood that blew on me, and was just crossed over too low (and not adjustable) - I listen mostly to rock music, so I missed some of the higher range bass that the MTX didn't amplify as well as the Kenwood.
Another idea - do your own install!! It's really so simple to put in an amp and sub - you really don't have to know very much at all. And you can take the $100 or so you save and put it toward some better equipment - and $100 can go LONG way when you are talking about modest equipment. For example - I got a JBL 10" sub for about $70, and turns out is a dual voice coil, and really impractical for my use (I made a mistake) - well, I got an Infinity Perfect 10.1 instead for about double that price, and ask almost anyone here - I think they would agree that these subs are not even really in the same league. That $100 savings can buy a LOT of sound quality.
April-15th-2002, 03:55 AM
#34
**Punani Lover**
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Hawaii (duh!)
Posts: 1,861
yeah, jbl amps are good. i just figured i'd throw a few good amps out and see what you liked. here are some amps i would run, both for money and quality:
-fusion
-jbl
-phoenix gold
-kicker
i believe all these amps are underrated and and are decently priced.
-fusion
-jbl
-phoenix gold
-kicker
i believe all these amps are underrated and and are decently priced.
April-15th-2002, 08:00 AM
#35
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Buffalo NY
Posts: 336
I'm deciding to go with the rockford punch 400.4 to run infinity kappa components in front and kappa 3 ways in back. priving on the amp is 230, components are 170 and 6x9 's are 150. This is to satisfy my needs for now and if i later decide to get a sub i can get another amp which will be soley for the sub. Any opinions or suggestions? How are th eprcing on the things i mentioned?
April-15th-2002, 08:31 AM
#36
Show Layne some respect
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Long Island,NY
Posts: 2,458
I've been using www.ikesound.com for just about everything - they don't have all the stuff you want at the website, but I would give them a call or an email and ask for what you want - they can get anything, and don't always put all they have on the website (for example - I ordered a Punch 250.2 for my fronts - I guess they didn't have it in stock - they sent me a 300s (MORE powerful amp, and not listed on the website) no questions asked, and at the same price).
Price range is probably: $250 for the RF amp, maybe $175 for the component set (unless you get Kappa Perfects, those are some more $$), and about $140 for the 6x9s - so you should be able to get what you want for under $600 - and IkeSound has NO shipping charges (except on auctions) and NO tax (unless you live in FL.
Should be a nice setup!
Price range is probably: $250 for the RF amp, maybe $175 for the component set (unless you get Kappa Perfects, those are some more $$), and about $140 for the 6x9s - so you should be able to get what you want for under $600 - and IkeSound has NO shipping charges (except on auctions) and NO tax (unless you live in FL.
Should be a nice setup!
April-15th-2002, 01:19 PM
#38
**Punani Lover**
Join Date: Sep 2001
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ikesound is cool. i ordered a few stuff from them. the rockford you mentioned (400.4) should be more than enough as rf underrates their amps. it should be fine in the future too unless you get bit by the car audio bug, in which case you will want to dump your system for a new one every month! 
April-15th-2002, 01:57 PM
#40
Show Layne some respect
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Long Island,NY
Posts: 2,458
Happened to me, dude - the bug.
Ditched about $400 worth of stuff to replace it with $800 worth. I hope to be satisfied this time around.
Do things the best u can the first time - then you won't feel the need to replace it so soon.
Ditched about $400 worth of stuff to replace it with $800 worth. I hope to be satisfied this time around.
Do things the best u can the first time - then you won't feel the need to replace it so soon.
April-15th-2002, 04:25 PM
#42
**Punani Lover**
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Hawaii (duh!)
Posts: 1,861
car audio is a b!tch. drains your pockets just like one too. 
yeah, i would get a good system the first time around, that way when you decide to upgrade (and you'll want to, trust me) you can go one component at a time versus a whole damn system that's gonna cost you some major-@ss bones. but at the very least, get good amps! many would say a system is only as good as your amps. dunno if it's true, but if your amps are good, you can replace/upgrade everything else and still keep your amps.
yeah, i would get a good system the first time around, that way when you decide to upgrade (and you'll want to, trust me) you can go one component at a time versus a whole damn system that's gonna cost you some major-@ss bones. but at the very least, get good amps! many would say a system is only as good as your amps. dunno if it's true, but if your amps are good, you can replace/upgrade everything else and still keep your amps.
April-15th-2002, 05:29 PM
#43
...and loving it!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Texas, US
Posts: 286
Hmm. Well, I know a lot more about home audio than I do about car audio and I'd have to say in the home domain I think the speakers are the king component. You know, the pieces that actually make the sounds you hear...
I'd rate the source quality--which in most cases these days is the DAC--as the second most important, and amplification third, with the caveat that you have to have enough amp to drive the speakers properly (e.g. no clipping), but after that it's less important.
I'd rate the source quality--which in most cases these days is the DAC--as the second most important, and amplification third, with the caveat that you have to have enough amp to drive the speakers properly (e.g. no clipping), but after that it's less important.
April-16th-2002, 05:37 PM
#44
**Punani Lover**
Join Date: Sep 2001
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my bad sunbyrne, i was trying to say that amps are usually the most expensive item in car audio, as you can get midrange and subs for cheap as well as hu's. i mean, good underratted amps can get pretty costly. i would use that as the basis of any system because all the other components would be somewhat cheaper and easier to replace. plus, good amps really don't need to be replaced even if you keep upgrading your hu and speakers.
mediocre sound can be enhanced with a good eq. but you can't cut corners when it comes to getting good, clean power. you can have the best speaker in the world but if the power sux...
but isn't home audio the bomb? damn, to be surrounded in pure harmonic heaven is what it's all about. i want my car to be the same and i am almost there. all i need is a center channel and 5.1surround processor and it's all good!
mediocre sound can be enhanced with a good eq. but you can't cut corners when it comes to getting good, clean power. you can have the best speaker in the world but if the power sux...
but isn't home audio the bomb? damn, to be surrounded in pure harmonic heaven is what it's all about. i want my car to be the same and i am almost there. all i need is a center channel and 5.1surround processor and it's all good!
April-17th-2002, 01:08 AM
#45
...and loving it!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Texas, US
Posts: 286
Ahh, that makes sense, onehawaiian.
So, I just got an unexpected little bonus at work an I can now hear the call of the car audio. Help, I'm bein sucked in!
So right now I'm thinking Infinity Ref 605cs in front, Infinity Kappa either 63.3i or 62.3i in back (have to go Kappa in back because the Refs won't handle over 60 watts RMS), and either the Sony Xplod 4x75 or the Rockford Punch 4x62.5. Whatcha think?
Hey, anyone used www.carmedia1.com before? They seem to have really great prices...
I'd love to learn to do the install myself but I'll never have the time.
So, I just got an unexpected little bonus at work an I can now hear the call of the car audio. Help, I'm bein sucked in!
So right now I'm thinking Infinity Ref 605cs in front, Infinity Kappa either 63.3i or 62.3i in back (have to go Kappa in back because the Refs won't handle over 60 watts RMS), and either the Sony Xplod 4x75 or the Rockford Punch 4x62.5. Whatcha think?
Hey, anyone used www.carmedia1.com before? They seem to have really great prices...
I'd love to learn to do the install myself but I'll never have the time.