Help for an Audio Noob, what to buy? Options

[jgreening]

I like classic rock, jazz and classical music. I want to improve sound quality in the convertible and I want to spend no more than $400. I already have a very nice aftermarket head unit. It is the DXZ645MP from Clarion. Here is a link:

Clarion Head Unit

I don't need big bass. I also do not want big enclosures that take up my entire trunk. What should I spend the money on?

[DamDirtyApes]

well if you like a little bit of bass id recomendd a 8 or 10 inch kicker with an amp thats low priced, and jl audio speakers all around (2 sets)

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/Pr...ProductID=11400 those are the speakers, iv heard them and they are amazinggg for the price, im going to get them. this setup will proberly run about 450 but will sound good

o yeah also if u make a fiber glass box for the sub ull still have alot of room left in the trunk, a 8 or 10 wont need much volume.

if u dont want a sub then id say ur very limited, 6.5s dont give out much bass at all, and the music will sound like crap without bass, you would have to go with higher end speakers that would run proberly 200-250 a piece

i also listen to classic rock and it defintly sounds good with some bass so you would want some

This post has been edited by DamDirtyApes: Aug 23, 2004 - 8:18 PM

[shid]

Jay, if you like jazz and classical... I'm afraid 400 dollars just isn't going to cut it. Hip hop, techno, rap, etc sound good on a cheapo system; but classical and jazz are the real test of an awesome audio system. If it sounds wonderful on a system, it's a good system. A low line classical system is gonna run you about one k..

[jgreening]

1K? Are you saying that I can't improve what I have right now for $400? I was thinking I could add a multi-channel amp and a small sub and get pretty decent sound. Too much to ask, huh?

[blkGT]

go on ebay.

get:

1.) pair of alpine type r subs from "mr2guy"
2.) 1100d 1500w class d "directed audio" amp
3.) good wiring

hook it up. should cost about 500. turn gain all the way down. and it will sound good. when some moron ricer pulls up next to you. use ur remote gain control. crank it and listen to the pinacle of 12" subwoofers powered by a handbuilt quality amp.

This post has been edited by blkGT: Aug 24, 2004 - 1:39 AM

[shid]

Jay, you'd lose a lot of your midbass and a lot of your bass.

Look, I'm not saying you can't get a decent sound system for 400 dollars; cus you sure as hell can.. what I'm saying is; for your needs (especially the jazz and the classical) it gets expensive.

If you don't believe me, ask a guy at best buy, circuit city, etc etc (who seems to know his stuff) what the best test of a sound system is. It's not Nelly, 50 cent, Minibosses or Scooter; it's Bach and classical.

I'd recommend some stuff, but I just dont want to get your hopes up Jay

My sound system sounds "ok" for classical; but I use it for rock and techno (and when I feel black, rap) and it sounds great.

(the closest I get to classical usually is Tom Petty.. which isn't really CLOSE; but the acoustic guitar puts a sound system through it's paces too)

This post has been edited by shid: Aug 24, 2004 - 2:36 AM

[jgreening]

What do you think of this system?

Clarion Phaze 1 SRV303 Powered Subwoofer: $155

JBL GTO 75.4 four channel amp running 4 of the stock speakers: $300

[DamDirtyApes]

i think if u amped the stock speakers they would blow,i havent put an amp to mine and they are on their way out, as for the subwoofer kicker 10 inch is plenty of bass for your musical tastes

[DamDirtyApes]

and blk gt he said he needs to retain his trunk room, and that setup would sound like crap for what he wants ne ways, all that bass would drown out the music

[jgreening]

[Coomer]

I'd probably go with something like this:

Hifonics ZX6400 - Probably $150-200 on eBay
CDT CL61a - $150 from TheZeb

With the extra $50-100, you could buy the cables and wire that you'll need, along with some sound deadener, which you'll definitely need in the doors with those components in there. And depending on how much money is left over, you could buy the materials to start building a fiberglass sub box.

And then, when you get some extra money, you could by an Adire Shiva 12" sub(Don't listen to the haters who'll tell you that a 12" sub can't have excellent SQ. ) for $100-125, or an Image Dynamics IDQ, or something along those lines, and then put that in your fiberglass sub enclosure that you could build, and you'd have a pretty good system.

Oh, and I wouldn't touch the rear speakers...I'm not a fan of rear fill at all and I think that the entire sound stage being up front sounds better, but maybe that's just me.

[jgreening]

Coom, are you saying that I should bridge two of the channels on the amp and run the sub and run two of the channels to the new speakers in the doors?

[Coomer]

[jgreening]

Cool. Do I just leave the other 6 speakers hooked up to the stock amp?

[Coomer]

[jgreening]

hmmm....So, are you suggesting that they remain non-operational? Or, do you mean that they should be hooked up to the amp by splicing?

[BEEFSTEW800]

he is saying to leave the rear hooked up to the stock amp.

BTW nice advice coomer i was gonna tell him to look into the same stuff, but i dont know how a shiva would do in a convertible because it likes a big box and i dont know if there is room in there for one. other subs you could look at would be an image dynamics IDQ (a GREAT SQ sub for small boxes)

[Coomer]

[blkGT]

[jgreening]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate all your help. Yet another testiment to why this website rocks.

One final question. Assume I am lazy (which I am) and I don't want to build a sub enclosure. What sub enclosure would you recommend for the 10" I.D. sub? Thanks.