Car Audio Enthusiasts?

[Skippman]

Any car audio enthusasts on the forum here?

[skier]

not me, but my brother is haha sorry

[hercules71185]

used to be. Getting back into it now.

[Alathald]

Um yeah, back when I had a car...

[vbironchef]

I would say I have a nice system for my truck, problem is that I'm to lazy to fine tune it. Sometimes I think I never should have spent so much for the stuff I got. I mean I like the sound sort of, but it will never be like my home system. Maybe it just needs to be tuned up or something. I have brought my truck to a few shops and they like the way it sounds. Maybe I'm just getting old and spending money in this economy is just not the right thing to do. As far as my audio parts for my truck goes. I have 2 JL audio amps. One is for the subwoofer, I believe it's 500watt. 4-way 300watt. JL audio subwoofers and Focal midrange and tweeters, as for the model number I don't know off the top of my head but I know when I bought all this stuff in 2004 the Focal speakers were like 900.00 a pair. I have two sets. My head unit is made by Eclipse, again it was their higher end stuff. I had all this custom installed. Whould I do it again? No way! Edit: The one thing I don't regret buying or having is Sirus Satalite Radio. I highly recommend Sirus. Will have it always.

[hercules71185]

My systems
Trans am, I'm waiting for it to ship from ikesound and woofersetc.com. This is what I mean by getting back into it. For some reason nothing has changed. JL and Alpine are still good subs and xtant amps... I won't ever change from my ol trusty. It sounds way to clean.

I just picked up a 1000 watt xtant, 1 alpine type x in a stealth box. I'm going to design it when the sub gets here. And Alpine type R components (2 sets) plus a CDT mid woofer 6.5. I never have heard of them, but this looked sick for my mids I had to try it and for 200 bucks I figured I can't go wrong.
I still need to buy a head unit.
If anyone has been inside a transam you know all the stereo knobs, the dash and everything is red back lit. Anyone know a head unit that would match? That would sound good with a 6v or greater pre out?

The Viper,
alpine m500 just to push a JL W3v2. The mids and highs are stock and it sounds good. Total system cost, wires and all $322. To be honest it sound REALLY clean.

The only system I've heard better than my Viper was a set up I had in a 91 trans am. 3 Kicker S12L7s with 3 JL 1000s and Infinity highs. Not sure the models of those it's been a while.

Has anyone heard of Hlabs? I remember back in the day they were new and the theory sounded great, but they haven't got big. So I take it that it never worked out?

[Skippman]

Never heard of HLabs.

I'm in the process of getting a new system put in my Jeep. Here's what I'm looking at doing.

Zapco i-Force I-4100 Amp run from the head unit via thier XLR network
Hertz High-Energy 6 1/2" components in the front.
Hertz Energy 6 1/2" coaxials in the sound bar.

Stil haven't decided on the subwoofer yet. I like how the new JL Stealthbox looks but I can't figure out what it's loading off of. Herc, sounds like you've got a couple nice setups.

[hercules71185]

1 nice one and one pretty cheap. For a Jeep. I did an install for one of my friends. It was a Kicker S10L7. I made the vented box I believe either 2.2 or 2.5 cubic feet it was on their web page. The amp was a JL 500 watt. That is the only time I've heard a Kicker hitting low. It sounded clean as hell. My favorite sounding subs are JLs the 6 and 7 series. Along with I can't believe I'm saying it.... Audiobahn. I don't remember the series number, but the aluminums. The only other ones were the eclipse. Both aluminum and titanium series. They sound so tight and deep.

[Skippman]

I'm seriously considering using an Alpine PDX5 amp instead of the Zapco and using it to power the entire system. I'm wondering if I'm really going to hear the audio diffrence between a Class A/B amp and a Class D amp. If I use the PDX I'll be able to run dedicated power to each speaker and run the sub.

[hercules71185]

SUPPOSEDLY the difference is the lows don't bottom out. Man, I've heard A/Bs hit deeper and harder than Ds. I think it makes a SMALL difference, but more or less it's the box.

[vbironchef]

Class D amps are for subs only! These are the amps I have: http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=439 and http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=437 If you do any off roading I suggest not spending any money on amps. Buy sirus satalite radio and you will be good to go. I don't know what you are looking for in sound for a jeep, (what kind of jeep do you have) one thing I know is that road noise and off roading are not a good mix for high end sound. Not to mention getting it ripped off. Spend your money on good rims and tires.

[Skippman]

Class D amps are for subs only! These are the amps I have: http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=439 and http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=437 If you do any off roading I suggest not spending any money on amps. Buy sirus satalite radio and you will be good to go. I don't know what you are looking for in sound for a jeep, (what kind of jeep do you have) one thing I know is that road noise and off roading are not a good mix for high end sound. Not to mention getting it ripped off. Spend your money on good rims and tires.

Ok, not to start an argument here but you're wrong. Class D amps work just fine for woofers and tweeters. The common misconception that Class D amps are only for subs is false. Also Class D does not refer to it being digital. That you would tell me to get Sirius (which is compressed) over an amp is just bizzar to me. But, for the record, I already have Sirrius built into my factory head unit the MyGIG from MOPAR.

That being said, the new Wrangle JK's are just as quiet inside as most cars despite a slight increase in wind noise. My Jeep has a hard top not the canvas top found on most Wranglers so I could understand your confusion. This isn't my first system I've built and I am by no means a Bass Head.

I don't think I'm going to be able to hear the diffrence in quality between the two amps due to the inability to properlly sound proof the Jeep. As for the amp, if I use the PDX it will be mounted in the factory location. I have insurance if it ever gets stolen and I don't particularly want to live my life in fear of having the things I want because someone might take them. I get the argument, don't get me wrong. I just don't think in the end it matters what I do. If they want to break into my Jeep they'll do it for my backpack, laptop bag, etc just as easily as my amps.

[vbironchef]

I couldn't agree with you more Well said by the way

[Skippman]

I couldn't agree with you more Well said by the way

Thanks bro. One of the reasons I like this forum so much is we're all remarkably civil to each other.

[vbironchef]

If you ever get a chance to come out to CA. with your Jeep, I know some great places to go off roading. I was out in Death Valley and the trail was so rough that my head unit got ripped out and fell on the floor