New audio system?
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,801
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From: Hawaii
Originally posted by BoostTed
Funny, Ive started listening to classical and jazz now because of that reason. I have the 165W3 and the staging is awesome and every note is clear. Focal speakers I think feel a bit warmer compared to lets say MB or Diamond audio.
If you like the MB's then definately check out the Diamond Audio M6 and Hex, they are nice as well.
Funny, Ive started listening to classical and jazz now because of that reason. I have the 165W3 and the staging is awesome and every note is clear. Focal speakers I think feel a bit warmer compared to lets say MB or Diamond audio.
If you like the MB's then definately check out the Diamond Audio M6 and Hex, they are nice as well.
For classic rock a 120-150 dollar 10 would be more then enough. The Phoenix Gold Octane or Xenon series sub will fit that price range nicely. A inexpensive 200 watt amplifier will push the 10 nicely also.
I sometimes get carried away on this stuff and forget things. Deck power from Alpine is generally strong. With that said, if you find a set of components for your doors that have a sensitivity of something like 92db or higher, the deck power will be more then enough to push those speakers without needing a seperate amplipher for the speakers.
If the sound stage is setup correctly, live recordings will sound good on just front speakers. Please dont make the same mistake I did. hehe
When you walk into a car audio store the sales man will asume you know nothing. He will try to sell you whatever he wants to sell you not what you want. Car audio stores tend be worse then car dealerships in that the salesmen dont really know anything besides how much something costs and the commission they will get by selling whatever it is they are selling you. So watch out.
I sometimes get carried away on this stuff and forget things. Deck power from Alpine is generally strong. With that said, if you find a set of components for your doors that have a sensitivity of something like 92db or higher, the deck power will be more then enough to push those speakers without needing a seperate amplipher for the speakers.
If the sound stage is setup correctly, live recordings will sound good on just front speakers. Please dont make the same mistake I did. hehe
When you walk into a car audio store the sales man will asume you know nothing. He will try to sell you whatever he wants to sell you not what you want. Car audio stores tend be worse then car dealerships in that the salesmen dont really know anything besides how much something costs and the commission they will get by selling whatever it is they are selling you. So watch out.
I didnt want to study so I started building this bugest system for fun.
Alpine Deck
Alpine CDA-9831
$288.00
4 x 23 watts RMS <---simi important
Plays MP3, WMA files, CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs
detachable, fold-down face
Variable button color
MaxTune SQ tuner
4 Band Parametric EQ <---important this is why I suggest this deck over cheaper alpine decks
Amplifier Link
XM Satellite Radio controls
12 FM/6 AM presets
CD changer controls
4-volt front, rear and subwoofer preamp outputs
MOSFET internal amp
Alpine Components
SPX-177A X-series Component 2-Way
$248.00
Ive heard good things about these components.
Alpine Sub
SWR-1021D Type-R Series Subwoofer
$98.00
Cheap, clean sub.
Alpine Amp for Sub
MRP-M350 200W x 1 Mono Amplifier
$138.00
cheap clean amp, we have an amp from this series in our boat and its been trouble free for a long time now.
Amp Install kit
$35.00
you need this to put in the amplifier
Total for parts without shipping:
$807
Installation of this stuff w/ custom box for 10:
(and other little bits like dash kit)
$400-500
break down:
$70 amp install
$50 speaker install
$90 for deck install+harness
$25 for dash kit
$200-300 for custom box(they will try to rip you off on this)
I estimate you could get out with a nice system for $1,300 bucks installed plus or minus $200.
(If you bought that stuff listed above from a dealer:
another $400 bucks at least+ whatever they would try to sell you that you dont need)
Alpine Deck
Alpine CDA-9831
$288.00
4 x 23 watts RMS <---simi important
Plays MP3, WMA files, CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs
detachable, fold-down face
Variable button color
MaxTune SQ tuner
4 Band Parametric EQ <---important this is why I suggest this deck over cheaper alpine decks
Amplifier Link
XM Satellite Radio controls
12 FM/6 AM presets
CD changer controls
4-volt front, rear and subwoofer preamp outputs
MOSFET internal amp
Alpine Components
SPX-177A X-series Component 2-Way
$248.00
Ive heard good things about these components.
Alpine Sub
SWR-1021D Type-R Series Subwoofer
$98.00
Cheap, clean sub.
Alpine Amp for Sub
MRP-M350 200W x 1 Mono Amplifier
$138.00
cheap clean amp, we have an amp from this series in our boat and its been trouble free for a long time now.
Amp Install kit
$35.00
you need this to put in the amplifier
Total for parts without shipping:
$807
Installation of this stuff w/ custom box for 10:
(and other little bits like dash kit)
$400-500
break down:
$70 amp install
$50 speaker install
$90 for deck install+harness
$25 for dash kit
$200-300 for custom box(they will try to rip you off on this)
I estimate you could get out with a nice system for $1,300 bucks installed plus or minus $200.
(If you bought that stuff listed above from a dealer:
another $400 bucks at least+ whatever they would try to sell you that you dont need)
Last edited by Ahsmo; Nov 10, 2004 at 10:33 PM.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 22
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From: chicago suburbs
Originally posted by The Liu Man
Wendy,
I also have a roadster and space was what I was most concerned with. Since I'm guessing you want full, rich sound but not ear-blazing volume and the full range, I'd recommend this:
- Quality fronts and decent rears (MB Quarts/Focals are great)
- Subwoofer in an custom fiberglass box
- Alpine head unit
- Amplifier for the sub.
The Alpine head unit will power all speakers. Get a good Alpine head unit. Put the Amplifier for the sub under either the driver or passenger seat. Put the subwoofer and box in the SAME place where the stock Bose sub is.
This will sound great. What will make it sound better is adding an amplifier for all four of your speakers under the other seat.
The thing about Focals is how clear they are. Classic rock will sound absolutely breathtaking (as in sounding like the performer is right there next to you). Those speakers truly are very revealing. Guitars sound incredible with revealing speakers. MB Quarts are great as well.
This will make your Roadster keep all of the cubby spaces and loose no trunk space. The only sub you need is something that will cover the low-end. JL Audio 10W0 paired with Rockford Fosgate P2002 is perfect (fits under the seat).
That's basically my setup. Focals 165CA for fronts, Focals 165A for rears, Rockford Fosgate P4004 amp for all four speakers, and a custom fiberglass box. (I went with Kenwood DDX7015 because I wanted touchscreen/mp3/nav/movies/etc)
With the top down, there is enough power to bring your own party anywhere. I'll post pics of my setup soon.
Wendy,
I also have a roadster and space was what I was most concerned with. Since I'm guessing you want full, rich sound but not ear-blazing volume and the full range, I'd recommend this:
- Quality fronts and decent rears (MB Quarts/Focals are great)
- Subwoofer in an custom fiberglass box
- Alpine head unit
- Amplifier for the sub.
The Alpine head unit will power all speakers. Get a good Alpine head unit. Put the Amplifier for the sub under either the driver or passenger seat. Put the subwoofer and box in the SAME place where the stock Bose sub is.
This will sound great. What will make it sound better is adding an amplifier for all four of your speakers under the other seat.
The thing about Focals is how clear they are. Classic rock will sound absolutely breathtaking (as in sounding like the performer is right there next to you). Those speakers truly are very revealing. Guitars sound incredible with revealing speakers. MB Quarts are great as well.
This will make your Roadster keep all of the cubby spaces and loose no trunk space. The only sub you need is something that will cover the low-end. JL Audio 10W0 paired with Rockford Fosgate P2002 is perfect (fits under the seat).
That's basically my setup. Focals 165CA for fronts, Focals 165A for rears, Rockford Fosgate P4004 amp for all four speakers, and a custom fiberglass box. (I went with Kenwood DDX7015 because I wanted touchscreen/mp3/nav/movies/etc)
With the top down, there is enough power to bring your own party anywhere. I'll post pics of my setup soon.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: California
Personally, I wouldn't power the speakers with a headunit. Headunit power is very poor quality compared to even a somewhat low-end amplifier. It seems to me that if one is to go to all the trouble and expense to do a stereo install, it should be done as well as possible, but within reason. It is far too easy to go crazy buying things.
Some thoughts on deciding:
The most important thing by far is the front speakers. After that, match a nice amplifier to those; try to find one with RMS power output that matches or exceeds (by like 10%--not too much) the RMS power rating of the speakers you like. Next step is to find a head unit you like. If you decide you want a subwoofer, then look for one with a subwoofer output. If you want rear speakers, then perhaps find one with a rear speaker output. A good way to decide on rear speakers (what I did anyway) is to try listening to the stock system you already have with the fader all the way forward, and then centered (or a little forward). Fading it all the way forward will either shut off or greatly lower the volume of the rears.
Low-end coaxial type rear speakers are more than adequate for a little fill, since they should be set to a point where you are not actively conscious of them playing.
The roadster makes it considerably more difficult, due to there being much less space to work with. I would say, find a nice 10" subwoofer and have it built into the stock sub location behind the driver's seat. Problem with it is, not very many subs will fit there due to the angle of it. Another possibility I have seen is installing 2 8" subs there.
Amplifiers will be a little difficult, since there are only a few really feasible locations for them: under a seat, in the glovebox, mounted on a panel in the trunk vertically to minimize space lost, or in the spare tire well, which means losing the spare--bad idea. Some of these locations greatly limit the size of the amplifier you can have.
Some thoughts on deciding:
The most important thing by far is the front speakers. After that, match a nice amplifier to those; try to find one with RMS power output that matches or exceeds (by like 10%--not too much) the RMS power rating of the speakers you like. Next step is to find a head unit you like. If you decide you want a subwoofer, then look for one with a subwoofer output. If you want rear speakers, then perhaps find one with a rear speaker output. A good way to decide on rear speakers (what I did anyway) is to try listening to the stock system you already have with the fader all the way forward, and then centered (or a little forward). Fading it all the way forward will either shut off or greatly lower the volume of the rears.
Low-end coaxial type rear speakers are more than adequate for a little fill, since they should be set to a point where you are not actively conscious of them playing.
The roadster makes it considerably more difficult, due to there being much less space to work with. I would say, find a nice 10" subwoofer and have it built into the stock sub location behind the driver's seat. Problem with it is, not very many subs will fit there due to the angle of it. Another possibility I have seen is installing 2 8" subs there.
Amplifiers will be a little difficult, since there are only a few really feasible locations for them: under a seat, in the glovebox, mounted on a panel in the trunk vertically to minimize space lost, or in the spare tire well, which means losing the spare--bad idea. Some of these locations greatly limit the size of the amplifier you can have.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Hilo, Hawaii
Originally posted by Ahsmo
Rear fill can never take the place of solid imaging from a good set of front speakers. I had a pretty much the best set of coxails possible in the rear and hated it. The rear fill in a two seater got to be annoying. Its just my personal experience and money that tells me to tell everyone possible to shy away from rear speakers.
The stock blose sucks like everything else in that system.
The new sub is a must.
Rear fill can never take the place of solid imaging from a good set of front speakers. I had a pretty much the best set of coxails possible in the rear and hated it. The rear fill in a two seater got to be annoying. Its just my personal experience and money that tells me to tell everyone possible to shy away from rear speakers.
The stock blose sucks like everything else in that system.
The new sub is a must.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,801
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From: Hawaii
Originally posted by 808_FairladyZ
Maybe you guys aren't tuning your systems right. I like having rear spkrs. with out them, my surround sound processers in my KVT-815 DVD player would not sound right. I wouldn't be maximizing the features that come with the unit. Getting the right balance between your front and rear stage takes some time. My rear don't blaze into my ears and i actully think that it compliments my front stage.
Maybe you guys aren't tuning your systems right. I like having rear spkrs. with out them, my surround sound processers in my KVT-815 DVD player would not sound right. I wouldn't be maximizing the features that come with the unit. Getting the right balance between your front and rear stage takes some time. My rear don't blaze into my ears and i actully think that it compliments my front stage.
Originally posted by stu46
An audio system for music and movies are two totaly different animals. For 5.1, you need rear speakers, you don't for music. Have you been to a live concert and had speakers behind you?
An audio system for music and movies are two totaly different animals. For 5.1, you need rear speakers, you don't for music. Have you been to a live concert and had speakers behind you?
you beat me too it
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 302
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From: Chi-Town Baby!
Wendy,
Try these guys out:
SOUND DECISION
1470 DOUGLAS RD, MONTGOMERY, IL 60538
Phone: (630) 966-9696
They're good guys and do fantastic work. You and your husband ever go to any chicagoz.com meets? You should check them out, they're pretty fun. I know Elgin is kind of far, but if you want to see or hear my system before she goes into winter hibernation, just let me know... Good luck with your audio upgrade!
Try these guys out:
SOUND DECISION
1470 DOUGLAS RD, MONTGOMERY, IL 60538
Phone: (630) 966-9696
They're good guys and do fantastic work. You and your husband ever go to any chicagoz.com meets? You should check them out, they're pretty fun. I know Elgin is kind of far, but if you want to see or hear my system before she goes into winter hibernation, just let me know... Good luck with your audio upgrade!
ABT is so expensive and they wont install stuff you didnt buy from their store. goto Autosound in Palatine. They did my install, and it was done very well, nice guys. They have done at least 3 350zs i know of.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 302
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From: Chi-Town Baby!
I can vouch for ****'s setup. I've seen it. Those guys appear to do quality work. And they installed a sub into his Bose compartment behind the drivers seat. Install looked like quality work.
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