Audio - upgrade all or piecemeal - newb

[micahlarson]

No, I guess my thinking is the rears add some "ambiance", but the meat is coming from a good set of front comps. So I'm not too concerned with the rears. Using a 5chnl vs a 4chnl (removing out the rears) amp, gives me the ability to dial in the rears via the gain on its channel => turn them down. Also it doesn't appear to be a big $ difference and gives me expandability/options.....I think.

totally agree with this

 

[micahlarson]

Yeah that's what I was thinking and just getting a 4chnl and removing them from the signal chain. But the $ between 4+5chnl isn't much from what I can tell.

I'm also considering this Alpine
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_12415_Alpine-PDX-5.html

I like the idea of the quick disconnects (being over the spare), not a biggie though.

Also, is the "CEA-2006 Compliant" a big deal - the JL isn't? Also, also..does a setup like this affect the battery + alternator negatively?

It can It can and will as it drains your battery, and will make the alternator work harder, as well as drain the battery faster etc.. should you worry about it? not really from what I remember from our conversation a LONG time ago you won't see any tell tale signs of alternator failure and battery failure, also you don't have enough power to need a larger alternator deep cycle battery and capacitor... btw capacitors are bandaids for larger problems and if you decide to use that as a means to help voltage regulation make sure you use a capacitory larger that 5 ... don't buy into the 1-2 size caps.. their garbage

 

[micahlarson]

Alrighty then - I've dragged my feet on this one, but now I have to get something in before f'ing snow flies - four paychecks til snow

Anyhoo, I've got a shopping list and wanted to get some feedback before I make the plunge. So here it goes

I'm keeping the stock HU with stock spkr wiring. Keeping the stock rears.

Sub:
JL Audio 8W3V3-4 (in an Adiointergration 8" enclosure)

Amp:
JL Audio XD700/5 channel (mounted on top of spare)

Front Comps:
Focal 165A1 or JL Audio C2-650

Line converter:
Audiocontrol LC6i (mounting/placement suggestions? e.g. glove box)

Amp kit:
pretty lost on this any suggestions?

Addtl items:
17ft RCA's from the LC6i to Amp (depending where these are mounted in relation to each other)

How does this list look / any issues or additional items I'm missing? Thinking a 5 chnl amp so I can control the rears (via gain) or would it make sense to go 4 chnl and just remove the rears from the chain altogether?

JL audio makes great subs, but I think an 8inch is going to be a little small I would at least stick with a 10" unless your going with a kicker soloberic (square sub) as they will move almost as much are as a 10inch in their 8 inch form.

Great choice in amp, I know alpine makes a 5 chanel also and so does kicker all of them are great products and space savers.. also makes wiring less of a headache

I think I was the one that recommended Audio contron for this reason and I'm reall glad you chose them.. you wont regret it.. not only does it have a lifetime warranty but its USA made

Your amp kit I wouldn't worry abot the brands just make sure you are getting the actual gauge wire yo upay for .. some of the cheaper kits actually have more plastic surround and less actual wire.

 

[SteveO]

JL audio makes great subs, but I think an 8inch is going to be a little small I would at least stick with a 10" unless your going with a kicker soloberic (square sub) as they will move almost as much are as a 10inch in their 8 inch form.

Great choice in amp, I know alpine makes a 5 chanel also and so does kicker all of them are great products and space savers.. also makes wiring less of a headache

I think I was the one that recommended Audio contron for this reason and I'm reall glad you chose them.. you wont regret it.. not only does it have a lifetime warranty but its USA made

Your amp kit I wouldn't worry abot the brands just make sure you are getting the actual gauge wire yo upay for .. some of the cheaper kits actually have more plastic surround and less actual wire.

Yes, you were the one I spoke with, thanks.

Couple things I forget to ask...

- Thoughts on applying Dynamat or equiv? Either the full door or just the spkr kit.
http://www.crutchfield.com/app/product/item/accessories.aspx?i=091165A1#Dynamat
Are there any downsides?

- Crossover placement - Some say DONT put inside the door becasue of moisture/weather, then where are they to be placed and aren't they something you need access to to adjust the crossover settings?

- When mounting the door woofers, should the adapter plate / "assembly" be sealed? Are they exposed to the elements?

- If I'm unable to get this installed myself, I'm not real crazy about taking it to a shop - is there anyone that really does it right?

Thanks!

 

[micahlarson]

Yes, you were the one I spoke with, thanks.

Couple things I forget to ask...

- Thoughts on applying Dynamat or equiv? Either the full door or just the spkr kit.
http://www.crutchfield.com/app/product/item/accessories.aspx?i=091165A1#Dynamat
Are there any downsides?

- Crossover placement - Some say DONT put inside the door becasue of moisture/weather, then where are they to be placed and aren't they something you need access to to adjust the crossover settings?

- When mounting the door woofers, should the adapter plate / "assembly" be sealed? Are they exposed to the elements?

- If I'm unable to get this installed myself, I'm not real crazy about taking it to a shop - is there anyone that really does it right?

Thanks!

When applying Dynamat becareful about how much you use.. a little can go a long way, but it can be worth it. They did recently come out with a new product that is thinner than Dynamat Extreme, but is just as nice from what I have been shown.

It can be true about putting the cross overs in the door, but once you tune them, and that means you have to get tunable cross overs, which arent cheap, won't you be doing all of the fine tuning from the amp or your line output?

Door woofers can be exposed and do not have to be sealed off. if they are sealed off it can make the sound quality better.

I would go to mach1 and ask for Ryan Froysland by name and have him put it in for yo ud say I referred you.

 

[SteveO]

When applying Dynamat becareful about how much you use.. a little can go a long way, but it can be worth it. They did recently come out with a new product that is thinner than Dynamat Extreme, but is just as nice from what I have been shown.

It can be true about putting the cross overs in the door, but once you tune them, and that means you have to get tunable cross overs, which arent cheap, won't you be doing all of the fine tuning from the amp or your line output?

Door woofers can be exposed and do not have to be sealed off. if they are sealed off it can make the sound quality better.

I would go to mach1 and ask for Ryan Froysland by name and have him put it in for yo ud say I referred you.

As far as tuning from the amp, Yeah that's what I thought/think - but just thought if a change is needed at the xover, having to open up the door panel...well that would be a pain. This is new to me so I wasn't sure if it would be better to mount the xover in the back with the amp or elsewhere etc...

We'll see how it goes.

 

[micahlarson]

it's up to you.. depending on how the cross overs look you could do something sweet with led's to make the casin glow if you mounted it by the amp

 

[SteveO]

FWIW - Install is complete. Amazing difference to say the least. Can't even remember what the stock "sound" was like anymore Even though this is my first real exposure to car audio and being really, really into SQ, this is pretty addicting stuff I'm putting together a computer RTA with a calibrated mic for use in both home and car

I'm onto the next phase and have thought quite about what's needed. I'm going the DSP route instead of say just EQ etc.. Anyhoo, there are many to chose from and to me it seems like it all comes down to personal preference / experience with a particular unit. Do to this being another $expensive item I would like to take a stab at getting this installed and tuned => not easy as it requires critical ears to tune. I'd like to think I have really good ears, but there is a difference between good ears and someone "trained" at critical listening. But there is only one way to get good at it => experience. Plus I'm hands on and cannot just let someone set everything up without understanding the process etc..

I think I want to go the Audison Bit Ten route vs the auto tune of say the MS8 or equiv. I have read up on many of these and as with anything there are camps for and against a particular unit, so I'm not against an MS8 per se as there are a lot of successful installs / customers. I like the idea of the smaller footprint of the Bit ten and flexibility (manual tuning) but this could be a real pain too. It also appears that the Bit ten would be more plug and play (in my instance) than the MS8 in particular.

I am hoping this phase can be as much "plug and play" as far as the installation is concerned as I would just pull out the LC6i and replace with the DSP. I also want to add an iPod (classic) into the chain. I currently use a non-ipod via the AUX jack, which isn't the greatest signal path etc..

Any thoughts, suggestions are welcome. Thanks micahlarson for your input. If anyone with experience in this realm is interested in getting together for maybe a listen to provide feedback, that would be cool too.

 

[Turbotalon1g]

What would you guys recommend for a 6 1/2" components? Should i get a foam surround for it so its sealed in the door?

 

[mndsm]

As far as WHAT speakers? I'm a huge fan of Boston stuff. Can't go wrong with Infinity stuff either.

 

[Turbotalon1g]

Front door in a DSM.

 

[mndsm]

I had Boston fronts/rears in my 2g and they sounded awesome.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

I used Boston fronts/rears in my SVT and loved them too. However, Boston's tend to have a "bright" sound profile, which can make their trebles a bit piercing for some tastes... whereas I love the crisp treble particularly the horn notes.

 

[micahlarson]

What would you guys recommend for a 6 1/2" components? Should i get a foam surround for it so its sealed in the door?

If you are doing components please tell me you are going with a 4 chan amp or at min. 2 chan amp to run them and let the rears run off of the stock deck.

the only components that I know of the run seemingly well are Hertz Audison because they have amazing frequency response and very low rms input requirements.

 

[micahlarson]

What would you guys recommend for a 6 1/2" components? Should i get a foam surround for it so its sealed in the door?

Also foam surround wouldn't hurt, but are you looking to try to get a slightly fuller and broader sound out of the components? FWIW foam can help, but I prefer doing Dynamat, or something similar in quality BUT foam is REALLY inexpensive for a decent fix.

 

[micahlarson]

I used Boston fronts/rears in my SVT and loved them too. However, Boston's tend to have a "bright" sound profile, which can make their trebles a bit piercing for some tastes... whereas I love the crisp treble particularly the horn notes.

So true.. the same can be said about JL components on their higher end models.

 

[micahlarson]

FWIW - Install is complete. Amazing difference to say the least. Can't even remember what the stock "sound" was like anymore Even though this is my first real exposure to car audio and being really, really into SQ, this is pretty addicting stuff I'm putting together a computer RTA with a calibrated mic for use in both home and car

I'm onto the next phase and have thought quite about what's needed. I'm going the DSP route instead of say just EQ etc.. Anyhoo, there are many to chose from and to me it seems like it all comes down to personal preference / experience with a particular unit. Do to this being another $expensive item I would like to take a stab at getting this installed and tuned => not easy as it requires critical ears to tune. I'd like to think I have really good ears, but there is a difference between good ears and someone "trained" at critical listening. But there is only one way to get good at it => experience. Plus I'm hands on and cannot just let someone set everything up without understanding the process etc..

I think I want to go the Audison Bit Ten route vs the auto tune of say the MS8 or equiv. I have read up on many of these and as with anything there are camps for and against a particular unit, so I'm not against an MS8 per se as there are a lot of successful installs / customers. I like the idea of the smaller footprint of the Bit ten and flexibility (manual tuning) but this could be a real pain too. It also appears that the Bit ten would be more plug and play (in my instance) than the MS8 in particular.

I am hoping this phase can be as much "plug and play" as far as the installation is concerned as I would just pull out the LC6i and replace with the DSP. I also want to add an iPod (classic) into the chain. I currently use a non-ipod via the AUX jack, which isn't the greatest signal path etc..

Any thoughts, suggestions are welcome. Thanks micahlarson for your input. If anyone with experience in this realm is interested in getting together for maybe a listen to provide feedback, that would be cool too.

The only one that I have experience with is the Audio Control DQXS with the dash mount controls, and it is AMAZING, and it would effectively replace your LC6i and add a TON of controls that you were looking for when we first talked.

It should be the last one you every buy because of their lifetime warranty = )

 

[Turbotalon1g]

Thanks for the advice.
When time gets closer I'll snap some pics and make a thread.

 

[mndsm]

Keep in mind too, if I remember correctly, the DSM's had fairly shallow door panels in which to stick speakers...... might need something fairly flat in design.

 

[Turbotalon1g]

I found some infinity reference 6 3/4 components for under $100, a review on another forum said they were pretty good.