Need some opinions on audio...

[Static]

I don't have the Monsoon in my GA, and I would kill for better mid and highs.. I think my current setup is HORRIBLE. I need some opinions for good speakers to pump out mids and highs... I'm looking to spend no more than 400$ on that and I would like them to fit in as stock replacements... Also what do you all think of Soundstream Rubicon, more specifically the Rubicon 12" sub? Is it worth getting, a guy is selling a system with those subs for 2--something, and I just wanna know if yall think its worth it.. Thanks...

[zx7ninja]

If it's the same system for sale in the "for sale" section, personally I don't think it's a bad deal. I'm not a fan of PA amps by any means, but for all that you're getting, it seems good. As far as better mids and highs, I take it you still have the stock head unit? Believe it or not, a new head would make a huge difference in sound, even on stock speakers. I had a complete system in my GA, with a good 6.5 component set up front, and they sounded great. I went back to the stock head temporarily, and they sounded terrible! My stock front stage sounded better. It sounded like the component set TOO sensitive to the stock radio. Like they were picking up all the imperfections, and distortion that the stock radio put out, which was inaudible through the lower quality stock speakers. I tried amping them, and it got even worse. And this was with the monsoon system. I can only imagine that with the non-monsoon head it'd be even worse. I finally got a new aftermarket head, and the beauty of the components returned. Same amp, same setup, everything. Just saying this so you don't go and spend 400 bucks on a high-end front stage, and end up disappointed. I'd go with a new head before anything else and work from there. You'd be surprised at what a difference it makes. Of course, if you have an aftermarket head already, than just ignore my little rant. Lol.

Now, whether or not you keep the stock head, for an exact factory replacement, you're looking at 4.6's, or a 4x6 plate. Here also, you might be a little limited. For 10-15 dollars or so, you can get an adapter that just screws right into the existing location, absolutely no cutting or anything custom required. Very cheap, and you'd be able to run 5.25 speakers instead of 4x6's. 5.25's are a LOT better. That's as large as I'd go, in order to guarantee a perfect stock fit with no modding. Some have fit 6.5's with no modding, but not all 6.5's will fit. So I'd go no higher than5.25's in your case. If you want components, you'd have to find somewhere to mount them. Probably in the sail panels. Or you can get a component set that mounts coaxially. Or an actual coax speaker. A lot more possibilities here. And do you plan on amping them? The stock head might not have enough power too. But a nice aftermarket head could. An amp would be better, but a new head would be sufficient. If you're dead set on keeping the stock head, a 4x6 or 4x6 plate might be the better way for you to go. And for 400 you could get a decent head, speakers, and the adapters.

As far as brands, for a 4x6 or 4x6 plate, i've only really had experience with infinity in speakers that small. Decent though. For 5.25's, let's see here, CDT's are on sale at thezeb.com, infinity and focal also at the zeb, crystal audio, and for a little higher in price (300-400) there oz, and image dynamics. There's more, but those are pretty good. Don't want list more and confuse you any more than I already have.

If I did confuse you in any way, sorry. If you'd like, pm me and I can try to explain a little better. Or maybe someone who posts after me can. Hope I helped. All in all, good luck, and enjoy your tunes.

[AmIGrand]

The reason your systrem sounded crappy with the stock head, ZX, is that the monsoon system is looking for the monsoon amps and speakers, sending filtered signal out. So the power was getting mixed up along the way, some of the signal was missing. This is because when your new speakers and deck were installed, they bypassed the stock Monsoon amps. Just thought I'd mention that.

Static - Do you have the upgraded factoy system with the tweeters in the sail panels and the EQ, or the basic system with just bass/treble controls and no seperate tweeters?

[Static]

Hmm... Well I do have seperate tweeters... I always thought I had the basic system, I bought the car used, because my HU didn't say Monsoon... Oh well.. But yea I got seperate tweeters, but I have ABSOLUTELY no mids or highs... For a temporary fix, whats the best EQ setting for that?

[AmIGrand]

Nothing over midpoint. Anything over the middle is boosting, i.e., adding distortion.

From left to right, mine looks like this:

Almost all the way down,
1/2 way to midpoint,
midpoint,
JUST below midpoint,
1/2 way down,
midpoint,
JUST below midpoint.

Set like that, I can turn it up almost all they way, and it's clean. Not a lot of bass, but those poor little critters shouldn't be playing bass anyway, so I do without 'till I get a sub. Ask SC/T Grabd Am, he's ridden with me - it screams.

On to upgrading.... Leave the stock deck and speakers for now. Set up as descrbed above, they'll do fine for now. Don't send money on what you already have - add first. Get a small amp and a single 10 or 12 inch woofer, or a self contained unit like the Infinity Basslink that everyone here is so fond of. Now your mids & highs jam 'cuz they're not tryin' to play bass, and the sub is pickin' up the slack in that department! Good, loud, full sound. Many people leave it at this!

If you want to upgrade further, another amp (4 channel) is next to the factory highs, then new speakers, and LAST, a new deck. That order of events gives you the maximum benifit every step along the way, and allows you to do things in $300 to $400 steps.

I hope this gets you pointed in the right direction!

[Static]

THANKS! I'm about to go check that out right now! :)

[nine-nine]

Originally posted by AmIGrand
If you want to upgrade further, another amp (4 channel) is next to the factory highs, then new speakers, and LAST, a new deck. That order of events gives you the maximum benifit every step along the way, and allows you to do things in $300 to $400 steps.

I hope this gets you pointed in the right direction!

Im in the same boat Static is in!!!!!!
I want to upgrade my system also for around 4 to 500$
i want a nice clean system, i dont want one of those sound systems that you can here 3 blocks away, maybe just enough for the car that is next to me to notice,any recomandations?
First i am going to start w/sub and amp, what kind of decent amp and sub am i lookign for? How many watts (RMS) should i get?

[AmIGrand]

Assuming you have the stock system at the moment, which one is it? You have an SE, is it the super-basic one, or do you have an EQ and seperate tweeters?

If you want to add a bit and be done, find a decent 5 channel amp and a nice single 10 or 12, if you plan on continuing the process get a 2ch or monoblock amp and a sub.

For 4 to 5 hundo, I'd get an Eclipse 36501 (Kenwood, Clarion, and Alpine also make good little 5 ch amps in this range) amplifier to run the whole system, with a single JL CS110W0 box. Amp should be $299 or less, box $199 or less. If you opt for the second option amp wise, there are literally DOZENS of decent 250 to 500 watt 2 channel amps out for between $149 and $249, or even cheaper. Again, I like the Eclipse for this application, model 36201, $149.

You'll need a line converter (Peripheral p35 is my choice, $19.99) and an amp wire kit (8 ga kit with RCA's should run $29 to $49). You can install it yourself if you like - it's not hard, professional should run $60 to $80 labor for this job.

[nine-nine]

Originally posted by AmIGrand
Assuming you have the stock system at the moment, which one is it? You have an SE, is it the super-basic one, or do you have an EQ and seperate tweeters?

If you want to add a bit and be done, find a decent 5 channel amp and a nice single 10 or 12, if you plan on continuing the process get a 2ch or monoblock amp and a sub.

For 4 to 5 hundo, I'd get an Eclipse 36501 (Kenwood, Clarion, and Alpine also make good little 5 ch amps in this range) amplifier to run the whole system, with a single JL CS110W0 box. Amp should be $299 or less, box $199 or less. If you opt for the second option amp wise, there are literally DOZENS of decent 250 to 500 watt 2 channel amps out for between $149 and $249, or even cheaper. Again, I like the Eclipse for this application, model 36201, $149.

You'll need a line converter (Peripheral p35 is my choice, $19.99) and an amp wire kit (8 ga kit with RCA's should run $29 to $49). You can install it yourself if you like - it's not hard, professional should run $60 to $80 labor for this job.



I have 99 se the super basic one:( i changed the head unit a while back its a jvc ( :thumbs: hopefully) it has 2 pre outputs.
I did a lil home work:boogie: i like the idea of having on amp running everything. Would one amp be best or would 2 (1 multi & 1 mono) be better?

This is what has made my list
1.subs----
(A)e12kd2 300 watts rms sub 1 (http://www.edesignaudio.com/ep/kseries.htm)

(B) Shive mark III - 375W per voice coil; 650W total to the driver
dont really know what that means sub 2 (http://www.adireaudio.com./car_audio/drivers/shiva.htm)

Are there anyother sub's i should be looking at?

should i get 4ohm ,8ohm,2ohm? dual or single voice coils?

2.Components
(A) Phoenix Gold Tantrum 6.0

Comp 1 (http://www.sounddomain.com/shop/item.pl?sku=PHOT60COMP&vq_id=none)

i dunno what brands i should be looking for in components, subs or 6x9. the ones above i liked cus of the price are they any good? or should i stay away from them?

thanks for the help

[AmIGrand]

I have personaly only worked with one Shiva driver, and it sucked. I've heard good things about Adire's products, but due to limited experience, I can't say much about them.

The Elemental looks decent, but they make some pretty big claims with little real technical info to back them up. Looks good, but not "all that" from what I can see. What do they cost?

Tried and true, the Infinty Perfect's and the JL Audio W3's are the speakers that most people here seem to have the best luck with.

For the highs, there are a LOT of good speakers out right now. I would recomend you focus on the front speakers first, not the rears - the fronts are the ones you hear more!!

What is your budget, and how much sound do you want? How bass-heavy do you like it? Are you doing everything at once and be done with it, or a step at a time? Let us know and we can get you going....

[nine-nine]

Originally posted by AmIGrand
I have personaly only worked with one Shiva driver, and it sucked. I've heard good things about Adire's products, but due to limited experience, I can't say much about them.

Ok i see thanks

Originally posted by AmIGrand
The Elemental looks decent, but they make some pretty big claims with little real technical info to back them up. Looks good, but not "all that" from what I can see. What do they cost?
i put a link to their site in my previous post its "sub 1" it has a lot info that i dont understandand it costs from 125 to 135 (10"-12")

Originally posted by AmIGrand
Tried and true, the Infinty Perfect's and the JL Audio W3's are the speakers that most people here seem to have the best luck with.
ok ill read up on some info on those subs thanks

Originally posted by AmIGrand
For the highs, there are a LOT of good speakers out right now. I would recomend you focus on the front speakers first, not the rears - the fronts are the ones you hear more!!

What kind of brands should i be looking for in components? I really want to keep the same brand in my front and rear speakers

Originally posted by AmIGrand
What is your budget, and how much sound do you want? How bass-heavy do you like it? Are you doing everything at once and be done with it, or a step at a time? Let us know and we can get you going....

I have about 400$ to spend right now, im willing to spend 500$ but not anymore. i dont want too much sound, just enough for the car that im driving next can notice, a good decent amount of bass also, i dont want one of those sytems u can here A block away. I want to do the sub and amp first , but im whilling to do sub,amp and components at the same time.

[AmIGrand]

If you go with less expensive stuff, you could get spekaers and amp & sub for that, quality stuff I'd go with just the amp & woofer for now.

I tried that link, that's why I commented that they didn't back their spec's very well. It looks like a good woofer, but if you're shopping online, you can get less fancy looking but very good subs for that same price.

If you came to the shop I used to work at, I'd get you an Eclipse or Prestige amp and a JL or Eclipse sub, in a sealed box. With theline drop and wiring as outlined earlier in this post, you'd be 400 to 500 bucks out the door with installation.

If you plan on installing it yourself, you can get a decent 5 channel amp and a sub for that money, this will improve your highs as well as add bass.

[nine-nine]

Originally posted by AmIGrand
If you go with less expensive stuff, you could get spekaers and amp & sub for that, quality stuff I'd go with just the amp & woofer for now.

I tried that link, that's why I commented that they didn't back their spec's very well. It looks like a good woofer, but if you're shopping online, you can get less fancy looking but very good subs for that same price.

If you came to the shop I used to work at, I'd get you an Eclipse or Prestige amp and a JL or Eclipse sub, in a sealed box. With theline drop and wiring as outlined earlier in this post, you'd be 400 to 500 bucks out the door with installation.

If you plan on installing it yourself, you can get a decent 5 channel amp and a sub for that money, this will improve your highs as well as add bass.

I think i can do the install myself.

your in vegas right?
maybe we can work something out
i am in Los angeles.

i have decided to go with the JL Audio 12W3@ 150$ ..
should i go 2 ohm 4 or 6?
what 5 channel amp would you recomend?

[AmIGrand]

I don't work at the same shop anymore, won't start at my new place for a week or so. But I still have hookups, we'll see what can be done.

Depending on the amp, some 5ch will want a 4 ohm load on the sub (thus a 12W3d2 wired in series), some will want 2ohms (so a 12W3d4 in parallel). Once we pick an amp, we'll go with whichever is appropriate.

I'll check on it tomorrow afternoon, look for a PM!

[nine-nine]

ok thanks