Stereo Boppin Gurus Needed

[intrepidtek]

I am looking to get 2 JL subs in my car. I have a kenwood mp3 deck and i am wondering if i should get new 6x9's as well with the new system, or if 2 10's would give a good sound. i don't want a lot of thump. i want a decent amount with good acoustics. should an amp, 2 10's, and the deck give me what i'm looking for. keep in mind, money plays a part. thanks all for your advice!?

[ad-dajjaal]

just one 10 should give you the bass you want with a nice amp. also id replace your mids and highs too. thats where youll get the true vibrant sounds from.

[AmIGrand]

If your system was originally monsoon, replace the speakers. If not - get a ingle 10 or 12, and use the money you saved to get a 5 channel amp to run everything. The stock speakers sound really good with a HP crossover and some real power!

[intrepidtek]

what is an HP crossover, and what does it do?

if i were to get 1 10 JL sub, an amp, and the crossover, wires, etc. how much would i be looking at? i plan on having this installed at the local stereo shop. any guesses at price?

thanks,
Josh

[Knappy1]

It really depends on what you are looking for. If you just want quick punch bass, get a couple of 8's. If you want really deep earthshattering bass, get a couple of 12's. If you are in between, go with a single 10 or 12 and you'll be fine...just get a good one...ie a JL W3. As for the rest of the sound in your car...how does it sound now? Adding subs isn't going to make the rest of your speakers sound any better. If you decide to replace the mids and highs, make sure you buy another amp for them...aftermarket speakers need power...your kenwood headunit will not be enough to make them sound good.

[intrepidtek]

alright, i've established i want a single 10. i'll go with JL audio.

as far as the other speakers, they sound fine right now. no complaints. however, will a 5 channel amp be able to power the stock speakers as well. can i buy one amp for the sub and stock speakers. i truly know very little about car audio. so give me some pointers. i don't have the monsoon system either.

i guess what i'm asking is, what do i need?
do i need a crossover or 2 amps or one?

thanks for the help.

[Knappy1]

Originally posted by 1999grandamse
what is an HP crossover, and what does it do?

if i were to get 1 10 JL sub, an amp, and the crossover, wires, etc. how much would i be looking at? i plan on having this installed at the local stereo shop. any guesses at price?

thanks,
Josh

A HP crossover cuts the low frequencies out, so your factory speakers aren't trying to make bass. Most good headunits and amps have them built in. As for price, it really depends...shop around. Just the sub and an amp with install will probably run you around $500. If you want to replace the factory speakers and amp them, you're probably looking at another $500-$1000...depending on the quality you go for.
Rob

[Knappy1]

You can get a 4 channel amp for around $200 that will be more than enough for your factory speakers. I would recommend getting a seperate amp for the sub. So, go buy a monoblock amp for the sub, the sub, and a 4-channel amp for the rest of the speakers. The amp will have the crossover built in, so don't worry about that.
Rob

[intrepidtek]

okay, i'm becoming educated here.

i'll get one amp for the single 10 that has a crossover built in. what kind of amp do you recommend. would kenwood suffice?

and then i will get a 4 channel amp for the 4 stock speakers.

i am not going to replace the stock speakers at this time.

so with all this being said, do you think i will get a decent sound from a system with this setup?

Josh

[AmIGrand]

On a budget, Eclipse, Alpine, DEI Audio, Clarion, and Kenwood all make very nice 5 channel amps for between $300 and $350.

If you want to hear and feel the bass, but not **** off the neighbors, I'd get the JL cs110w0 box, a small sealed box with a single 10W0 in it. Retail is $169 to $219.

At my shop, the amp and sub, with proper Stinger wiring, would set you back about $600 installed.

Get the seperate amps if you want a lot of power, but the setup described above will be quite loud across the spectrum, work very well with the Kenwood deck and stock speakers, and have very balanced and full bass.

[intrepidtek]

you guys are great...i'm getting the answers to everything i wanted to know.

any more tips?

will any of the wires be visible? where i live, not many people have any type of systems.

as far as install goes, where should the amp be mounted?

[AmIGrand]

Properly installed, the wires will be visable only under the hood (and they should be loomed), and a few inches right by the amp itself. Amp is usually mounted too the back of the seat.

[kcitsGT]

The only advise I can give you that these other guys have'nt is this -- shop around. Ask your dealers what they have on sell, special, or closeout. Sometimes you can sneak off with last years model at a real steal! Check out the reputable websites as well. I recommend ikesound.com and Crutchfield.com. I just purchased a 180 watt JBL amp for my front componets on sell at crutchfield for $79! And although I'd rather buy local, I doubt any of my local dealers would treat me as good as crutchfied. They also have a deal there on their Infinity Kappa Perfect subs. Buy one and get a FREE box.

[AmIGrand]

Crutchfield has a reputation for good service, and unlike many online places they are actually authorized dealers for everything they sell. However - I have yet to see a deal there that a shop couldn't match.