Help on choosing speakers - with a slight twist...
Help on choosing speakers - with a slight twist...
Calling all experienced car audio nuts...
I will be getting some best buy gift cards soon. Enough to get a good setup from bestbuy. My main question is if its the right way to go. Based on what I read from numerous threads, MB quarts is the way to go. But I cant use my Bestbuy gift cards and I really dont have anything else I want from bestbuy.
The best component speakers from Bestbuy would probably be the Alpine Type R.
Here is what I was looking at:
Alpine CDA-9883 - ipod adapter
Alpine Type R Components in the Front
Alpine Type R 6.5 in the back
Dynamat as much as I can
Viper Alarm
The Bestbuy gift cards could also be used for all required labor and parts costs..
How important is an additional AMP and or SUB. I mainly listen to chinese music
so the emphasis is on vocals and hardly ever play anything hard. Would this eliminate the need for a Sub or would a sub enhance the music.
If I chose to go with a Sub I know I will definitely need an amp but if I chose not too, would the headunit provided sufficient power to the speakers. I know that the speakers require 50 rms and the headunit supplies 4X50 so it should be good right?? Are any of the Bestbuy amps good?
The main reason I am asking is that since we all drive Evo's, I've got a Greddy Ti exhuast and I am sure many of you have aftermarket exhuasts as well, would a good sound system(MB QUART, Infiniti Kappa Series or other high-end) be a waste of money? Would a normal non audiophile be able to tell the difference between good and bad in an Evo? I currently have the stock setup so any upgrade would be a huge improvement.
I drove a benz for the last 5 years and the interior noise is quite different. THe benz is almost dead silent inside but the Evo has the constant droning coming from the exhaust and I know that Dynamat will only marginally help if at all.
Pls give your input... no matter how trivial, i know nothing so any little helps. I'm trying to research as much as I can before jumping in.
Thanks guys...
Calvin
I will be getting some best buy gift cards soon. Enough to get a good setup from bestbuy. My main question is if its the right way to go. Based on what I read from numerous threads, MB quarts is the way to go. But I cant use my Bestbuy gift cards and I really dont have anything else I want from bestbuy.
The best component speakers from Bestbuy would probably be the Alpine Type R.
Here is what I was looking at:
Alpine CDA-9883 - ipod adapter
Alpine Type R Components in the Front
Alpine Type R 6.5 in the back
Dynamat as much as I can
Viper Alarm
The Bestbuy gift cards could also be used for all required labor and parts costs..
How important is an additional AMP and or SUB. I mainly listen to chinese music
so the emphasis is on vocals and hardly ever play anything hard. Would this eliminate the need for a Sub or would a sub enhance the music. If I chose to go with a Sub I know I will definitely need an amp but if I chose not too, would the headunit provided sufficient power to the speakers. I know that the speakers require 50 rms and the headunit supplies 4X50 so it should be good right?? Are any of the Bestbuy amps good?
The main reason I am asking is that since we all drive Evo's, I've got a Greddy Ti exhuast and I am sure many of you have aftermarket exhuasts as well, would a good sound system(MB QUART, Infiniti Kappa Series or other high-end) be a waste of money? Would a normal non audiophile be able to tell the difference between good and bad in an Evo? I currently have the stock setup so any upgrade would be a huge improvement.
I drove a benz for the last 5 years and the interior noise is quite different. THe benz is almost dead silent inside but the Evo has the constant droning coming from the exhaust and I know that Dynamat will only marginally help if at all.
Pls give your input... no matter how trivial, i know nothing so any little helps. I'm trying to research as much as I can before jumping in.
Thanks guys...
Calvin
Don't worry too much. It's really not that hard. 
Check the "choosing a speaker" write up that LayinLo did. That will be a good place to start. Here's the short version:
1) Go to Best Buy and listen to all the 6.5" speakers they have on display. Play them off the head unit you want and bring CDs you know very well. You may be surprised at how good (or bad) some speakers sound to you.
2) Don't buy an amp yet. Based on your listening style you mentioned above, you may not need one for the front/rear speakers. But, since you are thinking about component speakers it's always a good idea to run those off an amp. But, again, not necessary. Alpine makes decent amps that would work well with your set up and they aren't expensive.
3) As for a sub, wait until you have the other stuff installed. You may be surprised by how much bass the 6.5" speakers put out. See if you think it's enough for you. If not, then look into a sub and amp. A 10" running off a mono amp in a nice small box would probably work well for you.
Basically, start with the head unit and speakers. See if that's enough. If not, add an amp to the speakers. If that's still not enough, than add a sub/amp.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Check the "choosing a speaker" write up that LayinLo did. That will be a good place to start. Here's the short version:1) Go to Best Buy and listen to all the 6.5" speakers they have on display. Play them off the head unit you want and bring CDs you know very well. You may be surprised at how good (or bad) some speakers sound to you.
2) Don't buy an amp yet. Based on your listening style you mentioned above, you may not need one for the front/rear speakers. But, since you are thinking about component speakers it's always a good idea to run those off an amp. But, again, not necessary. Alpine makes decent amps that would work well with your set up and they aren't expensive.
3) As for a sub, wait until you have the other stuff installed. You may be surprised by how much bass the 6.5" speakers put out. See if you think it's enough for you. If not, then look into a sub and amp. A 10" running off a mono amp in a nice small box would probably work well for you.
Basically, start with the head unit and speakers. See if that's enough. If not, add an amp to the speakers. If that's still not enough, than add a sub/amp.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Last edited by atombomb33; Aug 1, 2007 at 06:24 AM.
I advize a different approach.
I would start with a stereo of your choice (the alpine 9883-85) is a good choice and very popular. IPOD cable, easy to use, not very expensive.
NEXT i would choose an amplifier, a nice 4ch alpine would be perfect, something in the 4x100 range would be ideal. Your basic aftermarket stereo lists 4x50w output, but in reality its more like 4x16 (alpines list this aswell). With a nice amplifier you will be realy suprised how nice your factory speakers can sound.
You would now choose a simple 10" subwoofer and basic sealed enclosure. I would stick with the alpine E series 10". Have the amplifier run all 5 speakers in the car, or if you are more into sound quality than pure loudness, only run the front speakers and the subwoofer.
AFTER this is complete, decide if you need new speakers, im SURE you wont and youll be glad you saved the money.
DO NOT
buy a capacitor
they will try to sell you one, you dont want it, it helps in no way.
If you have them install it, it would be in your best interest to take a photo of the amplifier setting and post them so I/we can look them over. Most big name stores just want to get cars in and out and dont realy take the time to tune the system properly.
PS i ran a zapco 1000.4 to my factory mids sending 175w (rms) to each speaker, and i NEVER had a problem.
good luck
I would start with a stereo of your choice (the alpine 9883-85) is a good choice and very popular. IPOD cable, easy to use, not very expensive.
NEXT i would choose an amplifier, a nice 4ch alpine would be perfect, something in the 4x100 range would be ideal. Your basic aftermarket stereo lists 4x50w output, but in reality its more like 4x16 (alpines list this aswell). With a nice amplifier you will be realy suprised how nice your factory speakers can sound.
You would now choose a simple 10" subwoofer and basic sealed enclosure. I would stick with the alpine E series 10". Have the amplifier run all 5 speakers in the car, or if you are more into sound quality than pure loudness, only run the front speakers and the subwoofer.
AFTER this is complete, decide if you need new speakers, im SURE you wont and youll be glad you saved the money.
DO NOT
buy a capacitor
they will try to sell you one, you dont want it, it helps in no way.
If you have them install it, it would be in your best interest to take a photo of the amplifier setting and post them so I/we can look them over. Most big name stores just want to get cars in and out and dont realy take the time to tune the system properly.
PS i ran a zapco 1000.4 to my factory mids sending 175w (rms) to each speaker, and i NEVER had a problem.
good luck
The hard part here is, eventhough ive done probably 5 systems a week with nice amps and factory mids, for atleast a year at this shop, and HEARD the difference, i cant prove it to you over the internet.
No offense but id rather run factory mids than anything JL makes
( i personaly hate JL mids, and dont care for their amps, even though we have more JL product than JL themselves
)
No offense but id rather run factory mids than anything JL makes
( i personaly hate JL mids, and dont care for their amps, even though we have more JL product than JL themselves )
yes, an amp on factory speakers can go along way, especially on midbass drivers.
you would be surprised what some of the best sounding woofers in high end home audio are made of.
my suggestion is to definitely get a sub. you would be surprised what a difference a small low priced sub will make in any type of music. you will also be able to turn the crossovers up some on the door speakers making them sound better.
depending on how much you have to spend at best buy, i would use all the money on radio amps and sub. i would then buy the better sounding speakers at a local shop.
MB Quart, JL Audio, Boston Acoustics and numerous smaller brands.
amps to buy at best buy. all i could find worth its weight. Model: MRP-F450 and Model: MRP-M450 both Alpine
Try to get a single 10 inch sub. 2 Ohm or Dual 4 Ohm.
you would be surprised what some of the best sounding woofers in high end home audio are made of.
my suggestion is to definitely get a sub. you would be surprised what a difference a small low priced sub will make in any type of music. you will also be able to turn the crossovers up some on the door speakers making them sound better.
depending on how much you have to spend at best buy, i would use all the money on radio amps and sub. i would then buy the better sounding speakers at a local shop.
MB Quart, JL Audio, Boston Acoustics and numerous smaller brands.
amps to buy at best buy. all i could find worth its weight. Model: MRP-F450 and Model: MRP-M450 both Alpine
Try to get a single 10 inch sub. 2 Ohm or Dual 4 Ohm.
Trending Topics
I agree. You can run an amp on the stock speakers and they will sound better. But they sound like crap to begin with, so adding an amp to them will make them sound a little bit better than crap. Not what I would want out of my system. But, to each his own.
As for the reference to home speakers...the cone materials (paper vs. kevlar) or surround materials (rubber vs. foam) used only affect the type of sound a speaker makes. But, look inside a home speaker and you notice they have strong magnets and a voicecoil and spider to deliver great music with a lot of power. So, it's the driver's motor structure that's important. The materials for the cone are personal preference as to which sounds better to you.
Driving our crappy stock Mitsu speakers off an amp will very likely end with them being blown because the motor structure is sufficient to hold somewhere around 12-15W RMS. Anything above that and you'll overheat the voicecoil and bye bye speaker.
As for the reference to home speakers...the cone materials (paper vs. kevlar) or surround materials (rubber vs. foam) used only affect the type of sound a speaker makes. But, look inside a home speaker and you notice they have strong magnets and a voicecoil and spider to deliver great music with a lot of power. So, it's the driver's motor structure that's important. The materials for the cone are personal preference as to which sounds better to you.
Driving our crappy stock Mitsu speakers off an amp will very likely end with them being blown because the motor structure is sufficient to hold somewhere around 12-15W RMS. Anything above that and you'll overheat the voicecoil and bye bye speaker.
I agree. You can run an amp on the stock speakers and they will sound better. But they sound like crap to begin with, so adding an amp to them will make them sound a little bit better than crap. Not what I would want out of my system. But, to each his own.
As for the reference to home speakers...the cone materials (paper vs. kevlar) or surround materials (rubber vs. foam) used only affect the type of sound a speaker makes. But, look inside a home speaker and you notice they have strong magnets and a voicecoil and spider to deliver great music with a lot of power. So, it's the driver's motor structure that's important. The materials for the cone are personal preference as to which sounds better to you.
Driving our crappy stock Mitsu speakers off an amp will very likely end with them being blown because the motor structure is sufficient to hold somewhere around 12-15W RMS. Anything above that and you'll overheat the voicecoil and bye bye speaker.
As for the reference to home speakers...the cone materials (paper vs. kevlar) or surround materials (rubber vs. foam) used only affect the type of sound a speaker makes. But, look inside a home speaker and you notice they have strong magnets and a voicecoil and spider to deliver great music with a lot of power. So, it's the driver's motor structure that's important. The materials for the cone are personal preference as to which sounds better to you.
Driving our crappy stock Mitsu speakers off an amp will very likely end with them being blown because the motor structure is sufficient to hold somewhere around 12-15W RMS. Anything above that and you'll overheat the voicecoil and bye bye speaker.
