I came around here probably about a year ago, and was asking for help with a new system. Well, I came into some money problems, and was unable to get anything, so I'm back looking for some help again.
I have a 99 full size blazer. I want a system that has pretty good bass, but also has good sound (have heard some that have too much bass). I was thinking 2 15's, but the size really doesn't matter. I'm looking to spend about $300-$400 for 2 subs.
And if anyone has any ideas on a good amp to go with them, I'd appreciate the help there too.
I know I'm asking alot, but I really know NOTHING at all about car audio system. None of the terminology means a thing to me, and I remember the last time I was here I got plenty of help.
I really appreciate the help all!
Replies (15)
P0werLifter on 07/20/2004 00:35:35
So do you want more of an SQ (sound quality) than a SPL (sound pressure level) sound correct? Assuming thats the case Personally i wouldnt reccomend going with 2 15s especially of your price range is 300-400dollars for a pair. Now on the other hand...2 tens or 2 Twelves would sound really good. If you wanted to go with the 15" Size i would reccomend just one 15.
You can find a pretty good selection of subwoofers in that pricerange you have listed.
For example
Ive heard great things about Adire Audios Shiva series subwoofer. 650rms with a MSRP of only 125 for a 12" sub. You can go to www.adireaudio.com to checkout the rest of their selection.
Kicker makes good subs also I reccomend the Solar Baric L7's if you shop right you can find a pair for around $400 give or take
Im very happy with my Power Acoustik setup but not many people have heard much about them from what i gather.
Im sure Swez and the other audio gurus will be here soon enough with alot more options. Im just the resident SPL nut GRIN
Whats your Budget as far as the amplifiers go? Have you started thinking about upgrading your electical system anytime soon? AKA larger alternator/battery if your planning on a larger system that requires a fair-large amount of wattage from the amplifiers?
Jason
99Blazer on 07/20/2004 00:53:09
I'm looking for a good mix in the system. I've heard some that have so much bass that you can't hear the words, and others that there really isn't enough.
So you think 2 12's would be better than 2 15's (or 1 15)?
I'm not sure on the amp, and haven't thought about upgrading the electrical system. I'm willing to pay a little more than I'd like for a good one.
P0werLifter on 07/20/2004 01:29:25
Yah 2 12's would hit the spot bro..2 15s are a bit overkill..if your were into SPL thats one thing..but with 2 15" drivers it will pound hella bass but not as clean as 2 10s or 2 12's on top of adding a higher price to it all. I have 2 PowerAcoustik MOFO subs (Comp SPL subs) 12s that hit nice and clean till i really crank the sub eq then its pure SPL...im going to get it tested soon i know im hitting large numbers GRIN ...but yah id go with 2 12's...how much air space or space in general do you have for a box? do you want the punchy bass( sealed enclosure) or more Low End SPL (Ported)?
swez on 07/20/2004 07:56:01
Glad you came back! As PL mentioned, a pair of 10's, 1-2 12's or a single 15" sub would be plenty and still leave you some cargo space. What type of music you like best would be helpful in tailoring this system to your tastes.
Also, do you have a stock or Aftermarket radio (HU = Head Unit in our jargon)
Here's a small matrix to help you choose gear along the way:
1. 100-300 watts (RMS) Modest bass, compact, low cost and no electrical upgrades needed (single 10 or 12) a good blend with stock factory systems.
2. 300-600 watts Good bass at 300, as we get closer to 600 watts (RMS) now things are starting to shake pretty good. May require some minor electrical upgrades and bass is getting pretty strong above 500 watts to add interior speaker amplification. (dual 10 or 12's or 1x15, above 400 watts)
3. 600-1000 watts Strong bass here. Stock HU and speakers will be masked by strong bass presence. Usually requires electrical upgrades as we approach 70 ampere current draw typical of larger amps above 600 RMS (2 x 12's here or a potent 15)
OK, that's a starting point. Pick the power range that matched the level of bass you desire and we can walk you through some options at each level of the install.
Swez
99Blazer on 07/20/2004 17:17:23
Mostly I listen to rap. I still have the stock system in the car, but that was going to lead me to another question. It's a bose system with a 6 disc changer, will I have to upgrade everything?
I would say somewhere around 300-600 watts is what I'm looking for.
swez on 07/20/2004 19:00:24
That is a very good choice to start at. Plenty of bass power... if and when you want it. Can help you in product selections and some of the connection options you will need. Just give me a general buget or I can give you a short overview of what to anticipate in costs. Here's some general comments to guide you along.
Amp:
Use a Class D MONO amp for this application as these are the most efficient use of power to drive your sub(s). Class D technology is very good for bass as it will return 90 watts of sub driving power for every 100 watts the amp consumes. A general price range you can expect would be in the $250 - 500.00 range. That depends on the brand name, additional features some sub amps offer and where you buy it from. Good quality amps with a brand name most recognize would be from Kicker, JBL, JL, HiFonics and several others. Yes, there are cheaper brands out there too... but they just don't deliver like the amps listed.
===================================================
Subs:
For this much power, a pair of 12" subs will be a good match. They will need to take ~300 watts (RMS) per sub for a net total of 600 watts RMS. Brands to consider here might be the Adire Shiva, Infinity Kappa series, Alpine Type S or R series, Kicker Comp VR's, Power Acoustik and a few others that can take this kind of power w/o failing. The price range here would be about $110.00 - 150.00 per sub.
===================================================
Enclosure:
There are several fine offerings out there in pre-made boxes to choose from. Depending on the sub brand you choose, the size and style of the box used is mission critical to solid bass performance. Pre-made boxes can be cheap and dirty and had for under $50.00 and upwards of $150.00 off the net. Better sub enclosure makers we suggest are Q-Logic and Sub Zone. There are a few other good ones out there as well. If you are handy with tools, can make your own for about $60.00 worth of materials and about 4-8 hours of fabrication. Can buy precut panels at Home Depot and assemble them at home with minimal tools and time.
===================================================
Your question about the stock GM Bose system... wait for one of our Pro Installers to respond to this one. I believe there are some ways to integrate a sub amp into what you have now, but I do
not have those specifics.
Hope that helps,
Swez
99Blazer on 07/20/2004 20:37:42
I seem to remember the name shiva from the last time, so I'm sort of leaing towards them. I think I read they were $125. I'm thinking between that or the kicker.
As for the amp, should I choose the sub first then make a decision on which amp will be best for that sub?
99Blazer on 07/21/2004 21:56:48
P0werLifter,
What kind of amp do you have for your subs?
And one other thing, roughly how much room do you need for the box?
P0werLifter on 07/21/2004 22:29:43
Im running a Power Acoustik 3000db Amplifier that runs 2300watts RMS stable at 1 ohm...or 1800watts RMS stable at 2 ohms...In order to run this much power i had to upgrade my whole electrical system...200amp alternator...4guage wire from the alt to the battery...Optima yellow top batter..with 0 guage wiring back to my distrobution blocks..then 4 guage to my amplifiers. Lots of $$ invested so far..but im big into SPL and high wattage
For you...think about which subs you are interested in..then look at the RMS rating for the subs and the amplifier. Say my subs...are 2ohm Dual Voice Coil Subs...I run those in series/parrallel to net a 900RMS load to each sub off my 1800watt amplifier.
Any idea on what sub woofer your interested in?
Jason
99Blazer on 07/21/2004 22:57:34
Not quite sure yet. Although, I've been reading a couple reviews on the MOFO and everyone seems to love them. It also seemed as if you really liked them. Just trying to find out as much as a I can about peoples opinions (since, like I said, I really know nothing).
P0werLifter on 07/21/2004 23:27:02
I really like the MOFO series i have...but its mainly an SPL sub..and it takes alot of power to run these things correctly, i spent over $600 upgrading my electrical systems just to run the 2 subs and amps..and im still not finished upgrading...If your interested in the high power systems then your going to be digging in yout pocketbook quite a bit hehe....id reccomend going with something not quite as high wattage and competition lvl yet...Kicker Solar Barics are a very nice sub...Before i ran my power acoustiks i went with some Kicker 10" comps..and MTX 12" 6000s..the MTX were good for the price range , sounded clean and i didnt have to really upgrade my electrical system....just look around and think about your plans for the audio system are for the future then let us know so we can help you along your path..there is a great deal of knowledge on this board and people who are willing to help
Jason
99Blazer on 07/21/2004 23:37:20
I was thinking of starting off small and not spending much, but I figured why do that and then in the long run buy better stuff and end up spending more.
As you can tell, I'm still undecided on what I plan on doing though. I must say, I do really appreciate all the help that's been given here.
P0werLifter on 07/21/2004 23:47:17
Good reasoning...now its just time to think and design your system =)..take your time no rush
swez on 07/22/2004 07:46:37
Yes, do take your time in planning out your system. Plan for the future goal you have, but work in the present.
The Shiva's you mentioned are a very good for SQL. (Can get low, loud and remain clean and crisp) I did a custom box for a guy a while back using 2 Shiva's and powered them at 600 RMS (Average power) and they were loud, low and clean. A sealed box of 1.0 - 1.25 cf per sub (internal dimensions) is a good player for everyday use and plenty of deep bass too.
Other SQL subs that might be of interest:
1. Infinity Kappa 12" (single coil 4 ohms here for a pair)
2. Alpine SWS or SWR series 12" (2+2 DVC is best for wiring to most amps)
3. JBL GT/GTO series (4 ohm, single coil here)
4. eDesigns has several nice subs for very good prices if you don't mind waiting for them. Many newer designs are in prototype stage now.
The MOFO and FUBAR subs from Power Acoustik are mostly SPL sub designs. To get the most from them, needs a larger box and lots of watts to keep these bad boys well fed. Not cheap either.
Here's a site that offers a wide variety of subs and amps at good prices. Browse it awhile to get a feel for the prices and such.
http://www.cardomain.com/shoptype/Subwoofers
Swez
P0werLifter on 07/22/2004 12:56:20
Another thing to consider, If you dont have much experience in car audio...SQL vs SPL you might not fully understand the difference in sound. Just look around and think about the differences in both. SQ will have a nice tight sound, crisp , clean and can still bump really good. SPL is mainly for the volume and pressure a subwoofer builds at a certain hertz, but can still sound nice and clean at a lower volume and if you turn down the eq on the bass. an SPL setup specially the high power subs are going to take alot of power to keep them running at their peak performance and requires alot of time, and money to set up everything properly, along with tuning the enclosure correctly if its ported.
Another thing to consider, How much air space do you have to work with in your car/truck/SUV and how much are you willing to dedicate to your Audio System. Do you want to use a sealed enclosure (nice tight bass with good transient response) or a Ported enclosure (increase in SPL, can hit the really low Frequencies)?
Alrighty well i think ive covered the bases (or should i say BASSES as swez puts it) ill be back in a week. Swez and all the other audio gurus will be here though. Goodluck and have fun
Jason
I have a 99 full size blazer. I want a system that has pretty good bass, but also has good sound (have heard some that have too much bass). I was thinking 2 15's, but the size really doesn't matter. I'm looking to spend about $300-$400 for 2 subs.
And if anyone has any ideas on a good amp to go with them, I'd appreciate the help there too.
I know I'm asking alot, but I really know NOTHING at all about car audio system. None of the terminology means a thing to me, and I remember the last time I was here I got plenty of help.
I really appreciate the help all!
Replies (15)
P0werLifter on 07/20/2004 00:35:35
So do you want more of an SQ (sound quality) than a SPL (sound pressure level) sound correct? Assuming thats the case Personally i wouldnt reccomend going with 2 15s especially of your price range is 300-400dollars for a pair. Now on the other hand...2 tens or 2 Twelves would sound really good. If you wanted to go with the 15" Size i would reccomend just one 15.
You can find a pretty good selection of subwoofers in that pricerange you have listed.
For example
Ive heard great things about Adire Audios Shiva series subwoofer. 650rms with a MSRP of only 125 for a 12" sub. You can go to www.adireaudio.com to checkout the rest of their selection.
Kicker makes good subs also I reccomend the Solar Baric L7's if you shop right you can find a pair for around $400 give or take
Im very happy with my Power Acoustik setup but not many people have heard much about them from what i gather.
Im sure Swez and the other audio gurus will be here soon enough with alot more options. Im just the resident SPL nut GRIN
Whats your Budget as far as the amplifiers go? Have you started thinking about upgrading your electical system anytime soon? AKA larger alternator/battery if your planning on a larger system that requires a fair-large amount of wattage from the amplifiers?
Jason
99Blazer on 07/20/2004 00:53:09
I'm looking for a good mix in the system. I've heard some that have so much bass that you can't hear the words, and others that there really isn't enough.
So you think 2 12's would be better than 2 15's (or 1 15)?
I'm not sure on the amp, and haven't thought about upgrading the electrical system. I'm willing to pay a little more than I'd like for a good one.
P0werLifter on 07/20/2004 01:29:25
Yah 2 12's would hit the spot bro..2 15s are a bit overkill..if your were into SPL thats one thing..but with 2 15" drivers it will pound hella bass but not as clean as 2 10s or 2 12's on top of adding a higher price to it all. I have 2 PowerAcoustik MOFO subs (Comp SPL subs) 12s that hit nice and clean till i really crank the sub eq then its pure SPL...im going to get it tested soon i know im hitting large numbers GRIN ...but yah id go with 2 12's...how much air space or space in general do you have for a box? do you want the punchy bass( sealed enclosure) or more Low End SPL (Ported)?
swez on 07/20/2004 07:56:01
Glad you came back! As PL mentioned, a pair of 10's, 1-2 12's or a single 15" sub would be plenty and still leave you some cargo space. What type of music you like best would be helpful in tailoring this system to your tastes.
Also, do you have a stock or Aftermarket radio (HU = Head Unit in our jargon)
Here's a small matrix to help you choose gear along the way:
1. 100-300 watts (RMS) Modest bass, compact, low cost and no electrical upgrades needed (single 10 or 12) a good blend with stock factory systems.
2. 300-600 watts Good bass at 300, as we get closer to 600 watts (RMS) now things are starting to shake pretty good. May require some minor electrical upgrades and bass is getting pretty strong above 500 watts to add interior speaker amplification. (dual 10 or 12's or 1x15, above 400 watts)
3. 600-1000 watts Strong bass here. Stock HU and speakers will be masked by strong bass presence. Usually requires electrical upgrades as we approach 70 ampere current draw typical of larger amps above 600 RMS (2 x 12's here or a potent 15)
OK, that's a starting point. Pick the power range that matched the level of bass you desire and we can walk you through some options at each level of the install.
Swez
99Blazer on 07/20/2004 17:17:23
Mostly I listen to rap. I still have the stock system in the car, but that was going to lead me to another question. It's a bose system with a 6 disc changer, will I have to upgrade everything?
I would say somewhere around 300-600 watts is what I'm looking for.
swez on 07/20/2004 19:00:24
That is a very good choice to start at. Plenty of bass power... if and when you want it. Can help you in product selections and some of the connection options you will need. Just give me a general buget or I can give you a short overview of what to anticipate in costs. Here's some general comments to guide you along.
Amp:
Use a Class D MONO amp for this application as these are the most efficient use of power to drive your sub(s). Class D technology is very good for bass as it will return 90 watts of sub driving power for every 100 watts the amp consumes. A general price range you can expect would be in the $250 - 500.00 range. That depends on the brand name, additional features some sub amps offer and where you buy it from. Good quality amps with a brand name most recognize would be from Kicker, JBL, JL, HiFonics and several others. Yes, there are cheaper brands out there too... but they just don't deliver like the amps listed.
===================================================
Subs:
For this much power, a pair of 12" subs will be a good match. They will need to take ~300 watts (RMS) per sub for a net total of 600 watts RMS. Brands to consider here might be the Adire Shiva, Infinity Kappa series, Alpine Type S or R series, Kicker Comp VR's, Power Acoustik and a few others that can take this kind of power w/o failing. The price range here would be about $110.00 - 150.00 per sub.
===================================================
Enclosure:
There are several fine offerings out there in pre-made boxes to choose from. Depending on the sub brand you choose, the size and style of the box used is mission critical to solid bass performance. Pre-made boxes can be cheap and dirty and had for under $50.00 and upwards of $150.00 off the net. Better sub enclosure makers we suggest are Q-Logic and Sub Zone. There are a few other good ones out there as well. If you are handy with tools, can make your own for about $60.00 worth of materials and about 4-8 hours of fabrication. Can buy precut panels at Home Depot and assemble them at home with minimal tools and time.
===================================================
Your question about the stock GM Bose system... wait for one of our Pro Installers to respond to this one. I believe there are some ways to integrate a sub amp into what you have now, but I do
not have those specifics.
Hope that helps,
Swez
99Blazer on 07/20/2004 20:37:42
I seem to remember the name shiva from the last time, so I'm sort of leaing towards them. I think I read they were $125. I'm thinking between that or the kicker.
As for the amp, should I choose the sub first then make a decision on which amp will be best for that sub?
99Blazer on 07/21/2004 21:56:48
P0werLifter,
What kind of amp do you have for your subs?
And one other thing, roughly how much room do you need for the box?
P0werLifter on 07/21/2004 22:29:43
Im running a Power Acoustik 3000db Amplifier that runs 2300watts RMS stable at 1 ohm...or 1800watts RMS stable at 2 ohms...In order to run this much power i had to upgrade my whole electrical system...200amp alternator...4guage wire from the alt to the battery...Optima yellow top batter..with 0 guage wiring back to my distrobution blocks..then 4 guage to my amplifiers. Lots of $$ invested so far..but im big into SPL and high wattage
For you...think about which subs you are interested in..then look at the RMS rating for the subs and the amplifier. Say my subs...are 2ohm Dual Voice Coil Subs...I run those in series/parrallel to net a 900RMS load to each sub off my 1800watt amplifier.
Any idea on what sub woofer your interested in?
Jason
99Blazer on 07/21/2004 22:57:34
Not quite sure yet. Although, I've been reading a couple reviews on the MOFO and everyone seems to love them. It also seemed as if you really liked them. Just trying to find out as much as a I can about peoples opinions (since, like I said, I really know nothing).
P0werLifter on 07/21/2004 23:27:02
I really like the MOFO series i have...but its mainly an SPL sub..and it takes alot of power to run these things correctly, i spent over $600 upgrading my electrical systems just to run the 2 subs and amps..and im still not finished upgrading...If your interested in the high power systems then your going to be digging in yout pocketbook quite a bit hehe....id reccomend going with something not quite as high wattage and competition lvl yet...Kicker Solar Barics are a very nice sub...Before i ran my power acoustiks i went with some Kicker 10" comps..and MTX 12" 6000s..the MTX were good for the price range , sounded clean and i didnt have to really upgrade my electrical system....just look around and think about your plans for the audio system are for the future then let us know so we can help you along your path..there is a great deal of knowledge on this board and people who are willing to help
Jason
99Blazer on 07/21/2004 23:37:20
I was thinking of starting off small and not spending much, but I figured why do that and then in the long run buy better stuff and end up spending more.
As you can tell, I'm still undecided on what I plan on doing though. I must say, I do really appreciate all the help that's been given here.
P0werLifter on 07/21/2004 23:47:17
Good reasoning...now its just time to think and design your system =)..take your time no rush
swez on 07/22/2004 07:46:37
Yes, do take your time in planning out your system. Plan for the future goal you have, but work in the present.
The Shiva's you mentioned are a very good for SQL. (Can get low, loud and remain clean and crisp) I did a custom box for a guy a while back using 2 Shiva's and powered them at 600 RMS (Average power) and they were loud, low and clean. A sealed box of 1.0 - 1.25 cf per sub (internal dimensions) is a good player for everyday use and plenty of deep bass too.
Other SQL subs that might be of interest:
1. Infinity Kappa 12" (single coil 4 ohms here for a pair)
2. Alpine SWS or SWR series 12" (2+2 DVC is best for wiring to most amps)
3. JBL GT/GTO series (4 ohm, single coil here)
4. eDesigns has several nice subs for very good prices if you don't mind waiting for them. Many newer designs are in prototype stage now.
The MOFO and FUBAR subs from Power Acoustik are mostly SPL sub designs. To get the most from them, needs a larger box and lots of watts to keep these bad boys well fed. Not cheap either.
Here's a site that offers a wide variety of subs and amps at good prices. Browse it awhile to get a feel for the prices and such.
http://www.cardomain.com/shoptype/Subwoofers
Swez
P0werLifter on 07/22/2004 12:56:20
Another thing to consider, If you dont have much experience in car audio...SQL vs SPL you might not fully understand the difference in sound. Just look around and think about the differences in both. SQ will have a nice tight sound, crisp , clean and can still bump really good. SPL is mainly for the volume and pressure a subwoofer builds at a certain hertz, but can still sound nice and clean at a lower volume and if you turn down the eq on the bass. an SPL setup specially the high power subs are going to take alot of power to keep them running at their peak performance and requires alot of time, and money to set up everything properly, along with tuning the enclosure correctly if its ported.
Another thing to consider, How much air space do you have to work with in your car/truck/SUV and how much are you willing to dedicate to your Audio System. Do you want to use a sealed enclosure (nice tight bass with good transient response) or a Ported enclosure (increase in SPL, can hit the really low Frequencies)?
Alrighty well i think ive covered the bases (or should i say BASSES as swez puts it) ill be back in a week. Swez and all the other audio gurus will be here though. Goodluck and have fun
Jason
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