Lookin for a sub+amp

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 4:45 pm

I know some of you are into car audio, so I figured I'd ask here. I'm lookin to get a 10 inch sub and an amp for my 2000 Sentra. My budget is around $150 max for each (probly gonna make the enclosure myself). The rest of the speakers arent too bad since my car has the factory premium sound, but I'd really like to have more bass than I can get from the 6.5" free-air sub that came with it.

Any recommendations? I was thinkin about a mono sub amp such as this one. On another forum I go to, some people have mentioned Elemental Design subs... anyone have any experience with these? I was also looking at Infinity Kappas or Kappa Perfects since people on Cardomain seem to like them. Anything in particular I should look for or avoid?

I hope to have some stuff bought in the next few weeks, since my tax refund check is burnin a hole in my pocket.

TIA.

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 6:53 pm

I bid your eardrums a fond "farewell"!

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 6:55 pm

Mobius wrote:I bid your eardrums a fond "farewell"!

Damn straight. Not to be insulting, but why is it that people sink thousands of dollars into ear-splitting car stereos that drive anyone within 200 yards nuts with that uber-annoying super-bass? It really seems like a waste to me. Wouldn't putting that money toward a kick@$$ PC or home entertainment system be a lot more useful in the long run, as well as saving your hearing?

kurupt · Post by **kurupt** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 7:06 pm

he didnt say he wanted to rattle windows. having good sounding bass that you cant get with 6.5" speakers is not going to deafen you.

i reccomend getting a little 300w crossfire or mtx amp. you can nab those for about 150 bucks and they sound nice without the ground rattling.

for anything real nice, you'd have to up your budget though.

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:45 pm

Considering my car is just about my favorite place to be, I think its reasonable to want to upgrade the listening environment there. Its akin to your home theater suggestion, TG. And theres plenty of people around here with obscenely powerful sound systems anyway, I really have no desire to join them. I just want more clean bass.

Factory recertified MTX amps are pretty cheap on ebay, so I might swing in that direction.

[]V[]essenjah · Post by **[]V[]essenjah** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:19 am

I bought a 12" Sub-Woofer and a 300 Watt amp from my bro for about $150. It's no excessive sound but adds some nice bass to it. Personally I'm very happy with my current system. I don't need a $1000 system to be happy driving my car.

I would rather invest that money in tech school.

Nitrofox125 · Post by **Nitrofox125** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:21 am

Yeah, MTX is a pretty good brand for the money. But, are you sure you want to build the enclosure yourself? Boxes are *incredibly* important in the sound of your sub. It's more than just "build a square box and put a sub into it". Bad sub + good box > good sub + bad box Not only will a badly built box suck up most of your bass, it'll slowly destroy the sub as well. If you know what you're doing, go for it, I would, but if you were thinking of slapping some wood together I would advise against it.

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:36 am

Sorry I overreacted; I know that one can build a nice car audio system without becoming a jack@$$ who blares bass everwhere. It's just that these are the only types of people I've had any experience with in the matter, and the "experience" usually ends up annoying the hell out of me.

I can understand wanting to upgrade your stereo if you drive a lot or enjoy driving; for me, my Ford Escort's factory cassette player/radio just about does the job. If I want to listen to CDs/MP3s, I'll use one of those little cassette adapters.

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 12:20 pm

Nitrofox125 wrote:But, are you sure you want to build the enclosure yourself? Boxes are *incredibly* important in the sound of your sub. It's more than just "build a square box and put a sub into it". Bad sub + good box > good sub + bad box Not only will a badly built box suck up most of your bass, it'll slowly destroy the sub as well. If you know what you're doing, go for it, I would, but if you were thinking of slapping some wood together I would advise against it.

I think I'd rather just buy one but my brother said he would help me build one. Knowing our combined talents in woodworking, though, we'd be lucky to get a square-ish box at all

SolidAir · Post by **SolidAir** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 12:49 am

I tend to get the best when I am looking at something new that I haven't purchased before... like car audio. I never dived into car audio but when I did, I wanted to get it right. I was amazed by the results, but it cost me quite a bit. All I've got is a sub and an amp.

I purchased from what they call "internet brands," they're higher quality because they don't spend all their money trying to advertise and rely on word of mouth to gain a reputation. That is why I am telling you who they are. They put their money towards higher quality products and the sound is great. The Brahma has been compared to the top-of-the-line JL Audio 13W7 and that costs twice as much.

$400 - Adire Audio Brahma 12" (link)
$400 - Cadence Z9000 link)
$120 - Wiring from Knukonceptz.com (link)
$130 - Sealed 12" Enclosure, custom built for Adire Audio subwoofers by Chris "Geolemon" (link)

Total: $1050

Various pictures:

http://www.pbase.com/matts009/image/36427998
http://www.pbase.com/matts009/image/36402807
http://www.pbase.com/matts009/image/36489683
http://www.pbase.com/matts009/image/36434468
http://www.pbase.com/matts009/image/35666394

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:26 pm

Looks really nice SA. I'm probly gonna end up doing something like that, mounting the amp on the back seat in the trunk. Probly wont look as clean as yours, though.

I like listening to music, but I simply cant justify spending that much on this project. I decided against eBay, though, as I've had several not-so-happy experiences with refurbs.

I think I've nailed down everything I want to get. Tell me what you think:

Amp: MTX Thunder 282 (new, bridged)
Box: Subzone (thicker material than the ones Crutchfield stocks, and people seem to like em)
I talked to some guys on another forum, one of whom previously owned the Infinitys I was looking at, and said the eDesign subs were better and cheaper, so I'll stick with those I think.

Opinions? I already have a Stinger 8ga wiring kit and a line output converter (for use with the stock headunit). Probly gonna buy the amp first, then go from there.

kurupt · Post by **kurupt** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:41 pm

thats not a bad amp for the price. 280w rms aint bad at all, although the ohm load kind of sucks. but hey, for 109 bucks i cant really gripe.

if you can find an old mtx thunder 302 i would go with that, ther ealot more durable and basically, they dont make em like they used to.

http://www.carreview.com/Amplifiers/MTX ... 06crx.aspx

if you can go a schmidgin higher than 150 i'd buy this:

http://www.cardomain.com/item/MTX502

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 7:29 am

I just now saw this thread -- I have a Rockford BD1000 and Rockford 12" Sub I wanted to sell.

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 10:18 am

Kurupt: Your second link didnt work.

Scratch: How much are you asking for the amp? I doubt you'd be willing to dump it for what I'm willing to pay, though

kurupt · Post by **kurupt** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:34 pm

sorry about that. link fixed. also included below for your convienance

http://www.cardomain.com/item/MTX502

STRESSTEST · Post by **STRESSTEST** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:55 pm

I have a brand new set of Infinity 12's. It's not what you are looking for, but I'd let em go for 150

http://stresstest.2y.net/images/h/PC282206.JPG
http://stresstest.2y.net/images/h/PC282207.JPG
http://stresstest.2y.net/images/h/PC282208.JPG

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:32 pm

Well the subs you are looking at -- I would not recommend this amp for you -- it's 1000 watts rms...you'd blow those subs bye bye.

kurupt · Post by **kurupt** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:16 pm

i need a better amp. how much you want for it homie?

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 10:58 pm

Scratch wrote:Well the subs you are looking at -- I would not recommend this amp for you -- it's 1000 watts rms...you'd blow those subs bye bye.

Indeed. Would be fun while it lasted though

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:19 am

Matt -- I'll sell it for 250.

kurupt · Post by **kurupt** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:51 am

if you still have it in 2 weeks when i get my next paycheck i'll take it.

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:46 pm

Just let me know.

Honest Bob · Post by **Honest Bob** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:42 pm

SolidAir wrote: $400 - Adire Audio Brahma 12" (link)
$400 - Cadence Z9000 link)
$120 - Wiring from Knukonceptz.com (link)
$130 - Sealed 12" Enclosure, custom built for Adire Audio subwoofers by Chris "Geolemon" (link)

Total: $1050

Hey! I got a similar setup
2 10" Adire Audio Brahmas
Cadence Z1500
and a dual 10" ported box by Geolemon.

SolidAir · Post by **SolidAir** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 10:35 am

Nice! Doesn't it sound great? Do you hang out on caraudioforum.com?

Honest Bob · Post by **Honest Bob** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:54 pm

I used to a long long time ago. I can be found lurking around http://www.caraudiotalk.com
Its got a much more mature audience.

It used to sound good. I've got some noise issues at the moment. The famous rpm varying whine. Its to damn cold to sort it out.

I do beleive its my head unit causing the problems... after 3 faithfull years of service.

I gotta recheck all the grounds.

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:23 pm

I was going to suggest that Bob -- grounds and the headunit -- I have a pretty sweet alpine deck now that has no problems with the alternator whine...

Honest Bob · Post by **Honest Bob** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:45 pm

Yeah, the weird part is its only the front set of RCA's the other two are perfectly quiet. So it seems like it would be the head unit. But gonna recheck everything before I decide its the $475 piece of equipment.

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 7:49 am

Only the fronts eh? Check to see if the wires are properly shielded -- I had one buddy of mine have his RCA's go right underneath the electrical harness for the car -- talk about some crosstalk! Wow!

kurupt · Post by **kurupt** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:33 pm

not to insult your intelligence or anything but... are your rca's and your power wire run on the same side of the car? my first install i ever did myself i put them both together and cable tied em. every time i stepped on the gas i got a wierd ass whirrrrrrrrrrr noise. i seperated them and ran one down each side and no more noise.

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 1:25 pm

Yeah -- shielded ...i had some RCA's that got the wire exposed -- crosstalk is a ★■◆● then. Same difference you have with seperating RCA's ...more wire only makes it worse..you seperated them and got rid of the noise.

I just hate the issues when you have to find a ground that is loose somewhere.

Honest Bob · Post by **Honest Bob** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:35 pm

ok I posted this up elsewhere but here it is again.

"I got the typical whine that varies with rpm only when the engine is on. The weird thing is that it only happens on the front preouts the rear and sub preouts are fine and have no noise. I've also tried another pair of rca's.
It all happened after changing moving the ground to a diffrent location. I've since then moved the ground to two other places and its now back in its origonal spot where it was perfectly fine. Still whines. I've also regrounded the head unit. No go
"

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:08 am

Got an extra head unit handy bob? heh.

Honest Bob · Post by **Honest Bob** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:02 pm

I got one I can test with, I've been looking at some new head units, it seems inevitable.

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:10 pm

Honest Bob wrote:I got one I can test with, I've been looking at some new head units, it seems inevitable.

I know how you feel - back in the past I had a, what i thought at the time was, a good Pioneer head unit. I had that whine all the time. Tried everything! Soon as I got that new Alpine Deck the whine went away -- go figure!

kurupt · Post by **kurupt** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:49 pm

payday is tommorrow, still got that amp?

Scratch · Post by **Scratch** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:14 am