Audio setup

[arizcats9987 0]

First time on this website and im glad i found it. Looks like there are lots of knowledgeable people here.

I plan to do a total makeover on my stock system in my toyota 4runner. I have many ideas but nothing for sure.

Here is what I have been planning:

- 6.5" Focal 165 KP for the front

- Alpine SPR-13C coaxials for the rear.

- Rockford Fosgate T400-4 Amp

- Either two JL Audio 12W6v2-D4 or one JL Audio 13W7

- I was thinking some sort of alpine or power acoustics amp to power the subs.

I could desperately use some opinions on this setup. I listen to all types of music so i want decent sound quality. For the most part the subs are going to be at a decent level for normal music but at times i wouldnt mind something thats extremely loud for rap music.

All of this will be with a Pioneer DEH-P7800MP HU.

Thanks for all the help in advance!

Edited July 6, 2007 by arizcats9987

[Koridan 0]

IMO JL is highly over hyped. Look into drivers such as, Fi, Mach 5 Audio, Digital Designs, Soundstream (T5's), or some Mag's.

Try Amps like U.S. Amps, Memphis makes a few good amps, and also There are some nice amps in the shop section in the Sundown Line.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Welcome to SSA. Let me say first off, that because a good portion of our members really take SQ seriously, a few will say drop the rear fill speakers and use the money towards the front speakers or amplifier. You could set up to components and grab a larger front stage amplifier also. But while I am at it, personally I am not a W7 fan, I feel its pricing does not justify it's performance, there are plenty of comparable subs now for much less, many you could get a pair of since you mentioned you would like to have strong output every once in a while.

So far you set up looks great.

[///M5 2,833]

I am one that will say drop the rears and spend it on the front stage. IMO if you are stuck on JL a pair of w6's is way better than the w7, but there are a lot of other options. Do you have a budget? I am also curious on the Focals, have you listened to a set? Lastly, I am a bit curious as to where the tweeter will be in the 4 runner.

edit: you have left out sound deadening which is REALLY important

[arizcats9987 0]

yeah i will most likely put dynamat in all the doors and the back hatch. I think ripping out the whole interior to lay it on the ground and roof might be overkill.

The tweeters would be installed in the already made tweeter positions in the door unless somewhere else is recommended.

I dont really have a budget however I dont want to spend a ton on car audio. I am a college student so my funds need to go toward other stuff too like rent, food, etc. I am planning on about 450 max for front components and then i was thinking about getting the same components or something a little less in the rear but a guy at a shop in town here called "The Specialists" told me to just get the alpine coaxials in the rear.

I have listened to the focals and personally I think they sound pretty good. There are some foacals that cost a lot more but Im not going to go there.

As far as the subs all I have really ever heard is JL. I got a friend with 3 10" W1s and they sounds pretty good. All my other friends got crap systems and my dad has the infinity basslink so in my opinion right now and from experience JL is great. I havent heard of the other subs that were suggested so I will have to look into them.

I appreciate all your help so far.

[arizcats9987 0]

ok i looked at some of the sub companies that Madrox listed. Soundstream are about the same price for the Soundstream SPLX-124 and the T5s are much cheaper. Are these better than the JLs? Since i have never heard of them I dont know much about them. Are they good quality and wont blow easily? and last but not least can they get extremely loud when wanted so that it makes me feel sick to my stomach?

[Acidburn 10]

yeah i will most likely put dynamat in all the doors and the back hatch. I think ripping out the whole interior to lay it on the ground and roof might be overkill.

The tweeters would be installed in the already made tweeter positions in the door unless somewhere else is recommended.

I dont really have a budget however I dont want to spend a ton on car audio. I am a college student so my funds need to go toward other stuff too like rent, food, etc. I am planning on about 450 max for front components and then i was thinking about getting the same components or something a little less in the rear but a guy at a shop in town here called "The Specialists" told me to just get the alpine coaxials in the rear.

I have listened to the focals and personally I think they sound pretty good. There are some foacals that cost a lot more but Im not going to go there.

As far as the subs all I have really ever heard is JL. I got a friend with 3 10" W1s and they sounds pretty good. All my other friends got crap systems and my dad has the infinity basslink so in my opinion right now and from experience JL is great. I havent heard of the other subs that were suggested so I will have to look into them.

I appreciate all your help so far.

I am assuming you go to U of A in Tucson. If so, you should come to the meet in Prescott Valley on the 14th and you'll be able to hear lots of people's systems.

[almond 0]

you can alos come up to chandler and hear mine if you want. but it's kind of esoteric. hey acidburn, can you pm me the info for that meet in prescott??

[arizcats9987 0]

yeah im guessing you mean july 14th. And yeah you might as well just post the info in this topic since more than one person wants to know.

GO UofA!!!!

[JimJ 11]

IMO JL is highly over hyped. Look into drivers such as, Fi, Mach 5 Audio, Digital Designs, Soundstream (T5's), or some Mag's.

Price notwithstanding, in terms of accuracy the W6v2 more than holds its own against offerings from any of those. The W7, meh. Not my taste.

I don't really see a problem with anything else, other than the coaxials in the rear. It's going to come down to how it's installed.

[audio-neon 34]

I am another one that is going to say ditch the rears, even in a four runner.

Here are a list of woofers companies you should really look into:

TC sounds

Image Dynamics

Soundsplinter

Mach 5

Fi (particularly the Q)

SSA

Stereo Integrity.

And sound deadening the floors and roof imo is overkill for a personal system in a four runner anyways.

[///M5 2,833]

Deadening the doors is by far the most important, but save some money instead of Dynamat use Raamaudio Raamat or Second Skin.

[Acidburn 10]

you can alos come up to chandler and hear mine if you want. but it's kind of esoteric. hey acidburn, can you pm me the info for that meet in prescott??

yeah im guessing you mean july 14th. And yeah you might as well just post the info in this topic since more than one person wants to know.

GO UofA!!!!

here's the thread guys, hope you can make it

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=235909

[arizcats9987 0]

wait wait i guess i wasnt really processing what you guys were saying... your saying completely get rid of the rear speakers? how will people chillin in the back then hear whats going on with the subs right at their backs.

As far as how the subs are installed I know a guy that makes subwoofer boxes so i was plannin on having him build it for me. I saw a box i really liked which had the subs firing down and had i guess plexiglass or something showing the inside with some blue neons. This box was also ported. Does that sound decent or whats the best way to install them?

[Acidburn 10]

wait wait i guess i wasnt really processing what you guys were saying... your saying completely get rid of the rear speakers? how will people chillin in the back then hear whats going on with the subs right at their backs.

yes, we're saying get rid of the rears entirely

the people in the back can hear the fronts usually, if not, too bad

[arizcats9987 0]

you know i actually saw this one guys car setup where he had two 6.5" focal components installed in each door in the front. I thought it sounded great for the smaller car but didnt know that it would be a good idea in an SUV. However, being that I dont know how to do custom fabrications to be able to have 2 in each door i cant really do that.

So you guys are saying I shouldnt even put coaxials in the rears? and why is it better to have them only in the front and not rear as well? this idea kinda confuses me as it seems out of the norm.

Also I have been hearing all this stuff about a baffle board (no idea what that is) and venting the speaker to the outside. First off WTF and second why? and how i guess

Edited July 7, 2007 by arizcats9987

[arizcats9987 0]

hmm still no reply on my last post. oh well. I had a couple more questions while looking online at the stereo stuff.

1) Are the DLS Ultimate Iridium 6.2 speakers better than the Focal 165 K2Ps?

2) Are "Earthquake" amps any good?

[JimJ 11]

as it seems out of the norm.

The last time you saw music live, were there performers playing behind you?

The idea is to present a realistic sound stage in front of you, rear speakers distort that.

Also I have been hearing all this stuff about a baffle board (no idea what that is)

CarAudio.com has an excellent thread about sound deadening and speaker mounting that will explain a lot of that.

and venting the speaker to the outside.

I'm not sure what's meant by that. I've certainly never seen it done in a door...vented kickpanels, maybe.

[JimJ 11]

1) Are the DLS Ultimate Iridium 6.2 speakers better than the Focal 165 K2Ps?

2) Are "Earthquake" amps any good?

For #1, only your ears are going to be able to answer that, not us.

#2, I would stay away from those.

[arizcats9987 0]

ok thanks. however the problem is that I had enough trouble finding a shop that I could listen to focals. I wouldnt even know where to look for DLS or rainbow lines. If you know any shops in arizona please let me know.

and darn the earthquake specs seemed like a good amp. guess i will keep looking.

One more question!!! are the diamond audio D971s any good? I mean damn they are kinda expensive and all. Better quality than focal? sound?

Edited July 8, 2007 by arizcats9987