slim142

Cool!, now I have one more case scenario. Let me know your opinions. Since I dont know if Im keeping the car, can I just get the components, install them myself without deadening the doors and when the time comes to change the car, move my stuff over to the new car but while installing also apply the deadening to the new car? It would make more sense. I dont really want to waste time, money and SecondSkin in a car I wont be driving in the future. I should still be able to hear a good difference between the factory speakers and the new components right in the car I have now right? even without sound deadener. Let me know your opinions

Well, let me rephrase myself 18s are the best (IMO) cause they can reach the lowest note and hit the deepest, isnt that what the 18 inch cone is for? And be heard everywhere, what I meant was that so that I can crank the volume, whether windows up or down, any type of music, any time a day just raise the volume and be loud but at the same time keep quality. And I didnt know the XCON was an SQ subwoofer. It does look like a great option. So what are the BTL and Havoc designed for?

Ok I understand now But tahoe has 12 tweeters. 4 on each front door, 2 on each pillar and 2 more on the rear doors. With 6 tweeters, how would you get 4ohm load?

Ok I understand you can run series and parallel, but I thought that only applied to subs (where dual voice coils come into action)? Dont tweeters have only 1 negative and 1 positive?. So how can you pick whether to run in parallel or series? The only thing that comes to mind is this: AMP->Tweeter->Tweeter->Tweeter-Tweeter->Tweeter A tweeter is connected to the other one, then the other, then the other until the final one reaches the amp. Is this right?

Whats the power handling of the XCON? So basically the SMD is not in that league because of its 3500watts RMS power handling? My goal is to be LOUD and have quality components. Be heard everywhere, and make it pleasant to be inside the car.

Ok I dont understand how the guy from the tahoe is running 12 tweeters from one T600.2? Yes I also dont understand how two 1000.4 amplifiers are running ten 6.5inch speakers, two 4inch midranges and two 8inch midbass Can somebody tell me how is that wired? doesnt so many speakers on each channel cause the impedance to be insanely low causing the amp overheat or inestability? am I missing something here?

What do you mean? Is the XCON for SQ only? Like an Fi Q or something?

Yeah absolutely, after realizing shops just try to rip you off and many times they make you come back to get more and more I decided to actually learn about this and just get the stuff myself. Then I saw the guy from the tahoe in youtube and decided to visit Fi website, the forum link lead me here and I knew this was the place to learn about car audio. This was more than a year ago. Now I feel so much more educated in this field I even recommend and guide my friends. I want an 18 because I want the best. I currently have 12 and Im happy with it, but more bass would make me the happiest guy alive. Now my question is, did you really need the space that you had to downgrade? The backseat wasnt enough space for your needs? And to what did you downgrade?

I see, so I guess going for an 18" right now is not a good idea. That would mean money on 1) The Big 3, 2) 1/0 run to the back 3) The Sub 4) Enclosure 5) Battery We are talking about a lot of money. And I wish I knew how much better are the SMD against the XCON, the BTL, and the Havoc I think I will just wait for now. I also thought about upgrading my front components from factory to Morel Dotech Ovation (or the Bravox CS60F, but I never heard them in person), but just on the door deadeners + labor to get the deadener installed I would be spending like $200. Will save my money and most likely go for subs in a month or two from now Anyways, thanks for the advice guys!

Ok so I will be getting an 18 soon, still debating whether an AA SMD or an SSA XCON (The SMD is like $400 more, idk if the gains are worth that much) Anyways, before anything I know I need to have my electrical ready so here comes my question. Right now my Ford Expedition is 100% stock. It only has a 2000D powering a Pioneer 12inch sub with 1000watts RMS. I know the Big 3 is A MUST HAVE. But, do I need a new alternator? Do I need a new battery? Do I need more than my stock battery? The reason to ask is because if I get the sub + the enclosure, I will most likely have no money left for a new alternator or new/extra battery. And hopefully the 4gauge that I have right now will be to handle 2000watts rms since thats what I have in my 2000D right now opinions?

And forgot to ask For a 3-way front component set, you HAVE to use more than 1 amplifier right? (unless its a 6 channel one) What 6 channel amp do you recommend for a 3 way component set?

So basically this is what yo are saying? I could get some $500 morel components, but they will sound like crap compared to a pair of pioneers with deadened doors and amplified? On a side note, idk if I should deaden my doors, I might be changing cars soon

I see Ok now that I know the exact definition, what do you guys recommend? Like I said, this Morel 2-way components that Im going to get are pretty expensive and I dont know if by the time I get my amplifier I should leave aside the crossovers or not. At least the owner of the shop didnt remove them, but he didnt cause he has a 3-way component, he doesnt want to use more than 1 amplifier for his front doors.

So Im about to change my factory speakers to a 2-way component set. Right now, I will be running passive (HU->crossover from components->woofer/tweeter) but in the future, I plan on adding a Sundown 100.4D Will this be right? HU->Amplifier->Crossover from components->woofer/tweeter) Also, is this considered active? The reason why I ask is because I plan on buying Morel Hybrid Ovation II components, and the dealer Im getting it from told me they put a lot of work in the crossovers. At that price, I wouldn't like to put those crossovers in a box in the closet, but I wont use them if you guys tell me its better not to have them if there is an amplifier already. Also, if I was to do a 3-way component set, would it still be better to have the crossover after the amplifier or not? The owner of the shop has HU->amplifier->crossover->woofer/midrange/tweeter. I guess that is his only option so he can save money and not have to get a 6-channel amp or two amps for each door.

I just hope I made a good decision. I was between the pioneer, the eclipse 7100/7200 and the alpine 9887. Now for components im debating if I should go for Morel hybrid ovation II or keep on checking for more options...

DEH-P800PRS

Ok understood So yeah Im going to have 3 way system, but if talking about front stage, 2way. Im getting a Pioneer headunit thats has 3way crossover, that most likely would be highpass, single bandpass and lowpass filters right?

Ok so here Im going to get Image dynamics XS-65 which consists of a 6.5inch woofer and a tweeter. Thats 2 way right? So if I plan on using it together with my 12inch subwoofer, would that make my setup a 3 way? I just read that for a "true" 3 way, you need a tweeter, a midrange (3 inch) and a woofer (5-6inch). So I was wrong the whole time? Then if you add a subwoofer, you actually have a 4-way system Also, from what I read is that what Im actually going to have (with the xs-65 components and my 12inch sub) is called a 2 way crossover + subwoofer and NOT 3 way? So this confuses me even more because.... if you get a 3 way component set, then how do you run them active? A .4 amplifier (like the SAX-100.4D) is only able to run a woofer and a tweeter, not a third driver. And I thought 3way crossover was the max you could get from top of the line headunits, in the last few years companies have only released 3 and 2 way crossover headunits thats probably why I was never aware of 4way crossovers (if any??)????? I hope somebody can help me here, Im starting to get more lost as I cant find a good explanation

Yep, even Eric from iD told me that with one pair in the front will be more than enough (after I upgrade to an aftermarket HU of course) As for the AA mids, interesting. For a moment I thought it could have been a better idea to get them instead of iD BUT Im not going active for now and I dont have space and/or time for a 7inch midbass (at least not now) I could just get the iD XS-65 and then later on add the AA 7inch for midbass? Then make something like this AA 7" (80-200Hz), iD woofer (200-3,500hz), iD tweeter (3,500-22,000hz) I have never mixed different brands tho, dont know how that would work out. I wonder why AA doesnt promote this 7inch in their website...

I didnt know AA was into mids. What sizes do they have? from what I searched and found, it looks like they only have 7inch midbass speakers?

Is there going to be a 2nd buy group? Im going to be buying a new set this week, wish they were still on sale

Frostedflake Thats all I needed to hear. You have a really contributive post, specially when considering its actual experience. Thank you very much sir Now time to go bankrupt If anybody knows if there is any deal for image dyanmics, please post it here hey frostedflake, btw, which components are you running? just out of curiosity...

It will be something like this Really??? so with that answer i assume you are saying that i dont really need speakers in the back at all? not even one pair? I know most people dont worry about the back, but even the guy from the tahoe has at least 1 pair in the rear doors Its a ford expedition so it should be fine

Thanks Yeah, for now I will only replace the front speakers. Leave the factory 6x8 in the back for now (hopefully it wont sound bad) and if anything, Ill put the fader to the front only. I just hope if I have to do that, the two XS65 are louder or at least as loud as the car is right now with four factory 6x8 speakers. Im not sure how I will react without the rear speakers since Ive always had something in the rear doors LOL

Yep, read that a min before you posted the link while searching the forums and thats what got me into "whats up with this brand that I never heard of???" I dont really have a "specific" budget, but let me just say that the Diamond Audio speakers for $650 are just out of the range for me so I havent even researched them. Lets not talk about the $999 Bravox... (but they just went for $509, at that price I could have thought about them) The more I read about these XS-65, the more I like them. They seem to have great midbass response and with just 100watts RMS (which is what Im planning with the SAX-100.4) they seem like they are going to be a great set of components.