Getting back into car audio again

[Firebird 383]

I've been out of the scene for a long time. Back in the day, all the good systems I can remember winning sound-offs were Precision Power or Rockford Fosgate amps, JL Audio or Fosgate speakers, and usually MB Quart mids & highs. I hear that the new Fosgate amps are not as good as they used to be. So what is good in 2003?

I'm going to be purchasing: 1 set of 5-1/4" components, 1 set of 6-1/2" components, 2 amps and 2 12" subs. Any suggestions would be helpful. My subscription to Car Stereo Review lapsed around 1994. :D

By the way, the system is not for my Firebird it's for my 66 Caprice, so space limitations etc. do not apply. I figured this board could use some action- besides the internet is not exactly buzzing with car audio forums for my 66. :zzz:

[powertool]

well for a 5 1/4 component rockford makes some pretty good stuff but if you dont care about price i would go all alpine get the alpine type R 12" subs dual 2 ohm voice coil with an alpine v 12 amp for components go with the high end mb quart stuff 4 ch amps go with sound stream and for a cd player i would go with alpine this stuff wins at shows and offers the clearest sound hope this helped

-Tom
BestBuy Mobile Install Tech

[Firebird 383]

OK, I think I found an amp. Anyone had any experience with the HiFonics ZX8000? It's a 5-channel amp, 50x4 + 200x1. I figure that way I can run the whole system with one amp.

[BumpaD82]

Hifonics is good stuff, I've done a 1 amp system w/ a MTX 5400X and it turned out well not all out loud but a good everyday driver.... :D

[Firebird 383]

OK, I'm kind of a moron when it comes to installing car stereo. My 66 has a center dash speaker location that I wanted to use as a center channel (front speakers will be in the kick panels). Would it be best to power the center channel with deck power? The deck only has 18W per channel so the kicks with 50W are going to overpower it big time.

[hessdawg]

i wouldn't use a center channel unless you were going to go with 5.1 dts setup.
it would centralize the sound stage to much. just stay with the kick pannel speakers and you should be good,

[BumpaD82]

I've run a center channel consisting of two JL 4" 2 ways to compliement my 6"4"1" MB Q's in the kicks, I ran them off deck power and the others had 150 per channel to them (with the gains on the amp pretty low) :)

[birdman]

what is the advantage of a dual voice coil sub?

[cheyenne383]

Originally posted by birdman
what is the advantage of a dual voice coil sub?

There are two voice coils. More pointless shit = better performance, right?

[nightrider]

in theory, they can be twice as loud.

[KuruptGTA]

When you enter a dual voice coil setup, you will need to supply more power to the subwoofer. It's like having two subs in one basicly. Most DVC subs have double the power handling capabilities.

[Firebird 383]

Damn, this post is near the top again?

Well, I guess I'll update it. I ended up with MB Quart reference 5.25" components in custom fiberglass kick panels, 6.5" Quart components in the rear deck. The crossovers were so damn big I couldn't fit the front ones near the speakers, so the front xovers are actually in the side panels next to the back seat. I did buy the HiFonics ZX8000 amp. I decided on just one JL Audio 10W3 sub with a custom box. Head-end is a Custom Autosound Kenwood in-dash "dual knobber" am/fm/cassette with a 10-disc CD changer in the glovebox.

Here is a pic showing the custom kick panels I made. I haven't completed them, but they'll be sprayed with black truckbed liner eventually. The tweeter pods were liquid nails tubes covered in 'glass. :)

[Firebird 383]

UPDATE part deux!

What I didn't tell you in the first update is that even though I bought good component speakers- the sound was muddy and very poor. The problem is that the head unit only has the "tone knob" and no individual bass/treble controls.

I think I now have the equipment to solve the problem: I bought an Audiocontrol EQS. It is a badass equalizer and trunk-mounted like I wanted. Now I gotta wait until Spring and get the car outta storage.

Does anyone have an EQS (or an EQX) in their car? Howja like it?

[KuruptGTA]

:wavey:
Had that a loooonnggg time ago. Bought a couple amps that have that shit integrated into them. I'm an audophile, but I don't go for the "national competitions" so it's kind of a waste. I go for more SPL than anything. :shrug: The seperate EQ does work nicely though. Nice find. :thumbup:

Oh...you weren't running your seperates off the deck were you...?

[chainsaw]

i've wanted to get my hands on an RF symmetry eq for a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time now. ever use one?

[KuruptGTA]

nope. Sorry mang.

[v1d9uy]

well... i guess i will agree with youre mb quarts ... there nice i had a set in my vette for awhile.... but everything else you picked ... i dunno.....