Stereo System

[champ7fl]

I've been reading up on some previous posts, and after taking all that you guys have said into mind, I've come up with my solution. I've just got a couple of questions about it, and would like some feedback.

So from what I've gathered the stock dash locations suck, and kick pods are the best way to go.... yet the q-forms suck as well, kinda a no win situation. I'm going to work with the q-forms for now ($20 used from a friend, can't complain), try to seal them up and reinforce them or something (any pointers on how to do that are appreciated). They'll have to make due for now at least. I'm going to fill the kick pods in with MB Quart 6.5 components (the Q-line QSD model). Basically I got a killer deal on speakers through a friend of mine who works for a retail store $700 for 2 sets (the 6.5 and the other set is the 4" qsd components). I've read that some people have put the 4" in the dash.. So i'll try that. I'm going to try and fabricate a bracket that kinda angles the speaker a little, so it doesn't point directly at the windshield. I'm also going to put the tweeters for the 4" in the molding hiding the bolts for the side view mirrors. I haven't seen anyone with a syty having done this yet, if someone out there has, please let me know. I figure this way the angle will be a little better. I'll be using rear speakers for fill, nothing fancy like the mb quarts. I know 4x10 selections are limited, I'd like to know what you guys are using, definately open to suggestions. The kickers are good from what I've read... but some of these posts are old, and like computers, car audio is outdated months after it comes out. There's nowhere I can actually listen to the 4x10s... no body displays them around here that I've seen. Powering thhs setup is a 5 channel MTX amp, picked it up for free working on this guy's house. Very nice amp. I figured I'd bridge the dash and the kick pods off the front channel, and then run the 4x10 off the rear. I'm getting a 10", not sure what brand yet... shopping around for a killer box setup first. I'm using the jvc kdsh99 head unit, pretty nice EQ on it, mp3 is great. I'm looking into the excelon with 7" touch screen.....but that's kinda ricey, so I'm not sure about it yet. I'm trying to get s10 door panels from my friend too, so I can add a speaker there without cutting the sy ones up. Not sure on that though...that's a lot of speakers. Would 9-10 speakers be overkill on a sy???

So those are my plans... all I need is the rear speakers. And I'm not sure on the location of the front tweeters. If you guys could chime in on other tweeter location options I'd appreciate it. I'll post pics when it's installed, waiting on the MB Quarts. Sorry for the long post

 

[Spinall4]

Quart Q anything componets seem like a waste when you're running a JVC deck and an mtx amp. If you've forked over 700$ already for the good speakers, ditch the jvc head unit and get somthing from say, eclipse or nakamichi, and a better amp. I'm partial to Phenoix Golds Ti amps(as they are very nice, and getting cheaper from places like www.sounddomain.com) but ARC, USA amps, zapco, brax, ect all make great amps. Don't need rear fill in the small cab of the s10. Try fading your speakers all the way forward, and get used to the way it sounds after a week of it, you won't even miss the rear fill. JL's W7, image dynamics max(and idq) , adire audio brahma, anything from RE, are all good subs.

 

[DOMN8R]

in my ty I have a setup similar to what you are thinking about doing. MBQuart QSD's in kickpods, with a QSD center channel fill. I agree with what spinall4 said, and here are some other thoughts:

1) you are insane to want to put 9-10 speakers in a sy. if you really want some fill I would recommend a tiny center channel fill speaker, except mount it in the center in the back of your sy. it would pull double duty as a center and rear fill. I have an adjustable volume control knob on mine, you want that, and get like a 25 watt, you don't need much fill on a sy...

2) use that speaker money to buy better amp(s). I have a JL 300/4 and a 500/1. I would recommend a 500/5 for you if you can afford it (I just sold one on ebay, brand new mint, for about $420). its long but will end up taking less or same space than two separate amps and here's a rarely known advantage, it actually provides a full 100 watts to each front speaker, whereas the 300/4 provides only 75 all around. the QSD's can handle 100 watts, many speakers can't. it will also provide 25 watts rear and 250 watts for a sub...

3) you don't need a killer sub in a sy. I recommend an 8". I am partial to JL W7's. but all of the ones that spinall4 mentioned are good subs. I have a JBL GTI 10" in mine in a fake spare tire enclosure and its pretty good.. but I have had a number of JL subs w/ enclosures in my previous cars and preferred them. my old JL 10W7 in genuine JL H.O. enclosure sold on ebay for $400...

4) head unit... I recommend an eclipse CD8053 if you can afford. $500 at an authorized dealer with warranty etc. 16 volt preouts... nuff said. if thats too much $$ then try ebay/forums for a pioneer DEH-P or alpine. should be able to score a decent one for about $100. I have a pioneer AVH-P6500 dvd player with flip out display. nice unit if you're into big flip-out displays, but I'm not. it'd be good for a rear view camera or when it breaks I'll sell the remote for $75 and get a CD8053

hth...

 

[champ7fl]

Thanks for the input. I know the head unit and amp aren't the greatest, but they were free.. the amp from a friend, and the jvc was in my old car already so I kept it. I know jvc isn't the best, but i kinda like this model, kdsh99, it works ok for me. It plays mp3s which is great. It will have to do until I can afford something a little better. I was looking at the pheonix gold amps and agree, they are really nice. But I can't beat the price of a free 5 channel mtx 890 watts. I dropped the idea of the s10 door panels for an extra set of speakers, my friend' set looked like crap so I didn't do it. I'll just run the fronts, the kick pods, and run the rears off the head unit for fill.. since they're already there. I got a sub and box for 20 bucks, boston acoustic 10", the enclosure is a little big, so I'm going to work with it a little to fit. I'm short on money right now, so this will have to work for now. Eventually I'll get a better 10", JL seems to be the way to go. And I'll save up for the head unit and amp probably. Any thoughts on the N1, by pioneer I think?? Flip up, touch screen, engine diagnostics.. it looks pretty nice, but I've never seen it installed in a car, just audio shops. I want the touch screen to hook up a computer to..I could run datamaster anytime I wanted, and there's been countless times i've needed to check some of my computer files. Thanks again, and I agree with what you guys are saying, but unfortunately I'm out of cash right now.

 

[Spinall4]

in my ty I have a setup similar to what you are thinking about doing. MBQuart QSD's in kickpods, with a QSD center channel fill. I agree with what spinall4 said, and here are some other thoughts:

1) you are insane to want to put 9-10 speakers in a sy. if you really want some fill I would recommend a tiny center channel fill speaker, except mount it in the center in the back of your sy. it would pull double duty as a center and rear fill. I have an adjustable volume control knob on mine, you want that, and get like a 25 watt, you don't need much fill on a sy...

2) use that speaker money to buy better amp(s). I have a JL 300/4 and a 500/1. I would recommend a 500/5 for you if you can afford it (I just sold one on ebay, brand new mint, for about $420). its long but will end up taking less or same space than two separate amps and here's a rarely known advantage, it actually provides a full 100 watts to each front speaker, whereas the 300/4 provides only 75 all around. the QSD's can handle 100 watts, many speakers can't. it will also provide 25 watts rear and 250 watts for a sub...

3) you don't need a killer sub in a sy. I recommend an 8". I am partial to JL W7's. but all of the ones that spinall4 mentioned are good subs. I have a JBL GTI 10" in mine in a fake spare tire enclosure and its pretty good.. but I have had a number of JL subs w/ enclosures in my previous cars and preferred them. my old JL 10W7 in genuine JL H.O. enclosure sold on ebay for $400...

4) head unit... I recommend an eclipse CD8053 if you can afford. $500 at an authorized dealer with warranty etc. 16 volt preouts... nuff said. if thats too much $$ then try ebay/forums for a pioneer DEH-P or alpine. should be able to score a decent one for about $100. I have a pioneer AVH-P6500 dvd player with flip out display. nice unit if you're into big flip-out displays, but I'm not. it'd be good for a rear view camera or when it breaks I'll sell the remote for $75 and get a CD8053

hth...

Ya I have a 8W7 in my talon. I love it, it is by far the best sub I've ever owned(and I've owned quite a few). Paid 400$ for it in town in the JL custom box. Could have found it cheaper online, but I will take my 3 Year waranty thank you.