Stereo System Opinions

[David_Yost]

Hey guys, I was looking to get some opinions on my plan for an upgraded system. I want to keep a relatively stock look, so I was thinking of switching the head unit to a Business CD out of an E36.

Speaker-wise, for the fronts I was thinking 5.25 components. Would 2-way or 3-way be recommended? Any specific recommendations? I'm on somewhat of a budget, but I don't want to half-ass it and not have it sound any better. So basically I'm looking for something nice, but not top of the line.

For the rears, I have a set of Kenwood 6.5" "KFC-1679ie" Coaxial speakers sitting around that a friend gave to me. I don't really know if these are any good or not, but I've heard of people running components for the fronts with 6.5s in the rears. So if these are pretty good and would make a good setup, I'd like to keep them to save some money. Would you guys recommend keeping these or shelling out for something else? If I shouldn't keep them, and recommendations on other solutions for the rear? (I know that 6.5" isn't the stock rear speaker size but I'll figure something out for that)

As for amps, I'm lost. I'm looking for a good amp but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. Any suggestions? I don't really care about having pounding bass, so I'd like to avoid adding a sub. I just want a clear, nice-sounding system. Thanks in advance guys. I know I can find some of this information in search but I've gotten a lot of threads where people will recommend one thing and someone else will say it's total garbage and not to get it and it's just all really confused me. Thanks again to those who reply!

- David

[permit]

JL amps, although overpriced, are quality. Rockford Fosgate amps are amazing, and priced a little better.

If you come across some money, pick up a set of Diamond Audio Hex S500A's. With a 500w amp, they're sex.

[David_Yost]

Thanks for the input, I checked out those speakers and... I think they're a bit out of my price range. Any cheaper alternative suggestions?

As for the amp, what would be recommended to power my system? Like which model? Seeing as I'm on somewhat of a budget Rockford Fosgate looks to be a better choice for me than JL. Could you please recommend a Rockford Fosgate amp?

And about the 6.5" Kenwoods in the back, any opinions? I have them laying around so I might as well use them but if they're not going to sound good, I'll upgrade instead. Keep or Ditch?

Thanks a lot

[permit]

6.5"s are a little more bassier, and some people don't like that. I don't know the wattage on the speakers you have, but it would be your decision if you'd want an amp to power them, or if you just want them running off the headunit directly.

I have my rears (5.25") hooked up to the headunit amp, just so they can be used as a filler for the front. The fronts (Diamond) are hooked up to a 500/2 Rockford.

Boston, JL, Diamond, MB, and Infinity (maybe?) are amongst the best speakers. Keep in mind speakers run at 4ohm, so a 200/2 amp would only put 50w to each speaker, 300/2 @ 75w, 500/2 @ 125w etc.

[permit]

Talk to Stereo Installer, he's the pro here.

[David_Yost]

Okay thanks for your help Permit!

What do you mean just use the rears as "filler for the front?" I was thinking if I had 5.25 components in the front, and then the 6.5 coaxials in the back I'd get like... Somewhat of a better range because, like you said, the 6.5s are indeed bassier. Would that work out? Or am I on the wrong track?

But I was also looking for a review of the specific speakers, because like I said before, a friend gave them to me, I've never really heard them, so I'd like to know if they're worth keeping if anyone's listened to them.

I was thinking maybe a 4-channel amp with one channel powering each speaker? But I'm still sort of confused on how the amps work. I was looking at this Rockford Fosgate Amp. Any thoughts?

EDIT: Or would it be more beneficial to just forget the rears in favour of more amp power devoted to the fronts? I read in This Thread that the Business CD head unit basically requires an amp, so I shouldn't run the rear speakers directly off of it I don't think

[DSchultz325e]

Try this one out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/MTX-PRO150X2-Blue-Thunder-425WATTS-PRICE-DROPPED_W0QQitemZ5861446672QQcategoryZ39742QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It might be old, but this was (still is) awesome stuff. It is listed as used, but is actually a refurbished product from them. I've ordered two of them, and they are fantastic. Easily the most cost-effective option you'll have for getting a hefty amount of power to some components.

And here is a set of an excellent 6.5" component speakers to go with them:

http://cgi.ebay.com/CADENCE-CWM6-KIT-6-5-COMPONENT-KIT_W0QQitemZ5859054165QQcategoryZ32819QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If 5.25 sounds better:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5859054072&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

These are new "old stock" speakers. They are not garbage. Cadence is a highly reputable brand, and this seller does not disappoint. The MTX amp will drive them with ease, and you can set the high pass filter to ease up on the bass a little.

You can use the 160 dollars you have left over from your budget and buy a sub and amp! J/K, but if you ever do, the MTX will perform great powering a subwoofer as well.

[permit]

The majority of people don't like having a lot of sound coming from behind them, since they want the "live concert" atmosphere. With weak rear speakers, it'll still be enough music coming from them to fill the car with sound so it doesn't sound like all the music is coming from the front.

[808BMW]

it'll still be enough music coming from them to fill the car with sound so it doesn't sound like all the music is coming from the front.

But that's what you want...

[David_Yost]

Thanks guys

Has anyone got any experience the Kenwood 6.5" coaxial speakers? Do they sound good?

[DSchultz325e]

"Sounding good" is completely subjective. It's up to you to audition the speakers and decide what you like, otherwise our recommendations might clash with your taste, and you'll have spent hard-earned money on something you didn't exactly want.

My opinion, Kenwoods are ho-hum. Their eXcelon stuff on the other hand, is great.

BTW, in your search for speakers, 6.5" will be fine if they will fit. Bass won't be exaggerated on a lower-end midrange (it should be pretty flat until the rolloff point), and you'll want some extra power handling anyway. You also will have an adjustable high pass filter on a decent amp, so hypothetically even if bass is exaggerated you can just filter it out.

[StereoInstaller1]

OK, I have about 3 minuites to chime in here.

The CD43 (or whatever the thing is called) is sweet. However, it should not directly drive speakers. It is too much of a load for the electronics of that deck. If anything, it would be really weak, like 4 watts RMS per channel.

If I were doing it on the cheap, I would do a small 4 channel amp and 4 decent speakers. 5.25 seperates in front, co-ax in the rear.

Memhis is the only (inexpensive) amp or speaker I am gonna carry, they sound great and are cheap.

If I cared much about actually listening to music, that same 4 channel amp running the same front speakers but a 10" subwoofer in a medium sized (1.0 cu. ft) ported box and NO REAR SPEAKERS at all would sound terrific, and could be done for around $650 shipped (USA), not counting the CD player.

Luke

[Alluvium]

what you can do is this, brea it down in to pieces, so like dont go get your whole system at once...

* headunit

* 4 speakers

* amp and sub

those three you can do seperatly, so you can take your time and build up on it, or you could buy speakers and under power them, and wait till you can get an amp

[David_Yost]

OK, I have about 3 minuites to chime in here.

The CD43 (or whatever the thing is called) is sweet. However, it should not directly drive speakers. It is too much of a load for the electronics of that deck. If anything, it would be really weak, like 4 watts RMS per channel.

If I were doing it on the cheap, I would do a small 4 channel amp and 4 decent speakers. 5.25 seperates in front, co-ax in the rear.

Memhis is the only (inexpensive) amp or speaker I am gonna carry, they sound great and are cheap.

If I cared much about actually listening to music, that same 4 channel amp running the same front speakers but a 10" subwoofer in a medium sized (1.0 cu. ft) ported box and NO REAR SPEAKERS at all would sound terrific, and could be done for around $650 shipped (USA), not counting the CD player.

Luke

Thank you very much Luke!

That second option (with the 10-inch sub and only fronts) sounds like it would be the best option for me. I just have a few more questions about it.

I like loud, but I don't really care that much about heavy pounding bass... So would that be a good setup for loud with a balanced amount of bass? Or would the 4-speakers provide significantly more volume? It's not a HUGE concern of mine, but I like loud music (and I would like it to be clear when loud).

If I decided to go with that setup, then which of the Memphis 4-channel amps would you recommend? And which subwoofer? M-Class? Power Reference? I was doing some research on the website and couldn't really figure out which would be the best.

For the fronts, ebay seems to have some quite reasonably-priced Inifnity Reference 5.25" components. Would you recommend those or some speakers from Memphis? I can't seem to find any ebay Memphis 5.25" speakers (possibly because I'm in Canada, so I only search auctions that would ship to me).

Thanks again!

what you can do is this, brea it down in to pieces, so like dont go get your whole system at once...

* headunit

* 4 speakers

* amp and sub

those three you can do seperatly, so you can take your time and build up on it, or you could buy speakers and under power them, and wait till you can get an amp

Well thanks for the suggestion, but I have the money to get what's required, I'm just not a HUGE audiophile, so money is a concern in that I don't want to spend a HUGE amount on a system that's "absolutely amazing" when I'd be happy with a system that's just "good" at a fraction of the cost. And actually, the headunit I plan on getting pretty much requires the speakers to be amped, so I'd have a hard time breaking it down the way you did. Thanks for the input though!



- David

[StereoInstaller1]

OK...so how does one differentiate between what is "adequate" vs. "AMAZING!!!"?

Shit...I don't know. If I can put someone in a room, have them listen and watch their expressions, I can nail it almost immediately. I can describe the numbers, but that is meaningless for most folks.

Since I am familliar with most every musical type out there, I can dig through someones CD (or media files, whatever) collection and design from that.

But on the web, in a forum...who can accurately decide these things?

I listen to Blues, Jazz and 70's funk. When sitting in a Wendys fast food joint, I own the entire CD of most every song that comes on. My CD collection is about 2500 CD's of damn near every category I know of, except Opera.

Fuck Opera.

I like some decent thump in my music, but I am not willing to give up much room, nor am I willing to tolerate excess weight, other than my belly.

I like full bass extension, but what I considered adequate, but just barely, Jordan thought was too much, too big.

In general, a single 10" in a very well designed ported box running on about 150 RMS watts makes about 120 DB at 25Hz, in our cars. In general, you can distingiush the individual key notes on the beginning of Madonna's "Vogue", or discren the individual keystrokes of synthesizer bass on Enya's "Watermark" disc. Clarity means you can tell kick drum from bass guitar, even doubled.

What I was talking about with the Memphis stuff was including a box. Ask Jordan (or whoever bought Jordans box) what they think of my work...the one I am gonna be selling here on R3V will be far better fitting, and include a "Pretty Panel" in matching trunk carpet. Most shops would charge about $400 for the box and panel. All MDF, of course. My car will be the test mule.

Port and woofer will vent through the ski hole, trunk tar in place. Box output will be 100% sealed into the interior of the car...boom outside the vehicle will be minimal with the windows up.

The gear would be Power Reference line...as good as most brands, far superior to quite a few, and cheap.

M Class would be nicer, but WAY more money. Maybe go there in a quieter car, when you wanna spend more money.

Anyway, I hope I have answered at least some questions.

Luke