stevemk07

Budget:

component set: 250
amp: tbd after components selected

I am tryng to get the best sound possible in my car without sending too much more.

The only brands available to hear anywhere near me are not worth mentioning except Alpine. I will be ordering online.

I love many genres of music so a quality speaker with good bass response and believable/pleasant highs would ROCK.

Here are some possibilties thus far:

JBL P660 - Great reviews with 45 - 23k Hz response. 2 ohm, and 94 db

Polk db6501 - 40 - 23k, 4 ohm, 92db

Comments on these choices or any other suggestion are your duty now. And thanks.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

You're going to need an amp that accepts a balanced signal OR a processor so factor that in. If you get an amp that can run active then that opens up more/better options

stevemk07

I may be wrong but I thought there were a few people around here who took the signal pre-amp with amps that apparently did not specifically accept balanced signals and they sounded fine? I guess it would be good to clear that up.

I hate cars

I gave up on that argument. I've run a McIntosh and an Interfire, both of which I believe do not have balanced inputs and I had no issues. Some apparently do have issues without balanced inputs pre-amp. I know it can be done since I've done it and I believe Jerry has as well but maybe non balanced is more likely to have noise.

In the old days, I don't remember people talking about balanced or non balanced. I've never searched back but I just don't remember this being discussed much until maybe the past year.

stevemk07

Interesting. I suppose I will cross that bridge when I get there. I may be able to get away with not using an aftermarket for now.

Has anyone tried Image Dynamics CXS62 v2 components on the stock amp?

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Just polishing a turd with the stock amp

stevemk07

Perhaps, but it should be a significant improvement for the meantime.

I hate cars

If I could only do one or the other, I would do the amp before the aftermarket speakers.

stevemk07

Ok Im going to go all out. What amp? Can power just the l and r front channels leaving everything else on stock amp? I want signal before stock amp for components.

jda123

I have never had an aftermarket HU or line driver in my car, and I am of the opinion that you will struggle with the balanced DIFFERENTIAL signal if you don't account for it.

Get a JL 300/2, or 300/4 for a 150x2 experience with your comps. JL amps are available, good amps and works with the signal. I just grabbed a zapco ref 350.2 locally for $150, so look around - there are good used amps out there. ...just test 'em before you buy 'em.

ID CXS are very nice speakers. I thought that the tweets were a bit soft, but I also had Focal Utopias in my other car. The midbass is strong. The crossover is good enough that you don't need to buy a processor. For the money, there are few better choices.

stevemk07

Thanks, I was leaning to JL for amplification based on proven success / quality. I would not mind a processor but we'll see.

jda123

I have a bitone.1 and some decent speakers in my TL. When I move them to my next car, I will be using the crossovers that came with my set and not the processor. It is cool and all, but the juice is not worth the squeeze for me anymore... besides the better sets come with pretty good crossovers. Personally, I would spend the processor money on better components.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

I'll take that Bit.1 off your hands

I'm figuring out that I'd like to have and/or start with a processor that has AutoEQ in it. I know the MS-8 does, but it looks to be a pain in the ass for most users. It's cool being able to do everything in the 3sixty.2, but I just don't know enough yet AND I don't have a quality RTA to be using the 1/3octave EQ to its full potential.

stevemk07

So if all the SQL enhancements in the TL are done in the factory amp won't I need a separate sound processor just to get it back to where it was to begin with?

The 360.2 looks interesting.

jda123

What the factory amp does sucks. The crossovers that come with your aftermarket set will be a million times better and are made for your speakers. The head unit puts out a pretty good signal (for the front channels) that is full range and very flat - use that, not the amp'd signal. I have a bitone in one of my cars and I use the processors in the Zapco amps in the other... but next time, I would just use the crossovers in the set and call it a day.

I hate cars

One thing I'm learning is that the automatic volume based "loudness" curve must be built into the HU and not the amp. Along with the MS8 it helps to kill dynamics. As the volume is increased, bass and treble are decreased. Lately I've been setting mine so that 15 on the volume is the max I need to use and I get much more bass at the higher volumes.

I also agree that for me a processor is just not worth it anymore. Maybe a little cheap EQ for small adjustments but I think I liked my system just as much on the crossovers that came with my Dyns.

jda123

I would replace the stock ELS HU with a high quality double DIN before I would process, if I was doing it again. I think (just supposition here, nothing substantial) that this would be a better SQ improvement.