i'm a newbie with audio!

[mo]

but with amps, subs etc!
if i'm running just the factory speakers and say a 12" sub, what kinda amp would i need?

4ch? and what needs? nothing fancy really.

[Jnr Teggy]

it all depends on your budget and the result you are after..


more info mate!

[mo]

well reasonable bass? lol
how much is a decent amp anyways?

[Jnr Teggy]

good amps cost...

and like i said it all depends on your budget..

[poid]

First tip with car audio is set a budget for yourself, then you can work out what you can and cant get :)

Without a budget you'll get 50 different recommendations

[LUD02C]

Don't bother running your factory speakers through the amp (waste of time)

If you only going to get a sub and no other speakers then i suggest you just go out and buy a $200 2 channel Alpine amp!

Unless you are planning in near future to get some nice audio gear then i'll change my post :D

What sub you got or getting?
What is your budget for both?

[mo]

well im only going to be running a sub. with factory speakers.

was thinking of a 12" pioneer dual coil one.

[LUD02C]

I actually run 2 pioneer subs!
I was not keen on gettin them, but they came cheap and they suprised me!

I'm saving for a JL Audio Sub :D

As for you, come on rough figures for budget?

[Jnr Teggy]

mate if you do it that way all you will end up with is a heap of bass and not much else!

[LUD02C]

mate if you do it that way all you will end up with is a heap of bass and not much else!


Sam is right
You will not hear the music of over the bass!
I didn't even think of that, well done SAMMY :lol:

[mo]

hrmmz...back to saving! hahah

[XXpl0Sive]

yeh all you will hear is muffled thumping :)
you need a budget because in car audio, you sorta get what you pay for hehe

[Calvo]

i was gonna go the route of sub first etc.
but u'll prob find it better if u get some good 6x9s or 7x10s and put them and a headunit in. u'll get better bass and sound than a stock system. then save for a sub.
if ur not desperate, look around on popular forums (fast fours, hot4s) in the for sale sections. u can snap up some bargains sometimes. i got a nice pair of kenwood 7x10s 220W 3 way speakers for $25!! the guy need money to pay rego so he was desperate.

[wynode]

If you are going to get a sub in the end, then stay away from 6x9s and 7x10s, as you could put that money towards a decent pair of 6.5" 2/3 ways.

IF you are going to run the 6x9/7x10s then make sure you run them on high pass, because they produce a very poor bass sound compared to the sub.

Also, in most cars, fitting 6x9s is a 'little' bit more complicated than fitting normal circular speakers.

[poid]

yup, absolutely no point in getting 6x9's if you are getting a sub. Get some splits for the front, the rear speakers should be last on the list (i dont even run any, they drag the soundstage backwards when i do).

Stockie speakers can be blown even just from the power of an aftermarket HU :)

[prelude89]

If your on a budget for speaker's, might I suggest a visit to your local Jaycar store.

Lots of people will turn their noses up at Jaycar gear, but I have had an excellent run out of their gear.

My current 2x84w amp, which drives the sub as seen 3 cars, many many miles on dusty country roads, and it still pumps out excellent power.

Their cheapie 3-way 6" car speaker's are great value for the rear, and their hi-quality (thier term!) speaker's are great for up-front.

[LUD02C]

What are the prices for all your gear at Jaycar?

Just rough figures!
I wanna compare!

[Jnr Teggy]

If your on a budget for speaker's, might I suggest a visit to your local Jaycar store.

Lots of people will turn their noses up at Jaycar gear, but I have had an excellent run out of their gear.

My current 2x84w amp, which drives the sub as seen 3 cars, many many miles on dusty country roads, and it still pumps out excellent power.

Their cheapie 3-way 6" car speaker's are great value for the rear, and their hi-quality (thier term!) speaker's are great for up-front.


i'd have to agree with you there!

i have used a pair of their 2 x 150 amps and was very happy with them..

[mo]

hrmm yea i've heard good things from jaycar...will go visit.

[Jnr Teggy]

What are the prices for all your gear at Jaycar?

Just rough figures!
I wanna compare!


check the jaycar website!

[prelude89]

What are the prices for all your gear at Jaycar?


I used to have good friends that worked in the local store, but they all quit en-mass one day because the new ceo (?) was an arsehole.

Now I gots to pay retail :(

[prelude89]

My current system uses a carbon fibre 12" sub driven by their 2x84w amp, a pair of their cheapie car 6" speaker's in the rear, a pair of their hi-quality speaker's in the door's and a pair of their quality tweaters on the dash. All speaker's except the sub are driven by the Alpine head unit.

Sounds good.

I realise it could sound better, but that costs more than I can afford, and I am yet to sit in a car and listen to a 'professional' install, so until that happens, I have nothing to compare it with.

[Calvo]

ive looked at some new jaycar amps, and they rnt that awfully cheap. however for the 4 channel ones i was lookin at, they r decent compare to all the big names.

[Calvo]

IF you are going to run the 6x9/7x10s then make sure you run them on high pass, because they produce a very poor bass sound compared to the sub.
wat running on a high pass? soz im not really knowlegdable in audio but yeh.
how would i go about doin that?

[poid]

High pass means you have a filter that only allows midrange and high freequencies to be play...you can set the frequency at which you high pass and also the "slope". The filter isnt a total cutoff, it rolls the sound off from that frequency.

How you do it? Usually amps have crossovers built in, a lot of HU's do too now. Otherwise you can use a small capacitor as a simple high-pass filter

The image below is an example of what a crossover rolloff looks like (this is an example of high-pass):

EDIT: here's the pic:

http://poida27.customer.netspace.net.au/Xover.jpg

[Calvo]

ahh ok. i see now :D
so ur sayin i should set my rear speakers at that. will have to check it out wen i get my amp.

[wynode]

ahh ok. i see now :D
so ur sayin i should set my rear speakers at that. will have to check it out wen i get my amp.

Just make sure your amp lets you change the crossover (highpass, low pass etc) before you buy it :)

[Calvo]

thanks alot for that info wynode.
looks like ill have to look around for that now.

[bumthology]

Hi guys,
i'm a bit of an audiophile...
just tell me a budget and i'll recommend something as i've been researching about good car audio stuff for the past few months..
but yea,
what u should get first is..
H/U, splits, amp then sub!
thats the way to go!
=D

[vti-2]

Or you can visit the auscaraudio forums and signup! ;)

Friendly bunch of guys there with lots of experience and always willing to give advice...

http://www.auscaraudio.com

:thumbsup:

[poid]

nah www.caraudioaustralia.com is the place to be :P

(i'm a moderator on CAA and Vic a mod on ACA LoL)