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Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Hello!
I just got a new car that's audio stinks. At least compared to the prior car I had, with 24 speakers professionally balanced and tuned. Now, I don't plan on doing THAT, but I'd like to improve my sound quality substantially, basically replace the stock everything.
So I'm here to learn!
--Alex
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
:welcome: It would appear that we are neighbors. I'm in Southfield. I'd be glad to help as much as I can.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Welcome! Audio is a cruel addiction. We are here to help :thumbup:
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
:hand: Welcome.
Nice car you got there - new Imprezas are at the top of their class in the latest consumer reports ratings :thumbup:
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Always good to see another audio person !
Wei come to A GREAT place :peace:
Hic
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Welcome! There are plenty of us in your same situation, and I can verify that you found the right place to be for help and support. There are some great people and great minds on here!
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Quote:
Originally Posted by
beak81champ
Welcome! There are plenty of us in your same situation, and I can verify that you found the right place to be for help and support. There are some great people and great minds on here!
Dammit, don't over-sell us!
:neener:
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Oh yeah, except for Al....lol
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
One tip- check the ego at the door and question everything you've heard in the past. This is a pragmatic bunch with tons of practical experience willing to share knowledge and experience, not someone trying to sell you a product or service.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
I'm about to use the site to start selling home colonics kits. :D
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
BIG AL'S Big AZZ BASS DUMPS! 3 payments of $15.99...plus s+p...no refunds
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Screwdriver included?
:lulz:
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Thanks all! Well, I'll start out that I've been through most of a car and done some home audiophile but have am at about a 1 out of 10 on car audio. Don't think I can go from there to ego, and I'm well aware people come off bad so ignore if it sounds rudder, so should be OK on that!
@LITTLEMISSGTO Southfield? Can you recommend an installer around here? The guy at cartunes Redford, maybe he was just watching the desk, his only help was to point out some alpine stuff, I want a little more help/specific than that. I do want to stop by again see if I get a better guy though.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Quote:
Originally Posted by
awoodby
@LITTLEMISSGTO Southfield? Can you recommend an installer around here? The guy at cartunes Redford, maybe he was just watching the desk, his only help was to point out some alpine stuff, I want a little more help/specific than that. I do want to stop by again see if I get a better guy though.
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Go see Jay at Sound Advantage in Rochester. You will not be disappointed. In fact, after this holiday weekend (and a few imperative parts swaps) my GTO is going back to him for some finishing touches.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
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Originally Posted by
littlemissGTO
Go see Jay at Sound Advantage in Rochester. You will not be disappointed. In fact, after this holiday weekend (and a few imperative parts swaps) my GTO is going back to him for some finishing touches.
My budget for my first upgrade isn't huge, thinking a Pioneer 5800bhs HU, then like $300 for a minor sub (just want some deep tone, don't need BOOM or too much bass), then like $300 for an amp. Am I too cheap for them, or do they do non-focal/jl/alpine stuff as well?
I want a cheap system in first, THEN I'll set aside funds for whatever I want improved. Just put all my money into Buying the car 2 weeks ago :)
Thanks!
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Quote:
Originally Posted by
awoodby
My budget for my first upgrade isn't huge, thinking a Pioneer 5800bhs HU, then like $300 for a minor sub (just want some deep tone, don't need BOOM or too much bass), then like $300 for an amp. Am I too cheap for them, or do they do non-focal/jl/alpine stuff as well?
I want a cheap system in first, THEN I'll set aside funds for whatever I want improved. Just put all my money into Buying the car 2 weeks ago :)
Thanks!
PM JayinMi He can tell you better about pricing. I met Jay through CAJ. Our first meeting involved building a FG sub box for the GTO. The second meeting involved me leaving the GTO with him and letting him do what he does best. I realize that car audio tuning and wiring are not my thing...LOL I have some speakers and tweets that they do not sell waiting to go in the car, and Jay will do that work for me.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
I may be able to supply you with some of what you want , Shauna knows me !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
awoodby
My budget for my first upgrade is $300 for a minor sub (just want some deep tone, don't need BOOM or too much bass), then like $300 for an amp. Thanks!
http://www.caraudiojunkies.com/showt...713-old-things
http://www.caraudiojunkies.com/showt...itional-photos
http://www.caraudiojunkies.com/showt...1651-xmas-sale
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Hmm, ok. Yes, at this point I would like to have the wiring done properly for future better equipment, though equipment wise may go cheaper for now. Probably not though, I think I'll do a jl amp and some sub first. Hu can wait.
OR, someone recommended an NVX, that Plus the HU comes in cheaper than the JL, so doing all 3 would be doable...
Or not. I think the jl amp, have good amplification to start, do the HU later.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Well, I bought the JL 900x5 amp from captainobvious. Looks about unused, great condition.
Also ordered an alpine 10" sub and enclosure from Amazon, arriving today.
I'm here looking up the installer littlemissGTO recommended, see if they'll put it all in. If I get them to, will likely add the HU now, probably a Pioneer 5800BHS. Not that I give a damn about DVD, but double din and ability to show waze or google maps is great. Will also show my backup camera, has timing controls and high and low pass filters. The only difference between the 5800 and 4800 is HD radio, and like $30 bucks, so may as well.
NOW I'm thinking I should upgrade the 6.5" mids and tweeters (component 6.5" pioneers). Everything else is higher end, should probably up them, move the Pioneer's to the back (and keep balance forward)
Would a pair of $150 Hertz or JL's be ok? I think they have a couple options at that price point that can handle 100wRMS (not that I'll often be playing it at 1/4 of that)?
Thanks! ALMOST there!
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Congrats. It's seen limited use, but that HD900/5 served me well. That thing looked brand spanking new when I boxed it up too. Almost didn't want to let it go lol. You got a good one :)
Good luck!
Take your time on the speakers. I would recommend trying to integrate dsp before changing the speakers. That would be the best area to spend on as it will make the biggest difference in your sound. Either spend on a better HU with the processing so you're not buying it twice, or go with a basic HU with a clean signal and low price point and a stand-alone dsp. That would be my recommendation. :)
You can make budget speakers sound great with dsp and tuning. You can also make expensive speakers sound bad without it.
A killer head unit with robust DSP is the Pioneer P99RS.
If you end up interested in something like that, let me know if you need help sourcing something. I do have some used stuff after all. I have a P99rs as well as an older Alpine w505 double din unit and H701 processor with rux display controller.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Quote:
Originally Posted by
captainobvious
I have a P99rs as well..
I'll pretend I didn't read that, and keep moving on. Carry on. :)
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Hey if you're looking to acquire gear, I just pulled my SB17 mids (NVX XSP65 version). As it appears I'll have a different set to try, so they'll be shelf bound.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
I bought a pioneer 5800, has the same high and low pass and timing features, but is double din and has a nerdscreen too. Couldn't figure out what the prs had that it didn't?
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Quote:
Originally Posted by
awoodby
I bought a pioneer 5800, has the same high and low pass and timing features, but is double din and has a nerdscreen too. Couldn't figure out what the prs had that it didn't?
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4 way (3+ sub) and some magic sq dust :p
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Not sure the outs on the 5800... Ok, its pretty much all magic dust to me right now!
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
3+1? I can think of right, left and sub, I'll Google that when I'm not on my phone
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Quote:
Originally Posted by
awoodby
3+1? I can think of right, left and sub, I'll Google that when I'm not on my phone
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2-way is just mid and tweeter...add a sub and it's a 2+1. A 3-way is tweeter, midrange, midbass...add a sub and it's 3+1. The Pioneer that you got has 6 outputs, which would cover the tweeters, midrange, and sub(s)...but like James said, finding a HU with 8 outputs is rare.
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Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BigAl205
2-way is just mid and tweeter...add a sub and it's a 2+1. A 3-way is tweeter, midrange, midbass...add a sub and it's 3+1. The Pioneer that you got has 6 outputs, which would cover the tweeters, midrange, and sub(s)...but like James said, finding a HU with 8 outputs is rare.
Yep, there's the 99RS and that's it. Don't know of any other head unit that'll process 8 channels. Unless you go with outboard DSP like a Helix DSP 8-channel or JL TwK. Then anything can feed it signal.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Oooh... Mid bass.
Doesn't the external amp split the signal if you have one, not the Hu? Mind you, I only have a 5 channel
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Not "split"... I mean more, amp has 4 outs, use two for components another 2 for mid bass, then sub on last one
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Unfortutely, the hd900/5 does not have a bandpass filter required for a dedicated mid bass but luckily I think your pioneer Hu has that capability in network mode. You would have to use the included passive xover between the midrange & tweeter in this case.
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Re: Mostly new to car audio, learning as much as I can
Ah, so get mid bass speakers, put the components on "high", sub on "low" and the mid bass on middle. So mid bass speakers aren't just the woofer from the component but different, I'll have to look into that. Would mid bass be OK in the rear door spot or would I need to fab a spot in the front doors? The rear door speaker is pretty far forward in the wrx iirc
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