How does this sound for my first system?

[01_grandam]

For my first system in my GA im going to put in a MTX 9500 12", Rockford Fosgate 1001BD amp, Panasonic 3300U HU, Rockford Fosgate 2 gauge wire, and puttin the sub in a Q-Logic box. After I get more money I might happen to buy a capacitor with it. I figured it's not bad for a first system.

[doobiess]

im not here to knock your choices but from my experiences Ive learned rather than investing the majority of the money into an amp or sub is that to get a good head unit as the main aspect of your setup. I couldnt believe the differnce in a good deck since that is what sends the signal and if you dont have a good one.. your good amp and subs will only sound as good as the deck.

But thats just me.. i say go more for a deck and less for subs and amp

[birdhouse]

I completely agree with Ryan. I'm not a fan of Panasonic HU's at all... My friend Dave has had 2 different ones, and one was sent in TWICE to get fixed and the damn thing broke again, that's when he bought the second. 3 months into having the second, it wouldn't eject his cd or play it or turn the band to the radio... Needless to say, he moved onto Alpine at my recommendation and has been happy for the last 7 months now (I think it's been 7 months... :P )

[01_grandam]

So what kind of HU would you recommend for me? I thought about an alpine and also my brother had a panasonic HU. He gave about 170 for it and its been a little over a year now and just about a month ago his quit and wont even turn on at all. Also how much is it going to set me back for a good HU? The alpine I looked at was around $200.

[birdhouse]

It all depends on what you want. The newer Alpine's with the glide touch bar are amazing. The Bio-Light displays on them are so crisp and easy to read, I can't wait to get one. But, a nice mid-level Alpine deck with 3 sets of preouts would do you just fine.

[01_grandam]

I don't really know much about car audio at all. But what about the Alpine CDA-9851? It's about $250

[birdhouse]

That would be a perfect deck for what you have, and what you could have in the future. I would go with that over ANY Panasonic.

[Lash]

I've never had ANY problems with the Panasonics I've owned. I loved them.

[birdhouse]

Yes, that's great, but Alpine IMHO makes the best HU for under $500, period. Nothing I have played with compares to the clarity, options, power, or even look of a nice Alpine deck.

[doobiess]

its one of those things.. you might end up spending like 700$ or something on your setup and after you install will you be 100% happy or 90% or whatever and soon after regret you couldve just spent 50 or 100$ more on a HU that wouldve been 2x better for your needs...

Pay a bit more now can save you a whole lot later.. and more enjoyment

[doobiess]

Also as a side note i owned a Panasonic HU before and worked awsome never 1 prob and it was fine for what i had at the time.. but for the sub and amp you wanna install you may regret it

I have a kenwood excelon x917 which is about 3 years old.. was top of the line then and retailed for 999$cdn that is.. and i can say that unit is the pride and joy of my setup.. I got so many options and settings to play with that i can achieve any sound i want. Even though i wont recomend a Kenwood now but the older ones i would highly recomend

[01_grandam]

I also looked at the Kenwood excelon. I may even step up the Alpine to one of the glide touch screens. I really love the way those things look.

[beatz]

just to throw another option out there also look into pioneer heads i honestly swear by them excellent quality features are awsome the one i just got has i believe the 3 sets of preouts like an alpine yet considerably cheaper its a single rotary dial compared to the usual 2 on other heads

[beatz]

btw get in contact with me about your headunit purchase ill see if i can get you a deal on anything other then a alpine


doobiess i couldnt agree with you more what has been up with kenwood as of late ? i would not go with them in the last year and a half

[birdhouse]

Don't go with Pioneer... If you were looking to not upgrade anything further than maybe amping some aftermarkets 6x9"s or components or something, then I would say go with Pionneer. They just aren't as powerful as Alpine and they def. don't come close to as many options as Alpine's do.

[01_grandam]

Well I ended up going with the MTX 9500 12" Subwoofer, Rockford Fosgate 1001bd Amp, Rockford Fosgate 2 Gauge amp kit (already had), and the Alpine CDA-9853 cd player.

[01_grandam]

I haven't ordered the MTX 9500 12" yet because im thinking of buying he Alpine SWX-1242D sub instead. What should I buy or another sub around 300 bucks?

[birdhouse]

Are you only buying one sub to save space, or for another reason?? I have always loved the Alpine Type R's, and you can def. find 2 10" Type R's that your amp would push nicely for under $300. I don't know if that would include shipping, but I know you could find 2 of them for 300 no problem!

[01_grandam]

I don't really care about saving space it is just that im limited on money. I got about 650 to spend on a CD player and Subwoofers. My brother already had the rockford amp. He bought a 15" HX2 and the amp for $200. He blew the HX2 so he is going to let me use the amp. I looked at 2 12" Alpine type-R's. They was like 150 a piece with free shipping. Oh yeah I wanted one sub because the amp is a mono block. So I am looking for something good with loud bass for around 300 or cheaper if possible and has a RMS of 1000 at the least.

[birdhouse]

Just because it's a mono blocked amp, doesn't mean you have to only have 1 sub. I have a MTX 4250D, it's a mono, and it's running my 2 12" Type E's perfectly fine. I say go with those Type R's! You will be very, very, VERY satisfied with the thump that comes from those.

[01_grandam]

Well then I will probably go with the 2 12"s. But one question should I buy the dual 2-ohms v.c or the dual 4-ohm v.c.? Also how did you wire the mono amp into 2 subwoofers?

[01_grandam]

Ok how about this? 2 12" Alpine SWR-1222D subwoofers, Alpine CDA-9847 cd player, and Crunch BlackMaxx BLX2250 amplifier.

[birdhouse]

Stick with the mono amp you already have and yes, that system sounds like it will really slam. Plus, I've never heard of Crunch. That doesn't mean it's a bad company, but it also means it's not good cause it's something I've never heard of before.

[Lash]

Crunch sucks. Stick with the rockford. Get 2 dual 4 ohm voice coil subs and run them like the top picture on this page...

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/learningcenter/car/subwoofers_wiring.html?subs=2&impedance=DVC4x2

[01_grandam]

So I run it like the top picture if I got a mono amp and 2 subs? And also its 1000 RMS by1 at 2 ohms and 500 RMS at 4 ohms. So just asking since I dont know anything but wouldn't I want 2 ohms and split it so I get the 500 rms to both subs? And also if I wire it like the picture what RMS will I be puttin into the subs? Thanks

[car audio dave]

ge the dual 2 ohms. that way you run it in series/parallel for a 2 ohm net load, which will get you 1000 RMS. for diagrams go to www.jlaudio.com and i think its in the tutorials section.

[car audio dave]

heres the diagram and description:
2 DVC drivers with Voice Coils in Series / Parallel
Connecting the two voice coils of each driver in series (+ to -) and the drivers themselves in parallel (+ to +, etc.) will result in the following impedances:
Dual-6 Ohm Subwoofers: 6 Ohms
Dual-4 Ohm Subwoofer: 4 Ohms
Dual-2 Ohm Subwoofer: 2 Ohms
http://www.jlaudio.com/tutorials/wiring/images/DVC_Series_2.gif

[01_grandam]

Thanks that diagram really helps! But car audio dave will that be 1000 RMS to one and 1000 RMS to the other will it be split 500? The sub is only 500 RMS so i was just checking so I didn't blow the subs and waste $300.

[01_grandam]

Also I will probably build my own box and I was wondering how big I should build it. Isn't there a website that calculates it for you like on crutchfield.com or something?

[Troggs]

Honestly this is what I have a I recommend this to alot of people. It's good and its not too $$$. CDA-9855, MRD-M501 x 2, SWR-1241D x 2, and last years type r speakers. 5 1/4 and 6x9, and MRV-F540 and I love how it sounds.