Memphis or Kicker?

[seanzy2969]

friend of mine told me that kickers was alot better then memphis subs?

is my friend right?

if so i may just invest some money in some kickers

[Blackhawk]

It depends on alot of things. Sealed or ported? One or two, size? SPL (boom) or SQ (sound)? etc. There is no hands down best sub and you usually get what you pay for. I know people swear by Kicker L7s but they also only had Duals and V3s (I think that's the name) before that and they go by name brands.

[sammybammy]

i know 2 guys. 1 has 2 15 L7's and the other has 2 15 colored memphis subs and both are loud as hell. depends on what size sub and how much power you are looking to run

[seanzy2969]

hmm.. guess your right, it depends on alot of things.

i've got two 10' memphis subs that im gettin rdy to install tomar.

so i was just curious.

[seanzy2969]

ohh its just a 760 wat amp.

is that too low you think?

should i upgrade to about a 1000 or 1200?

[bryan]

What model are the Memphis subwoofers?

[Blackhawk]

I'm running 1000 watts RMS with two 12s. Is the 760 peak or RMS?

[sammybammy]

i bet it will sound pretty good. but it won't be defening :lol: but it should be potent enought for a first system

[seanzy2969]

What model are the Memphis subwoofers?



not even sure man.

they were a gift.

just got them yesterday and have'nt gotten much time to even look at em.
but i got the amp kit and stuff today for it.

[seanzy2969]

i bet it will sound pretty good. but it won't be defening :lol: but it should be potent enought for a first system



lmao... i hope it is.

i just wanna be heard. lol...

and trust me in this small town that i live it.. i dont even know if u could call it a town, maybe more like a small village lmao. i swear man.

but anyways as small as it is, i should be heard through out the whole county lol.

[Blackhawk]

The only downside to bumping in a small town is everybody knows which car it is and where you park. I'd recommend not bumping it too hard outside your house, work, anywhere you regularly park for logn periods of time.

[seanzy2969]

lol. hmm never thought of that. but your right man.

thanks for the advice.
i'll try and keep my cool with em.

im excited about seeing them in action 2mar though lol.

i'll take pictures or something sometime and post em

[AznGA]

I went from 2 Kicker CVR's to just one CVX in a sealed box. I am happy with it.

[seanzy2969]

CVX huh?
just got done looking at some, and it looks really nice. how big is it?

[AznGA]

It's a 12". I will get you a picture of it later today. I am happy with it. It doesn't have the best sound quality, but it gives me enough bass.

[seanzy2969]

please do man. i wanna check it out for sure. sounds awesome.

i hope my two 10's are enough to keep me satisfied

[nvmystyl]

no one here has heard the new MTX square subs unless they attended the CES concention and I will tell you that they are awesome. It is honestly one of the best sounding, most crisp tight bas that I have ever heard. I am sponsored by them and have the opportunity to be one of the few that have these speakers. I am not just saying this due to being sponsored either, they are truely the best that I have heard, EVER. I have 3 of the 12" squares, duel 2 ohm in a sealed enclosure. If you have the opportunity to get them, or to even hear them, take it and you will be more than happy.

Dustin

[AznGA]

Sorry if I sounded like I have a kickass custom setup...it's just a simple sealed box. :lol:

But anyway, the grill is from Kicker as well.

[seanzy2969]

wow bro. that looks really nice.
im jealous. ima have to put up a pic of mine sometime soon.

would today but its pouring outside lol.

[nvmystyl]

Here is a pic of my setup for this season:

[seanzy2969]

def looks sharp man. lotta interior work bro.

sharp.

[sammybammy]

Here is a pic of my setup for this season:

showoff :roll: looks insane :wow:

[JonWeichel]

dude, ive never heard much of memphis systems, but my friend just bought a 10" Kicker L7 and it makes his roof look like a fkin ocean...i was amazed of what that lil 10" could do...idk tho id go with Kicker after seein what i saw, but im sure Memphis has some crazy sh** too....

[ChaunB3400]

Kicker subs are average at best

and Memphis subs are the same..

Do yourself a favor and do some research

Quick reference guide

This is the infamous Good, Bad, and Ugly list.

These are some generalized groupings and very subjective. We've simply stated our experiences with the products whether they are direct installs, personal property or extensive research. You should always physically audition a product before purchase because you are the one who will determine whether or not an item "sounds good" or not.
The overall groupings are based on performance, reliability, and build quality, without regard to price.

This topic, while being controversial, is simply a generalized guide meant for beginners in the hobby. Many brands specialize in certain items, ie. better amplifiers than speakers, better mids than subs, etc... Also almost all manufacturers offer entry level products as well as high performance lines. Good luck with your decisions.

We've broken this section into 4 catagories:
1: Bad (avoid)
2: Questionable (mixed reviews, disputed, unsure, or depends on the item)
3: Good (just about always worth consideration)
4: Highly Recommended (considered audiophile grade)




This is the general section:


Bad

American HiFi (Rockwood)
American Pro
Audiobahn (speakers and subwoofers)
Audiovox
Automobile
Becker
Boss
DHD
Dual
JDL
Jensen
Kenwood (speakers and amplifiers)
Kingwood
Kole
Kraco
Kronik
LA Sound
Legacy
Lightining Audio
MA Audio
Optimus (Radio Shack)
Power Acoustik
Profile
Pyle
Pyramid
Rockwood
SAS Bazooka (amplifiers)
Sherwood
Sony (anything by Sony except the older Mobile ES line)
Sound Storm (owned by BOSS Audio)
Sparkomatic
SPL Audio
Thump
Ultimate Sounds
Volfenhag


Questionable

Blaupunkt (Bosch)
Aiwa
Crunch
Elemental Designs (eD)
Harmon-Kardon (current, Phoenix Gold owned)
Hollywood
Infinity (amplifiers, reference components)
Kenwood (head units)
Kicker Solobaric (L5, L7, Solo-X square subs)
Lanzar
Lightning Audio
Matsui
Onyx Mobile Audio
Panasonic
Phoenix Gold (anything after the mid 1990s)
Pioneer (amplifiers)
SAS Bazooka (bass tubes)
Soundstream (current Power Acoustik owned products)
Visonik


Good

Adire Audio
a/d/s (present DEI owned items)
Alpine
Altec Lansing
Alumapro
Ample Audio
Audiobahn (amplifiers)
Audio Development
Audiomobile
Autotek
Avionixx
Boston Acoustics
Bravox
Cadence (current amplifier products)
CD Technologies (CDT)
Cerwin Vega (subs)
Clarion (head units)
Coustic
Crossfire
Crystal
Directed (DEI)
Earthquake
Eaton
Elevation Audio
Helix
Hifonics
Illusion
Infinity
JBL (amplifiers)
JVC Digifine
Kicker (excluding square solobaric speakers)
Lunar
Memphis Audio
MTX
Orion (current DEI products)
Phoenix Gold (older 1990s amplifiers, subwoofers)
Pioneer (subwoofers)
Planet Audio (amplifiers, owned by BOSS Audio)
Polk Audio
Rockford Fosgate
Soundstream (older pre-Power Acoustik amplifiers)
US Acoustics
Viper


Highly Recommended

a/d/s (older 1980s, early 90s pre-ADST products)
Alpine (old "6 green preset buttons" head units)
Alpine F#1status
Arc Audio
Ascendant Audio
Audax
Audiocontrol
Brax/Helix
Butler Audio
Diamond Audio
Digital Designs (DD)
DLS
DynAudio
Eclipse (Fujitsu Ten)
Esoteric Audio/Streetwires
Focal
Harrison Labs
Image Dynamics (ID)
Infinity Kappa/Kappa Perfect components
Iraggi Alternators
JL Audio
KEF Kar components
Kove
LCY
Luxman
MB Quart
McIntosh Laboratories
MMATS
Morel
Nakamichi (tape transports)
Ohio Generator
Orion (older SX, GX, HCCA, GS, and XTR lines)
OZ Audio
Pioneer Premiere (head units)
Precision Power (PPI)
Rainbow
Resonant Engineering (RE)
Rockford Fosgate (older 1980s and early 1990s products)
ScanSpeak
SEAS
Sinfoni
Stinger
Treo
TRU Technology
US Amps
Vifa
Wrangler Alternators
Xtant
Zapco




This is the equipment-specific section:


Head units
----------------------

Highly Recommended

Alpine
Clarion ProAudio
Eclipse
JVC Arsenal
Pioneer Premier
Sony Mobile ES (from the early 1990's only, rare)

Good

Clarion
JVC
Nakamichi
Panasonic MXE
Pioneer

Questionable

Blaupunkt
Kenwood
Panasonic

Avoid

Audiovox
Boss
Dual
Jensen
Sanyo
Sony


Amplifiers
----------------------

Highly Recommended

Arc Audio
Audison
Brax
Eclipse
Esoteric Audio
Elevation Audio
Genesis
Harrison Labs
Helix
JBL (Crown made models)
JL Audio
McIntosh Laboratories
Memphis Audio
Orion (pre-DEI)
PPI Art series
Rockford Fosgate (early 90s, Punch and Power series)
Tru
US Amps
Xtant
Zapco

Good

Alpine
Autotek
Avionixx
Cadence
Concept
Crossfire
Diamond Audio
Directed (DEI)
Earthquake
JBL
Kicker
MA Audio
MTX Audio
Phoenix Gold
Planet Audio
Rockford Fosgate (Power and Punch series)
SoundStream
US Acoustics

Questionable

Alphasonik
Audiobahn
Cerwin Vega
Coustic
HiFonics
Lanzar
Lightning Audio
Power Acoustik
Tsunami

Avoid

Bazooka
Crunch
Jensen
Legacy
Optimus
Pyle
Pyramid
Sony
Visonik
Volfenhag


Main Speakers
----------------------


Highly Recommended

Adire Audio
Alpine (F1 Status components)
Arc Audio
Beyma
Boston Acoustics
Bravox (component sets)
CD Technologies (CDT)
Diamond Audio
DLS
Dyn Audio
Eclipse
Focal
HI-VI Research
Illusion Audio
Image Dynamics
Infinity (Kappa Perfect series)
JL Audio (XR components)
JL ZR component line
LPG
Max-Fidelity
MB Quart
Morel
Rainbow
Resonant Engineering
Scan-Speak
Seas
Vifa
Visatron

Good

Alpine
Boston Acoustics (lower model lines)
Bravox (coaxials)
Cerwin Vega
Crystal
Earthquake
Fusion
Infinity (Kappa and Reference series)
JBL
Kicker
Memphis Audio
Pioneer
Polk Audio
Rockford Fosgate

Questionable

Planet Audio

Avoid

Audiobahn
Boss
Crunch
Dual
Jensen
Powerbase/Powerbass
Sony


Subwoofers
----------------------


Highly Recommended

Adire Audio
Alpine (Type-X series)
Alumapro
Arc Audio
Ascendant Audio
Boston Acoustics
Crystal
Diamond Audio
Digital Designs (DD)
DLS
Dyn Audio
Earthquake
Eclipse
Elevation Audio
Focal
Funky Pups <---- This being in the highly
recommended section is a joke,
in case anyone doesn't know.
Image Dynamics
Inhuman Audio
JL Audio
Kicker (CompVR series)
MB Quart
Memphis (Mojo series)
MMats
OZ Audio
Rainbow
Resonant Engineering
Treo

Good

Alpine (Type-R or S series)
Bravox
CD Technologies (CDT)
Cerwin Vega
Concept
Earthquake
Fi Audio
Fusion
Infinity (Kappa series and up)
MTX Audio (8000's and up)
Onyx Audio
Phoenix Gold
Pioneer
Polk Audio
Rockford Fosgate
Xtant

Questionable

Coustic
Elemental Designs
HiFonics
SoundStream

Avoid

Alphasonik
Alpine (Type-E series)
Audiobahn
Autotek
Bazooka
Boss
Crunch
Dual
Jensen
Kenwood
Lightning Audio
MTX (6000's and under)
Pioneer (lower models)
Planet Audio
Power Acoustik
Pyle
Sony
Volfenhag


Wiring
-----------

Highly Recommended

Audiopipe
Audison Connect
Hooker Audio
Knukonceptz
JL Interconnects
Streetwires
Tsunami

Good

Directed
Kicker
Phoenix Digital
Raptor
Scosche

Questionable

American Bass
Audiobahn (RCA cables didn't last long)
MA Audio

Avoid

(none placed here yet)


Batteries
---------------

Highly Recommended

Deka
Interstate
Kinetic
Northstar
Optima
Stinger

Good

Die Hard (sold by Sears)
Duralast
Eagle Picher
Everstart (Maxx battery only)
Exstatic
Scosche
Tsunami

Questionable

(none placed here yet)

Avoid

(none placed here yet)


Alternators
-------------------


Highly Recommended

(none placed here yet)

Good

Excessive Amperage
H/O alternators
Iraggi Alternators
Motor City Reman
Ohio Generator

Questionable

(none placed here yet)

Avoid

(none placed here yet)


Dash Kits/Install Accessories
---------------------------------------------


Highly Recommended

Metra

Good

American International
Scosche

Questionable

Scosche (the ones found at Wal-Mart only)

Avoid

(none placed here yet)

[BrewMaster]

ChaunB3400,

i would hifonics/zed products (90's) to your list of highly recommended amps. I would take any Hifonics series VI,VII, VIII over my Rockford DSM and PPI amps any day of the week.

Mater of fact my next car build will be all hifonics VII.

What up with leaving out Stinger and PG from your wire section!!!! (i see you have stinger's lower product brands in there) and having Scosche in the good?

:)

just my 2 cents....I think Hifonics 90's should get added if you called out the older rockford DSM, PPI and Orion series amps.

[BrewMaster]

nice list!!!!! thanks for the time/effort to post that together..

[seanzy2969]

thats a great post above.

some really nice quality stuff in there.

but id have to say the 2 10 memphis subs i've got installed right now sound incredible.

i dont think i could be happier with anything else.

for 10's there probly the greatest thing i could ask for.

[ChaunB3400]

thats a great post above.

some really nice quality stuff in there.

but id have to say the 2 10 memphis subs i've got installed right now sound incredible.

i dont think i could be happier with anything else.

for 10's there probly the greatest thing i could ask for.

Thats the main thing, as long as your setup is pleasing to you, who cares what other people think ;)

[Trigga-T]

chaun how could you not have american bass amps and subs on there? they make some of the best amps out.

[ChaunB3400]

chaun how could you not have american bass amps and subs on there? they make some of the best amps out.

This is true, American Bass makes great everything one of the few companies that can say that...Nevertheless this is an older list, made in about 06-07, lots of things have changed since it was made..we are working on a newer one as we speak ;)

[siuewrestler]

i have 2 - 1200 watt boss blade 12" subs, a 1440 watt power acoustik amp pushing them, a set of 250 watt boss blade 4"x6"s, a set of 550 watt boss blade 6"x9"s, a 620 power acoustik amp pushing the 6"x9"s, 2 sets of 200 watt boss tweeters, a 6 farad power acoustik capacitor, a 4ga wiring kit, and a pioneer 3900 head unit. i would highly recommend boss and power acoustik to anyone. i only have roughly $750 invested in everything including my fully customized trunk. iv been told by more than 10 people that listened to it that this system can rival most $1500-$2000 systems for overall sound quality and bass output!

[xtantman]

They must not have heard alot of good $1500-$2000 systems then.

[Blackhawk]

$750 is cheap, I have that invested into my sub stage and HU alone. There are people like that in my town too, they consider rattles to be bass.

[ChaunB3400]

i have 2 - 1200 watt boss blade 12" subs, a 1440 watt power acoustik amp pushing them, a set of 250 watt boss blade 4"x6"s, a set of 550 watt boss blade 6"x9"s, a 620 power acoustik amp pushing the 6"x9"s, 2 sets of 200 watt boss tweeters, a 6 farad power acoustik capacitor, a 4ga wiring kit, and a pioneer 3900 head unit. i would highly recommend boss and power acoustik to anyone. i only have roughly $750 invested in everything including my fully customized trunk. iv been told by more than 10 people that listened to it that this system can rival most $1500-$2000 systems for overall sound quality and bass output!

As long as you are happy thats all that matters...and whats your total rms and current draw?? are the subs sealed or ported? You spent $750??? where did you get it??

But I have dealt with many Boss and power acrapstik stuff...not very good stuff...Its that cheap for a reason..;)

[siuewrestler]

each sub is rated at 600watts rms, the big amp is rated at 360x2watts rms, the small amp is rated at 150x2watts rms, the 6x9's are rated at 275watts rms, and the 4x6's are rated at 125watts rms. the subs are in a sealed enclosure with 1.2 cu ft in each chamber. i bought the subs and big amp new from a local pawn shop and everything else came new off of ebay. and its not just a lot of rattles. its a pure, crisp, and clean sound. i can almost guaruntee that you cant find much better for the price. i have no complaints and apparently neither do the 5 people that are asking me to fully redo their cars with boss speakers and subs and power acoustik amps after hearing mine.

[ChaunB3400]

im sure i could get you better for the money...You don't no me very well ;)

anywho...so your running about 700-900rms and people think you have a competition setup sealed? bet your in the high 120's or low 130's. and as far as imaging 4x6's and 6x9's do not reproduce sound as well as a round speakers would so if you think it sounds good now get round speakers up front the rear will destroy ur front stage so the 6x9's would be pointless,(In my setup I have about 200rms up front per side and it keeps up with 3000rms in the rear, no need for 6x9's they would be drowned out)...not sure what the people that tell you this stuff have heard but,...but again as long as you are happy with what you got thats all that matters ;)

But i promise you if you went to any True Car Audio Forum they would let you have it...

If you have any ?uestions just let me know i would be more then happy to help :)

[theMessenjah44]

Boss and P.A. are alright as long as you just want better than stock, but they're nothing special at all.

I ran a P.A. 2200 watt amp for quite a while and I loved it, then I hooked up my 800 watt Atomic monoblock to it and it kicked the P.A.'s azz....

[Trigga-T]

im sure i could get you better for the money...You don't no me very well ;)

anywho...so your running about 700-900rms and people think you have a competition setup sealed? bet your in the high 120's or low 130's. and as far as imaging 4x6's and 6x9's do not reproduce sound as well as a round speakers would so if you think it sounds good now get round speakers up front the rear will destroy ur front stage so the 6x9's would be pointless,(In my setup I have about 200rms up front per side and it keeps up with 3000rms in the rear, no need for 6x9's they would be drowned out)...not sure what the people that tell you this stuff have heard but,...but again as long as you are happy with what you got thats all that matters ;)

But i promise you if you went to any True Car Audio Forum they would let you have it...

If you have any ?uestions just let me know i would be more then happy to help :)

^^ i like this guy right here he speaks nothin but the truth. i can find way better for that price as well too. those too companys dont have to well of a name in the car audio world. only reason people know the name is cuz its on the do not buy list. haha. chaun how much u spend on ur setup?

[ChaunB3400]

Everything was bought brand new prices include shipping, I just shop around alot :)

HU-Pioneer Premier DEH-P980BT ($285)
Front Stage-A/D/S 346cs ($135)
Front Stage amp-Phoenix Gold Xenon 200.2 ($180)
Sub- 1 15" RD Audio Heavyweight V2 (153.3db) ($350)
Sub amp-RD Audio 3250.1 "D.O.W Edition ($485) I modded it myself

About $1800 after wires, extra bat, alt, and misc items

If i would have payed retail prices it would have been about 4-5k :)

[Nitr0Racing21]

I am not reading all the posts aboce me but I am sure someone has stated this before.

The brand doesn't matter some of the best car audio brands are ones you more then likely never have heard of like Fi or RE, sundown and etc it matter to how the subs are powered what ohm what type of box(sealed - ported) If you want alot a noise Type R's from alpine are the best bang for your buck they will be exetremely loud, I myself don't like them they dont have much sound quality. But if your looking to get extreme bass I say go with Fi 18's. worth the money. J

[xtantman]

I am not reading all the posts aboce me but I am sure someone has stated this before.

The brand doesn't matter some of the best car audio brands are ones you more then likely never have heard of like Fi or RE, sundown and etc it matter to how the subs are powered what ohm what type of box(sealed - ported) If you want alot a noise Type R's from alpine are the best bang for your buck they will be exetremely loud, I myself don't like them they dont have much sound quality. But if your looking to get extreme bass I say go with Fi 18's. worth the money. J
yea theres so many great companies that are not mainstream, I run a 15" Fi Q myself and love it. Gets loud and still sounds great doing it. Looking into getting rid of my memphis 1000D and getting either a sundown 1500 or an Audioque 1200.

[traheem01]

Any one know where i can get a good deal on an FI BTL15 seems like one should be enough bass for a daily driver

[ChaunB3400]

Any one know where i can get a good deal on an FI BTL15 seems like one should be enough bass for a daily driver

LOL...a BTL is more then enough bass for a daily driver, its a comp sub...Honestly I dont like the way the sound in a Daily setup..but in a SPL setup they are monsters.I would suggest a FI BL in a 3.5cuft box tuned to 33hz..with around 1200-1500rms on it...That will be plenty for a daily driver...

Buy them direct

www.ficaraudio.com

[traheem01]

I still wanna have some trunk space left i could sacrifice the front half but i need the back half of the trunk for tools and that sub is rated at 1000w rms can it take the 1200-1500 you suggested

[ChaunB3400]

I use to run 4 in my yukon on about 1500rms a piece daily ;)

Rms is nothing more then the voice coils thermal handling power, it has nothing to do with spl, sq, or the way a sub sounds...

and if you want trunk space..then a 15" sub may not be for you...If you cant devote at least 3.5cuft of trunk for the speaker box then you may wanna go with a 10" or 12"

[xtantman]

I still wanna have some trunk space left i could sacrifice the front half but i need the back half of the trunk for tools and that sub is rated at 1000w rms can it take the 1200-1500 you suggestedIf space is an issue you can always get a Fi Q and run it sealed. Its rated 1000rms and if u get the bp option you can 1200-1300 to it and i know a few guys that run 1500 to theirs if ur safe and ur electrical is good.