tejcurrent

Looking great.

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/ind...15609&st=40 Power accoustic 5500s. one on each amp at 2ohms would be good. You could find a memphis 4k, RF T4000, or several others used for that price, or around 1000 new if you search. The termpro forum is down right now, but they have AB 500.1s pretty often. A little more than you're budget but you can find used ones pretty often. http://cgi.ebay.com/Hifonics-Goliath-5000w...1QQcmdZViewItem Good luck

Here's a bit of an update. I'll be adding 3 more alts within the next month or two, as soon as I sell my boat I'll have some extra cash for it. I worked on the top plate, and I'm going to call this finished for a while. It really needs buffed good- I didn't have any pads for my buffer so I just went over it by hand a little. There's a few blemishes, but it's my first attempt at spraying and they were really just from trash that got in the paint On to pics, but do you guys think black accents would look good around the equipment? I already have paint, I'd just hate to have to sand it all down just to undo it. Just thrown in back- still plenty more panels and amps to go there, so it' looks kind of awkward. Crap camera, but from inside the panel adds a nice touch imo. Like I said, the amps will be on top of part of it, and there will be a few beauty panels vinyled to match the box and flush it in there. Like I said, opinions and criticism are much appreciated!

I can see both sides. I lean towards SPL myself, but I suppose I sacrifice quite a bit of the "peak" by going for a lower peak point, but regardless it is in no way SQ. I literally do turn my subs most of the way down when I want it to sound 'good'. I'm going to do a bit of digging, but I'm sure I'm going to ask the SQ guys for help pretty soon, because while I'm pretty happy at the moment, there's always a new project on the horizon and their experience is such a great help. If you ask for help in a way that doesn't make you sound like an idiot or a snob you normally get really sound advice, even if it comes with a bit of cynicism or sarcasm.

So it seems Powermaster is really favored over iraggi? I was leaning towards the 280s because of price (there would be about a $50 difference per alt), and from what I understand I'll get more idling amperage by quite a bit from the larger iraggis. The only variable would be the voltage, since with the powermasters I could turn it where I want it, and I'd be able to run a dedicated 16v system down the road if I wanted to w/out buying more alts. Like I said, I just don't know and no one can tell me for sure which would put out more power- 4 200a powermasters turned to 15v, or 3 Iraggi 280s and 1 220. I don't have room for a ton of batteries so it's pretty important to get the most I can, but I'm sure I'll be OK with either one. Thanks for all the help everyone.

1. How old are you?22 2. When did you get into car audio?When I got my first car, 15 I think 3. How did you first get into car audio?I really liked Crystal Methods "Vegas" CD a knew something was missing. 4. Whats your favorite colorRed, shade depends 5. Male or female?Male 6. Your first Car?1994 Toyota Corolla 8. How did you find out about this site?When I was trying to find out about the new brand Fi lol 9. What was your first system?Sony Xplode Deck, infinity ref speakers, 2 sealed type-r 10s on a free amp 11. Were do you live? South Carolina 12. Whats you favorite car audio brand? Subs/amps? The only companies that provide everything I don't like everything from. I like Fi subs. 15. Who is your hero in the car audio industry?Scott Atwell 16. Whats your dream system?A crap ton of BTL 18s in an Excursion with 3000+rms, and enough alts people will think my hood scoop is for a supercharger 17. Whats your dream car?I really like the cadillac 16s styling (And power). The V10 BMW M5s are nicccee. 18. Whats the fastest car you have driven/ridden in?I've riden in a viper, but only at highway speeds. I had my mustang gt over 150 in 4th gear with plenty of power left, just no road. 19. Were do you buy most of your car audio products?The internet. The new owner at Carolina Audio nearby is really cool, so I've been starting to go there for things too. 20. What is your job?I do lots of things. Realtor, CPO, home remodeling and repairs, property management, webmaster, programming. Just depends on what I can get paid for. I need a steady job I guess lol. 21. Whats your favorite saying?Don't really have one 24. Whats your favorite brand of cars?Eh, I like chevy more than most, but it really depends on the model 25. What do you like better, cars, vans, trucks, or suv's?SUVs 29. Whats is the most recent thing you have purchased?Large? I'm buying some 280a alts soon. If literally the most recent I'd say a double cheeseburger 31. Who do you think is the most knowledgeable person on SSA?Ehh... Depends on the topic. There's tons of great people. 32. What is your personal best on the TL? and with what equipment?154.9/4 BTL 18s on 4 memphis 4ks turned down really really low on stock charging (lucky 6000rms), Still well over 150 at 30hz. Getting ready to upgrade the charging system. 33. SQ or SPL? why? SPL- it's fun

I think the silverado would most likely have more room under the hood for the electrical upgrades. It most likely would be able to support the daily weight of a big system like that better, and I'd want the bass in the truck I'm driving instead of parked somewhere.

You could either run alternators with adjustable internal voltage regulators, or run external voltage regulators if you wanted to have the option of 16v charging. Either way your alternator on a 16v system should really be putting out more like 17v+ so it's keeping your batteries charged. I don't know if the kicker amps can handle it- you could contact customer support at kicker and they should know, but the sundown 1500s would be fine on it if you don't have the amps yet.

Glad I'm not too far off here, I hoped it came across as a value point more than sheer performance. While some companies simply do have better products than others, that's not to say that it necessarily will be the underground. I run Fi subs, but Memphis amps. I was originally going to run SoundStream 10,000s till I bought one offline and had it burn up the second it was installed (Installed properly, the moment the vehicle was turned on Something was wrong internally- maybe damaged during shipping that caused parts on both sides of the board to burn up.) Memphis had a good warranty and could be bought at the local shop for a good price. After problems with the seller who UPS returned the amp to and he kept the money severing all contact with me and this forum, (you SOB Jordan Singleton), I trusted the local shops amp better than another one purchased offline.

I agree with you, and see your point 100%. There are only a handful of people on this forum, and not a whole lot in general who could give a real break down of what makes driver X sound Z (louder, clearer, etc) over driver A. I am not one of them, but I think the OP was really looking for a more general response and just light conversation. I coud be wrong thats the thinking my response is based on. *edit I haven't had a chance to hear the W7 in a home, is it that big a difference? Just asking because I was considering doing a Q15 or 18 tuned around 15-20hz in my h/t setup.

I live in a smallish town with 3 audio shops, a Circuit City, and a Best Buy. I have seen good things come from all 5 places, but I have also seen some terrible terrible work. None of the shops have a TL or O-scope, and I know for a fact 1 of them doesn't have a DMM. The one without the DMM I have only visited once and that was enough. They showed me a near $2000 front stage installed in a new Yukon Denalli, and I was soo soo dissapointed. Guess what brand it was? JL. Now this does not mean that the equipment was at fault- but something was very very wrong there. A guy I know has 2 JL w6 15s, and they sounded great sealed when he first got them. Then he decided to build his own ported box after asking for my help. I drew him some diagrams and a cut sheet, and for some reason, without any build experience, he decided he would wipe his figurative ass with the box plans I made for him and do it totally different (and I mean REALLY REALLY WRONG). Needless to say his subs sounded terrible until he blew one of them, and then they sounded worse. I have never been impressed with the W7 in terms of SPL or SQ, but Maybe the install was incorrect, I simply don't know. One vehicle had a very nice clean and well thought out install, but his W7 on jl 1000/1 sounded mediocre and wasn't loud at all. I was walking into a local pawn shop (a great place to find hard to find singles and b-sides btw) and saw 2 guys carrying a box with 2 JL 12s. I asked, "what model subs are those?", with a reply, "I dunno, they're JL!". Like that was all you needed to know. It's this love and mentallity that just because they're expensive they're good that kept me from ever buying a JL product. There are other brands I feel the same towards, but it's not that the company makes bad products, just peoples attitude towards them. Around where I live Memphis is the big thing, and it makes me wish I had never bought Memphis amps. I don't know how to say this clearly, so I hope it comes out right. Lots of people think they know how to install their own equipment, and really only learned how to do so because they wanted to save money. Well where's the first place to look for some tips and tricks? The internet. This is also where a lot of people hear about these "underground" companies, and decide from reviews that they can save themselves money by buying something other than what they can get locally. Since most subs are thrown in a pre-fab box at a local shop anyway, even a half-asted box built at home can be equal to or better than what they'd most likely settle for at a store. I own an alpine type-x I installed in my wifes car, and it is a nice SQ sub. I'm giving it around 1000wrms it calls for from a Hifonics 2006d (which since no one has ever carried them around here makes it an underground brand to everyone local). No one carries the type-x around here and I wanted to see what it was like. Also people think spending over 150 a sub is too much, regardless of quailty While the amp isnt' the best in any one feature, it does have a really nice price point (<300 new), so it worked great for my needs and saved some money. The type-x I wish I hadn't bought some 3+ years ago, but it still works flawlessly and does it's job. It sounds wonderful to me in a sealed box, but because SPL is a bit more important to me I went with a daily tuned ported one instead. It still sounds good, but it loses some of it's sq ported. Knowing what I do now I would buy a Q because it would still sound good ported, and would cost less while maybe gaining me a bit on the SPL side. There are several reasons why I am using an "underground company" in my vehicle as the OP said (I have Fi BTL 18s). * Price - The only comparable sub offered from any local shops would be the Kicker solo-X, and at close to 1/2 the price I've been quoted makes it an obvious choice in this catagory. * Availability- NO ONE keeps "super subs" in stock where I live, so there would still be a 2+ week wait time on ordering. If I have to wait, I'd rather order something myself and have it delivered to my door instead of paying some guy to make money off me having it delivered to his shop. * Customer service- smaller internet based companies can offer a level of customer service you'd never see from a giant one. I've spoken through email to the actual men behind designing the equipment at Fi and Sundown- what mainstream brand could ever do that with every person who emails them? Not saying Im special, I'm saying it gives the impression of caring on a personal level. * Exotic factor- Since no one has seen it before, while they often assume it's flee-market junk, it also gives the appeal of people being astounded something other than what they know could be louder or sound good. * Quality- When a company has established itself and has good reviews, you can trust online reviews of an online product as well as any online reviews of a mainstream product. Since most people who spend the time to research "underground" brands often have a slightly higher level of understanding than people who pay someone else to pick their equipment out and install it for them- they give more insightful reviews. Not always true, but somewhat. It is a very vague question so I hope my really vague, round-about answer(s) help some.

Most are happy with sundown 3000s, RF 3000s and 4000s, and I've been pretty pleased with my memphis 4ks.

If 1 of those 10s needs as much air space as your 15 just get another BTL 15 Really though, I'd stick with the BTL and sundown 3000.

x2.

I listed a bunch of amps- some are really good- and some are budget. I have a 2006d that I didn't have any problems with.

would you have a chance to go to a shop with a meter, or a comp with your meter and see how they compare? I don't know if this was asked I didn't want to read 4 pages of debating to get it or not

If you google 'ampguts' you'll find a huge list of amps. Or ebay it. I'm just going to list a bunch of amps that will get the sub moving well between 2-4000 watts, and you can decide what best fits your needs. Hifonics 2607d Hifonics Thor Hifonics Colossus I.A. 40.1 Lanzar Optidrive line (not sure of the models) MA 4000 Massive 3000 Memphis 2000 Memphis 4000 RF 2000 RF 3000 RF 4000 Sundown 3000 and the list goes on and on. There are so many out there, and price will vary greatly from seller to seller, and if you're willing to buy used. If you're willing to buy used equipment check the termpro f/s section, the one on this forum, or even ca.com.

Thanks a lot guys! I'm sorry to say besides h/u that's the only upgrade. She graduates from college in another few months, shortly after we'll be buying a new car for her and it will start all over again. She's happy with her stock speakers, so they are what they are. Honestly I think she wanted the sub in her car just to get it out of the house (she likes things very tidy) lol

Jimj, would you please shoot me a PM when you get a chance about the one in NC when you get a chance? I live in MB SC and that would be worth the drive to me to get one. No one has anything locally, most shops don't even have DMM Thanks a lot.

A local guy has 3 15s in 7 ft sealed. He keeps trying to port it and I tell him, that's no where near enough room to port. He ported it and complained it was louder/better sounding sealed I suggested taking one of the 3 subs out and try it with just 2 ported, but he doesn't want to 'waste' the equipment. You should be good sealed.

Most likely. With that much power I'd get the BTL.

Thanks man! No, you really can't tell, and while it's not where I'd like it, as soon as she gets her new car it'll be a new build (with good wood and some glass )

Fancy fancy! Should be nice.

Triple post somehow?

dblpost