Need help with set-up ideas

[dbmiller 0]

Hey everybody, I'm new here and new to Fi products. I heard a single 15" in a local parking lot and was blown away. I'm looking to purchase an 18" BTL (any other suggestions?) enclosed in a ported box. I'm trying to stay under the $1500 mark . I really have no idea what amp I should purchase or if 2 15" will be louder. I'm 16 and I don't have my car yet, but I will be getting a 2004 Pathfinder.

P.s I'm trying to out do my friends 2 15" mojos with a 3000 watt stetsom amp.

Any suggestions on a set up would be awesome (and the final cost of course)

Thanks,

Daniel

[ric 0]

P.s I'm trying to out do my friends 2 15" mojos with a 3000 watt stetsom amp.

No. 1 rule i have for myself in car audio is... "never do it for others", for if not it will simply be a waste of money...

focus on what your main target is. self satisfaction!

what ever you do, no matter how much you spend, there will always be someone louder...

[dbmiller 0]

i just realized theres no way in hell a 8 cubic ft box can fit in the back of a pathfinder. Ignore that, I'll just get a bigger car. Will a mmats 3500 be alright?

[johnecon2001 82]

With only $1500.. I think your plans are a little lofty.

While the BTL is a superb woofer that does indeed get loud off of 3kW... the money you'll need to spend in upgrading electrical alone will leave you with next to nothing for the actual woofer, amp and enclosure.

I realize you want to be insanely loud, but a proper enclosure with a proper support system will be much better than doing it half assed.

I'd drop down to a BL. Stick to a 15" since you don't have the room for an 18" (the enclosure will be smaller, and cheaper to build). Buy a single 1500w amp (Sundown SAZ-1500D perhaps). Spend whatever you have left on 1/0awg wire and a spare battery.

[ShaneSauce 2]

Well if I don't ask everybody else will.

What do you listen to?

What are your goals besides outdoing your friend?

Well anyways you can get a BTL 18" fully loaded for around $520 shipped I think..

I would recommend building your own box its tons cheaper.

Then you would need to find a GOOD reliable amp to push 2500-3000RMS to get the most out of your money.

So your looking at anywhere from $500-1000 for a good amp.

And pushing that much power your going to need to do the big 3, get a bigger alternator and a extra battery.

[dbmiller 0]

thanks for the awesome advice. lets just say I get a car with room for an 18, and my budget isn't that limited i just wanted to see if it could be done. My max would be $2500

[ric 0]

[ric 0]

it could be done... out doing your friend ok...

streched the budget maybe to 3k just to be sure for the extras... wires/bats/etc...

the box will be the key for the sub... then the right amount of electrical current to the amp...

[dbmiller 0]

Well if I don't ask everybody else will.

What do you listen to?

What are your goals besides outdoing your friend?

Well anyways you can get a BTL 18" fully loaded for around $520 shipped I think..

I would recommend building your own box its tons cheaper.

Then you would need to find a GOOD reliable amp to push 2500-3000RMS to get the most out of your money.

So your looking at anywhere from $500-1000 for a good amp.

And pushing that much power your going to need to do the big 3, get a bigger alternator and a extra battery.

I listen to rock/rap. I would mostly use the subs for rap. I think it can be done for $2500-3000 i just gotta find a suv with enough cargo space

my goal is to be loud as hell haha

Edited November 11, 2008 by dbmiller

[johnecon2001 82]

I still say to go with the BL. You don't seem like you have enough experience to try and undertake the larger system.

[ShaneSauce 2]

Wow your working with $2500 that's more than enough for the sub,amp,box,wiring,upgraded electrical.

8cuft sounds good for it, tuned to about 30hz if your wanting to hit really low.

And btw dude your going to HAVE to upgrade your alternator and do the big 3 if your wanting to run the BTL. I'm just letting you know that your stock electrical isn't going to put out the power your amp is going to be wanting.

So if your really serious about doing this go ahead and be prepared to order a 250amp alt and a good amount of 1/0GA wire.

edit: and a extra battery!

Edited November 11, 2008 by ShaneSauce

[dbjunior 0]

so your friend has 2 15's and a 3kw amp so what. doesnt mean it will be loud or sound good or be reliable. what type of vehicle is it in how large is the box how is it setup whats the tuning and how is his electrical. just because he has power and decent sized subs doesnt mean it is anywhere near what it could be. for all we know you could out do him with a 10 and 500w in the right setup in the right vehicle.

[dbmiller 0]

Wow your working with $2500 that's more than enough for the sub,amp,box,wiring,upgraded electrical.

8cuft sounds good for it, tuned to about 30hz if your wanting to hit really low.

And btw dude your going to HAVE to upgrade your alternator and do the big 3 if your wanting to run the BTL. I'm just letting you know that your stock electrical isn't going to put out the power your amp is going to be wanting.

So if your really serious about doing this go ahead and be prepared to order a 250amp alt and a good amount of 1/0GA wire.

edit: and a extra battery!

thanks for the info shane. What do you mean when you say "big 3". I'm going to have it professionally done at a local store that deals with a lot of high end systems. Would a box larger than 8cuft be a waste? Im thinking about a mountaineer and taking out the third row seats so I should have plenty of room.

dbjunior: he has 7.5cuft box in the back of a 05 4runner. He had them professionally installed with upgraded electronics etc. they hit hard as hell.

johnecon: No thank you, I'd rather be the boss and pay the cost.

[dbmiller 0]

If i were to drop to BL 18 and got two of them would it be worth it or would you stay with a single BTL 18. Would the BL's require the same amount of electrical upgrades/battery.

[ShaneSauce 2]

The big 3 is when you replace your vehicles stock wiring going from the alternator the the battery, the negative battery terminal to the chassis ground, and the engine ground to chassis.

And all of this will be with 1/0 gauge (extremely thick) wire so your electrical system can deliver the right amount of power without melting wires.

Getting everything installed professionally is going to cost you a pretty penny though.

edit: Well considering both BL's would run off about the same as 1 BTL (3kw) I would go with the 2 18's even though it will cost a little more.

Edited November 11, 2008 by ShaneSauce

[RobClay 20]

you need to do the big 3 regardless of what option you choose

[dbmiller 0]

Would the two BL's running off a mmats 3500 be significantly louder than one 18 running off the same amp.

[ShaneSauce 2]

Would the two BL's running off a mmats 3500 be significantly louder than one 18 running off the same amp.

Well yea because your moving double the cone area with the same amount of power.

It will be noticeably louder.

Are you getting a good deal on the amp and what does it push?

If your looking to spend that much just get a Sundown Saz3000D and give each BL 1500watts.

[RobClay 20]

ye. shanesauce is right. it will be pretty louder, more cone area, but it really depends on how you build your box, size, tuning. how much were you going to pay for that amp?

[dbmiller 0]

Would the two BL's running off a mmats 3500 be significantly louder than one 18 running off the same amp.

Well yea because your moving double the cone area with the same amount of power.

It will be noticeably louder.

Are you getting a good deal on the amp and what does it push?

If your looking to spend that much just get a Sundown Saz3000D and give each BL 1500watts.

Ok cool, and 1500 watts will be enough for each bl to reach its full potential

One last question (sorry if im pissing you off) how big should my box be in order to house two 18s

Edited November 11, 2008 by dbmiller

[dbmiller 0]

ye. shanesauce is right. it will be pretty louder, more cone area, but it really depends on how you build your box, size, tuning. how much were you going to pay for that amp?

$1000 from woofers etc

[chad y 1]

With only $1500.. I think your plans are a little lofty.

While the BTL is a superb woofer that does indeed get loud off of 3kW... the money you'll need to spend in upgrading electrical alone will leave you with next to nothing for the actual woofer, amp and enclosure.

I realize you want to be insanely loud, but a proper enclosure with a proper support system will be much better than doing it half assed.

I'd drop down to a BL. Stick to a 15" since you don't have the room for an 18" (the enclosure will be smaller, and cheaper to build). Buy a single 1500w amp (Sundown SAZ-1500D perhaps). Spend whatever you have left on 1/0awg wire and a spare battery.

^^^^^^^

Great advice!!!

maybe you should read http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/forum/i...showtopic=22684

just a suggestion

[ShaneSauce 2]

Yes if you get loaded BL's they will handle 1500rms all day.

If your spending $1000 on a amp get the Sundown 3000D it is a much better choice and it gives you the exact amount of power your going to need. You can find it on this website.

Uh enclosure wise it really depends on how much room you have, you could get away with 6-7 cubes per woofer if you have enough room.

Once again the box should be tuned from 28-34hz if you want to hit low.

[RobClay 20]

ye. shanesauce is right. it will be pretty louder, more cone area, but it really depends on how you build your box, size, tuning. how much were you going to pay for that amp?

$1000 from woofers etc

then i would get a sundown amp.. more reliable and costs less on this website ^ click store to browse some amp choices

[vladd 26]

I really don't think I'd take on this kind of setup if i only had $2500 and was expecting to pay a shop to do everything. The amount of money you'll save by doing it yourself will be a LOT and the work isn't that hard.