Convertible/Coax Components

[cognitive77 0]

Hey all,

I'm looking at getting some new gear for a 2000 Honda Civic Coupe. In the past I've had a set up that included: MB Quart Components front and rear, Eclipse 15 subs (2) and Fosgate amps to power everything (1 360.6, and two 250.2). I'm beyond the big boomy base and mostly listen to metal/rock (NIN, Mastodon, Lamb of God, Slipknot) along with some lighter stuff (Echo and the Bunnymen, Morrissey, etc.). I'm basically looking for a compromise of playing loud and sounding really good (something that doesn't sound muddy or tinny). I've listened to some Alpine Type X's and thought they sounded great. I'm basically trying to find a convertible/"coax" component set that can drop in my door with little to no modifications to the door panel itself. Can anyone recommend other convertible/coax style components?

Also, the setup I'm planning on would include:

Kenwood KDC X590 (currently in the car)

Alpine Type X 6.5" Components up front

Alpine Type R 6x9 in the rear deck

Alpine PDX 4.100 Amp to power the speakers

Dynamat/Sound Deadner on front doors

Any feedback on this setup would be appreciated. Also, I don't have any plans on putting in a sub at this point, buy may several months down the road. With as small as the Civic is, I feel I could easily go with a 8 or 10 in a sealed box in the trunk. Any recommendations on a sub with the type of music that I listen to?

Forgot to mention that my budget for the gear alone is roughly $600-800.

Edited October 31, 2009 by ChrisC

[Impious 1,476]

I had the 8" Memphis Sync components in my car for probably close to 2yrs and really liked them. If it wasn't for my love affair with horns they'd still be in the car. Another guy I know has the 5.25" Syncs in his truck and they sound great as well. They've changed the look some on the newer models compared to what I run, so I don't know if there's any performance changes they've also made....but;

http://www.memphisca...onent-speakers/ (Model 15-MCS6).

Image Dynamics CX and XS lines can both mount the tweeter coaxially;

http://imagedynamics...om/products.php

Boston Acoustics both current models and most of their older lines (Pro and Z series) allow coaxial mounting;

http://mobile.boston...?category_id=14

Really though....if you are handy you could also use any component set and create your own "tweeter bridge" similar to what Boston uses on the Pro series.

[mjmarovi 8]

it's really quite easy to mount a tweeter into a door panel, unless you really don't want to cut into the panel.

as for the budget, no need for rear speakers, really unnecessary as all sound should be perceived as a "stage" and coming from in front of you. so that also frees up some cash to get some nicer speakers up front. budget is for amp and the speakers correct? so 600-800 for a 4-channel, or really just need a two-chanel amp, and nice set of components....

the pdx 100.4 is a nice amp, but you can get just as clean or cleaner power for less, but if you like that amp, and the size is def. a neat install factor, not necessary to change.

Hybrid Audio Clarus components are amazing, but you would have to make a custom mount for the tweet.

as for sets that can be mounted "coaxialy"....not a whole lotta choices out there, can't remember the company name, but the old designers from when MB Quart was actually german started up their own speaker company, nice stuff and they offer a set.

[Impious 1,476]

can't remember the company name, but the old designers from when MB Quart was actually german started up their own speaker company, nice stuff and they offer a set.

http://www.german-maestro.de/EN/

[///M5 2,833]

Also, the setup I'm planning on would include:

Kenwood KDC X590 (currently in the car)

Alpine Type X 6.5" Components up front

Alpine Type R 6x9 in the rear deck

Alpine PDX 4.100 Amp to power the speakers

Dynamat/Sound Deadner on front doors

? huh. Type X components and a coaxial? + rears?

Be way better to focus your budget all on the front and just one set of speakers.

[cognitive77 0]

I had thought of the idea of using just a good set of components up front, but it's really hard to wrap my brain around just putting speakers up front after having had that "surround" sound for so many years. Given that the interior of the car is so small, I may just run some components up front and no speakers in the rear to see how it sounds. I'd also like to run a small sub in the trunk, no larger than an 8 or 10. Would anyone have an amp/sub combo that I could run on the cheap? What about a recommendation for an amp that could run both my front components along with the sub? Keep in mind I'm not looking for anything boomy, just some good low range, tight hitting bass for my musical tastes (metal, rock, alt.). Also, the $600-800 was my budget for the speakers and amp, although if I don't drop any speakers in the rear deck, I can put that cash towards a sub possibly.

[cognitive77 0]

it's really quite easy to mount a tweeter into a door panel, unless you really don't want to cut into the panel.

as for the budget, no need for rear speakers, really unnecessary as all sound should be perceived as a "stage" and coming from in front of you. so that also frees up some cash to get some nicer speakers up front. budget is for amp and the speakers correct? so 600-800 for a 4-channel, or really just need a two-chanel amp, and nice set of components....

the pdx 100.4 is a nice amp, but you can get just as clean or cleaner power for less, but if you like that amp, and the size is def. a neat install factor, not necessary to change.

Hybrid Audio Clarus components are amazing, but you would have to make a custom mount for the tweet.

as for sets that can be mounted "coaxialy"....not a whole lotta choices out there, can't remember the company name, but the old designers from when MB Quart was actually german started up their own speaker company, nice stuff and they offer a set.

If you can recommend a cleaner running amp for less, please recommend. I'd like to put my hands on an amp that could run both the front components, along with a 8 or 10 inch sub in the trunk. I like my sound, but I'm a frugal bastard as well

[Impious 1,476]

If you can recommend a cleaner running amp for less, please recommend. I'd like to put my hands on an amp that could run both the front components, along with a 8 or 10 inch sub in the trunk. I like my sound, but I'm a frugal bastard as well

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/classifieds/67318-f-s-mb-quart-qaa-4250-a.html

Not sure if you are opposed to buying used, and I have no relationship with or to the seller so I can't vouch for him personally....but that amp is a BEAST. 250w x 4 @ 4ohm or 2ohm, rear channels are 500w @ 4ohm or 8ohm bridged. They were built by Rockford when RF owned MBQ and had an MSRP of $1999. It's large (height wise) and heavy (~20lbs), but it has power to spare. I ran one for about 6 months, front 2 channels to a set of passive components and rear channels bridged to a single IB sub, and really liked it as an "all-in-one" amplifier running the whole system without compromising on power.

[cognitive77 0]

If you can recommend a cleaner running amp for less, please recommend. I'd like to put my hands on an amp that could run both the front components, along with a 8 or 10 inch sub in the trunk. I like my sound, but I'm a frugal bastard as well

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/classifieds/67318-f-s-mb-quart-qaa-4250-a.html

Not sure if you are opposed to buying used, and I have no relationship with or to the seller so I can't vouch for him personally....but that amp is a BEAST. 250w x 4 @ 4ohm or 2ohm, rear channels are 500w @ 4ohm or 8ohm bridged. They were built by Rockford when RF owned MBQ and had an MSRP of $1999. It's large (height wise) and heavy (~20lbs), but it has power to spare. I ran one for about 6 months, front 2 channels to a set of passive components and rear channels bridged to a single IB sub, and really liked it as an "all-in-one" amplifier running the whole system without compromising on power.

I've read that this thing can be a power hog. Would running this amp along with a 10" sub (ID 10"???) require the use of power caps? I'm trying to stick as close as possible to plug and play (the easier to put in, the easier to take out down the road). Otherwise it seems like a good deal, a bit heavy though. Would you happen to know the dimensions for this amp? Something else I had forgotten to mention is that I'm trying to keep my trunk space clean (available), which is one reason I liked the Alpine PDX 4.100 because of it's size and being able to mount under one of the seats.

[bassahaulic 155]

Since your already interested in the Alpine, I would go ahead and get that. It is a very nice amp.

You should never use a cap, but if this is going to power you whole system you might want to get a small battery for the trunk, Kinetik 600 maybe? Just to help with storage, cause I have seen a PDX 100.4 dim the lights in a truck pretty bad.

[Impious 1,476]

I've read that this thing can be a power hog. Would running this amp along with a 10" sub (ID 10"???) require the use of power caps?

My electrical is a stock alternator and Kinetik 1800HC battery, and I could play my system full bore at night with the AC on high with little to no dimming. A power cap wouldn't be the fix for electrical issues anyways....but how your vehicle reacts is going to depend on 1) the condition and strength of your electrical system and b) how you use the amplifier. I wasn't using it's full power capability because I didn't need to (components won't handle a full 250w continuous, so the front channels weren't close to actually outputting 250w and an IB sub doesn't need a full 500w to reach it's mechanical limits).

Would you happen to know the dimensions for this amp?

11.75 In. x 15.25 In. x 3.75 In.

Something else I had forgotten to mention is that I'm trying to keep my trunk space clean (available), which is one reason I liked the Alpine PDX 4.100 because of it's size and being able to mount under one of the seats.

Here is where mine was mounted....took up virtually no trunkspace as it was tucked in an open "cubby"

http://www.soundsolu...post__p__410136

Anyways.....I'm not trying to sell you this amp...LOL. If you think the Alpine fits your needs better, by all means go for it. But you asked for options on amps that could run the system so I thought I would throw it out there.

[cognitive77 0]

I've read that this thing can be a power hog. Would running this amp along with a 10" sub (ID 10"???) require the use of power caps?

My electrical is a stock alternator and Kinetik 1800HC battery, and I could play my system full bore at night with the AC on high with little to no dimming. A power cap wouldn't be the fix for electrical issues anyways....but how your vehicle reacts is going to depend on 1) the condition and strength of your electrical system and b) how you use the amplifier. I wasn't using it's full power capability because I didn't need to (components won't handle a full 250w continuous, so the front channels weren't close to actually outputting 250w and an IB sub doesn't need a full 500w to reach it's mechanical limits).

Would you happen to know the dimensions for this amp?

11.75 In. x 15.25 In. x 3.75 In.

Something else I had forgotten to mention is that I'm trying to keep my trunk space clean (available), which is one reason I liked the Alpine PDX 4.100 because of it's size and being able to mount under one of the seats.

Here is where mine was mounted....took up virtually no trunkspace as it was tucked in an open "cubby"

http://www.soundsolu...post__p__410136

Anyways.....I'm not trying to sell you this amp...LOL. If you think the Alpine fits your needs better, by all means go for it. But you asked for options on amps that could run the system so I thought I would throw it out there.

Thanks for the feedback...it is an option and it provides me with an alternate. As of now, this is what I've got in mind.....

Alpine Type X or Pro's up front (I'm aware of the many other great brands out there (Hertz, Focal, Rainbow, etc.), I just have no way of listening to them in person w/o driving for an hour or more)

Alpine PDX-5 or Alpine PDX 4.150 or the above mentioned MB Quart Amp

1 12" Sub (Elemental Design, Image Dynamics or Soundstream)

I'm really looking for a good sub (sound accurate yet punchy and won't take up lots of space) to compliment these components. If anyone can recommend one I'd appreciate.