Need Some Help With a Couple of Choices...

[altoncustomtech 773]

Hi there guys. I'm working on deciding what I want to buy for two door 2001 Jimmy. I have a Kenwood KDC-X492 headunit installed already, along with Phoenix Gold RSD 6.5" components in the doors. My goals for the system is to have a setup that will get plenty loud while maintaining good musical balance. Now, I'm no noob to the car audio game, this truck will be getting the full treatment of sound deadening, HO alt, 2-3 batteries and more so it will handle about anything I want do with it much like I did my van.

My questions are for those with experience with both the 10" SSD and 12" BTL series subwoofers from Fi. My original design for the truck was to use two 10" SSD's in a 2.4 cuft enclosure (after displacements) tuned to 33Hz per Fi's recommendation, this is as big as I want to go with the enclosure since I do use the rear of the truck for hauling and stuff. However, for almost the same amount of money I can get a single 12" BTL which will run in the same size enclosure and tuning. I planned on running the same 2000-2500 watt amp on either choice. So what I'm wanting to know is which choice in this setup will be loudest WHILE maintaining a good musical balance, the pair of SSD's with the edge on surface area or the BTL with the higher sensitivity and excursion capabilities. Keep in mind that while it will be no SQ system I'm still looking to notice note shifts and transients in the music, not have a one note wonder. I just have no idea if the BTL is designed to be that musical and me and my brother are the only ones in at least a 50 mile radius that I know of who is even running Fi equipment so there's no one around to go and listen to a BTL personally.

My other question is in regards to the rear speakers. This truck has 6x9's on each side of the rear seat. I am more of an SQ oriented listener than this thread gives the impression of, so I'll explain the point of this question. I plan on putting a 100x4 amp on the highs, however, when listening by myself I have the fader turned all the way forward and listen to only the components, even now. I would like to get a fairly nice set of 6x9's to keep up with the substage when demoing the vehicle ONLY. I wanted to buy the PG RSD 6x9's originally but it seems that no one has them anymore and I was thinking of just getting some of the Tang Band 6x9 subwoofers and letting them help reinforce the midbass. I'm open to any suggestions on 6x9's that will do well on 100+ RMS without breaking the $100-$120 barrier since they'll only be used when demoing otherwise the components are all I need.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions guys, I know that rear speakers aren't needed and I don't listen to them regularly, so no need for that bashing. If possible I'd prefer suggestions on the subs from those of you who have real personal experience with both. Again, thanks guys for the help, my mind is starting to turn into jello from reading all about these things and I keep going in circles on the info I find.

[bigrank916 72]

I would go with the BTL if it was me. They are monsters that sound great. They are musical if you choose the daily option over the spl. The spl is more of a one note wonder.

So are you saying you have speakers by the rear seat already? Or you have the space for a 6x9 there and want a suggestion?

How do you get Tang Band 6x9 "subwoofers" to reinforce midbass?

[altoncustomtech 773]

I would go with the BTL if it was me. They are monsters that sound great. They are musical if you choose the daily option over the spl. The spl is more of a one note wonder.

Thanks for the recommendation, I hear alot of comments from people who like Fi saying the BTL is musical, then comments from people who like other companies (AQ, DD, DC, etc.) saying the BTL isn't musical at all it's quite frustrating and difficult to discern who's more correct.... which is why I'm asking on here as I can hopefully get some input from fella's who've used them both....

So are you saying you have speakers by the rear seat already? Or you have the space for a 6x9 there and want a suggestion?

How do you get Tang Band 6x9 "subwoofers" to reinforce midbass?

I have spaces to fill there, and like I said they'll only be played when demoing the vehicle but it would still be nice if they sounded fairly good when they did play. If I went with the Tang Band's I was going to simply pass band them from 60-350hz to help reinforce that range of midbass since their given response is 35-350hz. But that was just one idea and I wasn't crazy with it to start with. I was trying to think of a solution that may work without pulling the sound stage rearward too far even if it was only for demoing...

[bigrank916 72]

I would go with the BTL if it was me. They are monsters that sound great. They are musical if you choose the daily option over the spl. The spl is more of a one note wonder.

Thanks for the recommendation, I hear alot of comments from people who like Fi saying the BTL is musical, then comments from people who like other companies (AQ, DD, DC, etc.) saying the BTL isn't musical at all it's quite frustrating and difficult to discern who's more correct.... which is why I'm asking on here as I can hopefully get some input from fella's who've used them both....

So are you saying you have speakers by the rear seat already? Or you have the space for a 6x9 there and want a suggestion?

How do you get Tang Band 6x9 "subwoofers" to reinforce midbass?

I have spaces to fill there, and like I said they'll only be played when demoing the vehicle but it would still be nice if they sounded fairly good when they did play. If I went with the Tang Band's I was going to simply pass band them from 60-350hz to help reinforce that range of midbass since their given response is 35-350hz. But that was just one idea and I wasn't crazy with it to start with. I was trying to think of a solution that may work without pulling the sound stage rearward too far even if it was only for demoing...

If you have the money to spend and feel like doing it, then go for it. I think you will be fine though because the rear has no windows that go down.