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I've been looking at CDT Audio, Hertz, and Hybrid Audio for components, and pretty much narrowed it down to Image Dynamics or Sundown for the sub.
I'm wondering if anyone has some suggestions on this combo?
Pioneer AVH4200NEX HU
Memphis PRX700.5 5-Channel 750W Amplifier (planning to bridge for 150W upfront @ 4-ohm and run 400W 2-ohm sub; but could do 75W @ 2-ohm x 4 if it'd do better with a midbass fill?) Found this for about $300 - is there anything better?
Image Dynamics IDQ10 V.4 10" DVC4-Ohm Subwoofer or Sundown SD-3
Subthumb MDF Stealthbox
And then one of these (looking to stay in the $400 range):
Hybrid Audio Unity U61-2V2 6.5” Components
Hertz HSK 165 6.5" Components
CDT Audio ES-60CV (which is a bit less)
I've also thought about going to a 3-way setup... but the cost goes way up unless it's to something like a CDT HD-632.
So I'd like to fit something that'll sound good in the doors as a 2-way. And I may eventually do a midbass fill in the rear, which would take the power down to 75 or 50W depending on 2-ohm or 4-ohm load (but I don't know if it's needed), especially if I'm driving the front speakers with 150W RMS. I'd probably do something like the CDT Audio ES6 Midbass for $250 in the rear if that'd be the way to go?
Last edited by JakeFusion; Jul 28, 2017 at 10:16 PM.
I can really only vouch for the head unit as I have the AVH-4100NEX. It's a pretty good unit in my opinion and does everything I need it to. The Carplay setup is pretty nice to use. It's got the typical Pioneer EQ stuff that I wish could be more detailed, but it works fine for me.
The rest of my setup is Alpine Type R separates in the doors, Kicker KS coaxial in the sail panels, and a Kicker Comp 12" sub in a Kee Audio Stealth Box. Those are being pushed by JL Audio XD600/6 V2 for the mids and highs, and a XD200/2 for the sub. No, it's not great power, but it is plenty loud. I plan on bi-amplifying the Type R components and they will be at 100w each, with the Kickers in the sails getting 75w. Later on down the road I will upgrade the sub and sub amp to a 600w setup. I've set gains properly and I'm pretty happy with the setup as it's plenty loud for me and what I listen to.
Nice. That's what I was hoping to hear on the Pioneer. It looks like a pretty capable HU with the Carplay.
I was just browsing around and found a better amp... the VIV900 I was looking at or a JL XD900, but they are $550. A Sundown 1100.5 is $420 and puts out more power. So I think I'd spend the extra $100 there.
I may also look at the Sundown SD-3 Sub. Same price as the IDQ sub. Pretty close to sound quality too. But the IDQ is louder from what I gather and the SD-3 is smoother.
And of course, if I decide to spend the coin, it looks like the Clarus would be the best thing... I wonder if a 3" mounting depth for the woofer would fit in the door?
So, I didn't really have a budget planned. Wanted to stay under $1500 for the main components. But I was looking at the Subthumb Dual T-Top Box... and it's a sealed enclosure with 1.1cf of space. So that is somewhat limiting in the subs. But look at this combo:
Pioneer AVH4200NEX
Sundown Audio SAE-100.4 4-Channel Amplifier
Sundown Audio SAE-1500D Monoblock Class D Amplifier
Hybrid Audio Clarus C61-2V2 6.5” Component Speakers
Dual SSA GCON 10" D4 Subwoofers
Subthump T-Top Dual 10" Subwoofer Box w/Trans Am
The GCONs ideal sealed enclosure is right about the size of the Subthump box provides. Though an IDMAX might be a good option here as well. It compares more to an ICON. But the ICON doesn't work in a 1.1cf enclosure. So I sort of picked the most ideal situation... and the GCONs like 750W RMS... so 1500W powering them. I don't know if SQ is the best with GCONs.... but they will destroy me.
I put in a completely new system, wiring and all, last month. I went with an Alpine PDR-V75 amp and decided to make my entire system 4ohm (the 4" rear hatch speakers are still running off the monsoon amp). I went with Focal 165AC in the sail panels and Focal 165AS in the doors and then the 5th channel on the amp is powering a JBL S2 1024 sub. I've had a few issues with the Kenwood DDX374BT head unit (very faint white noise in Standby mode), but the rest of the system sounds fantastic. I had never heard of Focal, but the guy at Crutchfield raved about them, so I found a local install shop that carried them and I went to hear for myself. Very impressed indeed.
Focals are good... but the Access Series don't hold a candle to the Hybrid stuff... especially at the Unity/Clarus level.
I'm trying to figure out the subs now. But I think after talking to SSA, the GCONs with a 1500W Sundown amp will work well. Wanted to keep the complete sub package around $1k with the box. So I'm right there... Of course, the ICONs are great. But I'd probably need the 2200W amp for them...
Btw, if anybody wants to know why I chose the ARC12s... over everything else I looked at, including the SSA ICONs, Sundown SA-12s, CDT Audio QES, Image Dynamics IDQ, Morel Ultimo... I wanted a sub that could be very musically accurate and that could also hit pretty low. Not many can do that. These ARCs can apparently from everything I've read about them. And they are rated for 350W each, so with 800W x 1 on that Sundowner amp, it's perfect to drive two.
And in that Subthumb box... I calculated out the Qtc and F3 from the T/S parameters.
I am putting a similar setup in my car now.
Pioneer AVH-4200nex
Phoenix Gold SX1200.5
Morel Temp 6C for the front doors
Morel Temp Ultra 602 for the rear sail and hatch
JL Stealth box in the drivers rear corner
I already made a mount to hide the amp behind the spare tire. Will have to see if the amp gets too hot in there or not.
I picked the amp based on size, power rating, and efficiency. You can find a link to it here. You can also bridge this puppy and go for broke in the front with some high end components
Those Morels will sound good. I like PG amps a lot, but the A/B+D amp was $1600 that I wanted. So the Sundown is a good budget variant. Let's hope they live up to the hype.
I went with the Stereo Integrity stuff over everything else after talking to Nick Lemons and the TM65 midwoofers and M25 tweeters sounded exactly like what I wanted. The midbass from 80-150hz is supposed to be phenomenal with them... but they play up to 3.5khz no problem with a natural tone and responsiveness. The M25s play down to about 1600 so I'll probably cross the woofers/tweeters at 2500 with 24db slopes and start from there. They are also highly regarded tweeters in the audiophile world.
I also ordered 90sqft of Second Skin Damplifier Pro to help quiet down the car and the rattles.
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