Need help designing a system

Discussion in 'General Car Audio Discussions' started by chippernicus, Nov 3, 2006.

  1. chippernicus

    chippernicus Full Member

    Ok, here are my limitations and preferences for hopefully an amazing system:

    1. budget of around $3500
    2. drive a 2004 bmw 3-series coupe
    3. listen to rock mostly, but would love to impress with a little thumping now and then
    4. stock speakers are crap and there are no aftermarket parts so far
    5. i am a newb to installing, so i cant do it myself

    I had thought about putting in 3 JL 10" W3's, but i heard JL is expensive for the bass they churn out. I would also like to make it presentable with lights and what not, but I would rather give up bling for sound. Anyone's thoughts would be appreciated.
     
  2. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    Welcome to the forums chipper
     
  3. joe manor

    joe manor Full Member

    If it were me I would definitely plan on building a a box and porting it through the rear seat armrest or rear deck. Make sure whoever is doing the custom fab work knows their stuff and are good craftsmen. Do yourself a favor and buy some ols school orions off ebay and you wont have to wonder if you could have done better in the amp department. I would try to get a 450 for your surrounds and maybe a 250 or something for subs. You can pick up both amps for around $800 for really nice ones and they will out perform anything you can buy at your local stereo shop.
    I am pleased with my JL Audio VR surrounds. I think for most people they are sufficient. Im pretty picky and I have no plans of replacing them.
    Audio control makes a 3.1 that is a preamp/eq and I would consider it a necessity for any system. I have two of them. After I installed my first one I had to get another for my other car.
    I just picked up an Eclipse CD7000 and love it.
    I stick with JL Audio subs myself but that is because they always sould great for me. I cant stand buying/testing/hating/building boxes/returning/taking losses/wasting time trying to find stuff that Im not sure about. The sales people will sell you the product they can make the most money on and hope that you dont have high expectations.
    So, I can say for sure that you will be very satisfied if you use some of the following:
    Eclipse CD7000- $600
    Orion Amps- $800
    Audio Control 3.1- $280
    JL Audio Surrounds- $Cant remember?
    JL 12W6V2- $700
    JL Audio Cables- $100
    Custom box- $500
    Total= $2980 Plus Installation. Pretty close.
     
  4. chippernicus

    chippernicus Full Member

    Ok I've put together a system. Tell me what you think...

    1. Head unit: alpine CDA-9857
    2. Speakers: Focal 165KP in the front and 130CV1 in the back
    3. Amps: Alpine PDX1.1000 for subs and PDX4.150 for speakers
    4. Subs: 2 JL 12W6V2
    5. and like 600-800 in custom boxes/lights
     
  5. joe manor

    joe manor Full Member

    whatever amps you buy, they aint gonna kick ass like Old School Orions. Dont waste your time. You'll thank me later.
     
  6. joe manor

    joe manor Full Member

    Do you have room for a bandpass box for them 12's?
     
  7. TheViking

    TheViking Well-Known Member

    Good ol Orion, aint none better, period..............

    Hey, does that beemer have the ski hole in the back seat????? I have done a few systems in those hitler cars (haha!!! ) that entailed the use of a single reflex bandpass using a single 10 inch sub. Sound quality was excellent due to the lack of reflective surfaces that the sub bass didnt have to reflect off of.........The same scenario could be incorporated using 2 12 inchers in a single reflex if you were willing to give up some trunk area........the sound is very tight, smooth low frequency extension, without exaggerated bass notes....Not ideal for "BOOM BOOM" systems, but why advertise.......

    The highs you are reffering too should do fine, although there are plenty of others out there........Listen if you can to what you might be interested in, dont let someone tell you what sounds good, you let your ears tell you what sounds good.......
     
  8. Sarcastic

    Sarcastic Full Member

    Sorry for gettign slightly off topic, please move this if it is appropriate. I remember it was 1999 I had saved up a grip of cash and took a trip to Wichita. I was crusing around town and went into a stereo shop and noticed this large red amp on the wall, so I bought one and had them hook it up. They kept trying to sell me this amp they had behind the counter. I can not find any info on it anywhwhere it was made by Orion and it was called a concert or concept or something. Said it had like a dozen channels and cost like 2500. I bet Viking can shed some light and it. Anyways 2 thumbs up for O/S Orion.
     
  9. Rodny

    Rodny Full Member

    The bandpass box with a good sub problaby a better choice for listening rock, if it has a arm rest do it like Viking said.. bring the port thru there or have a good installer cut a hole thru the rear deck and have a custom grille made.
     
  10. chippernicus

    chippernicus Full Member

    Thanks everyone, this is helping alot. Anyone know a good website to look at some installation ideas. I want to do some semi-custom work... amps behind fiberglass with lights and what not. Also, if I cut a hole in my deckboard or armrest in the back seats, I will probably cannot have my sub boxes up against my seats right?
     
  11. joe manor

    joe manor Full Member

    Your box would be pushed right up to your seats.