Any car audio experts on the list? (ie, installers, designers, competitors)

[raveracer77 at yahoo.ca (raveracer77)]

    OK, now this is my territory.  As far as head unit brands are concerned, in most cases it's really up to personal taste.  Focus on the layout of controls first is my suggestion, after that really it's all up to you and each brand has it's own strength.  For myself, I prefer Kenwood but wouldn't kick a Pioneer out of bed either.  I really hate Alpines.  Out of the 15 or so cars I've owned in my lifetime the GTX, 4000 and this recent GLI all had Alpines in them when I got them and I'm so sick of them.  What is it with VAG guys and Alpines?  They've all had overheating problems, skipped at the slightest hit and just had stupid controls for my liking.  I have a freind who used to swear by Alpine though.  One of my co-workers used to install stereos and he prefers Eclipse, but we both agree that for the price and options available Sony does have an impressive lineup and Alpine sucks.
    For the Subs that's a little different.  I listen to techno and the beat of it is usually very fast and precise.  A smaller speaker USUALLY, not always, has a faster reflex so I like two 10" kickers in a seeled box because they're sturdy and provide a good fast hit.  Now if you listen to Hip hop where there's a long drawn out rumble in that style you might want to go with something bigger like a 15 or even an 18 but something that has better resolution then a kicker and I think a ported box.  One usually is good for just your own listening pleasure but I don't know what brand to go with because I've narrowed my audio knowledge just down to what I like, there's to much change for me to be bothered to keep up with what's really good.  Bass Tubes are cheap, reliable, compact and a good solid all round performer, but they're not competition equipment and you might be a little dissappointed.  Again though for Hard rock it might be all round enough to cover everything you listen to and if you get a big enough one it might not be to dissappointing.  
    A little side advice though would be to consider what parts of the sounds do you want to hear?  For Example: When I ripped out the Alpine in my GTX and put the Kenwood in, I went with a cheaper deck with a CD changer (pre MP3) so that I could get a better pair of speakers and here's why.  I bought 400W 4-way 6X9's with a Gel filled coil.  This speaker covers the most sound ranges any one speaker possibly can.  The three tweeters gave amazing clarity in the high frequency areas while the huge power of the large cone made sure that the mid range bass came through with minimal distortion.  I never had a sub and even if I had a single 10" it would have been perfect.  The reason I'm telling you this is because the set up that came with my recent GLI is built around showing off, but the sound sucks and the DPO didn't know how to set the settings for the best sound.  There's a 15" Alpine sub with a 100 watt Alpine amp and an Alpine head unit.  In the cockpit there's 4 and a quarter speakers (mostly highs) in the rear deck, 5 and a quarters (high mids) in the doors, and 3.5's in the dash (highs).  Normally the bigger ones should go in the rear deck but whatever.  The sound inside the car has NO MIDRANGE but the sub hits strong and reverberates.  I hate it.  The previous owner had set the subwoofer settings low and used the base adjustment to increase over all bass.  This sends bass to all speakers and distorts the smaller ones.  I turned down the Bass setting and turned up the Sub setting and divided out the sounds.  The right tool for the right job, the right speaker for the right sound.  I'm looking at a Kenwood head with a USB socket and my brother is going to bring me my old 6X9's he's had in storage next month.  Hope this all helps.

      Rave Racer
Currently:
NEW!!  91 Jetta GLI 2.0L 16V
'81 Scirocco Mk1 1.8L 8V Digifant 2

'89 Jetta GTX 1.8L 16V
'87 Audi 4000 Quattro 
 http://www.audifans.com/registry/view.php?action=viewCar&carid=110
'72 Triumph GT6
 http://www.triumphowners.com/uploaded/34/50-50-111014_20raveracer-gt6-1.jpg
 
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http://www.myspace.com/rave_racer
___________________________________________

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John C. Worden 
  To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org 
  Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 11:54 AM
  Subject: Any car audio experts on the list? (ie, installers, designers, competitors)


  I used to really stay on top of this stuff years ago, but responsibilities 
  such as marriage
  and home ownerships has caused me to not really keep up.  The stereo system 
  in the
  the new '88 needs some help. I am going to stick with the stock size and 
  location of the
  speakers(4x6).  But now for a sub woofer I have some questions.  I listen 
  to rock- classic
  rock, alternative and some metal.  What would be a good size and quantity 
  for the trunk of
  a Scirocco.  And what is the ideal way to face them?  I am thinking that a 
  sealed box is
  best for my type of music and currently thinking that more than one sub 
  woofer is kind of
  over doing it, but I could be wrong.  This is just a system for my 
  enjoyment, not for show
  or competition.  I don't need top of the line stuff, but don't want junk 
  either.  As for the head
  unit, I am looking pretty closely at Pioneers(I've had them in my truck for 
  9 years and have
  had no problems) with 3 sets of pre amp outputs and running an amp(4x40, 
  maybe Profile
  California) to the 4x6(up in the air, but looking at JBL GTO6427) speakers.
  And thoughts or advice?

  Thanks,


  John C. Worden
  Bucksport, Maine

  ''98 Dakota 4x4-
  '88 Scirocco 16V-
  '86 Scirocco 8V-Now a 16V!
  '78 Scirocco Brazil Brown Metallic, 4 speed.- In the Rotisserie and under 
  restoration
  '89 Polaris Indy Deluxe



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