Car subwoofers

markfj

Hi all

Following on from a post I made a while ago, afer getting a new headunit for xmas, I am looking for a subwoofer package deal that includes, a sub, amp and wiring kit, as i no little about them I guessed an all in one package would be my best option:

I have made a list below, I was hoping those in the knowledge could take a brief look and tell me if any are good, I only have a small car so chose the smaller sub packages, but looking for a good deal (hence why im here )

Thanks!

FLI 12" 1000W Subwoofer/Sub + BOSS Amp/Amplifier Pack | eBay

JBL GTO1202D Subwoofer, amp, box 3 in 1 deal - GTO1202D + BX12 + JA490 from JBL

Alpine SBG-12KIT Subwoofer Pack (AS SUGGESTED by someone)

kenwood-kenwood-pack-4-12-800-watt-kenwood-subwoofer-teamed-up-a-t1-audio-600w-2-channel-amp-amp-kit-box-included

edge-ed-pack-12-bass-packs-900-awtts

http://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/Car-Audio-System-Platin-Line-120-Subwoofer-and-Amplifier-Set_i284_4534_0.htm

Weird_Nev

Well, they're all very "cheap and Cheerful" so I guess that's what you're looking for!
Is your budget about £100?

I take it you know your headunit has a sub-output....

Now, a word of caution.... In all likelyhood any of those packs would work fine. However, the bass WILL overpower your head unit output and your front speakers. This might do for a while, but in the long run you'll most likely want to make a bit of an upgrade to improve the system as a whole. It' advise against a 12" sub too. they take up a lot of room and if your car is small, a 10" sub is a more versatile solution. Copes better with fast paced dance and rock, but lacks the out and out output you might want for Reggae or Dubstep.

A simple upgrade path once you've fitted your sub is to swap out the single channel sub amplifier for a 4 channel one. Then you use two channels to drive some upgraded front speakers, and the rear two channels you "bridge" together to double their output and drive your subwoofer. Easy! And much better than just a standalone sub. All I'm say is that anything you do now, have in mind what you may do later.

Here's a guide I wrote for newcomers to car audio. It might help you figure out waht you want from a system.

If you have any further questions, talk audio forum is the best place to ask. There are some seriously knowledgable people on there.
The Car Audio Security pack you linked looked good. I'd avoid "car audio Centre" they don't have that great a reputation. Car audio direct however, I've use don many an occasion and their serice and prices are second to none!

markfj

Hi

Thanks for the detailed reply, appreciate it

Il put it as simply as I can, I pretty much have a small car, I love rap music so I just want good sound quality and good bass, I havent a budget in mind, but I do have to keep in mind that I will get everything installed professionally, so the ones I listed above are my not so techincal eye ones I say, Id pay more If there was a reason too, but I wasnt entitely sure what I was payng for spec wise

The headunit I bought is:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330650915797?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

So pretty much, I am willing to pay for a good subwoofer kit, I have a headuint I beleive to be good but I guess I lack the knowledge in how to decide whats a good and whats a not so good sub kit

Also, I am probably wantin to upgrade speakers, rear and back too at some point, so If you have knowledge re kits with a suitable amp I will definately bear this in mind, but will probably get speakers at a differtent point

Weird_Nev

ForWhat kind of car is it? Model and age is handy to know. Do you know what size front speakers it takes?

That's a good choice of headunit, it'll do everything you need.

In all honesty DON't pay to have it installed. It's not hard to do yourself, you learn lots and the (buckets) of money you save will buy better kit.

Here's what I'd recommend:
A 10" sub in a sealed box - can probably get secnod hand for £50. Cash converters tend to be full of them!
A decent 4 channel amplfier - JBL GTO's are good value for money new, or ebay. You can get some really nice kit second hand for not much money.
Front upgraded speakers. Don't bother with upgrading the rears. Fronts do 90% of the work ,or should do in a well set up system.
A bit of sound deadening to go in the doors and help your front speakers.

Then you amp up the front speakers and the sub using the 4 channel amp which keeps you wiring simple, and you're good to go.

It's not easy ,and for good results I'd be looking at spending £300 really, all in. But it is fun and the results are worth it.

markfj

Hi

That's for the details, I guess I was looking at a package so I knew the amp and sub would work together, I have a 2006 Suzuki swift and not sure on front speaker size to be honest, I admit I wouldn't know where to start of installing myself

markfj

well, after the advice given here and elsewere I have made a small list of stuff I may consider (though its bit pricier than hoped)

Amplifier
JBL GTO1004 - £140
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/products/jbl-gto1004.html
　
4 gauge wiring Kit
£20
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/autoleads-4awg.html
Spl Speakers - £90

SPL Dynamics HF 6.2
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/products/spl-dynamics-sd-6-2.html

Does the above look like a good start to anyone here? I am a little mythed as to what sub I should get, all the stuff suggested has been JBL, so I presume a JBL would be ideal? if so I need a small one, 10" being ideal I guess, but there is so many to choose from!

Weird_Nev

Not bad, but you can certainly do better, for less!
Have a look at:
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-pmx-f640.html - Alpine 4 channel amp that will start you out for just £105. MOre compact than the GTO, not quite as powerful but still totally respectable.

Those speakers - not heard them to be honest they look ok. But I'd stick with alpine, Pioneer or some other brands over those: Are you SURE they're 6.5" (17cm) speakers? Where will the tweeters go? Does it have mounting locations on the wing mirror backs?
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/ground-zero-gzic650x.html - Ground zero have a good reputation for £80 you can't go far wrong.
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hel-b62c-helix-b62c.html Helixs are also respected - check the mounting depth though as they have big magnets.

That wiring kit looks fine. 4AWG is a good idea as it'll be safe to handle a bit of current draw if you ever fit a bigger amp.
And here's a 10" Sub in a funky little enclosure for £80: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alp-sbe1043br-alpine-sbe-1043br-subwoofer-car-audio-direct.html

So I make that about £295 all in.

But Please, PLEASE! try and listen to some systems before you commit. It's not a cheap hobby and you need to make informed decisions. Until you've heard speakers in particular, you'll just not know what suites your car, your music and your ears. Even listening to them in a car audio showroom (NOT halfords! They only sell overpriced tat!) is preferable.

The other thing is to get onto a Swift forum, there will be an active little owners club for swifts and someone will have put up an audio guide. Ignore chavvy "bling" installs and look for a focus on sound quality, and learn from others mistakes and hard work. Everything from cable runs to speaker mounting needs to be considered. Have you read through my guide yet?

It will be worth it, I promise, but you need to make a considered approach. Also, set your own budget. I have done an install for a mate for £100, but it took HARD work hunting down loads of non broken kit on ebay. £300 is a realistic minimum buying new. I've spent £1000's to my shame.

markfj

Hi Thanks again, really appreciate the input.. orry if I am annoying, im just a little clueless with these

Have been offered a 2 month one of these
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/products/jbl-gto1004.html
for £100

Someone did suggest buying 2 amps, one for powering the subwoofer, and another for powering the front components, but not sure I really need/want 2 amps?!

Am considering these speakers, as they are pioneer and seem a good price

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/15431.html £65

as for subs, I dont quite understand still how to tell a god from a bad one, I understand the RMS is apparently what I am looking for

someone suggested this one
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/10744.html but Id have to buy an enclosure too, and not sure which one.. honestly im not fussed on what brand it is, as long as it works ok

thanks again for all your help

I have read your guide, I was considering doing myself but after reading several tuts on deadening, tools required ect I think ill be best off trying to find someone to do for me :rotfl:

Weird_Nev

markfj wrote: »

Hi Thanks again, really appreciate the input.. orry if I am annoying, im just a little clueless with these

Have been offered a 2 month one of these
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/products/jbl-gto1004.html
for £100

Do you mean two channel?
Check the size of them. Those GTO's are big, you need to think where it's going. I only suggested the Alpine as it's (IMO) a better amp at a really good price. It's also smaller.
If you buy a 2 channel amp, then you're jsut going to need another amp to power other speakers, which brings me to:

markfj wrote: »

Someone did suggest buying 2 amps, one for powering the subwoofer, and another for powering the front components, but not sure I really need/want 2 amps?!

There's no point, it's over complex for a first system. A single 4 channel amp does everything you need - 2 channels for the front left and right speakers, and the rear 2 channels bridged together to make 1 channel to power the subwoofer.

markfj wrote: »

Am considering these speakers, as they are pioneer and seem a good price

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/15431.html £65

They'd probably be fine, but I'd want to check - I believe the TS speakers are really designed to run off of the head unit power.

markfj wrote: »

as for subs, I dont quite understand still how to tell a god from a bad one, I understand the RMS is apparently what I am looking for

someone suggested this one
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/10744.html but Id have to buy an enclosure too, and not sure which one.. honestly im not fussed on what brand it is, as long as it works ok

Ignore RMS. Manufacturers make up numebrs to sell Subs, everyone just looksfor the biggest numbers, which is wrong. Efficiency is more useful.
That sub you linked is fine, but the one I linked comes in a box for just £20 more. The sub you linked is also dual 4 ohm voice coil - this means it can either show a 2 ohm load or an 8 ohm load. A bridge amp might not like running this. In fact it wont. You need a 4 ohm final load to a bridged amp - like the one I linked.

Seriously, get over to talk audio, post what you want, and get your head around the kit available. IT's not hard, but you just need to know a bit.

markfj

Thanks again

I have been over to the Talk audio forum and the swift forum, everyone has different suggestions hence posting back here, but you've given the best advice out of everyone, so thanks

Im glad you cleared up the sub info, it was suggested buying 2 amps, which confused me a little and a 4 channel one seems much more logical (and cheaper) and as you pointed out I dont want a big one, so will go with your suggestion.

I saw a video of the sub you linked to on a review, seems a nice sub, nice lights and good quality and its a good price too!

Thanks again for all your help, sorry if Ive been a pain and repeated myself, Im not normally this slow!

appreciate it

Myser

As Weird Nev said, don't forget about sound deadening. Most people just concentrate on getting very good equipment but without sound deadening, it can make the car sound awful.

You have to consider things like number plates rattling, door panels (mentioned earlier), dashboard trim. Most of these are easy and cheap fixes but you should factor some money into your budget for them.

Have you worked out how you will mount the sub-woofer enclosure in the back? If it isn't secure, it'll rattle and sound awful.