car audio

[niget2002]

OK. So most everyone here really likes their home audio/HT.

I've also found that most people that enjoy listening to home audio also enjoy it in their cars.

Where do you go on the net for equivalent audio information as audioholics, but for cars?

I'm not looking for the outrageous SPL stuff, but to make my car sound better.

 

[JaceTheAce]

I've found it very difficult to find a car audio forum with informative advice. It's very misinformative, if anything. Most of the people on car audio forums are young kids only interested in how "loud" their subwoofers can play, who has the most "watts" in a car, who can cram the most amount of speakers in their car, who has the most expensive equipment, or who's custom built fiberglass enclosure speaker/amp layout looks the best.

There are SOME people on there interested in good sound, regardless of "show", but it's very hit or miss.

 

[Sheep]

The car is a flawed listening environment. 40% of walls surface is glass.

I can't believe people put more then 1 10inch subwoofer in a car. Its just excessive. If you need more then that to hit High SPL's, thats one ****ty subwoofer.

SheepStar

 

[mtrycrafts]

OK. So most everyone here really likes their home audio/HT.

I've also found that most people that enjoy listening to home audio also enjoy it in their cars.

Where do you go on the net for equivalent audio information as audioholics, but for cars?

I'm not looking for the outrageous SPL stuff, but to make my car sound better.

I am sure basic questions can be answered here too. Then, you may need to search for the components on line.

 

[JaceTheAce]

The car is a flawed listening environment. 40% of walls surface is glass.

I can't believe people put more then 1 10inch subwoofer in a car. Its just excessive. If you need more then that to hit High SPL's, thats one ****ty subwoofer.

SheepStar

I have one 12 inch JL Audio subwoofer in a sealed enclosure in my Honda Civic and even that is plenty.

 

[sdy284]

i've found a car audio forum that consists mainly of installers, due to the fact that the site its on is for installers...

http://www.the12volt.com/

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/

its definately not the typical kid forum about how loud their system is.

 

[niget2002]

I'm looking for a sub and an amp, but the problem I keep running in to are kids saying, "If have this... it ROCKS."

That doesn't tell me anything. What's it's FR? What's it's cutoff? ************ does a great job in listing this information, but the only real brand it sells is MTX (which aren't bad really)

There's so many brands to choose from, it's scarry. I like to read real reviews before reading user's reviews. the12volt site looks pretty good, and I'll be scanning it for a while.

Thanks.

 

[GlocksRock]

Check out the elemental designs forum. eD is a great company who really truly cares about their customers, and they have outstanding customer service and products. They have subwoofers that range from 6.5" to 18" and everything inbetween. They also have great amps and component sets. Check out their site at www.edesignaudio.com Ben Milne is the owner of the company and can be found posting on the forum everyday, just give them a call if you have any questions, they can and will take care of you, and they know their stuff, they can tell you all the specs you want to know.

http://www.icixsound.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=24

 

[Naves74]

Before you read on realize I have entire factory speaker system in my car no after market components at all. However, I have done alot of instilation jobs for people that have bough components and do not how to wire color coded wires.


A couple of people I know have JL audio subwoofers in their cars and whenever I get in I turn the bass on the head unit to almost off and they sound great. I have the fealing that as long as the woffer you plan to buy is not on sale at K-mart or any other retailer like them you will be fine.

What I tell people is to go look at Cruchfield.com and find what ever compentents they are looking for and then go to ebay and get them for half that price.

The main problem with car audio people is that all they care about it is bass. The people I know that are car audio enthusists have $2,000 invested in subs, amps, and headunits and have factory tweeters and mids still in thier car.

Could you imagine having a Definitive super cube I or a top of the line svs sub hooked to a home theater in a box set up you can buy at wal-mart onsale for 100 bucks. You wouldnt do it and it would be pointless b/c all you would hear is boom, boom, boom, what did they say?, boom, boom.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

I'm not looking for the outrageous SPL stuff, but to make my car sound better.

Dynamat is your friend. Cars have so much ambient noise (when they're moving) its ridiculous. Keep your facory electronics and invest heavily in noise killers. Then worry about speakers, subs, and amps.

 

[Hi Ho]

If you are looking for an excellent subwoofer for car or home theater I would recommend AscendantAudio without hesitation. They have also recently introduced a component speaker set.

On the subject of killing noise, what are the key areas to put noise deadening materials? I know the floor panels are a given but where else? My Civic isn't the quietest of vehicles.

 

[JaceTheAce]

Dynamat is your friend. Cars have so much ambient noise (when they're moving) its ridiculous. Keep your facory electronics and invest heavily in noise killers. Then worry about speakers, subs, and amps.

Then you have the autocross racing nuts like me put down that suggestion. Lightweight cars are your friend in racing situations

Otherwise, get Dynamat.

 

[GlocksRock]

If you are looking for an excellent subwoofer for car or home theater I would recommend AscendantAudio without hesitation. They have also recently introduced a component speaker set.

On the subject of killing noise, what are the key areas to put noise deadening materials? I know the floor panels are a given but where else? My Civic isn't the quietest of vehicles.

Doors, trunk, headliner if possible, basically everywhere you can put it is good. Elemental Designs sells several types of deadening material such as mat, foam, and a liquid that you apply with a paintbrush that is suppossed to be really good stuff. I used some of their stuff in my car and it made a big difference.

 

[Hi Ho]

I may have to try doing that. The headliner is already insulated but all those other areas have nothing to block noise.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Ziebart and other window-tint installation places sometimes offer a sound-killing undercarriage spray that supposedly knocks-out a few more Db's. It also prevents rust or something.

Yes, definatley get the doors, firewall too. Some people ven suggest an aftermarket hood liner, but I've never heard any benefits with that.

 

[niget2002]

I plan on deadening the doors. The car on a whole is actually very quiet (98 dodge stratus).

I've heard very good things from other people that have tried SQ in this car. My only complaint is right now to get equal bass from the stock speakers requires fading it a little to the back. This screws the soundstage up. The fronts are already a pseudo component setup stock (mids in door, tweets in dash), but I've noticed the tweets could use some real passive crossovers and better pointing. I think a nice sub/amp combo will help make the rest of the system come alive.

I've already thrown out the stock HU and replaced it with a good aftermarket one. Thanks for the ED site. Lots of good information there.

Whenever I get around to doing it, I'll throw up some pics.

 

[adwilk]

I'm still kind of new at the home theatre thing, but actually have some pretty good knoweledge of how to make a vehicle sound good. Just like home audio (most those kids dont do this), its critical that you step up and spend money on all the accessories like fuses, noise dampening materials, proper boxes, good crossovers blah blah blah blah... Most aftermarket head units are capable of powering most two way coaxials on the market and this method works just fine. if you invest in a component speaker set, an amp may be necessary. The info here so far on subs is correct. NOBODY HAS TWO 15's that sound incredible. My best setup included every component from Eclipse audio. I had a pre-amp head unit with an 8volt preout, an eclipse premium 4 channel amp (only 50x4), Their point source series components up front and in back and a titanium 10" sub with an eclipse premium 700 watt amp. I used good cables, good connections, applied l-pads to the tweeters (trick i learned in an audioholics DIY forum) and there was some music i would have rathered listned to in my car(sitting still of course)than inside my home. I found that the key to good car audio is spending a little more money on good components. upgrade a piece at a time so you can tell what makes a difference...

 

[adwilk]

highly highly highly recommend eclipse.. best car audio products available in their respective price range.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Cars can be difficult. There's a wide variety of head units, and those units offer a vast array of flexibility. I stick with Pioneer due to immense flexibility and sound. There's nothing better than having full control over PEQ/EQ, as well as crossover points to your sub(s). I agree that a well built 10" should be plenty. I've got twin 10's in a sealed enclosure, with a healthy amp. The subs not only sound good at high spl levels, but great at low levels. One really doesn't need to spend huge amounts of money to get great sound. Just patience and proper setup.

 

[JaceTheAce]

As for me, I prefer an Alpine head unit. Alpine has always focused more on sound quality and less on features like "cool animated display effects".