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so the age old question, what do you guys recommend?? im looking at a budget of , oh iono, 1500-3000 lets say...i have a few things in mind that ive been looking at like focal components and for subs maybe 2 10w7 or some type R, thing is im definatly looking for a 'sound quality' experince with not so much of a flat response because sometimes some bumpin is nice but bass heavy or SPL is not what im going for...i do want to be able to hear fairly well on the hwy windows down etc...so i need everything ground up, HU, speakers, subs, and amps to power it all...im totaly new to this but have been reading everything i can get my hands on and understanding the basic workings of everything but just want a little varitions in what im already looking at...thanx for any help lads

 
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focal makes some great sounding speaekrs, and a sound foundation to any stereo. add a notch filter to limit 1.25 kHz, and either kickpanels or time correction or both to achieve a center image in the vehicle, and the stage (for at least the driver) will be dead on.

feed it solid clean power, and itll get plenty loud to be heard over freeway wind. even the entry level audison amplifiers are able to outperform even midlevel amps like phoenix gold

for bass, something with excelent transient response and transparrancy is in order. look to the IDq's IDmaxes, a 10 or 12w7, they all sound amazing and have plenty of output for sound quality.

with a notch filter to limit 1.25, I dare say that the three band parametric equilizer that will most likely come with whatever radio you decide to get should be enough to dial in a flat frequency response. an audiocontrol or eclipse in dash EQ is useful for on the fly tuning when its gotta go to impress or something, rather than "sound good." not everyone likes SQ, nor even do us as the vehicle owners like total SQ 100% the time!

but thats what id be looking at....

 
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I don't think the Alpine Type-R are even in the same category as the JL W7 .....

 
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I agree with WhiteRabbit, definitely go for W7's for SQ with the ability to bump when you want it, however I personally don't care for the charecteristics of Focal speakers. The tweeter tends to be a little harsh for my ear. I would definitely visit shops and listen to MB Quart, JL Audio, Boston Acoustics, Focal, and Alpine X Series Flagship speakers before you make a decision.

 
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Mb quarts for the front and rear stage, powered by xtant amps (find the older silver ones...those are built better than the new ones).

As for the sub it depends on the music u listne to, i personally like the infinity kappa perfect 10 with a medium power level. the w7 are over kill unless u are going for loudness. Look at the w6 if u wanna save some $ and u may not be able to tell the difference. Power the sub with xtant or kicker amp. Mono for the best sound!

 
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as far as subs go, should just 1 be sufficient?? thanks for all these ideas as well guys

 
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1 W7 or 1 IDMAX could be enough, definitely

 
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I wouldent run a kicker or xtant to a W7, and the W7 is a SQ woofer, with moderate SPL ability. If I were you I would go 12W7 with a JL 1000/1, MB Quart PCE 2-ways with maybe a JL 300/2 or a PPI amp, and an Alpine HU...but thats just me. You'll be around 3 grand with wiring and a box and other supplies.

 
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should i worry about anything in the rear deck so much?... also im going to try to tackle glassing a box and was unsure about 1 thing, if the box isn't a 'box' and more so of a free shape(ie rounded and curved more than flat surfaces) as long as the internal air space is the recommended amount will the shape distort the sound much(the shape isn't too drastic but like i said not a 'box')..thanks for all the info so far

 
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As long as you have the correct airspace and a very strong box you should be good. It's actually better to not have a perfect cube shaped box. Dont worry about your rear speakers, I dont have any. A good set of components up front makes rear speakers unnecessary.

 
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if you are wanting to save some money, you could go 10W6v2 or 12W6v2. Both are a budget minded alternative to the W7 series. A lot of the internals and parts are the same as the W7. and i'd have to agree with rabbit on the IDMAX as well. both are good woofers. as far as the components go. Focal makes good product as well as CDT, diamond audio, MB Quart, and a few others. Another thing to consider is giving all of your speakers (subs and components) clean power. don't go all out on the subs and skimp on the amp, you'll be looking for something to fill the void as soon as you install it. make sure if you're going high end on the speakers to go high end on the amp as well. and i disagree with the rear speaker part, that they aren't needed. to get a good sound stage you're gonna need some rear fill. some people don't use them. but take them out and listen, then put some rears in and you'll notice a big difference in the sound. another thing to consider as far as a SQ vehicle, which imo is a must, is sound dampener. you don't want good clear sound from your speakers accompanied by rattles from hell from everywhere inside the vehicle.

 
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if you want the sound quaity experience, you dont want anything in the rear deck at all, for sure

 
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what does taking out the rear speakers add to the stage imaging?

 
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Think about things. Cars have 4 speakers, home theater setups have 5 or more, and regular stereo's still only have two.

Cars have 4 speakers ... why? So that mommy can fade to the rear and keep little Johnny ammused w/ Barney tunes and not be blasting it in her face. Basically so rear passengers can hear the radio while the guy in front isn't getting blown out of the car.

Home theaters have many speakers to simulate effects. If the jet flys by, you hear it in the front speakers first, then both front and rears, and then only in the rears. This gives the illusion that it flew by. The key word here is for effects.

Super high end home stereo has 2 speakers, and they are always in front of you. This is just like a concert etc..

Four speakers in a car is more like a home theater setup than a music setup. While speakers in the back may help the symbols in the music sound cool (like in techno) ..... overall voice reproduction doesn't sound as nice.

I stopped using my rears and haven't looked back since in all of my vehicles.

 
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these are long, difficult reads, but once someone can actually wrap their brains around them, they have 75% the theory down to a world finals SQ car, and just need the experience to gain that last little bit!

http://www.betteraudio.com/geolemon/Phasing/Phasing.htm

this article is about exclusively front left and front right, how they combine into a soundstage, how they play a role in being able ot recreate the original recording at its finest.

http://www.betteraudio.com/geolemon/...e/Multiple.htm

here is hte source you are after, why rear speakers destroy the soundstage! without doubt rearfill has its purposes, both on and off the SQ competition line, however, the potential benefit of NOT running them can FAR outweigh ANY benefit of keeping them in there!

http://www.betteraudio.com/geolemon/...frontstage.htm

here is an experiment that tried to utilize the concepts of pointsource imaging to achieve a perfect soundstage.

http://www.betteraudio.com/geolemon/...Linesource.htm

here is an experiment that tried to utilize linesource theory to achieve perfect imaging. definitely pay close attention to this one, for most likely, with a component set in yoru car, you will be using this to assure your speaekrs are all in phase with each other!

aka tweeters up high in the doors, midwoofers down low in the doors. but will they mesh properly into a seamless soundstage? or will it sound like drummerboy at yoru feet, and cymbal boy up high? your install abilities and tuning skills (which can be gained through this installation!) will determine!

your embarking on one of the most difficult caraudio projects out there, the "sq" experience, one that will leave all your friends unimpressed constantly, and have the best buy kiddies laughing at you behind your back (dude, this guy said he spent $3000 on his stereo and man, im WAY louder than his ***!) but the self rewards are so great and the transformation of your body from mp3 loving gargle to new member of the golden eared mafia in my opinion make all the money, work, and grief worth it all!

 
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cause more is better, right? the car companies are implying that more speakers the better the stereo, right?

that 6 speaker infinity system HAS to be better than our 4 speaker stock system, right?

that 8 speaker bose system in an suv HAS to be better than that infinity system, right?

that 10 speaker harmon kardon stereo in that other car has GOT to be superior to dingalings 2 speaker stereo in his accord, right guys?

right?......

.....................right guys? =p

 
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hey thanks alot lads!
I have about a month still befor i even start narrowing down my decisions and begin purchaseing, so im definatly still in the R&D phase...those links look like they are packed with good info, luckly i want to do this right the first time(or atleast first few) and not rush anything so i have plenty of time to hopefully get a good grasp of everything(ive already learned so much from the board and the links at the top of this forum)...ill probably be back befor the end with more questions and such, thanks again!

 
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wrong forum in your mind there mister spitvalve

these kids dont know who ding is

for reference, ding is either #1 or #2 in cali in his division competing sq in cali, dont know his national ranking...

 
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#1. period.