Help me design a system.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 46,680
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From: Hades, eighth circle
Help me design a system.
I'm putting a new system in my POS daily driver. I want fairly high end stuff.
To that end, how does this head unit look? Rockford Fosgate RFX9420 I'd like something without an integrated amp, since I'm going to be installing external amps anyway. I guess it doesn't really matter since most of the integrated amps are wussy and probably don't contribute much to the cost. I just figured I could get a really nice unit for the price if I got one without an amp.
For the speakers I was thinking Image Dynamics. The car is a Saturn, 4 door SL2. What's the standard practice for mounting subwoofers? There's already two speakers mounted in the rear deck, and I'm not planning on a huge subwoofer. If two 8" drivers would fit in the existing enclosures I'd probably go with that. I want good sound, not ghetto sound. I'm not looking for ridiculous SPL.
As for amps, I was thinking a two channel 50W or so for the main speakers, and whatever makes sense for the sub(s). Don't have any idea what brand to go with here.
To that end, how does this head unit look? Rockford Fosgate RFX9420 I'd like something without an integrated amp, since I'm going to be installing external amps anyway. I guess it doesn't really matter since most of the integrated amps are wussy and probably don't contribute much to the cost. I just figured I could get a really nice unit for the price if I got one without an amp.
For the speakers I was thinking Image Dynamics. The car is a Saturn, 4 door SL2. What's the standard practice for mounting subwoofers? There's already two speakers mounted in the rear deck, and I'm not planning on a huge subwoofer. If two 8" drivers would fit in the existing enclosures I'd probably go with that. I want good sound, not ghetto sound. I'm not looking for ridiculous SPL.
As for amps, I was thinking a two channel 50W or so for the main speakers, and whatever makes sense for the sub(s). Don't have any idea what brand to go with here.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
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From: Sacramento CA
stay away from rockford heads - go with the proven ones
alpine clarion pioneer nakamichi, even Kenwood.
For nice balanced sound, I like 100watts each up front, and around 300 watts to a single 12. More is better, because you can turn more down, but not less up.
alpine clarion pioneer nakamichi, even Kenwood.
For nice balanced sound, I like 100watts each up front, and around 300 watts to a single 12. More is better, because you can turn more down, but not less up.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 46,680
Likes: 2
From: Hades, eighth circle
Originally Posted by Kale
stay away from rockford heads - go with the proven ones
alpine clarion pioneer nakamichi, even Kenwood.
alpine clarion pioneer nakamichi, even Kenwood.
For nice balanced sound, I like 100watts each up front, and around 300 watts to a single 12. More is better, because you can turn more down, but not less up.
As for the sub, what's the typical way to set that up? With a single 12" would you just aim for the center of the rear deck? Enclosure space could be tricky, the trunk's not big. I thought about just mouting the driver and leaving it exposed, infinite baffle style. But I don't know if the trunk really has enough room to constitute an infinite baffle.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Hades, eighth circle
Originally Posted by snoopdan
You didnt mention what kind of vehicle your POS is,
Originally Posted by me, in the first freakin' post
The car is a Saturn, 4 door SL2
but whatever it is or what you choose, it will probably need more cowbell.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
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From: Sacramento CA
Single IDv3 12 sub, sealed, facing the back of the trunk, 6-8" away from the raer trunk wall.
Rockford used to make very good amps... there was ONE good rockford head unit - a rebadged Denon that was awesome. But the rest of the stuff, and their modern amps - forget it.
Rockford used to make very good amps... there was ONE good rockford head unit - a rebadged Denon that was awesome. But the rest of the stuff, and their modern amps - forget it.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 46,680
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From: Hades, eighth circle
Originally Posted by leolufse
I read your post twice 
, but you didn't mention your budget or features you want in your head unit. Also, will you be doing the install?
, but you didn't mention your budget or features you want in your head unit. Also, will you be doing the install?Don't need anything fancy, it would be nice to be XM/Sirius ready. Otherwise detachable faceplate, and I think those motorized faceplates that slide down to access the CD player are kinda cool. An external auxilary input for something like a MP3 player would be nice.
Budget for the whole system is probably in the $1000 range. Maybe $200 or so in the head unit.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Los Angeles Ca
clarion has a nice $230 head unit with the features you want. i forgot the model no. but check out www.carmedia1.com and its the h/u that is around $230 
also check out the eclipse line, they have some good ~$200 models.
you'll be hard pressed to find a non amplified h/u for $200. those are reserved for higher end models.
also check out the eclipse line, they have some good ~$200 models. you'll be hard pressed to find a non amplified h/u for $200. those are reserved for higher end models.