NOT happy

[krimsonviper]

I want to switch out my system. completely revamp it. money's not an issue because im wanting to buy it piece by piece, but i certainly dont need top of the line stuff. what i want-no distortion, keep my 300/4 and 500/1 amps, and return back to the stock deck. no complication/extra crap like. simple yet clean. i know i made the sticky, but what im really looking for is what companies are recommended as well as which product within that company. example-i looked at focal and DLS' websites and they have about half a dozen of one speaker size but different models. which ones do i go for/look at? i havent been looking at car audio equipment lately and as the guru's know, when you step out for a few months, you get outdated like you're been gone for decades.

My system as it stands now

Eclipse CD8053=no understanding of tuning its EQ plus the subs "kick" whenever it turns off and/or change radio stations.JL amps listed above.JL XR570-csi in the frontAlpine type-R 5x7 in the rear=BLOWNElemental Designs 13kv=BLOWN

PS-i want my sub(s) to hit hard with good(not great) sound quality.

[Broadfield]

Give me a call!..... that's what my # is there for. There is just too many options to type it all out. We can talk about your options and the pro's and con's of each one.

Take Care,

Toby

[krimsonviper]

i thought you only did alpine. alpine failed me, and i dont give 2nd chances lol. so did elemental. total of failage in $ signs=$800

*edit*plus im not looking into another aftermarket deck, but how much is the F.I.T? good looking out! if you dont respond in a couple of days im going to either email or call

[Broadfield]

I simply had Alpine HU's on sale this month........ I carry tons of stuff. You can check out my introduction thread to learn more about me and what I do. If you want to keep the OEM radio, I would suggest the JL Audio Clean Sweep. Feel free to call me right now if you would like.

Toby

[Looneybomber]

i thought you only did alpine. alpine failed me, and i dont give 2nd chances lol. so did elemental.

That's cause you used a low-end 12" sub with too big of an amp. I have a 19Ov.2 (dual 4ohm) that would eat up all the power that 500/1 could dish out when in a sealed box.

Heck, if you can build a box, I'd even sell it. I'm not using it, nor have I even mounted it in an enclosure.

[krimsonviper]

That's cause you used a low-end 12" sub with too big of an amp. I have a 19Ov.2 (dual 4ohm) that would eat up all the power that 500/1 could dish out when in a sealed box.

Heck, if you can build a box, I'd even sell it. I'm not using it, nor have I even mounted it in an enclosure.

Im not running just one sub, im running two. hell, i had elementals nine2x amp that is paired up with 2 13kv subs on their website when i purchased them and only one sub blew then. i get a brand new one back and right out of the box its giving me a paper sound from the driver. customer service is damn great, their product FAILS. im not going through the hassle with sending it back, waiting months to have my sub system back up. im just going to start fresh and set these subs on fire, because i know im going to blow them up on purpose . oh and of course that 18 inch sub would eat up my 500/1 can dish out. it is only a mildly powered amp compared to what most people have in their car

[scole]

Focal polyglass 165v2 components, and a single 13w3 in a sealed box would be a great match for your amps. I'd get a head unit with timing adjustments like the Alpine 9887 so you can raise the sound stage in your car.

I've heard those speakers with the amps you listed in a co-workers car and it sounds awesome. Its a pretty simple setup.

If you are set on keeping your stock head unit you will have to use something like the JL cleansweep Broadfield mentioned, or the Rockford 3sixty. You said you wanted to keep it simple, but both these unit will add complexity to your setup along with a small amount of distortion. The simplest setup would be to just get a head unit with tuning adjustments you can figure out. I personally think the alpine stuff is real easy to use.
Modified by scole at 6:57 AM 10/19/2007

[the converted]

you don't really need a cleansweep or a 3sixty. Jl amps can take speaker level in just fine. If you really do want one of the processors though I would go with the rockford peice because I've had way too many problems with noise when I was installing those.

[krimsonviper]

Focal polyglass 165v2 components, and a single 13w3 in a sealed box would be a great match for your amps. I'd get a head unit with timing adjustments like the Alpine 9887 so you can raise the sound stage in your car.

I've heard those speakers with the amps you listed in a co-workers car and it sounds awesome. Its a pretty simple setup.

If you are set on keeping your stock head unit you will have to use something like the JL cleansweep Broadfield mentioned, or the Rockford 3sixty. You said you wanted to keep it simple, but both these unit will add complexity to your setup along with a small amount of distortion. The simplest setup would be to just get a head unit with tuning adjustments you can figure out. I personally think the alpine stuff is real easy to use.

Modified by scole at 6:57 AM 10/19/2007

? i havent heard about distortion from the 3sixty or the cleansweep. i guess im going to have to go on a head hunt on who has one.

If you really do want one of the processors though I would go with the rockford peice because I've had way too many problems with noise when I was installing those.

Im confused? do you mean you wouldnt go with the 3sixty because you had problems with noise, or you would go with the 3sixty because you had alot of problems with the cleansweep? Im going to have the cleansweep or the 3sixty installed professionally because i dont know how to tune EQ's.

thank you both for the heads up and personal info

[Broadfield]

You do not tune with the Cleansweep. It self equalizes on it's own. The point of the Cleansweep is to take the output of a OEM radio and make it a flat signal. A lot of OEM head units have highly equalized outputs from the factory..... which you do not want. The OEM trend has been very bass heavy output from a lot of different auto manufacturers. The Cleansweep will also give you an AUX input.

[scole]

? i havent heard about distortion from the 3sixty or the cleansweep. i guess im going to have to go on a head hunt on who has one.

It's a fact, although you might not be able to hear it, its there.

[krimsonviper]

It's a fact, although you might not be able to hear it, its there.

oh, well so long as i cant hear it im fine with it then

Eh broadfield, can you get your hands on the 3sixty or cleansweep? if so how much? toss me an email, i wont be able to pick it up anytime soon, just want to look forward to my dollar a day saving

[email protected]

make sure to title it or else i'll just delete it

[Broadfield]

Yep!, I'll get you a price tomorrow...... I don't have my pricing on that at home.

[krimsonviper]

i have to ask this while the info is in my head; does the Cleansweep have a 3rd rca jack for the subwoofer and does the 3sixty flatten the EQ and then you can adjust it through the 3sixty or what? oh and another thing, does the RCA output volt for the JL=8 volts and the 3sixty's a 5 volt?

[Looneybomber]

Im not running just one sub, im running two. hell, i had elementals nine2x amp that is paired up with 2 13kv subs on their website

I am not a fan of their Kv.2 series drivers AT ALL! I'm not even a big fan of their Ov.2 series drivers, and those are supposed to be their quality packed performance drivers. I'd much rather spend a few more bucks and get a better performing driver...

That being said, I also have two Creative Sound Solutions SDX-15's, but at ~45lbs each, they aren't the most car friendly subs

[vonerick]

Mr. Paradox.....can you donate the good 13kv.2 and the Nine.2x to a noobie just starting out in the audio world???????? Since you dont want them anymore....Thanks

[EW]

If you can read a manual and understand a parametric EQ and Crossover, Alpine CDA-9887. If not, CDA-9885. What Alpine deck did you have problems with? ALL systems have a limit and if you have blown drivers, you either drive the system into distortion and/or the system is not set up correctly as far as gain and crossover settings. The person controlling the volume knob determines how long a system will last. You must LISTEN for distortion, popping, speakers, etc and make adjustments like lowering the volume, turning down the bass, etc. Since each song is going to have a different recording volume and dynamic level, the volume number on the deck must be used as a reference as far as how loud to turn the system before damage to the system occurs. I don't know your situation so I could be wrong but lots of people just blast the F out of their system and then wonder why speakers blow and passive crossovers burn up. Car audio is one of the few things people spend lots of money on and immediately try to destroy.

[EW]

you don't really need a cleansweep or a 3sixty. Jl amps can take speaker level in just fine. If you really do want one of the processors though I would go with the rockford peice because I've had way too many problems with noise when I was installing those.

99% of factory decks do not put out a flat signal like an aftermarket deck does. The factory EQ's the crap out of the deck to make their $3 speakers sound good. When you connect your amp to the speaker output of the deck, you are at the mercy of the factory radio. The Clean Sweep and other processors can correct the factory deck output.

[krimsonviper]

Mr. Paradox.....can you donate the good 13kv.2 and the Nine.2x to a noobie just starting out in the audio world???????? Since you dont want them anymore....Thanks

no, unless you donate me $250+shipping for the amplifier when it gets back from getting fixed from elemental. a fine price for the headache i had to send it out w/my own money and 600watts rms bridged at 4ohms

If you can read a manual and understand a parametric EQ and Crossover, Alpine CDA-9887. If not, CDA-9885. What Alpine deck did you have problems with? ALL systems have a limit and if you have blown drivers, you either drive the system into distortion and/or the system is not set up correctly as far as gain and crossover settings. The person controlling the volume knob determines how long a system will last. You must LISTEN for distortion, popping, speakers, etc and make adjustments like lowering the volume, turning down the bass, etc. Since each song is going to have a different recording volume and dynamic level, the volume number on the deck must be used as a reference as far as how loud to turn the system before damage to the system occurs. I don't know your situation so I could be wrong but lots of people just blast the F out of their system and then wonder why speakers blow and passive crossovers burn up. Car audio is one of the few things people spend lots of money on and immediately try to destroy.

i dont own an alpine deck and never have. from my understanding they're alot simpler to understand and tune. noobies learn from them within a day. i was sold the my deck, eclipse's CD8053 from a very good sales rep, and i wish i listened to myself and no the sales person. my gains are turned ALL THE WAY DOWN, so i have no idea how they were blow out other than maybe turning the gains all the way down and underpowering it or the amp just over powers it completely. as for listening to distortion, i didnt pay attention to it because in the mazda3 the rear speakers are in the door so i could barely hear them, that much i know for sure is my fault.

[EW]

Oh, I thought you meant Alpine deck not Alpine speakers. There are also input level adjustments and crossover adjustments on the amps that need to be set.

[Broadfield]

i have to ask this while the info is in my head; does the Cleansweep have a 3rd rca jack for the subwoofer and does the 3sixty flatten the EQ and then you can adjust it through the 3sixty or what? oh and another thing, does the RCA output volt for the JL=8 volts and the 3sixty's a 5 volt?

The Cleansweep itself does not have a subwoofer out, but you can buy the optional Remote Level Control, which would then give you sub control. You are correct about the preamp voltages of both pieces. 8 Volt for the Cleansweep. The Cleansweep would run you about $279 shipped. The sub control is $49. The Cleansweep comes with a setup disc that you insert into your OEM CD player with all settings flat and volume about 3/4 of the way up. The Cleansweep will check for full range signal on all channels then do its thing for less than a minute. That's it, it's done!

Toby

[krimsonviper]

Oh, I thought you meant Alpine deck not Alpine speakers. There are also input level adjustments and crossover adjustments on the amps that need to be set.

I know, i set up the x-over in my eclipse deck. whats good about my deck is that it has an internal x-over(highs are set at 200+, mids are cut off at 80, and my lows are at 80 below all at 12 octave) and i can also mess with each hz but the thing is i dont know how to tune any over it other than the x-over

The Cleansweep itself does not have a subwoofer out, but you can buy the optional Remote Level Control, which would then give you sub control. You are correct about the preamp voltages of both pieces. 8 Volt for the Cleansweep. The Cleansweep would run you about $279 shipped. The sub control is $49. The Cleansweep comes with a setup disc that you insert into your OEM CD player with all settings flat and volume about 3/4 of the way up. The Cleansweep will check for full range signal on all channels then do its thing for less than a minute. That's it, it's done!

Toby

Dude thats crackin' man! how much for the things i need for it all shipped? i got some money saved up, also do you think you can save a woofer from an xr525csi? it'll be awhile, say after my bday(jan 9) until i have the money for this stuff, do you think you can wait for it?
Modified by Absolushun at 3:01 AM 10/23/2007