New to audio
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kcdirtbro54
Member
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- mazda2
1. Will it be enough for what? It all depends on what you're looking for with your audio setup. Do you want to shake the cars around you? Do you want a little thump to the music? Depends on what type of music you listen to.
2. Corksport sells a really nice dash kit for our cars. Crutchfield will include the hardware needed to install a head unit when you purchase one from them. You can also enter what car you have into their vehicle setup and it will tell you what fits. Dual or double din will require slight modification to fit, but from my understanding nothing major. do you want single or a double din head unit? Either will fit just depends on what you want.
3. This is all personal preference. If there is a Best Buy near you, or some car audio store, I suggest you go into one and play around with their head units and see which you like. I, personally, like Pioneer. I like Alpine but you pay a lot for the name. I don't have any problems with Kenwood. It's up to you and how much money you have to spend.
If/when I go to mess with my audio setup, I will most likely do a dual din Pioneer unit, some speakers undecided of brand, and a 4 channel amp for said speakers. I might get a 5 channel and run an 8 or 10" single sub just to give it a little thump. Nothing crazy. I listen to a lot of punk rock, ska/reggae and hardcore stuff. Hopefully that helps some.
2. Corksport sells a really nice dash kit for our cars. Crutchfield will include the hardware needed to install a head unit when you purchase one from them. You can also enter what car you have into their vehicle setup and it will tell you what fits. Dual or double din will require slight modification to fit, but from my understanding nothing major. do you want single or a double din head unit? Either will fit just depends on what you want.
3. This is all personal preference. If there is a Best Buy near you, or some car audio store, I suggest you go into one and play around with their head units and see which you like. I, personally, like Pioneer. I like Alpine but you pay a lot for the name. I don't have any problems with Kenwood. It's up to you and how much money you have to spend.
If/when I go to mess with my audio setup, I will most likely do a dual din Pioneer unit, some speakers undecided of brand, and a 4 channel amp for said speakers. I might get a 5 channel and run an 8 or 10" single sub just to give it a little thump. Nothing crazy. I listen to a lot of punk rock, ska/reggae and hardcore stuff. Hopefully that helps some.
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- 2011 Mazda 2 GS
All very valid points, and is that 500 watts peak or RMS? Also, what amp are you planning on driving this sub with? Personally, I'm running a JBL GTO1214D powered by an Alpine MRP-M500.
Most people that ride in my car say it's a little too much, as you can really feel it in your chest and about 2 cars away when it's really going. I've turned it down to about ~125W (best guess based on position of gain (set at minimum) and it gives it a nice thump, but it's not over the top.
I hope that has helped.
Most people that ride in my car say it's a little too much, as you can really feel it in your chest and about 2 cars away when it's really going. I've turned it down to about ~125W (best guess based on position of gain (set at minimum) and it gives it a nice thump, but it's not over the top.
I hope that has helped.
1) As others have said it's all about what you want. Its' EASY to be low and loud. But to be low and GOOD is another thing all together. Personally I'd take a JL 8W3v3 over a pair of rockford fosgate 12s. But I'm more about SQ than waking the neighbours. (hence my sealed cab JL 10w6) If you want impressive low end, than a pair of 10s or a 12 should be PLENTY in a ported cabinet in a mz2. Anything more than that and your mid-highs wont be able to keep up without SERIOUS augmentation. To be honest, a well designed ported 10" should rock pretty hard. (I'll admit my 10W6 is probably overkill from an output standpoint in this small car, but nothing tops it for SQ) But if all you want is boom well then... If you want a little bit to fill in the lower octaves, you might want to look at a single 8" or 10" ported cab pushing around 250-300W. Remember with wattage ratings that you don't get twice the output from twice the power... you need TEN times the power to double the output. So the difference between 300W and 500W is less than 3dB output. If you want to shake the windows and feel a thump your chest than a GOOD ported 10" in a larger cabinet should do the trick at around the same wattage. If you want to announce your presence before you're seen and you don't care about balance with your mid-highs than a good ported 12 or a pair of 10s will do that nicely with 500W behind them. If you wanna blow out the door seals and entertain people from 6 blocks away, then a pair of 12s with 1000W will probably do the job. Just don't try it with the windows up.
For subwoofers my choice is pretty much gonna be JL all the time. Focal also is up there. Kenwood on a budget. To me, unless you JUST want boom, RF, Sony, Kicker, Clarion, etc.. won't perform.
To genericmoniker's point, that Alpine M-500 is a REALLY capable little amp. You can find them for cheap and they really are quite good. I ran one in my set-up driving an 8W3v3, a 10W3v3 in a high output cabinet and my current 10W6 and it performed quite admirably in every application.
2) Metra and Schosche make adaptor kits for our cars. You'll need a wiring harness kit and an antenna adaptor as well. I'm using metra and the quality is excellent, but i've heard the same for Schosche as well. I think the metra kits run around $60-80 for our cars.
3) I'm a Kenwood man myself. I've had a KIV700 (which I'm actually trying to sell...) that seriously rocked as far as features and SQ and tuning capabilities. That said, I really wanted a double DIN unit for looks and control so I went with another Kenwood deck. I also like Alpine, I just ended up with Kenwood. If you're planning on getting a separate 4ch amp for your mid-highs, you don't have to worry about amplifier power in the deck. Otherwise look for something that will put out 50W or better into 4ohms if you plan on replacing the factory speakers. If you're sticking with the stock speakers and dont plan on replacing them DON"T SPEND A LOT ON A DECK. You simply won't see the SQ increase on OEM speakers. If you're thinking you might upgrade the factory drivers at some point, then it's worht spending as much as you can afford on a deck.
For subwoofers my choice is pretty much gonna be JL all the time. Focal also is up there. Kenwood on a budget. To me, unless you JUST want boom, RF, Sony, Kicker, Clarion, etc.. won't perform.
To genericmoniker's point, that Alpine M-500 is a REALLY capable little amp. You can find them for cheap and they really are quite good. I ran one in my set-up driving an 8W3v3, a 10W3v3 in a high output cabinet and my current 10W6 and it performed quite admirably in every application.
2) Metra and Schosche make adaptor kits for our cars. You'll need a wiring harness kit and an antenna adaptor as well. I'm using metra and the quality is excellent, but i've heard the same for Schosche as well. I think the metra kits run around $60-80 for our cars.
3) I'm a Kenwood man myself. I've had a KIV700 (which I'm actually trying to sell...) that seriously rocked as far as features and SQ and tuning capabilities. That said, I really wanted a double DIN unit for looks and control so I went with another Kenwood deck. I also like Alpine, I just ended up with Kenwood. If you're planning on getting a separate 4ch amp for your mid-highs, you don't have to worry about amplifier power in the deck. Otherwise look for something that will put out 50W or better into 4ohms if you plan on replacing the factory speakers. If you're sticking with the stock speakers and dont plan on replacing them DON"T SPEND A LOT ON A DECK. You simply won't see the SQ increase on OEM speakers. If you're thinking you might upgrade the factory drivers at some point, then it's worht spending as much as you can afford on a deck.
Thanks for your input man, seriously you guys are tons of help... Going to make it much easier on this project!
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- 2014 Mazda3 GS + 2013 CX-5 Touring.
I personally put the pioneer avh-1400dvd from crutchfield in my two I can post pic later to show you what it looks like. Also upgraded door speaker to some pioneer speakers and they are way better than stock. All that combined with a pioneer sub and amp and you got really nice sound for cheap.
Will post more later tonight
Will post more later tonight
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- 2014 Mazda3 GS + 2013 CX-5 Touring.
Wow that is extremely nice... Was install tough?
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- 2014 Mazda3 GS + 2013 CX-5 Touring.
Nope not at all! Someone already made a DIY with alot of photo and all. With crutchfield.com it's even easier because you just take the head unit you want and the harness, the dash trim and the honda antenna adapter came free. My head unit cost me 300$ because I'm in Canada.. In the us I think Crutchfield sell them for like 250$.... Very affordable.
For the door speakers ... Just remove the door panel, cut the existing adapter plug, splice the wire and you're ready to go!
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- 2011 Mazda 2 GS
Allow me to add that some speakers MAY be too deep to mount without an adapter.
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- 2014 Mazda3 GS + 2013 CX-5 Touring.
Yeah you're right ! The rear speaker have to be really thin to not stick on the metal. But an adapter isn't really hard to DIY
kcdirtbro54
Member
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- mazda2
You'll have to tell us what's in your cart. It won't show us by clicking the link.
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- 2011 Mazda 2 GS
That thing is going to pound. Great choices.
Thanks man! I'm excited everything is ordered and UPS claims it to all be here on Friday... I had trouble choosing a box but I called crutchfield and they reccommended one here it is... what do you think?
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_777BB1295S/Sound-Ordnance-Bass-Bunker.html
Sealed sub enclosures are basically all the same. You determine volume based on Qts and a couple other thiel-small params. As long as its solidly constructed and of proper volume te brand/size/shape doesnt matter much.
They're probably making that rec based on the TS params of that driver
They're probably making that rec based on the TS params of that driver
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- 2011 Mazda 2 GS
Yeap, pretty much the only thing you need to worry about with sealed enclosures are that your sub fits and the internal volume are within spec of what the manufacturer of the sub calls for.
I'll be the first to say it, ported boxes are a bit much for this car. I'm looking to "downgrade" to a 10" JL next season with a stealth box where the spare tire goes, as it stands everything in/on my car rattles when it hits.
I'll be the first to say it, ported boxes are a bit much for this car. I'm looking to "downgrade" to a 10" JL next season with a stealth box where the spare tire goes, as it stands everything in/on my car rattles when it hits.
