Is this a decent system (will it all work well together)?

[then00b]

Anyway, anyone have any recommendations for what I should spend the extra $30-40 on? or opinion on that RF Punch Amp I listed earlier?

 

[chuyler1]

Its a new page...give us an update on everything you have chosen so far.
Price, model number, and where you intend to purchase it.

 

[then00b]

Current Set-Up:

HU= JVC KD-G510 MP3 Player

Speakers= Pioneer TS-A6870R

Amp= Still deciding (currently selected is the Infinity 7541a Renewed Multi-Channel Amp) Looking at the Rockford Fosgate Punch P4004 amp ($170 renewed) as well.

Sub= Image Dynamics ID12 v.3 D2 sub
Thanks.

 

[then00b]

Actually I edited the above post because CarDomain only has one open box 10" sub so I am just going to go with the single 12" ID sub.

 

[then00b]

Ive been looking at a 12" Alpine Type R sub lately. How do they compare to the Image Dynamics sub?

Thanks.

 

[chuyler1]

If you were to spend more money on any one component, I'd say upgrade to nicer speakers...however that requires going around and listening to everything. Otherwise, just save your money.

 

[then00b]

Alright, so I think I am set on my speakers and head unit. Now I just need to choose an amp and sub. I am debating between the Alpine Type R and the Image Dynamics ID v.3 for the sub and I am trying to find an amp that could power the amp with enough power. Thanks.

 

[then00b]

I was also looking at the Phoenix Gold Octane-R 8.0:4 amp since it got great reviews.

 

[1sty]

Alright, so I think I am set on my speakers and head unit. Now I just need to choose an amp and sub. I am debating between the Alpine Type R and the Image Dynamics ID v.3 for the sub and I am trying to find an amp that could power the amp with enough power. Thanks.

The image dynamics

For an inexpensive amp look at the alpine MRP-M350

 

[then00b]

The problem with that amp is that its a mono amp and I need to run the other two front speaks with the amp (actually, do I even need to run the front two speakers off the amp? Would I get the same sound quality and power by running the speakers off the Head Unit? Keep in mind I am going to run the back stock speakers off the head unit as well.)

Thanks.

Also, why the ID and not the Type R? I have been told the Type R will not be as good in sound quality but will be louder and have a still decent amount of sound quality. The Type R has gotten incredible reviews as well.

 

[chuyler1]

The only way to properly review a subwoofer is to do a side by side comparison. As far as I know there isn't a side-by-side of those two subs. However, I have heard both at different times and they are both decent subs...but I would choose the ID over the Alpine because it is a small manufacturer that makes quality products. Alpine also makes quality products but to product the quantity that they do, you have to cut corners somewhere.

I still think you should power the front speakers by using a 4-channel amp (2 channels for the fronts and bridge the rear channels for the sub). It will sound much better than running them off the head unit. I'm not concerned about the rear speakers...they are only for fill and if I were you, I'd turn the gain down on them so they are barely audible.

 

[then00b]

Well I am going to check out my friends car tonight who has a Type R sub in it and if I like it, I'll buy it. If I am looking for better SQ, Ill go with the ID. As for the sub, what about the Phoenix Gold Octane-R 8.0:4 amp? I got CarDomain to price match it down to $160 so I was wondering if you have heard any good or bad things on the amp? Its gotten great reviews so far.
Thanks.

 

[then00b]

Anyone know anything about this PG amp? Would love to hear some input. Thanks.

 

[1sty]

PG was a really good builder until about 2 years ago. I would even put them in the elite class of Zapco and what not. However, they were not making th emoney they wanted to so 2 years ago they started to dump poorly designed products on the market, in regards to SQ anyways. Then they moved all product and service over sees to asia. They have been total crap for realibility since then. The octane series has always been made in asia.

 

[then00b]

I am curious as to why the PG has good reviews then...
What amp would you suggest then for the Image Dynamics sub? I want to push it as much as possible without spending a ton.
I listened to my friends Type R sub today and was not impressed AT ALL. It may be because he is only running 250 watts to the sub (is that it possibly?) but I was not impressed by the SPL at all.

 

[chuyler1]

Where are you finding these reviews...have you found an amp that didn't get good reviews?

I suggest reading reviews that express opinions of experts. For starters...
http://www.caraudiomag.com
http://www.carsound.com

And remember, its ok to buy an amp that 1sty says has shotty build quality...as long as you buy it from an authorized retailer who can replace the amp for you if it fails. The amps that have superb build quality are going to cost more money...so when you're on a budget you are inevitably looking hit-or-miss products which brings us back to why the warranty is so important.

 

[then00b]

All of these reviews come from CarDomain as well as from Crutchfield, but mainly from CarDomain.
One of the problems with the sites you listed is that they have reviews of items out of my price range ($2500 amps?).

 

[chuyler1]

Well, I don't buy a product unless I've heard it in a store or someones install, read a professional review for it, or have seen it in a show winning competition vehicle.

If you want to base your purchase on a bunch of consumer reviews then so be it.

Just remember that most people who leave reviews on a website bought the product from the site and enjoyed it. The people who didn't buy the product from that site aren't going to write a review and the people that had problems with the product seldem waste time writing reviews about it unless they are genuinely pissed off about something. The result is a bunch of positive reviews that don't represent the entire buying population.

Another tip, when choosing amplifiers, you don't always need to find a review of the exact model. If another model in the same line gets a good review, most likely the other models are good too.

For example, the review of this monoblock amp...
http://caraudiomag.com/testreports/0308cae_xtant/
...would imply that this is a good amp...
http://www.cardomain.com/item/XTAXTANT44
$549 is a good price for a respectable amp and anyone here can vouch for XTant's quality.

Of course, you are looking in the $200 range for an amp. There aren't usually professional reviews of these amps because people reading the article are usually interested in higher end equipment but they are not uncommon...
http://caraudiomag.com/testreports/0210cae_jensen/
http://caraudiomag.com/testreports/0109cae_sony/

You can also find more consumer reviews at this site:
http://www.carreview.com/

http://carsound.com/articles/publish/article_299.shtml

 

[then00b]

Thank you. I'll read up on those amps and post back.

 

[then00b]

On the Sony XM-D500X amp, the review talks about producing X amount of power into 2 subs. How does this work if the amp is a mono amp...?