Is this MP3 missing it's subs?

[heatherton]

I was looking at a local MP3 for sale. (The first one I've seen) In the trunk just behind the seats there are what look like two brass threaded inserts in the floor as well as corresponding holes in the mat. Isn't this where the factory subs go? Anyone have a photo?

 

[MP3skaterNC]

yea its missing the 10" sub in a tube. the studs are where the sub mounts with some wing nuts.

 

[atikovi]

Is it a Kenwood sub? What model?

 

[1sty]

Its a 10" Kenwood sub with built in power amp in a tube style box modle number KSC-WA100.

That is where the sub goes.

Mine is for sale for $100

I'll post pictures of it tomarrow.

 

[BigBlue]

I was looking at a local MP3 for sale. (The first one I've seen) In the trunk just behind the seats there are what look like two brass threaded inserts in the floor as well as corresponding holes in the mat. Isn't this where the factory subs go? Anyone have a photo?

That's curious that it would be missing. Perhaps also be sure to check the stereo if you are serious about buying the car. It should either be a Kenwood Z919 or Z828 model stereo. Just want to make sure you are getting what you pay for.

 

[JasonH]

Click for a bigger pic:

 

[1sty]

To be hionest the whole audio system in the MP3 lasted less then a week in my car. It was simply sub par to my audio needs. SO I swapped it all out.

 

[BigBlue]

Guess it depends on your level of listening. For a stock system I think it's awesome...if you are an "audiophile" as they call them, then it would be needed to be upgraded.

 

[1sty]

Guess it depends on your level of listening. For a stock system I think it's awesome...if you are an "audiophile" as they call them, then it would be needed to be upgraded.

Thats an under statement, not one peice of the stock system is still in use. Not even the speaker wires, battery or alternator.

 

[blynzoo]

Thats an under statement, not one peice of the stock system is still in use. Not even the speaker wires, battery or alternator.

Jeez, dude, seriously?
I agree though, each day I have to go on listening to these stock speakers is another day I consider suicide. I think I could be happy with the wiring, but I NEED some replacement door speakers and a small amp post-stock HU. I live in an area where I have to keep the stock HU, but I need these speakers out of here or else I'm just going to run the car into a tree one day out of spite listening to a CD.

 

[1sty]

Ya, I ate just about everything Kenwood makes. The speakers are the worst.

 

[prost]

Ya, I ate just about everything Kenwood makes. The speakers are the worst.

Hey 1st, I have been somewhat partial to the KW head units but not much else. Not like I am brand loyal or anything. I was thinking about the MP919 or KDC-X859. Is ther something that you would say is comparable features and price that is better? Also what door speakers would you recommend? I was considering the Polk EX368 front and 365 rear. For an amp I was looking at the RF 500x. Curious what opinions you have on these pieces. Thanks.

(hear ya)

 

[1sty]

I don't know any of them that well.
I as a rule tend to stay away from anything sold at Best Buy.

Define features. If you give me a list of the things you want I can recomend a part I know.

For myself and the people I deal with that equipment is below are coomonly used stuff at this point. We all go fairly high line or not at all.

Typicaly I dislike the way Kenwoods function. They are just overall to complex to do simply things. They have good quality and decent specs but lag on overall SQ behind Alpine, Clarion, and Eclipse.

Fosgate amps have been on my s*** list since tey sold out to bestbuy and started doing more research into color schemes then into SQ. They still have some grunt but there Technologies are no better then 300 other brands now.

For the speakers if you like the way they sound then I like you haveing them. Your ears and only your ears matter when it comes to speakers.

None of the brands you listed are bad just not my go-to peices.

Also take into considerationthat I will never buy a head unit for the feature of being able to play MP3s. There qualitity is simply sub par to my system. Also I am running 150 watts rms to each front speaker set. This isn't from some bulls*** BB brand like lightning or Jensen or even RF. Its from a JL audio amplifier that are being designed by one of the best teams in the buisness.

My headunit doesn't even have power, just 3 4 volt pre-out to increase SQ. I haven't upgraded in 3 years becuase newer units are stuffing in BS gimmicky features that hurt SQ.

I WANT THE 7990 BABY!

 

[prost]

Thanks First. That's some good info. I am also concerned about getting equipment that is Best Buy consumer grade. I really wanted something that supported MP3s simply becuase I have a million of them. Not that I couldn't burn them on a audio CD, just takes time. What are your 'go-to' brands for speakers and amps for P5 (6x8 and 6.5) that would run 50-75w rms at each speaker? I just want a moderate volume but good sound. I am also very concerned about SQ. Is dynamat an absolute 100% must do in your opinion? And yes I would also prefer a HU with preamp outputs only.

Thanks again for your time.

 

[1sty]

You are always welcome.

Once compacted to MP3 data is gone and the same quality can no longer be re implemented into the audio. this is why if I use a burnt disc its a direct copy, never compressed.

75-50 watts rms isn't a small amount at all. 25 watts rms clean is good for most people using entry level speakers like the polk. Remember were talking amp power here not head unit. If you want above 50 I'd suggest new wire run to the doors and speakers atleast $250 a pair. Once at this level I use mostly components. The 6x8 in front can take a 5 1/4 component or just the 6 1/2 from a set and mout the tweeterhigher in the door.

For the amp to get that juice my favorite is the Jl 300/4.
Speakers I use MB quart, JL, Focal, Eclipse and image dynamics have always had my attention as have kicker.

Dynamt will stop vibrations but not rattles. Rattles are usualy 2 peices of plastic smacking on another. This is when the foam tape comes in handy. For the doors. there isn't a lot of metal around the speakers to dynamat. On one side is the edge and theother a large hole. The isde skins of the doors do benefit greatly from dynamat. I only use extream as the other stuff is to much of a pain to install.

I would say JL 300/4 for the amp about $500, I cant remember, I think its les. You'll need 4 guage for it. So a 4 guage amp kit $50. Also 3 sets of 5 meter or 3 meter RCAs depending on the placement of the amp. About $60. The JL XR's do a very good job in a full range system as do the kickers either about $300.

This of coarse only if you realy need the 75 watts rms each. Alpine has some smaller amps as do Kicker and other manufacturers.
Any sub in this system?
What the budget?
Who's installing it?

 

[prost]

You are always welcome.

This of course only if you realy need the 75 watts rms each. Alpine has some smaller amps as do Kicker and other manufacturers.
Any sub in this system?
What the budget?
Who's installing it?

Thanks again. No sub at first. I am not a big bass lover. If I feel bottom end is needed I might go with an 8 with a single amp driving it. Budget is really not set yet. With most of the things I buy I tend to find out what dollar range buys what quality level and then decide on the quality level. I am definately not looking for anything that will win contests. I really just want to improve over the factory setup. Boy am I glad I didn't pay for the 6CD unit! I figured at least $1k but not over $2k. Would prefer it to be closer to $1k. That does not include sub and the amp (100w rms I am thinking) that goes with it. I know those two things will be $500+.

Amp can go under the seats. I doubt I will be needing 75 rms. 50 will probably be just fine for me. I am undecided on installation. I have done it before but I am not sure I want to do the work it takes to do it correctly. I am leaning towards having it done. I haven't got a good feel for what shops are decent here in Atlanta. I definately do not want to take it to BB or circuit city. I agree components will be better. That way I might not want a sub. That would pretty much mean having it done as I don't want fabricated kick panels and I am not exactly looking forward to installing them myself. I can do it but I have not decided if I will take the plunge.

If I can tell you anything else to help narrow the recommendation let me know.

Thanks

 

[Kooldino]

Thats an under statement, not one peice of the stock system is still in use. Not even the speaker wires, battery or alternator.

Why not the stock HU (assuming you have an 828). They have a very high quality output.

 

[1sty]

Why not the stock HU (assuming you have an 828). They have a very high quality output.

My Alpine destoys the 828 in signal quality not to mention it has 3 4 volt preouts with no internal amp of jumping dolphins to hurt SQ. The Kenwood was a redicoulds pain to control also. The signal difference when I hooked the alpine up blew me away. it was a year and half old then but it wasn't even funny how much better the car sounded with the alpine.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Opinions on JL and Alpine and Dynamat

Hi,

I saw some of the things that I have put in my system discussed so I thought I would offer my opinion.

First, I went all JL Audio with the door speakers and amps. I have the 300/4 for the doors and the 250/1 for the sub. I put 6.5" XR components up front and 6.5" TR coaxials in the rear doors for fill. This system sounds awesome. Both of the amps fit under the seats along with the XM tuner pack I have. SQ is good all the way around, soft and really, really loud. I have an edesign sub and it sounds great.

I have an Alpine head unit with no power internally model number 7995. I previously had a Kenwood excelon unit and I just like the way the Alpine works better especially in regards to setting all the features, control over how things sound and general sound quality. Also, I have used the MP3 playback on it, and it's superb as MP3 playback goes. It remembers where you left off when you stopped the car, there is no lag between songs, and it works very well with folders. It is still an MP3 file, and you can hear it if your a true audiophile (I am, I have a small recording business so I am particularly picky with audio stuff, the 4 weeks I had my stock system in almost killed me) I rip my CDs at 192kbps minimum and the difference in sound quality from CD is slight. Especially when you can fit 7-10 CDs on a single MP3 data disc for day to day listening the tradeoff is worth it. I think MP3s ripped at 128kbps and 160kbps sound like crap, no matter what your listening to them on. I would highly recommend Alpine head units over Kenwood.

I Dynamated all the doors with Dynamat Extreme. It helps the sound a little, but mostly killed a lot of road noise. I was really surprised at just how effective it was as in my previous vehicle I had done the doors with regular dynamat and didn't notice that much of a difference. If I get a weekend in the future and a desire to do so, I may be dynamating the headliner as well.

my 2 cents, good luck with your system.