MB vs JL 6 1/2 components decision SOLVED!

[smittypig24]

I've been flip flopping back and forth with the JL VR and XR series components or the MB Premium components. I've decided to go with the MB Quart Premium 6 1/2" components. I liked the sound of the MB's more...a softer and cleaner sound as compared to the JL (in my opinion). My local dealer has ordered them today and will be installing some time next week. I know...what a rip off having a shop install them, I have always done my own installs, but they guarantee their work for life and this gives the MB's a 2 year warranty against just about anything. I just got my JL 500/5 amp in the other day! I'm soooooooooooo excited!!! So here's the rundown...

Front: MB Quart PCE216 Premium 6 1/2" components (dealer installed)
Rear: MB Quart DKE116 Discus 6 1/2" coaxials (dealer installed)
Sub: JL Audio 10w6v2 (believe it or not, it's in a tube and sounds pretty good! I'll build a custom enclosure when i'm all hooked up!)
Amp: JL Audio 500/5 (rms....front 100x2, rear 25x2, sub 250x1)
Head Unit: Kenwood KDC-X759
Wiring: 4 gauge power/ground, stinger hyper RCA's (3 sets) 9 wire all in one for passing all 4 speakers from amp to stock wiring behind head unit.

It's going to be loud and CLEAR!!! Just what i'm looking for.
Up next...i'll build an enclosure for the sub and mount the amp in the trunk floor covered in plexiglass. Probably some dynamat extreme too.

Thanks for everyone's opinion on what to get...it helped guide my way.

(rockon)

 

[4th horse]

Amp: JL Audio 500/5 (rms....front 100x2, rear 25x2, sub 250x1)

Where are you mounting that puppy? Rather, where's the dealer mounting it?

 

[smittypig24]

The dealer is just installing the 4 speakers. I'm installing the amp. For now, i'll probably just put it under the passenger seat. Nobody ever sits in my back seat so i'll put something on the floor to cover up the end of the amp if it sticks out further than the seat does. Then i'll start working on an amp rack I plan on building into the floor. I figure i'll raise the trunk floor up about 4 inches and mount the amp recessed in the middle, probably a fan on either end, i'll probably cut a hole in the stock carpet and then put a plexiglass panel about the size of the amp over the hole so you can see the amp, but I can still use the trunk. (and the spare tire) Maybe even a couple sticks of neon on a switch for the show off factor.

 

[smittypig24]

Well, i'm on my way. I did the wiring last night. 4 Gauge power wire from the battery to the trunk. What a pain going through the small rubber boot through the firewall!! I ran the power wire along the passenger side door sills and the 3 sets of RCA's, 9-in-1 speaker wire and CD Changer cable along the center tunnel. Hopefully, this will eliminate the possibility of picking up any whining. I must say, all these interior pieces are sooooo much easier to remove than my old 1990 Audi was! The amp is way to big for under seat so it's going to lay in the trunk until I get around to building the rack. I'm taking pics of it all too for a final product display.

Oh, I also put in my kartboy shifter...nice and short throws!

 

[smittypig24]

Got the amp hooked up. The MB Quarts haven't come in yet so I still have the stock rears and some alpine 6 1/2" type R components in the front. I'm hesitant to turn up the amp because the speakers aren't rated that high. Sounds ok...but I anxiously await the MB's. The sub is LOUD! It's a 10w6v2 in a tube running at 2 ohms and it's very loud! Much louder than my old kenwood kac-x650D amp was.

Question: This amp puts out 250watts rms to the sub at 4ohm. What is the sound like at 2ohm vs 4ohm? Is it more distorted? Should I just run the sub at 4ohm?

 

[hayula]

sweet setup man. i have my sub at 4ohms 250W rms -- right at its sweet spot. it's a w3 though.

 

[FoxPro5]

Very nice choice on the speakers man. You will love them. I have the same MB as my fronts and some cheap Infinitys for rear fill. I fade to the front +5 and it sounds great. I have 130 watts RMS on the Quarts and they eat it up. I would be careful running them any lower than 120hrz, but maybe that's my nervous ass talking?

I think I will try putting the tweets in the sail pannels this summer and see how it affects the sound stage. For now they are mounted in the speaker and the sound is exceptional - rich, clear, and loud thanks to an Eclipse amp...yummy!

Ok, I'll stop bragging now. Good purchase and have fun

 

[sndsgood1]

they should be okay well below 120 as long as the installer seals them up in the doores effectively, ive had my premiums running down to 60hz and they were fine, only problaby was the door couldn't handle the midbass, and would vibrate badly.

 

[FoxPro5]

they should be okay well below 120 as long as the installer seals them up in the doores effectively, ive had my premiums running down to 60hz and they were fine, only problaby was the door couldn't handle the midbass, and would vibrate badly.

Exactly!(guitar)

 

[smittypig24]

Update...finally got my speakers and amp all hooked up. I must say...I LOVE them!! The MB's are so smooth and warm sounding. My ears have been ringing ever since I got the car back! That's good right? I keep pushing the envelope and turning it up notch by notch, thinking it's going to distort eventually, but it doesn't! So clear, and SOO LOUD!!!!!

I also had to get a new head unit as mine decided to die on me a few days before I got my speakers installed. I picked up a new Kenwood KDC-X889. Very sweet unit! Tons of sound shaping goodies. Get this...it even has a G-Force measurer built in...I think it's similar to that G-Tech pro meter thing. Haven't had time to play with it all yet.

 

[1sty]

My ears have been ringing ever since I got the car back! That's good right?

My left ears hearing damage would say no. If the quart tweeters are mounted up high, do yourself a favor and attentuate them in any way you can.