Happy with system but need more.

05srt4clone · Post by **05srt4clone** » Tue May 24, 2005 5:48 am

I have a Sony Head-unit, stock speakers, mtx mono amp, and 2 12" MTX Road Thunder subwoofers. Where should I start upgrading first?

What brand of head-unit?
Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood?

Eventually will go all JL Audio or Diamond Audio. (opinions please?)

If JL Audio what series? TR or VR?
Probably components up front. Woofer in door, tweeter in dash.

Which 12" Subwoofers?
Want some Big Boom for the money. Not just LOUD.

I have decided I am done with the engine til someone figures out what to do with the computer. So going for looks and sound.

Thanks,
ThE cLoNe

0111000001100100 · Post by **0111000001100100** » Tue May 24, 2005 7:43 am

if you got the cash, for a sub go with a JL 12w6 or 12w7 for your sub, and a 500/1 to power them.

Also for the HU, I would go alpine or pioneer...but if the latter, not one of there cheapest ones.

Spork · Post by **Spork** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:35 am

I would speak to Chuck (Max Speed and Sound) about your head unit. He's got the ins and outs of almost every unit out there. Even the ones he doesn't offer. As for the components, it depends greatly on your budget... if you have plenty of dosh to dish, go with the VR components for JL or even the XR components when they are available. I personally think the XR is just too much and the VR is plenty of quality sound for the price. Not to mention, the VRs run great on the JL 300/4 Slash amp. Now, if you want some good solid boom, I would go with two JL 12W3v2 (if you want to stick with JL) and push that with a 500/1. You will get pretty close to the sound output with a properly vented box of a 13W7 (check with Chuck again for a demo of this, you'll freak). Just make sure the box is tuned to 37Hz or lower.

The first place I always start is the head unit (unless the sony is one of their higher end units). That is the source of all things audio in the car. Change the source to a good quality output, you will have a good quality signal coming from the head unit. The whole "weakest link" theory. Second, work on the components. You already have a decent sub setup for now so components will help pull the stereo sound into the right direction. The next step will be amps. If you can, purchase your main fill amp(s) the same time that you purchase your sub amp(s). You will be able to make cosmetic decisions at that point. Nothing looks cleaner than a set of matched amps pushing a good sounding system. The last bit will be to do the subs in a good box to match the power of the amps. The one thing I left out is the 6x9s... you don't need to worry about them. My wife's car has stock and the rear fill sounds as good as my Clarion ProAudio and my JL VRs do. If it is the las thing to do before you are done, by all means have at it.

Good luck