YungFue

I have recently just purchased a 97 Honda Civic EX coupe. The sound system is safe to say... dieing slowly... so i was thinking of just replacing everything. Being this is my first small coupe. I was wondering on the subwoofer size i should go with. Between 10 - 12 inch subwoofers. Also how much watts would you throw at them rms in a small coupe. And last but not least what do you preffer Pioneer Or Alpine?

Cobb2819

pioneer or alpine what?? speakers, subs, head units, amps?? i think what you're gonna find here is a lot more fans of more specialized companies.

joeymc13

All of your questions depend on what your goal for your stereo is. Do you want tons of loud, crazy bass/spl? Or do you want a tight, crisp, clean sound quality setup? Are you upgrading your interior speakers? what is your budget for your stereo?

YungFue

I do apologize... Pioneer or Alpine (Head unit, Componet speakers, and subwoofers) but if you have any siggestions (specialty companies) on another brand... I'm listening....

YungFue

looking for crisp sound, hard hitting bass, clear hitting bass, etc... ummm budget is no more den like 15 including amps

edzy

15 dollars?

that'll cover...

uh...maybe some screws

joeymc13

LOL... Im assuming he means $1500. Based on the vehicle, im assuming that he doesn't mean $15K... $1500 gives plenty of possibility as far as core product. We prob wont be able to add any processors, but that'll get a nice 4 channel, deck, front speakers, and sub, plus wiring and installation.

edzy

Here's what i came up with

Kenwood x994 $299 http://www.crutchfield.com/s_113KDCX...4.html?tp=5684

Phoenix gold rsd65cs $89 http://woofersetc.com/p6952/RSD65cs-...ker-System.htm

Vibe 2 channel $199 http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...LiteBox2-.html

2 10" ssa dcon single 4 ohm $230 http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/s...7B47%7DS4.html

Vibe mono $199 http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...ox+Bass+1.html

These vibe amps are ARC Audio Mini clones, from the same Nikola Engineering / Robert Zeff design firm. It specs out the same as the much, much more expensive amp, and the best parts are that they are TINY and very efficient.

$1080

Leaves enough for some sound deadening, and a custom box

Maybe a stinger batt.

joeymc13

As far as the source, I like pioneer and alpine, also, have you considered Kenwood? Kenwood has a great deck, BT945U, with built in bluetooth for hands free calling, USB input for MP3 player, and 4 volt preamp outputs. Also, it has some nice processing built in. Graphic EQ, LPF and HPF, Even time alignment...

edzy

Minidsp would work lovely.

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...ternative.html

joeymc13

Sorry OP, not meaning to jack your thread here, but real quick, edzy... did Zeff design the vibe speakers also?

edzy

Not 100% sure. I doubt it, though.

edzy

Here's another

Kenwood x994 $299 http://www.crutchfield.com/s_113KDCX...4.html?tp=5684

Image dynamics ctx65cs $189 http://www.woofersetc.com/p6201/CTX6...ker-System.htm

1 crescendo audio 1000c4 $239 http://www.crescendoaudio.com/produc...roductid=17516

Channel 1 and 2 will power your front stage with 125 x 2 and channel 3 and 4 will do 500 x 1 @ bridged at 4 ohms for a sub.

Sundown sa-12 $189 http://www.woofersetc.com/p9261/SA12...-Subwoofer.htm

$916 total

More advanced setup.

Kenwood x994 $299 http://www.crutchfield.com/s_113KDCX...4.html?tp=5684

Minidsp(would need a laptop or netbook for tuning purposes) $125 http://www.minidsp.com/onlinestore/d...nidsp-2x4-revb

2 diy anarchy mids $170 http://www.diycable.com/main/product...roducts_id=538

Scan speak ring tweet $113 https://www.madisound.com/store/prod...oducts_id=8646

Crescendo audio 1000c4 to power front stage. does 125 x 4 $239 http://www.crescendoaudio.com/produc...roductid=17516

Sundown sa-12 $189 http://www.woofersetc.com/p9261/SA12...-Subwoofer.htm

Mb quart dsc 2150 to power sub. does 600 x 1 @ 4 ohms. $109 http://www.amazon.com/AMP-2X150W-OHMS-2X300/dp/B001JSYCII/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=ILDHJ75QGHQC0&colid= 2L23SO31EFLK8

$1244 total

Cobb2819

vibe just stole the design from arc, Zeff didn't design it for Vibe.

OP - do you need rear speakers??

i would say Kenwood kdc-x794 or x994 depending on if you want BT or not
-$199.99 / $299.99
hertz energy 6.5" components
-$299.99
Arc xxd-4080
-$329
Arc 10" D2 (Arc series)
-$219
=$1047.98 / $1147.98 depending on the head unit.

this entire setup is priced at local pricing to support your small local dealer. all product listed except for the kenwood is only available at authorized dealers, and not wholesalers like SonixElectronics or Woofers Etx

YungFue

lol 15 dollars. no yes its 1500 for just the core items, @edzy imma go look at what you just suggested good looking out. I was looking on ebay and i found some sound dampening called believe "fatmat" or i was going to get some dynamat. how much do you think would cover the whole car? maybe like 40 sqft? @joeymc13 what do you mean by processors? not to familiar with that.

joeymc13

so, ive just spent like the last half hour reading on the minidsp, that thing is pretty sweet... I may order a cpl boards at somepoint to give 8 way output, and play with it on the home theater, and consider that thing in a car. Its soooo cheap, but does soooo much... thx for the link edzy...

edzy

Really? i read otherwise..hmm

Anyway, if the design is the same, and the parts are the same, they're the same amp correct? only difference would be the price.

This same dilemma actually happened a couple years back. The build house that arc used stole the same design and made these amps
http://www.elfaudio.com/mtAmps.html

They were a quarter of the price of the arc mini's for the same exact performance

joeymc13

I experimented with fatmat a cpl years ago, and was not happy with it at all. it was really thin, and didn't stick to the panels very well, even after a good cleaning.

Processing is basically how you shape your music through a device to make it sound like you want it to sound. Check out the link that edzy put up about the minidsp, and it will show you some of the stuff you can do with a sound processor...

edzy

Fatmat is complete garbage along with peel and seal

These are the best deadeners from good to bad

soundeadnershowdown
second skin
raamat
dynamat
edead

Raamat is probably the best budget stuff to get. You can get a 64sq ft roll for less than 100

YungFue

@cobb2819 I need to replace the 2 door panel speakers and the two speakers on top in the back and the tweeters on the doors as well

edzy

Rears aren't needed, dude. A properly amped front stage would fill that car up with sound.

I like cobb's recommendations, but that sub falls short since it's not really output oriented.

edzy

Forgot about these little gems

http://www.woofersetc.com/p3416/RWE3...-Subwoofer.htm

Pal of mine over on diyma won an award with 2 of those in 4 cubes sealed

Peep the vid @ 1:13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4ywK2ga0eQ

joeymc13

Ditto... I haven't run rear speakers in years... unless i have a car just for SPL.... Rears aren't ideal in such a small car bc it will start pulling the soundstage from its natural postion, in front of you, to back behind your head, making the music sound unrealistic. Put a majority of your money into your front doors, and you'll be pleased!

YungFue

what about as far as dampening the sound i was thinking of just putting sound dampening in the doors and the trunk and the floor. am i missing any other places that are important? i dont think i am but who knows...

edzy

In the civic i had, i only deadened the doors, rear deck, and majority of the trunk.