this is for an 08 mazdaspeed3 gt. it comes with a 7 speaker bose system with a total rating claimed to be 222 watts. I will keep the stock HU and (for now) the tiny amplified bose sub assembly under the passenger seat. the rear speakers will also remain stock.

front speakers- http://www.crutchfield.com/App...p=105

sub- http://www.crutchfield.com/App...p=111 in a sealed 1ft hatch box.

amp- http://www.crutchfield.com/App...p=115

LOC using the front speaker signal- http://www.crutchfield.com/App...2SLC4

i simply want to have pronounced, tight bass with improved clarity and better overall response from highs to lows. i am not an audiophile but want to improve what i have, the most notable addition would be noticeable bass and higher clear volume potential.

thanks, and if you have any experience with adding audio items to this particular vehicle configuration, please let me know.

 

How is the amp setup in the car stock? If it has 7 speakers it's a safe bet to assume that there are amps separate from the head unit.

The amp you have chosen is underpowered for the 3 speaker setup you are looking at. Basically what you are going to be running is 2 channels for your front speakers @ 75 watts RMS x 2 @ 4ohm and a bridged channel for the sub @ 180 watts RMS x 1 at 4ohm. The sub you have picked out is a 300 watt (@4ohm) sub so you are really going to be under powering it.

 

indeed; it's got an amp for the front setup and the bose unit under the seat. i am unsure of how the rear speakers are powered; could be amp, could be HU. evidently the front speakers are powered with two channels total, with a simple cap filtering things for the stock tweeter, no filter for the door speakers, all off of the same channel per side.

about the amp power, the front speakers are rated to handle 60W rms and the amp puts out 75W rms, so that seems like i'm overpowering the fronts, right? the sub is rated at 60-300 rms and i'm giving it 180 rms. so if it's in the higher percentage of RMS rating, it's still underpowered?

i am not sure how to select an amp then other than getting a two channel amp for the fronts and a mono amp for the sub. that seems unnecessary to me...

 

let me ask, a "plus one" 5x7/6x8 would yield the same surface area as a 6-7" round woofer, no?

here is the deal. i need to keep the budget in mind.

at this time, here are some plans, each one has a problem or two. BTW, mid-level means something like JBL GT series.

plan 1
mid-level component set with passive xovers
mid-level 4 channel amp, run in 3 channel mode
mtx re-q
mid-level 12" 4 ohm sub, 300w/1200w in sealed box

main advantage is cost! main drawback is power for the sub. the bridged last two channels on 4 channel amps i've seen will not be enough power for the sub; when bridged, the amps i've looked at aren't 2 ohm stable, so voice coil gymnastics isn't an option. sure i could get one with dual 2 ohm VC's, like the JBL GT 12" and run the last two channels at 2 ohms, one to each VC, but that would be the same as running 4 ohms bridged to one. what i could do is since i really just need moderate lows but good overall increase in frequency response, i could run this scenario with on 8" in a tiny sealed box. that would take up such a little amount of room and I think it would probably make me happy, but i can't say for sure, but i know a 12" definately would. it's like my si sedan; it's power delivery is adequate, but i know the ms3 power delivery will surely make me happy because it's excessive and can be toned down with the gas pedal.

plan 2
mid-level component set
3sixty.2
mid-level 4 channel amp running highs and mids
mid-level mono sub amp
mid-level 12" sub in sealed box

the total downside to this is cost. using JBL options for all areas from woofersetc, that is approaching 1500 before any installation costs, including wire and accessories. the upside is it seems it would work pretty well and everything would see the power it needs with room to spare.

this is very confusing. i did mention before that cost is secondary, but something that has to be realized is i've ordered a shifter, bushings, HIR light bulbs for fogs and highs, the Cobb intake setup, corksport mount insert and turboxs test pipe and exhaust...oh and the oil filter conversion.

and i don't even have the car here yet.

so i'd rather obviously spend cash on speed vs. sound. for instance, i don't think i'd really care if i used passive xovers boxes with the components vs. the 3sixty and the need for extra amp channels it brings, even though there is SO much more tuneability and stuff, i just don't think i'd notice/care enough to spend the money....stuff like that plays greatly in my mind.

 

I have 2 of those Infinity 1250w subs in my truck. I ordered them to replace the Infinity's I had in my Honda that impressed me. One of the surrounds just came apart though so I got 2 new ones. I ended up putting them in the truck as the car was broken down when I got them. I liked them in there so much I put my Kicker into the car and kept these in there. They hit hard and sound pretty good. IMO I give them a big especially for the price. I'm fairly happy with them.

I now have a set of Polk DB components up front and DB coaxials in the rear powered by a Alpine 70w X 4 amp and it makes a pretty good setup. I wanted the momo's for up front but they wouldn't fit in the stock location so I had to go with the DB's. Overall those then these 2 Infinity's powered by a 500watt rms Profile amp make a pretty good sounding setup.