I'm looking to retool the stereo system in my 08 Element.
I'd like to keep the stock head unit since it's a pretty nice one and has XM radio.

The EX comes with a stock 6" sub which will be replaced with a JL 6W0, or a 6W3v3 if I can't find a W0.

The stock door speakers will be replaced with some 6.5" components (not sure which yet)

The stock amp just plain sucks. I was toying with the idea of leaving the stock door speakers and tweeters and just getting a nice mono amp to power the 6W0, but screw that.

So I'm looking for a decent 5 channel amp to power the entire system. I love JL's stuff, but $1,000 for their 5 channel is out of my price range.

I'm not looking to win any competitions with this. I just want something that has a little more grunt than the stock system.

Power needs, I'm looking at about 75W per channel, with maybe 100W to the 5th channel for the sub.

I know, it's kind of a vague thread, but if anybody wants to chime in, your input would be appreciated.

 

How much do you want to spend?
You can always get a 4channel and then a mono for the sub. It might come out cheaper that way...
You need to decide what speakers you want first so you know the power rating of the amp to buy.

 

Looking to spend about $600 tops for everything

I was thinking a set of these for the fronts
Infinity reference 6030cs components (6-90 watts RMS 270 watts peak power)
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1086030...0cs.html?tp=95

6022si speakers for the rear doors (2-50 watts RMS 150 watts peak power)
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1086022...2si.html?tp=95

JL Audio 6W0 4 ohm sub rated at 75 watts RMS

OR

JL Audio 6W0v3
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1366W3V...-4.html?tp=111

 

$600 including the speakers or $600 for just the amp?

 

Kinda like this Boston acoustics 5 channel
http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Acousti...3326326&sr=1-9

 

I would recommend something that puts out at least 90 watts rms for the front speakers and 50watts rms for the rears... I know there is a range but you tend to want to be in the upper limit of it or better yet slightly over it. If you decide you want to drive your amp hard so it plays loud one day and you overdrive it into clipping, the clipped signal will ruin your speakers...
And you are going to need some line out converters...

 

$600 for the whole thing.
$600 for the amp I'd grab the JL

 

Geez...and this is why I hate the internet

 

As you were saying...

 

lol@600 for everything

that puny 6 inch isn't gonna do anything to be honest.

 

Why? Even looking at Crutchfield's overpriced prices:
$199.99
$69.99
$99.00 for a 6W0 I found
Comes out to around $370

That leaves $230 or so for an amp to power everything. Sounds reasonable enough.

As far as the 6" not doing much....it fits into the stock sub enclosure. That's the main thing I want it to do. I've heard one in an Element in person, and it sounds damn nice.

My Element needs function. I don't want a subwoofer box mounted in my cargo area.

And as I've said, I'm not trying to blow my windows out or win any competitions.

 

instead of a sub...throw that money into a good component set that can get low and sound deadening for the doors.

 

See the title of the thread?
Yeah, that's what this is about. Not how to spend my money.

 

errr, what's the attitude? I'm just tryin' to help you out. that sub is gonna be a waste of 160 bucks to be honest. invested it into your front stage would be ALOT better to do.

anyway, here's a decent 5 channel
http://www.woofersetc.com/p6395/PDX5...ifier-PDX5.htm

 

All the five channels I've found so far that will work nicely with your speakers put out double the rated rms of your sub...

 

When you make a thread asking for help picking out an amp and you get nothing but "that thing sucks. why are you doing that. you should do this instead", it's not helping my cause.

That being said, your recommendation for the Alpine is the kind of info I was looking for. Thank you.

 

I feel you...but i said everything for a reason...that 6 inch sub is more like a midbass speaker...it'll probably get down to around 55-60hz before it starts to crap itself. A good component set in the doors that can get that low would benefit you more

 

It's going in the stock sub location.

 

I know. just stating that a better front stage would better suit you then going with a 6 inch sub.

Why not go with an 8 or 10 in a small sealed box? something like .5-1 cube

 

the alpine pdx is great, and that price looks very good for that amp.


also i dont know much about elments but is it at all possible to put a bigger sub in the stock spot?

but a good set of componets and a that sub should give it a good little thump.

 

I looked at possibly making an 8" go in the stock location....not going to happen without custom fab work. The enclosure is a plastic molded thing. It's ported, so I'm going to need to seal that up as well. I may dynamat the inside of the enclosure too.

Maybe back in the day I would have done it, but nowadays I just want straight drop in and go.

Like I said, I'm not trying to win any competitions with this thing. I just wanted a bit more clarity, a little more punch out of the sub, and not have any sub boxes in the car anywhere.
The tricky part right now for me is trying to find a place to mount that amp. I'm thinking underneath the glove compartment perhaps.

 

i was just asking because i have heard aftermarket 6s in elments then a 8 and the 8 defiently had a lot more punch...
depending on how much custom work it may be worth it but just my opinon,

if you get the alpine pdx, it should mount under the seat without any problems at all, they are very small amps.

 

The whole under seat mounting thing works great in the 03-06 Es. Not in the 07+.

The later years have more crap shoved under the seats probably from the airbags they have in the seats in those years, and there's little to no room down there.

Trust me, I already looked into that when I was looking for a place to mount my power inverter. I still haven't found a place for that thing yet. So far I've been using modified jumper cables I mounted to it to power whatever when we're out camping.

 

oh that i didnt know lol... maybe your just going to have to stick it on the back of the back seat

as for the power inverter, is there any room where the spare is? if you just tuck it in some where?

 

Nope, no room under there. Well, not for my 2,000W inverter at least. I was actually thinking About pulling off some side panels in the back to see what's back behind there as far as space goes. If there's room, mount the inverter there and just extend the 110V outlets and flush mount them in the car. One in the back and one in the front somewhere. Only problem is that an inverter that big SHOULD have 4 gauge wires feeding it.