Building audio system on a budget.

Redhero

Founding Member

Dec 11, 2001

157

0

0

Seattle

Jun 15, 2005

#1

• Jun 15, 2005

• #1

I just bought an Alpine CDA-9855, mostly for its iPod Ai-Net accessory. Im looking to spend about 300 on a great 12" sub and amp (not including custom box). Im not looking for anything super rediculous, just great sound and an amp that will be only running the sub, not the speakers.

Any advice? Im not too sure what brands are better then which.

 

D

Dtowncats

New Member

Jun 2, 2003

340

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York, PA

Jun 16, 2005

#2

• Jun 16, 2005

• #2

For $300 you are not going to get anything great. You are definitely going to need to go over that. What are you looking for? Sound quality, loudness, or in between? Sealed or ported? How much room are you willing to give up?

 

Redhero

Founding Member

Dec 11, 2001

157

0

0

Seattle

Jun 16, 2005

#3

• Jun 16, 2005

• #3

I could give up most of my trunk if I had too. I could go up to 400 or so and spend maybe 150 on a sub and 250 on a decent amp? Im not including install, custom box or anything in that 3-400.

 

D

Dtowncats

New Member

Jun 2, 2003

340

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0

York, PA

Jun 16, 2005

#4

• Jun 16, 2005

• #4

Redhero said:

I could give up most of my trunk if I had too. I could go up to 400 or so and spend maybe 150 on a sub and 250 on a decent amp? Im not including install, custom box or anything in that 3-400.

Click to expand...

Check out the SS RL-i 10. It is 169 without shipping. Find an amp that is rated at 400wrms at 2 ohms and you are good to go.

 

Philstang

New Member

Oct 28, 2004

203

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0

Jun 16, 2005

#5

• Jun 16, 2005

• #5

Look for specials in the paper at places like Best Buy, Circuit City, or whatever is in your area. It doesn't have to cost alot to sound good, a proper install with a good enclosure goes a long way.

 

Bobert

New Member

May 18, 2005

63

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0

Jun 16, 2005

#6

• Jun 16, 2005

• #6

Some people won't like this amp because it's "cheap", but I've had good luck with a Profile CL-800 (only got it after doing lots of searches on forums that said they were prettty solid budget amps). It'll put out 600 x 1 at 4 ohms.

I'm most likely going to try an Alpine Type R next with it next (~$115 + shipping at various places on the net). That amp cost me a little over $100 a little over a year ago. So there's less than $250 for a pretty good budget system.

http://soundsplinter.com/

http://www.edesignaudio.com/us.php

http://reaudio.com/

All those sites have pretty good bang for the buck subs that you'll read about a lot of car audio forums. I think for around $180 shipped, you can have a RE SE 12 that's always getting good reviews. I'm debating getting that sub over the Alpine Type R. I think you can build a pretty nice sub/amp combo for 300-400.

 

D

Dtowncats

New Member

Jun 2, 2003

340

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0

York, PA

Jun 16, 2005

#7

• Jun 16, 2005

• #7

Bobert said:

All those sites have pretty good bang for the buck subs that you'll read about a lot of car audio forums. I think for around $180 shipped, you can have a RE SE 12 that's always getting good reviews. I'm debating getting that sub over the Alpine Type R. I think you can build a pretty nice sub/amp combo for 300-400.

Click to expand...

I was actually looking at getting a 12" SE and running it with my JBL 600.1. Then I decided on 2 8" RL-i's from Sound Splinter. If I don't like them I will be getting 1 12" RL-p. They are being compared to the JL Audio 13W7.

 

04gtdrop

New Member

Jun 10, 2005

532

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0

Sac, CA

Jun 17, 2005

#8

• Jun 17, 2005

• #8

i have i guy that i go through for all my audio needs (including alarm and tint) check it out. some stuff can get a little pricy. but very very nice. i had a plexi box in my old 95 GT, another one in my 99 ford expo and now i got one in my 04 GT. check it out........http://www.gatelyaudio.com/