First ICE: Help picking components. hertz/JBL/SPL/Rainbow/InfRef

[kae]

Hi guys,

Bought my saxo VTR 1.6 about 2 weeks ago (good times) and so far I love it; trying to arrange for a good ICE system to install myself.

I've been researching, as you do and from what I’ve seen, my opinion concludes: I will be going for components over coaxial and 6x9's, as I hear they offer the highest quality sound. I'm not sure how old my research is or if there are newer models/systems available that i have overlooked but so far im trying to pick between the following:


JBL GTO507 165W 13cm 52.60GBP
SPL Dynamics SD 5.2 70GBP
Rainbow SLX230 120GBP
Infinity Reference 5020cs 5.25" 77GBP
Hertz Dieci DSK 130 80GBP


Have I made any catastrophic mistakes here? naturally i would like to know peoples opinions for quality vs price to see which one i should purchase.

Oh and i guess i should mention HU, I want an iPod/USB HU so i dont have to mess about with CD/MP3's, looking to spend about 70-90 quid if possible, I'm tossing up between:


Kenwood KDC-MP345U
Sony CDX-GT540
pioneer DEH-4200SD/3200UB/5200SD


What are your thoughts, suggestions or proposals?!

Thanks in advance,
Kyle

[wadoryu]

jbl seriously i can't fault mine. use the rest of the money to amp them. and they were voted best audio makers by fast car this year

[ryza]

juice do really good cheap stuff, i can say coz i have it my self :D look on www.caraudiocentre.com

[kae]

those juice speakers look alot light Edge with the orange and that. To be honest i was expecting Hertz to get peoples votes!

[ryza]

yeah they do mate. smart looking, i got the 200w ones for £50 from car audio centre and they sound amazing. i got 2 more for the back aswell :D ill show u pics of where i've but the tweeters if u want. and the tweeters aint really got much of a lip round them to stop em falling through the door card. hhmmm.......... and you can put the crossover behind the doorcard if your sneaky. i did in the back :p

[ryza]

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-juice-js5c_p-23117.htm

when i bought these like 3 weeks ago they were £80? wtf lol

these are the front tweeters, they do like quite smart:

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad197/ryza424/my%20saxo/Image0021.jpg

and these are the back, takes a lot of pissin around to get this in you can just see it next to the seatbelt on the right:

http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/ad197/ryza424/my%20saxo/Image0022.jpg

[kae]

i like what you've done with the tweeters there, how did you manage to fashion the hole without making a complete hash of it... i know i would!! Anyone else got views on speakers? :)

[ryza]

hole cutter :P i got a nice fit so i didn't have to stick it in, nice and tight so i cant take em out if something's wrong :D and mask em up. i'm in the building trade so sort of know what im doing :/ i like trying all different things myself lol good to learn :p

[tokyodrifte]

I got the SPL Dynamic ones, Really good - Really bassy too for 5 inchers

[newqs36]

hertz. always recommend them for the price. sound quality is great better improved again when amped same as any

[MJ05LLY]

hertz. always recommend them for the price. sound quality is great better improved again when amped same as any

+1
Hertz all the way if you want quality. I cant say what the range you have picked sound like but from what ive ready is their good quality wise. If your just looking for loud then i guess their not what your looking for.

[kae]

Yeah, quality of sound is what im looking for above all else.

Loudness is still important... I'd like to have an impressive volume but I dont really mind if the whole street hears it or not!

Looks like its swaying towards Hertz, are they newer compared to the SPL's? I heard the SPL's have been a pretty standard recommendation for this bracket of speaks for a while...

[ryza]

quality is most important i would say mate :D they are all gonna be pretty loud especially if you amp them...

[newqs36]

Yeah, quality of sound is what im looking for above all else.

Loudness is still important... I'd like to have an impressive volume but I dont really mind if the whole street hears it or not!

Looks like its swaying towards Hertz, are they newer compared to the SPL's? I heard the SPL's have been a pretty standard recommendation for this bracket of speaks for a while...



tbh if you spend about 100 on speakers they they will mostly sound equal. the installation is where the money should be spent. sound deadening in a saxo is key to keep the sound in as its just a can with thin walls.

[kae]

tbh if you spend about 100 on speakers they they will mostly sound equal. the installation is where the money should be spent. sound deadening in a saxo is key to keep the sound in as its just a can with thin walls.

how do i go about doing that then fella! Is there a forum link/guide or something that can help out my install?

[kae]

http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=297463

Just incase anyone else needs! Reading now!

[LouNYF]

Have a look at the In Phase components, better than the JBLs i had and a good price aswell.

[kendrick]

Have a look at the In Phase components, better than the JBLs i had and a good price aswell.

Really nothing beats JBL's for the price range. Hertz and infinity comps are the best you have stated for sound quality. Tbh though id take a look at some diamond audio comps. If you can find someone to source some DIAMOND AUDIO D652's then your laughing tbh.

I currently have the diamond audio Hex 500's and they are the previous top of the range series and they sound soo nice.:y:

[kae]

Have a look at the In Phase components, better than the JBLs i had and a good price aswell.

IN PHASE XTC5 - just checked these out.. 55gbp

found this review.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B001IKKH54/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
doesnt sound great to be fair... but..

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/reviews_m-in-phase-xtc5_p-19737.htm

good reviews but nothing in depth? Anyone else have or heard these compared to the hertz/SPL/JBL's..

Ahh i cant make my mind up! Im swaying still towards the hertz's coz quality>loudness but if i can get both in one speaker for a similar price i will go for that... i cant find any diamonds in the UK.. ill keep searching. :afro:

[kae]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIAMOND-AUDIO-D353i-5-25-COAXIAL-CAR-HIFI-SPEAKERS-NEW-/230472961228?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Audio_TV_Electronics_In_Car_Entertainment_GP S_Car_Speakers_PP&hash=item35a9424ccc#ht_997wt_1139

found these Diamond Coaxials... surely components are gonna beat these no?

[kae]

Focal Access 130A1 100gbp

Any opinions? 20 quid more than the Hertz's but are they that much better?

[MJ05LLY]

Wont really notice a huge difference tbh. Its all in the installation and amp with correct hu set up

[huggy54]

I've used most of these speakers previously

1) Rainbow
2) Hertz (warmer sound)- SPL Dynamics (slightly harsher but can go louder when amped)
3) JBL
4) Infinity

[kae]

I've used most of these speakers previously

1) Rainbow
2) Hertz (warmer sound)- SPL Dynamics (slightly harsher but can go louder when amped)
3) JBL
4) Infinity

do you rekon the rainbow's quality warrent an extra 40 quid? :) that money could be spent on my amp! Thanks for the post btw :y:

[kendrick]

Yer dont buy coaxials, i meant diamond comps. If you cant find some id go for the hertz tbh they are very nice comps for the price. Sound warm and crisp so if you like that sort of sound go for it.

If you want outright bass from your doors then dont bother go for SPL or Infinity. :y: