Ashleyp
9th May 2011, 11:57
Ok, so this is to follow on from my guide to budget audio (http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214641) i thought id make something relating to higher end products.
i could easily list the most expensive costing products i can find and just say "here, go buy this" but i won't. I'll make this a guide to products which I have personally had experience with, and thus create a guide which i can verify from my own findings.
Headunits:
Anything by alpine or pioneer will dee you right in this department.
i'd be looking at a Pioneer DEH-9300SD (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pioneer-deh9300sd.html) for the fact it has a 5band graphic EQ to really enhance the sounds and customise them to suit your set up in your car.
Front speaker set ups
as with the guide to budget audio, Components and an amp should be your first port of call if looking for high quality sounds.
My favourite audio brand is Rainbow, i can vouch for them being very high quality products. something like; rainbow SLC 230's (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3980.html) these are the speakers which i've ran for two years and i can safely say, theyre amazing. for those wishing to spend around the £200 mark
Another pair of speakers which deserved to be snapped up at this price are the DLS X-SA52's (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/9108.html) these provide quality equal to that of the rainbows, with SQ in mind, theyre a good product from a good brand. you could put anything from 60wrms to 150wrms through these and they'd be awesome for you. Again, for those who have a budget of around £200
As for an amp to power them, any where between 60wrms and 80wrms @ 4ohms will be fine, but why buy £220 speakers and use a cheap amp? a couple that i'd reccomend. A JLe2150 amp, these havn't been made in a few years but are amazing amps! if you can find a second had one, make a purchase. If you can't, then i'd reccomend this Audison SR2 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/audison-sr2.html) or alternatively, this JL XD200/2 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jlaudio-xd200-2.html) other good brands to look out for with amps are DLS, Rainbow or focal - generally, any of these brands between £170 - £250 will be a good match for either of the comps will be a good match.
Both of the amps linked above will not only provide enough power to the rainbow speakers, but they'll give them the quality sound that youre looking for.
if you don't wish to spend that much on front speakers? these Hertz ESK 130's will be fine (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hertz-energy-esk-130-3.html) or alternatively these DLS X-SB52's (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/9110.html)
An amp to match either of the above would be an JL J2 360.2 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/12738.html) a combo offering a pair of high quality comps and amp for the £300 mark.
Subs and amps
for an SQ set up, you're more likley to be looking for something either 8" or 10". there seems to be a lot of good products out there now for a high sound quality set up, so i'll just link a few; this Rainbow Vanadium 8 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/7573.html) or this JL ZR800 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/12649.html) will provide you with the quality which you desire. neither of the above subs will blow your ear drums, but they will be a lot louder than you'd expect the wrms to be, and provide that high quality sound.
If youre after something that packs a bit more punch, than this 10" Hertz HX250 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hertz-hi-energy-hx250.html) will provide you with some extra volume, it runs at 450wrms and still produces high quality
As for an amp, this Audison SR1D (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/audison-sr1d.html) will provide you with what you need to run either of the 8" options at a very nice level. please note, the JL has an RMS of 125, and they don't like to run much over that, so make sure you either set it correctly with a very low gain, or purchase something like this DLS XD20 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/9104.html) or Hertz EP2 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/8117.html) which has a more equally matched level of output suited to the JL
Note: the DLS amp will suit either of the above subs, bridged for the hertz sub, and un-bridged for the JL or rainbow
for the hertz, an amp that will pack that extra punch, something i'd look for is this JBL GTO7001 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jbl-gto7001.html) Providing 425wrms at 4ohms, it's pretty perfectly matched to the hertz. i had an old and now sought after JBL1114 classD amp and it was awesome.
Rear speaker set ups
Something i'm personally not overly keen on, but i can see the benefit if you wish to provide the cabin with a little extra fill
one option is to have a set of rear coaxials ran off the headunit. this will provide that extra fill you desire with out over-powering the front set up.
3 sets of 10cm coaxials i'd look at with a difference in price are the Hertz Dieci DX100's (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hertz-dieci-dcx-100.html) or these Focal access 100's (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/focal-access-100-ca1.html) or these JL Evo C2400x (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jl-audio-evolution-c2-400x.html)
Your other option if you want a lot more fill is to run a 4channel amp instead of the 2 channel one you planned to use for the front comps and run a set of comps in the back too. something like these Rainbow SLX210's (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3968.html) combined with this Audison SR4 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/audison-sr4.html) would be an awesome set up and will also power the front components too.
Extras
Deadening: as with any build, installation is more important than the equptment you're using, and so i reccomend sound deadening both the doors behing your speakers, and the boot area where the soundwaves from the sub will hit. not only will this reduce panel ressonance massively, but it will enhance your sub frequencies and tighten up the mid's a lot. A product i swear by is second skin damplifier (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/second-skin-damplifier-bulk-kit.html). obviously dynamat and others are a common choice and equally as good, but having never used them, i can't comment.
Wiring: if you plan on wiring two amps (1 for sub, 1 for comps) than i'd use this stuff (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/autoleads-pc4-28-0awg-twin-kit.html) if you hunt around, you should be able to find a 4AWG / 2AWG / 0AWG wiring kit for 2 amps a little cheaper.
For just one amp: this Celsus kit (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/connects2-0awg.html) is great.
Box, as with any high end build, a custom sub box is essential. it's the most important bit of a sub! sign up to talkaudio.com and when you've purchased a sub, ask for help on getting the correct size, someone will probably build you one for a fee.
Please note
these aren't the only possible set ups, just some products i've had experience with, listened to or have heard reviews from trusted audiophiles.
there are hundreds of different combos and hundreds of different products out there!
i could easily list the most expensive costing products i can find and just say "here, go buy this" but i won't. I'll make this a guide to products which I have personally had experience with, and thus create a guide which i can verify from my own findings.
Headunits:
Anything by alpine or pioneer will dee you right in this department.
i'd be looking at a Pioneer DEH-9300SD (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pioneer-deh9300sd.html) for the fact it has a 5band graphic EQ to really enhance the sounds and customise them to suit your set up in your car.
Front speaker set ups
as with the guide to budget audio, Components and an amp should be your first port of call if looking for high quality sounds.
My favourite audio brand is Rainbow, i can vouch for them being very high quality products. something like; rainbow SLC 230's (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3980.html) these are the speakers which i've ran for two years and i can safely say, theyre amazing. for those wishing to spend around the £200 mark
Another pair of speakers which deserved to be snapped up at this price are the DLS X-SA52's (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/9108.html) these provide quality equal to that of the rainbows, with SQ in mind, theyre a good product from a good brand. you could put anything from 60wrms to 150wrms through these and they'd be awesome for you. Again, for those who have a budget of around £200
As for an amp to power them, any where between 60wrms and 80wrms @ 4ohms will be fine, but why buy £220 speakers and use a cheap amp? a couple that i'd reccomend. A JLe2150 amp, these havn't been made in a few years but are amazing amps! if you can find a second had one, make a purchase. If you can't, then i'd reccomend this Audison SR2 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/audison-sr2.html) or alternatively, this JL XD200/2 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jlaudio-xd200-2.html) other good brands to look out for with amps are DLS, Rainbow or focal - generally, any of these brands between £170 - £250 will be a good match for either of the comps will be a good match.
Both of the amps linked above will not only provide enough power to the rainbow speakers, but they'll give them the quality sound that youre looking for.
if you don't wish to spend that much on front speakers? these Hertz ESK 130's will be fine (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hertz-energy-esk-130-3.html) or alternatively these DLS X-SB52's (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/9110.html)
An amp to match either of the above would be an JL J2 360.2 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/12738.html) a combo offering a pair of high quality comps and amp for the £300 mark.
Subs and amps
for an SQ set up, you're more likley to be looking for something either 8" or 10". there seems to be a lot of good products out there now for a high sound quality set up, so i'll just link a few; this Rainbow Vanadium 8 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/7573.html) or this JL ZR800 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/12649.html) will provide you with the quality which you desire. neither of the above subs will blow your ear drums, but they will be a lot louder than you'd expect the wrms to be, and provide that high quality sound.
If youre after something that packs a bit more punch, than this 10" Hertz HX250 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hertz-hi-energy-hx250.html) will provide you with some extra volume, it runs at 450wrms and still produces high quality
As for an amp, this Audison SR1D (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/audison-sr1d.html) will provide you with what you need to run either of the 8" options at a very nice level. please note, the JL has an RMS of 125, and they don't like to run much over that, so make sure you either set it correctly with a very low gain, or purchase something like this DLS XD20 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/9104.html) or Hertz EP2 (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/8117.html) which has a more equally matched level of output suited to the JL
Note: the DLS amp will suit either of the above subs, bridged for the hertz sub, and un-bridged for the JL or rainbow
for the hertz, an amp that will pack that extra punch, something i'd look for is this JBL GTO7001 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jbl-gto7001.html) Providing 425wrms at 4ohms, it's pretty perfectly matched to the hertz. i had an old and now sought after JBL1114 classD amp and it was awesome.
Rear speaker set ups
Something i'm personally not overly keen on, but i can see the benefit if you wish to provide the cabin with a little extra fill
one option is to have a set of rear coaxials ran off the headunit. this will provide that extra fill you desire with out over-powering the front set up.
3 sets of 10cm coaxials i'd look at with a difference in price are the Hertz Dieci DX100's (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hertz-dieci-dcx-100.html) or these Focal access 100's (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/focal-access-100-ca1.html) or these JL Evo C2400x (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jl-audio-evolution-c2-400x.html)
Your other option if you want a lot more fill is to run a 4channel amp instead of the 2 channel one you planned to use for the front comps and run a set of comps in the back too. something like these Rainbow SLX210's (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3968.html) combined with this Audison SR4 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/audison-sr4.html) would be an awesome set up and will also power the front components too.
Extras
Deadening: as with any build, installation is more important than the equptment you're using, and so i reccomend sound deadening both the doors behing your speakers, and the boot area where the soundwaves from the sub will hit. not only will this reduce panel ressonance massively, but it will enhance your sub frequencies and tighten up the mid's a lot. A product i swear by is second skin damplifier (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/second-skin-damplifier-bulk-kit.html). obviously dynamat and others are a common choice and equally as good, but having never used them, i can't comment.
Wiring: if you plan on wiring two amps (1 for sub, 1 for comps) than i'd use this stuff (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/autoleads-pc4-28-0awg-twin-kit.html) if you hunt around, you should be able to find a 4AWG / 2AWG / 0AWG wiring kit for 2 amps a little cheaper.
For just one amp: this Celsus kit (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/connects2-0awg.html) is great.
Box, as with any high end build, a custom sub box is essential. it's the most important bit of a sub! sign up to talkaudio.com and when you've purchased a sub, ask for help on getting the correct size, someone will probably build you one for a fee.
Please note
these aren't the only possible set ups, just some products i've had experience with, listened to or have heard reviews from trusted audiophiles.
there are hundreds of different combos and hundreds of different products out there!