Official Sound Rant Thread!!

[95astrovan]

welp, it's 1:55 in the mornin, and i just finished workin on the car, so i figured i'd come inside and write up a sound system thread..

this isnt really a "i have a question, do you have an answer?" thread, but more of a discussion of sound. rant, argue, brag, whatever...Sound is a big part of our lives, so why dont we share a little more with eachother than just what kind of speaker has the clearest voice coils for $35.99...lets get to know what we all think about sound!

Ever since i got my license in july '06, i had been a member of the bigger=better crowd as far as sound systems are concerned. the way i saw it, the quality of the music didnt matter, as long as it was LOUD, and had alot of bass...so i loaded the back of my Astro with speakers, and let it kill my hearing for a good year, until i got my Camaro. My eyes were instantly opened to the fact that music could be played at a medium sound level, be equalized in a fashion that actually included mids, didnt have to rattle my trunk panels, and could sound very good. i was very happy with my bose system for a while, until one of the crossovers shorted out, which led me back into my "i want bass!" phase...i've had a box hooked several different ways to the stock bose amps, but it just hasnt done much for me, so...i've decided that it isnt worth the money, so i'm going back to stock...door+sail speakers, and maybe that one in the hatch in that little enclosure (not really sure what it's for). I figure, why spend money making it louder, when i could have just as good a listening experience while i make the car prettier, keep it lighter, and not kill my passengers with sound...

so, have you all found urselves following sound trends, are you one of the increasing many finding volume AND clarity? Do you hate music all together?? do you EQ ur radio for talk FM? is ur system simple, complicated, cheap, expensive? why?

how you listen to music can tell someone alot about you, so lets get to know everybody that much better!

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

I started off with SPL, did some competitions & worked for a few sound shops.. after a couple years my ear drums were getting really sore and Id have pain with large amounts of bass, Now Im into SQ and will more than likely be setting up a SQ system in my truck this summer... Nothing off the wall though.

[96firebird311]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

I think everyone starts off with the boom boom..... then gradually gets tired of it. Although I've never owned a setup that I'd, even now, be embarrassed about. Kenwood is probably the "lowest quality" brand name I've ever personally ran. Come to think of it..... I've never owned a setup without at least two amps, and one powering the front stage. As soon as a subwoofer is added, amplified components are added. Damn. Am I spoiled? But I've worked for every cent to pay for every piece of gear I've ever ran! You know what else I've just realized? I've only used TWO pieces of used equipment in any of my cars. Both of them being headunits. (one being a cassette deck lol)

God damn this hobby is expensive.

As of now,
Pioneer D3 Navi headunit
Adire Audio Kodas in the front and rear
Two 10" Kicker CVRs in custom fiberglass box
Kicker 5-channel powering it all

Not my favorite subs, but I got them with the amp for $350 direct from Kicker. Can't argue.

Enough of my rambling...

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

I passed my boom boom stage well before I got my car with my home stereo. I bought a powered subwoofer and kept it on full blast for a while, and eventually realized it sounded terrible. By the time I got my car, I was more into sound quality, so I began building my system around sound quality. My headunit has a 16 band equalizer and I wouldn't have it any other way. After hours of adjustments and fine tuning, my stereo, with decent but not amazing components, sounds great. I'd say I have about $725+- in the car stereo, and I'm fully happy with it. (it adds up quick doesn't it?)

[95astrovan]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

...it adds up quick doesn't it?

it really does...i'm lookin at $50 to come for Alpines for my doors, maybe another set for the sails, and gotta find a decent speaker for my trunk...if anything's worth it, it's the music lol

[IwannaCamarosoBad]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

I passed my boom boom stage well before I got my car with my home stereo. I bought a powered subwoofer and kept it on full blast for a while, and eventually realized it sounded terrible. By the time I got my car, I was more into sound quality, so I began building my system around sound quality. My headunit has a 16 band equalizer and I wouldn't have it any other way. After hours of adjustments and fine tuning, my stereo, with decent but not amazing components, sounds great. I'd say I have about $725+- in the car stereo, and I'm fully happy with it. (it adds up quick doesn't it?)

Yeah it really does add up quick, I've sat and added up everything I wanted in my sound system and it came out to be about lets see minus a new HU 600? give or take lol (Can't remember the exact Number, also the front speakers I wanted were on sale and im sure they're off sale now)

[95astrovan]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

Yeah it really does add up quick, I've sat and added up everything I wanted in my sound system and it came out to be about lets see minus a new HU 600? give or take lol (Can't remember the exact Number, also the front speakers I wanted were on sale and im sure they're off sale now)

what's ur sound list? Circuit City's got a buncha sound stuff marked down right now...plus, you've already got some great sail speakers

u dont have to worry bout knuckling around all the Bose stuff either lol

[IwannaCamarosoBad]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

what's ur sound list? Circuit City's got a buncha sound stuff marked down right now...plus, you've already got some great sail speakers

u dont have to worry bout knuckling around all the Bose stuff either lol

true that haha me> Bose I was gonna get some Alpine's from best buy but they went off sale the subthump stealth boxes Possibly takin those pioneers in the back seat out since they dont fit!

[95astrovan]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

u sure they dont fit? as i recall, they were wigglin around cuz the only had one screw holdin each in lol...ghetttoo

u cant say that Bose didnt sound goooood...until the pass. door amp fudged up

[96firebird311]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

Circuit City's got a buncha sound stuff marked down right now.

I don't think Circuit City knows where they're headed with their car audio department. They're ditching their contract with Eclipse and they seem to have started carrying even more lower end brands. (I saw Boss on their website about a month ago) I would knock on them for this. But the fact remains.... that's what people buy. 8 out of 10 buyers come in and buy the cheapest stuff they think will get the job done. I can't begin to tell you how many of these I've installed:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Jense...oductDetail.do

Hey wait a minute.... $42!?!?!?!? Since when is that muther $42??! Damn! Might have to pick up 4 or 5 of them for myself.....

[Shad0wguy]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

I've never been part of the crowd when it comes to sound. I hate the big booms that come with overpowered subwoofer setups. I had a 95 grand Am that I put a pair of 10" in. It sounded very good and I was happy with the tone. I wasn't looking for thump, just a bit more bass in my music. As for the speakers, I have never amped those and just ran them off the HU.

On the Camaro, it came with the Monsoon setup, which I was happy with. When the CD player craped out I bought an $80 kenwood HU, which fits my needs. funny thing is my custom HU mount cost more than the HU itself. Anyway, I decided to keep the stock speakers since they sound fine. Then I finally caved and bought the subthump enclosure. I haven't wired it up yet, but I am looking forward to a little more bass.

For me, my sound system just needs to be loud enough for me. I don't want it to be so loud that everyone else has to listen to my music.

[95astrovan]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

I don't think Circuit City knows where they're headed with their car audio department. They're ditching their contract with Eclipse and they seem to have started carrying even more lower end brands. (I saw Boss on their website about a month ago) I would knock on them for this. But the fact remains.... that's what people buy. 8 out of 10 buyers come in and buy the cheapest stuff they think will get the job done. I can't begin to tell you how many of these I've installed:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Jense...oductDetail.do

Hey wait a minute.... $42!?!?!?!? Since when is that muther $42??! Damn! Might have to pick up 4 or 5 of them for myself.....

.....that is the ugliest enclosure i have ever seen, i just lost respect for CC knowing that they sell it...

but yea, i havent purchased much sound stuff as of yet, but back when i deleted my Bose, and replaced my door speakers, i went with some $20/pair Jensens, and the driver side blew after about 2 months of normal listening. I'm lookin at Alpines all the way around now...

[cantrip]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

Wow, you guys are l ucky, 700 dollar systems?

My new system im setting up will be well up into the thousands.

Wires
Batteries
Big 3 Upgrade
Accessories
Touchscreen
Lots of fabrication
Fiberglass
Plexiglass
Wood
Componants
Coaxials
Subs
Amps
etc etc etc...


...................Oh god, time to get a credit card... :/

[Bonemaro]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

I use to compete IASCA back in the early 90's, right before they divided between SQ and SQ+ classes. I was pimpin' a $10K system in a Z24. We removed the dash and completely reworked all the ducting and wires to place the speakers right were they needed to be. I was using AVI speakers, which I don't think they even make anymore, Precision Power amps, have a sponsorship from Esoteric Audio for all my wires and such, Clarion head, dual 31 band ID eq's. It was a beast.

The last year I competed was when the Rockford Symmetry system came out. We got hooked up with one of the first production models. It was an awesome system. You could program it to completely change your system based on what you your playing and how loud you were playing it. I took it to a show and they began judging. Did the whole sound quality metering with no problem then started to do the SPL reading. I had the Symmetry set up so that when I went for SPL, it cut the high end off and boosted the crap out of the low stuff. The judge heard this a freaked out, charged me with violating the rules and disqualified me. He argued that you could not change the system in the middle of judging. I told him I did not change the system, the system is changing itself... this is the system. I showed him the symmetry, pulled out the rule book that said 501-1000 pro class can use any piece of "commercially available equipment." I was legal. He DQ'ed me anyways, I handed him my IASCA card and told him to shove it up his *** while he was at it. Obviously, I was then removed from the event completely and I never competed again. It actually gave me a chance to realize I was spending all this time and money to create a system for someone else. Since then, I build what sounds good to me. I could care less that I have a +4 mid-bass spike at 240Hz and need more separation on my staging (by the way, Cam/FB's have nice wide stages).

The Camaro just has a Pioneer HU and the Monsoon stuff. I am running a 12" sub and a 300 watt mono amp. I plan to do something with it at some point, most liking using eD stuff.

The truck has the old Clarion unit from the Z24. In there, I'm running a pair of Image Dynamics CD-2 Comps compression horns, 6.5 Image D mids in the doors, 8" Image D woofers in the rear 2 15" Image Dynamic subs. These are powered by 4 400 watt Audio Art amps.

[cantrip]

Re: Official Sound Rant Thread!!

I use to compete IASCA back in the early 90's, right before they divided between SQ and SQ+ classes. I was pimpin' a $10K system in a Z24. We removed the dash and completely reworked all the ducting and wires to place the speakers right were they needed to be. I was using AVI speakers, which I don't think they even make anymore, Precision Power amps, have a sponsorship from Esoteric Audio for all my wires and such, Clarion head, dual 31 band ID eq's. It was a beast.

The last year I competed was when the Rockford Symmetry system came out. We got hooked up with one of the first production models. It was an awesome system. You could program it to completely change your system based on what you your playing and how loud you were playing it. I took it to a show and they began judging. Did the whole sound quality metering with no problem then started to do the SPL reading. I had the Symmetry set up so that when I went for SPL, it cut the high end off and boosted the crap out of the low stuff. The judge heard this a freaked out, charged me with violating the rules and disqualified me. He argued that you could not change the system in the middle of judging. I told him I did not change the system, the system is changing itself... this is the system. I showed him the symmetry, pulled out the rule book that said 501-1000 pro class can use any piece of "commercially available equipment." I was legal. He DQ'ed me anyways, I handed him my IASCA card and told him to shove it up his *** while he was at it. Obviously, I was then removed from the event completely and I never competed again. It actually gave me a chance to realize I was spending all this time and money to create a system for someone else. Since then, I build what sounds good to me. I could care less that I have a +4 mid-bass spike at 240Hz and need more separation on my staging (by the way, Cam/FB's have nice wide stages).

The Camaro just has a Pioneer HU and the Monsoon stuff. I am running a 12" sub and a 300 watt mono amp. I plan to do something with it at some point, most liking using eD stuff.

The truck has the old Clarion unit from the Z24. In there, I'm running a pair of Image Dynamics CD-2 Comps compression horns, 6.5 Image D mids in the doors, 8" Image D woofers in the rear 2 15" Image Dynamic subs. These are powered by 4 400 watt Audio Art amps.

Good read :tup: