Okay, I'm torn between going aftermarket or sticking with the Audiophile system. Honestly, after messing with the settings a little more, I've really taken a liking to the Audiophile and it's potent little sub.
Why so loud?
I understand some people might have valid reasons for pouring $1000-$2000 into aftermarket sound systems, but is it really necessary? I hardly drive around town with the volume turned over 5-6 full bars, I can hardly imagine what some of your guys systems sound like at an equivalant level. Now I understand sound quality plays a big part into upgrading, but my my concern is the loudness... Do you guys drive around with the windows down all the time, or what's the deal?
I'm 21, married, and just don't see the need to cause debilitating damage to my ears or broadcast my station to everyone else. On the other hand, I do cruise around occasionally with the windows down jamming. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to crticize anyone, I appreciate the knowledge you've all shared, but I'd just like to understand how, when, and where you guys use these systems at their actual potential and how loud do you normally listen to your music?
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2008 Blackout FX4 - 6" Procomp, 35" Toyo MT, 20" Procomp 7005 wheels, 4.56 Yukon gears, True-dual Magnaflow exhaust, AF1 3.0" intake, VMPtuning X3, and a lot of black spray paint.
-Exhaust clip- http://s340.photobucket.com/albums/o...nt=exhaust.flv
i say you dynamat your truck
it will make your stock system sound better and it should only cost a couple hundred
considering that my speakers dont have an amp right now, my HU is rarely below 80%
but the money that we put into our systems isn't just to make our ears bleed. alot of it goes to increasing sound quality and general listening pleasure
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2000 F150 Extd Cab: Clarion Max385vd, Alpine Type R Components (front) and coaxials (rear), Orion D2400 amp, Alpine F300 amp, Orion H2 12 Sub
...Factory Five 1965 Shelby Cobra kit car (in progress)
When turned up loud, the stock system starts to sound horrible. Midbass is non-existant, the tweeter is incredibly harsh, annnnd (my biggest pet-peeve about any stock/prematurely installed car audio setup) the sub attempts to play midbass @ too high of a frequency.
Plus, the staging is horrible. I can close my eyes and point to exactly where each speaker is located.
Now, with a quality aftermarket system and a proper install, you can turn it up to high levels: hundreds and hundreds of watts of continuous power, and there is no harshness...its just pure, clean music. Staging is much better, the music is all in front of you, its balanced, and you can FEEL the music.
And with a proper install (a.k.a. deadening, speaker location, on/off axis, tuning etc blah blah blah) it sounds wayyyy better. Greatly reduced road noise, no stupid annoying vibrations etc. You can spends 1000s on equipment, but it will only sound good with a good install.
Once you hear/have a kick-azz SQ oriented system, you will never want to go back. ever.
When I buy a vehicle , the first thing that comes out is the junk stock audio . I don't care if its Bose , Audiophile , Monsoon , Shaker , Etc . Aftermarket hands down .
I would say keep your factory system. I would also second the dynamat as a way to improve your existing system. If you are satisfied with what you have I see no reason to change it out, especially if you are not really into car audio.
The most important part of it is in the installation. And a good install is either going to cost you a good bit at a shop or its going to cost you a lot of time and effort to learn how to do it yourself.
No offense meant, just a comparison, but looking at your sig: How many thousands of dollars have you spent on your lift, wheels, tires etc.? Do you ever actually use it for offroading or is it just for looks?
I am just trying to change your viewpoint, not picking on you. Just like you wonder about people with thousand dollar systems actually getting their use out of it, others wonder about people with thousand dollar lift systems actually getting their use out of it.
Ahh.. CH2500, you make a good point, most trucks with suspension lifts and mud tires will never leave the pavement. Although, I'll admit I'll never willingly drive this truck into a mud put, I do go camping and fishing on the weekends occasionaly. Then again, that's nowhere near the trucks potential. Personally, most of the upgrades were for purely cosmetic appeal as opposed to funtionality, as I would assume the reason why 99% of truckers lift up.
Considering I've loaded nearly $7000 into the truck so far for the cosmetic appeal, Money isn't necessarily an issue with upgrading my sound system. I wasn't trying to undermine everyones reasoning for upgrading sound system, I just wanted to understand how they actually use them.
Like I said, I can hardly turn my Audiophile system up 5-6 bars before it's loud enough for me, and I'm going to assume that it's only pushing 200 watts max. So aside from being able to play their music atleast 3-5x louder than me with much better SQ at those levels, I just wanted to know when and where they turn it up that loud.
Anywho, thanks for the insight, I guess it really isn't about making your ears bleed, but the true audiophilic SQ needs that drives most of you guys here to upgrade stock. In conclusion, I guess it works the same way considering I couldn't imagine driving my truck stock without the lift and etc, that you guys cant stand to drive the truck stock without audio upgrades. Thanks again.. lol
However since money is not a primary concern, there are significant gains to be had by upgrading your stock system. As long as you make informed choices and get a reputable shop to do the install, I'm sure you would be pleased. I read your other posts after this one and you are asking very good questions.
In conclusion, I guess it works the same way considering I couldn't imagine driving my truck stock without the lift and etc, that you guys cant stand to drive the truck stock without audio upgrades. Thanks again.. lol
I cant stand driving without my aftermarket stereo OR my lift and mud tires either.
My listening habits depend more on my mood, than anything else.
When Im tired a normal volume is around 85dB (city traffic in a vehicle, probably your 5-6 bars). But if im really getting into a good techno or something it can make 130's (Gunshot).
But I spend the money, more to enjoy it and get a very true recreation of the music in and around me. Just go, listen to a very pure reference system, pop your fav CD in and just listen (NOTHING ELSE.), you will be screwed for life. Thats all it took for me, and every radio/speakers/amps I install, I have to get as close as I can to that. Its amazing the time I waste in the bay just tweaking and tuning.
Anyways, sorry I just got lost and started typing/rambling. It will become a love. Just watch, why the hell would I have 26xx posts here. 95% of them are in the Audio forums....
__________________ SPL is one note... SQ is a flat 20-20.
If ported, always tune to CRF 33Hz... aka the Golden Number
Quote:
Originally Posted by styxnpicks
after he bent me over and called me sally
FS:
JL 500/1, JL 500/1v2, JL 300/4, JL XR 570-CSi
Kicker 1/0, 4, 8, 12, and 16ga by the foot
Like I said, I can hardly turn my Audiophile system up 5-6 bars before it's loud enough for me, and I'm going to assume that it's only pushing 200 watts max. So aside from being able to play their music atleast 3-5x louder than me with much better SQ at those levels, I just wanted to know when and where they turn it up that loud.
Negatory on the 200W good buddy. The rear speakers are rated at a 25W max, and I don't know for sure, but I'd guess the fronts are the same rating. From what I've heard the mini-amp on the sub pushes 90W max. So maximum potential of the system is only 190W.
I finally ripped out my Audiophile system and replaced it with all JL Audio stuff, component fronts and rears, StealBox sub and 2 amps. I'm running a 400/4 amp to the fronts and rears, and a 300/2 bridged to the sub. So that's only 700W and its a HUGE DIFFERENCE OVER AUDIOPHILE!!
I usually don't blast it too loud, but my side mirrors to shake with the bass. Eventually I need to go back and dynamat everything, but I didn't have the time to do all that when I did the install.
Any tips or tricks? I never really did much research on any of that stuff, I focused my research on hardware.
- NCSU
Strip the interior, and put a butyl based mat everywhere, making sure to covering all non-used holes. (I recommend Raamat, Damplifier, or Dynamat extreme).
To seal the vents, you can either remove them and cover the holes with sheet metal then mat all over them, or just duct tape over them and mat over that (i did this).
To seal the doors, use plexiglass or mesh wire to cover the giant hole up (mount with self tapping screws into pre-drilled holes) then mat all over them. This will make your door into a mini enclosure for your midbass woofers, and your midbass will be much better. I would also put deflex pads behind the midbass woofers, this keeps the rear sound waves from reflecting off the door panel and upsetting cone movement by sending the rear firing waves elsewhere in the door. (people also do this by using egg carton foam, but that can absorb/hold water and get real nasty).
Strip the interior, and put a butyl based mat everywhere, making sure to covering all non-used holes. (I recommend Raamat, Damplifier, or Dynamat extreme).
To seal the vents, you can either remove them and cover the holes with sheet metal then mat all over them, or just duct tape over them and mat over that (i did this).
To seal the doors, use plexiglass or mesh wire to cover the giant hole up (mount with self tapping screws into pre-drilled holes) then mat all over them. This will make your door into a mini enclosure for your midbass woofers, and your midbass will be much better. I would also put deflex pads behind the midbass woofers, this keeps the rear sound waves from reflecting off the door panel and upsetting cone movement by sending the rear firing waves elsewhere in the door. (people also do this by using egg carton foam, but that can absorb/hold water and get real nasty).
Thanks for the info. Are there any other vents besides the two in the rear wall?
Is this the typf of thing you're talking about when you say "delex pad"?
One last one, do you know a good place to get mat?
Audiophile vs. Aftermarket?
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