System #1:

Rainbow 6.5" Germaniums
Rainbow SL 265 5x7s
JL Audio Stealthbox single 10" sub
JL Audio 450/4 amp - 150W to each Germ, 150W to JL sub, HU power to 5x7


System #2:

Rainbow CMX 265 6.5"
Rainbow SLC 238 5x7 component
JL Audio Stealthbox single 10" sub
JL Audio 500/5 amp - 100W to each CMX, 25W to each SLC, 250W to JL sub

 

Rainbow 6.5" Germaniums
JL Audio Stealthbox single 10" sub
JL Audio 450/4 amp - 75W to each Germ, 300W to JL sub



or better yet:

Rainbow 6.5" Germaniums
JL Audio Stealthbox single 10" sub
JL Audio 300/2 amp - 150W to each Germ,
JL Audio 500/1 amp - 500W to JL sub

 

Edit: Sorry typed this out and forgot to hit the submit button. Styx 2nd setup is pretty much what I am saying here as well


either would sound good but you're not giving those rainbows enough power to shine.

The 450/4 is a 4 channel so I take it you're planning to use the head unit to drive the rear speakers. Using the rainbows on just the head unit is wasting a lot of money for such little output.

That's pretty much the same thing using the 500/5, not enough power for the rainbows all the way around.

I'd get a set of 6.5" germs for the front with a quality ~250w RMS 2 channel class A amp. Forget rear speakers unless you have passengers with you a lot of the time. Then get some descent low power high efficiency 6.5" 2 ways to run off the head unit. Then get a Class D mono channel to run your sub.

 

Isn't that way to much power for th stealth box. I thought it was rated at like 250-300 rms.
I was recomended to run the 250/1 max to it.

 

I agree with Styx and Impact. The Germs will take all you can throw at them and sound fantastic while doing it. I ran a set with 270 watts per side and they would take more. But, the sound fantastic with that power. If you can get at least 150 to them, you will not be dissappointed.

The Stealthbox should not have a problem with 500 watts as long as you are careful with it. Meaning, set the gains properly and do not send a clipped or distorted signal to the sub. 500 watts will provide nice headroom. The sub should sound great and the amp will hardly break a sweat.

 

it nice to have more power than not enuff, set it at 300rms and you still have dynamic headroom, I think my 8's are rated at 250rms and I have 450 to ea

 

OK sounds good that you can put more to it than it's rated. I'm def going w/ the 10w3v2 d2 2ohm sub and run it at 1ohm. (400 watts rms) then.

 

I just want to thank styxnpicks, Impact9, and everyone else who's been helping me. I am 99% sure that this is the setup I'm going to have installed.

Rainbow 6.5" Germs - powered at 150W each by JL Audio 300/2
JL Audio Stealthbox single 10" sub - powered at 250W by JL Audio 250/1

I'm going to replace the rears with an undecided set of 5x7s and let the headunit power them.

I have two more ?? though:

1. Does anyone know of a good install shop around the Charlotte, NC area?

2. Is premier-audio a decent place to purchase the rainbows from? I have tried to contact 6spdcoupe, but I haven't received any replies.

 

You're gonna want (need) a bigger sub stage for those Germs. Don is probably going to be the cheapest option for the Germs. Try him on one of the other sites. If not, let me know...I have his phone numbers.

 

So you're saying that the 6.5 Germs are going to overpower the JL sub? If thats the case then I need to back off from the Germs.

My last vehicle had 2- Rockford Fosgate 6.5" co-ax's, 2 - 6x9 RF co-ax's, and 2 - JL 10" subs with a 75Wx4 amp. 75W to the 6.5" and 150W to the subs. The subs were in the trunk.

That setup was more than I needed 75% of the time as far as volume, but it didn't have good sound quality. I usually listen to music at a volume where you can carry on a conversation easily. I only "crank it" during the summer when I'm driving with the windows down and my family isn't with me.

I don't mind installing the Germs for sound quality, but I know that I don't need more than one 10" sub. As I said in the beginning, I just want better sq and more volume than the factory provides.

I don't know anything about car audio, so maybe I just can't understand what you're telling me. I just want a moderately above average audio system, not a dream install. However through the course of this thread I've gone from 4 affordable speakers, amp, sub to a very pricey set of speakers, no rears, 2 amps. And now you say I need more subs. I'm already beyond my budget.

I do understand that more power equals better sq, but the levels you are recommending, I probably wouldn't use 90% of the time. I'm just being realistic. The more money that I sink into the audio, the less I have for other mods that I want to do ( sus. lift, tires, new wheels, etc.) So I don't want to spend big $$ and not get use out of it.

 

cut back on your front stage, 100w per channel is more than enuff, germs are REAL nice for the $$$ but going a step down is just as good, 300-400w to a single 10 is about right for a sq install

 

Where do you get rainbows at?

 

If cost is a factor, then you might just go with one of your original options. You could even use the 450/4 and run the front comps off the rear channels with 75 x 2 and bridge the front channels for 300 to your sub.

If you are not set on JL, there are lots of other amp options that are as good and maybe not as pricey.

It's easy for us to spend your money but, only you know how much you want to spend and what you want out of it. We are just here to offer suggestions. I for one love low powered, SQ systems and actually prefer it with my listening tastes. But, some people like all the power you can get with awesome sounding SQ and SPL.

 

Get ahold of Don aka (6spdcoupe). He is on here once in a while but hangs out on most of the car audio forums, diy and elite to name a couple.

 

I am not set on JL amps, I just don't know of any comparable ones. My last car used a Sony Xplod and I had no problems with it. I just didn't see an Xplod model that fit my application better than the JLs.

Cost is always a factor. I began my original thread by asking what speakers worked best in our trucks. I was told that rainbows were the best. Then I was told I needed to push more power to them. It has spiralled upwards from there.

You have a good idea abut switching the 450/4. It sounds like a good idea, but everyone has been saying that the rainbows will not sound good with only 75w. So I'm not sure