Hello troops, i've decided i want some nice sounds in the focus. Its an everyday car i dont mind adding weight to with silly subs etc

Anyway when i bought the car it came with 2 pairs of kenwood speakers brand new in the box! I'd have to check the box to tell you what they are but all i remember is 200 watts Oh and the car has what i thin k is a decent kenwood head unit. Right went and found them, ere they are
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...cVrK9AJbKJCrgI

They any good or not?

Mates fitted a set of speakers in the front a couple days ago and sounds better already.

So what do i do now? I REALLY dont know much about ICE.

My amateur assumption is get 6x9's in the rear shelf, 12" sub and an amp.

I could put the other pair of speakers in the rear door cards but i've read they are a t wat to do?

Do i get new 6x9's or use the kenwood ones in the rear shelf say? Or are they the wrong type for putting there?

What kind of power do you "need" from a sub and amp etc? Again i dont have a clue. I'd like it to be reasonable.

Do i need an acoustic shelf or can i be a scab and cut the rear shelf? Anyone want to sell one?

If i put 6x9's in the rear do i leave the standard rears connected and shift sound to front speakers on headunit?

Any deals out there on speakers/sub i need?

So as you see i need help!


chop

 

IMO i'd get a good quality set of component speakers for the front, a nice punchy 10" sub in the boot...all ran off a good 4 channel amp ( with 2 channels running the sub ).

 

Yeh above is good. Decent components up front, some speakers for rear fill, and a sub in the boot.

Personally i'd run the components off one 4 channel amp, and have a dedicated amp for the sub.

Dont put 6x9s in the rear shelf, or it'll mess with the sound stage. Unless all you want is loudness

 

The standard speakers are pretty good, if you put a passive high pass filter on them to stop them trying to do bass, and then add a sub and amp to do those bits, you will probably be surprised how good it sounds with almost no effort.

 

Good advice above, fit the best components you can afford up front, have nothing in the back apart from standard for a bit of fill from the rear (you don't want all the sound coming from the rear), then a 10" sub for tight punchy bass or a 12 for deeper louder bass

6x9s only apply to chavs

 

So my GD post had an effect

Anyway,

Be truthful, are the speakers i have and posted link to just cheap shit?

Chip
That sounds like a good idea. I have these kenwoods anyway which could improve on standard and it's not costing anything

Rich
I keep hearing the 6x9 chav thing and is it really that bad? lol


I've just been offered a heap of kit from a mate.

Is alpine/infinity the same? I really don't know

Anyway he has for sale all infinity stuff
Front components
6x9's
12" sub
2 amps
all wiring and modded for a focus

The gear is maybe 7 years old. 6x9's never really been run. Sub maybe 9 years old. Realistically what is "old" ICE worth? It should and does still all run well apparently. It's not a total random seller so i'm not worried about being ripped because it's broken more being ripped as i dont have a fucking clue!

 

Chop gives a phone and i will talk you through what you need

cheeRS stu

 

Its not so much they are for chavs. What you want is for the music to sound as if its coming from the centre of your windscreen. When you put 6x9s in the rear, it pushes the sound to the rear and isn;t the best way for your ears to hear it.

I'm not convinced Alpine/Infinity are the same but dont exactly know.
How good a mate is he?
The stuff he has would have cost a whack new, and if I was selling, I;d want a decent amount for them. If i was buying, I'd want them near enough for free lol.

If he'll do you a decent deal, I'd take the lot, sell your kenwoods and his 6 x 9s and install the rest.

 

I doubt chop's is bothered about a perfect sound stage to sit on his drive and listen to, it will probably have to compete with engine noise and road noise at the time he is listening to it anyway, so I reckon not getting too carried away with perfect sound staging etc is probably a good plan.
200 quid of amplified bass box and a set of passive bass filters is good enough for what most folk want, 250 quid all in including the wiring and jobs a good un for most folk.

Obviously if you are "into" ice that sounds like a right bodge, but the reality is it suits most peoples needs, its the equivalent of greens and a t34

 

Lambchop, i deal with car audio for a living (hence my username) and would say stick with;

decent front components
good quality 12 in a custom box if you like your bass extra heavy
either a good quality 4 channel amp or 2 amps - one for mids and one for sub...this could in effect be bought down to a single amp and run the components off a headunit

My FRS is has taken things onto a whole new level and will probably lose you lol...

- Pioneer P90 RS headunit with a DEQ90 Processor/EQ
- 3 way active front end comprising of CDT ES01 tweeters (FG'd into the A pillars), CDT ES04 mid range (custom kick builds) and Hybrid Audio L6 mid bass drivers (stock locations)
- Tru Tech Billet 6 amplifier powering the front end
- Tru Tech Hammer powering the sub
- Ascendant Audio Havoc 12" sub in a custom ported box
- Power master battery
- Knu Konceptz + The Chord Company cabling throughout

Ill get some pics up if you want but i never got round to finishing the boot lol but can show you the basic jist of it

What is your overall budget and what would you like to get for it? What are your overall goals - loud bass, crisper sound, more chilled out and natural etc etc

bassboy

 

common misconception....

Ł250 spent with a company like Vibe is VERY VERY different when compared to Ł250 spent with someone like CDT/Ascendant Audio/Rockford etc...the reason most people buy the vibe (just to name one brand), is due to its advertising and being available in halfords...when you hear the specialist equipment, you will realise whats missing in the system....then when you reliase it would cost you the same as your Vibe setup...thats when most people cry LOL

bassboy

 

Ive gotta pair of kenwood 12" subs,a 4 channel and a 2 channel amp that i could do with getting shot off. If your looking to compare chop?

Cheers

 

Utterly no misconception at all.

As I said, if you are "into" ice you might care, but for most people who just want something that sounds reasonable, its fine.

I didnt mention brand names at all though, so not sure why you think im specifically talking about VIBE, but TBH Vibe is a good example of a nice easy to install package that to most people who arent into audio's requirements sounds fine.
Personally ive got a couple of JL Audio W6's as I quite like decent stereo, but it really isnt needed for just "a reasonable sound"

 

The Kenwoods you have listed wont be that good IMO, especially seeing as they are from halfords too!

I managed to get some absolute bargains off ebay a while back, for components, sub and amp...and the sound was awesome for what i'd spent, i got some components like these;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Diamond-Audio-...3A1%7C294%3A50

A sub like this, i went for a 12" but should have got a 10" (this is a bargain!!)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIAMOND-D3-12-...3A1%7C294%3A50

I ran it all off a Rockford amp and it sounded mint!

 

chip, im talking through experience here...every customer of mine who has ended up with alpine type r's, vibes, jbl etc etc that has then sat in a car that either ive done or uses equipment that i have listed above, has always walked away thinking i should have bought that instead...and 9 times out of 10, these are people who 'aint into sound'...

before i even say a word or they hear any cars, they think their system lacks something...

but i do understand most people are happy with their run of the mill stuff...but most of them are 17 lol...most people mid 20's and up want something that sounds crisper with more of an SQ orientated sound

all im saying is instead of looking at the mainstream brands like alpine etc...check out some of the proper gear in the audio world as there is ALOT more to offer than what halfords etc sell

bassboy

 

Bassboy, at 80mph the difference is a lot less than it is when sat outside your shop.

Audio snobs wind me up, and thats despite the fact I used to do soundoffs (only mickey mouse stuff locally at shows etc, nothing important but still enough to be better than most folk not "into" stereo have ever heard) myself a decade ago so do actually have an appreciation of the differences, but in a day to day car just to listen to on the motorway to prevent boredom its SO irrelevant IMHO

 

completely agree with your 80mph comment with subtle difference and one that i find myself arguing about night and day...

if you get a sub decent enough to pack a decent punch (into the midbass territory) and yet play all the lows you want it to with your style of music, then you can cut off the mids and let the sub handle all the bass...

The way i see it is the OP has 3 options...

Keep the standard speakers in the doors and cap them off to stop them playing bass

Same as above and add a set of tweeters to raise the imaging and sound stage

Put components in lol

then do whatever you please in the boot...try something different maybe? 2 8s? with will impact and still play deep...depends on your style of music...

PM bobbysingh on the forum and ask how his single 8 sounds...he has standard speakers in that also just capped off like option one

bassboy

 

Bassboy, I think ultimately we agree on most things by the sounds of it then mate.

I would have thought if he caps the standard ones he'll be impressed at how they perform when they are no longer trying to do bass, for listening to at moderate volume while on the motorway etc that should be fine, but obviously if he wants more, he'll have to go components or like you say add some tweeters.

 

Definately, they will perform...but with the focus standard speakers, they are single way and have no tweeter...hence the problems I have found with them...is they will lack top end...and maybe the midrange punch depends what frequency they are cut off at...then again, with road noise, most midbass frequencies get cancelled out which is a bit of a bummer unless you get sound deadening and use accoustic mats etc...then where do you stop lol

bassboy

 

Right firstly thanks for the input!

Let me try and explain what i want.

I last had a non standard stereo in my rst 9 years ago!
Since then i've not been bothered as usually cars were to be as fast as poss with no extra weight. The focus however is not as balls out and its used for anything and everything. It's loud yes which drowns out a stereo but lets forget about that as i dont spend much time at "motorway" speed. Quite often town driving.

The car came with a nice headunit which helps as i wouldnt be getting my wedge out I say nice but pro's might say it's shit. No idea which model but will check later. The speakers i linked were in the boot of the car when i bought it so worth a try if any good.

I'd basically just like a nice sounding stereo. Something i'll enjoy. I've listened to only the radio for years now and want to get back to listening to different albums. Anything from Dance to indie to rock. It doesnt have to win awards, it doesnt have to impress kids in the next street with how loud it is. I just want a decent sound. However i'm certainly no sound engineer and a nice sound could maybe bite me in the ass and i wouldnt know what it was. I dont need it to be so basic that its standard speakers with the bass removed.

I'm now willing to have decent components, amp and sub to suit. My best option may be to buy my mates gear. As said i wont be winning awards for my ability to pick the best sound so what might bother some folk wont bother me. Ie 6x9's, too boomy a sub whatever it may be.


Right i need to get back on track.

If i get some nice components will they be decent enough with no rear speakers? Or do i use the set i've got in the rear for "some fill"...see i got the lingo there

It may come down to whatever my mates have. One mate has offered a sub and amp for free, both kenwood.

The job lot i mentioned above i can have for "any reasonable offer up to Ł300" as thats what he needs to buy what he wants. Its not necessarily worth that and thats my prob, i just dont know the values! Also i'd be better listing exact models so people know so when i get that i'll post up.

So if i wanted "decent" components what would i buy??

 

My best recommendation for you would be a set of CDT CL61CV's...awesome entry level components that can actually be run off the headunit as they are VERY efficient! Jaw dropping clarity with the ability to play loud when needed. The tweeter is also the best i have used with an entry level set of components...

Use Mondeo adapters in the doors to allow fitment of 16cm drivers.

Another offer to throw on the table will be a DLS package, 3 channel amp, sub, components, wiring etc etc RRP is Ł750 but offers are available heard the setup yesterday and it sounded awesome for what it was!

details;

As well as doing a deal on the whole kit assembled and seen here, the distributors of Swedish brand DLS are putting a demo car together so that we can have a go on it by way of whole-system review.
So, far more than merely piling a bunch of boxes up at a street market and shouting about it, the Summer Performance Package system is balanced and well thought out and then savagely discounted to bring it in at the price point. The set up comprises:

DLS CA31 Performance Series 3 Channel Amplifier

DLS C6A Performance Series 6.5in Component Speakers (or C5A if preferred)

DLS KW10 Performance Series 10in Subwoofer

DLS Design Sealed Sub Enclosure with DLS Grille

Connection FSK300 Amplifier Wiring Kit (8Ga power cable kit with speaker cable and RCA)

Skins System (Sound deadening, Wave diffuser, Moisture Guard, Preparation Spray, Microfibre cloth)

Metal DLS Key Ring

All for Ł499 (SRP over Ł750)

bassboy

 

I had the first DLS X12 in the UK many years ago, have always been impressed by their quality, so personally I would be very tempted by that setup, sounds like a great combination of parts for under 500 quid! (just, lol)

 

To be fair mate, vibe are starting to listen to us lot and make quality stuff again. The litebox sounds pretty good i was quite impressed, and personally I am going to be running the Stereo kit (vibe stereo 2, (tweeters) vibe stereo 4 (bridged mids) and vibe bass 5 (most likely 2x AA chaos 12's in 6th order). You know I have heard alot of installs and the above vibe gear really impressed me. And for Ł100, Ł159 and Ł300 respectivly for the amps, a bit of a bargain! (CAS)

Also the pointsource-mid new component kit sounds pretty awesome too, i dont remember the model name though.

But your right nothing like your TRU (im jealous) but then the RRP of your 6 chan is 2.5k

 

In my focus I had :

Pioneer P77MP and then IVA D100RB (which is dvd headunit).
Standard everything else, no sound deadening.
Autoleads 0 awg *a right arse to install that 5m power wire*
Oz Audio Vector 12" in a 3.2cuft box tuned to 32hz
And some high quality sony rca's as i got them for free.

Running the P77mp i HPF'd the front speakers at 120hz and all the rattles went away and they kept up fine with the sub, which killed my sunroof controls (oops) that eventually fell on the floor. So your right, but I wouldnt use the resistor based bass blockers.

On the alpine I couldnt do this, but at the time it didnt matter as I couldnt hear them over the sub anyway, for some reason the alpine handled bass far better than the pioneer, which was more SQ'ey.

Hope the helps.

 

get one of these they are a complete sound system

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/prod...a1_p-24083.htm

4 channel built in amp + active sub. Just hook it up to your head unit to power your whole system