Arrggghhhhh...again....

audiobliss

haha...wouldn't that be sweet....

exalted512

Originally posted by MacLeod
Well then head on up to North Carolina and pick yourselves up an easy 10 grand! Shouldnt be a problem at all.

thatd buy me a nice set of rainbow components...
-Cody

audiobliss

Hey, Mac; is this the Scosche kit you were talking about? How do you pronounce that? lol

Does anyone else have any other low-cost, available at store alternatives they want to recommend?

Thanks!

Edit: And, that kit includes all the wires, connectors, etc. that I'd need? Buy equipment, buy this kit, buy patience and your set?

audiobliss

hmmmm.....2.....

audiobliss

more posts........:p :cool:

:cool:

exalted512

900!! woohoo!
congrats
i think youre good to go bud
-Cody

Joelsbass

one thing to note on that amp test is that they use a piece of equipment that basically goes around all the features that would help an amps sound quality and makes the amps equal. all it's showing is that all things equal, 50 watts from one company is the same as 50 from another... but as we all know all things arn't equal in real life so that's why we pick amps as we do... speakers however do have drastically different tonal qualities between brands...

AustinKP

Originally posted by audiobliss
well, ok; it might be bright......but you get the idea.......all the amps sound different.....

An unfortunately perpetuated myth... A study was done that compared a ~$1k amp to an amp from a $2 alarm clock/radio. In a double-blind test to a room of home theater "audiophiles", not one person could tell the difference.

The only thing that makes tubes "warm" and other amps "bright" is something called psychoacoustics. Your brain makes your ears hear what you want to hear. Tubes sound warm because other people tell you that they sound warm. In a double-blind test, assuming both are set to the same levels, you'd hear no difference.

Oh, and scosche is pronounced kinda like "skosh". 'O' sounds like toast.

-Austin

audiobliss

A few more questions...

What are the 'remote wires'? I see that they're in that Scosche kit, and I see they're referred to a bit in reading about installs. I would need to run the power cable and rca's down different sides of the car? The carpet isn't attached to the floor? Just remove the sills by the doors and stuff wire under carpet as far as you can reach? I can see that you make a slit in carpet by amplifier for wires, but what would you do with the wires when you got to the front of the car? Make another slit for the wires to come up?

Hmmm.....don't guess I can think of anything else....

Thanks!

audiobliss

Oh, almost forgot. The guy said that the Alpine MRV-T420 is too big to go under the back seat in my CHerokee, so I'd hafta mount it to the back of the back seat. Does that sound ok? How would I do that? Where else could I mount it? I'm not sure I really like that idea....won't look too good, loose some functionality...(of Jeep).....

Thanks!!

exalted512

Originally posted by audiobliss

What are the 'remote wires'? I see that they're in that Scosche kit, and I see they're referred to a bit in reading about installs. I would need to run the power cable and rca's down different sides of the car? The carpet isn't attached to the floor? Just remove the sills by the doors and stuff wire under carpet as far as you can reach? I can see that you make a slit in carpet by amplifier for wires, but what would you do with the wires when you got to the front of the car? Make another slit for the wires to come up?
Thanks!!

for remote wires, go here:
http://www.sounddomain.com/memberpage/531337/5
should explain everything for you
yes, run them on opposite sides
the carpet is not attached to the floor, if it wasnt for the seats, you could pull it all out extremely easily
yes
at the front of the car, the carpet just ends--take a look the next time your in the jeep, it stops right above the pedals

as far as how would you go about mounting them to the seats, youd have to take the carpet off the back, usually just held on by a long clip at the base, youd have to mount a piece of mdf or something--most of the time, people will just zip tie it to the metal poles in your seat, put the carpet back over it, then screw your amps in
-Cody

audiobliss

Ok, I went to Wall-Mart tonight and looked at the Scosche stuff they have. I have a few more questions now...(unbelieveable, huh? lol).

First off, Wallyworld had a few (actually three) wiring kits based on wattage. One was for 700rms/1400 peak. One was for, like, 250rms/550 peak. From the wattage ratings, it seems that the 250 one would be ok, but from looking at the gauge wire included, I think I would rather have the 700/1400 kit. The 700/1400 kit is what shows up on Wal-Mart's website. It doesn't cost much more, and wouldn't work just fine?

Now, onto installation kits for the HU. I noticed that Wal-Mart also sells those made by Scosche. I assume that when I buy this HU from this shop it won't come with an installation kit. So, should I get one by Scosche?

What about the wiring connectors they sell? Since I'm going with an amp and all that, I shouldn't need one, right? Aren't they just for hooking up to the existing wiring?

Thanks!

MacLeod

The amp test does use a gadget that keeps the power and other features the same for each amp.

The point of this is that all amps sound the same TONALY and thats it.

A more powerful amp with more headroom will be louder and more detailed and thus will sound different. You can also tell a difference in an amp with less distortion. So it still pays to get a high quality amp like JL or Xtant rather than ESA or Crunch. Better build quality, more power, less distortion, better power supplies and the like.

What the test proves is that you cant tell that a certain amp has "smooth highs", "warm midbass" or "tighter bass". They will all be the same in this aspect.

audiobliss

Also, from what I can tell from looking at the kits, the battery terminal is not included. Wouldn't I need one of those? They're not too much....

MacLeod

Battery terminals are pretty cheap. They range from $5 to about $50 depending on how fancy you get.

audiobliss

oh, oh....another thing.....LOL

About the Alpine amp....it's too big to go under the back seat....and Mom says...NOOOO...to mounting it to the back of the back seat. So, can y'all think of anything else to do with it so it won't be visible/impeding practicality?

If not, I'll hafta go with a smaller amp that will fit under the seat.

Maybe under the front seat....?...will hafta look at the Jeep again....

MacLeod

Dude, you need to do something about your parents.

You really need to find a place to mount that amp cause thats an awesome amp and youre getting it at a steal. If its a brand new, in the box model and youre getting it for $220 you will NOT find a better one at that price!

audiobliss

haha...well...that's kinda what I thought about the amp.....however,....I do hafta please Mom......she doesn't want me to have ANY audio equipment because it's a distraction....so, I can't put it too far at all.....but then, I don't wanna do that, anyways...

Anyhoo, I really need to find somewhere to mount this thing. I really want this amp, and like you say, it's a good deal. However, I hafta have a place to mount it. Anybody seen Cherokees with amp mounted somewhere?

Man, I hope I can figure this one out......

MacLeod

Just buy it then figure out where to put it. Who knows, maybe it will fit under your seat. Maybe you can find somewhere else. Bottom line is get it!

Thats kind of like, "I could buy this 04 Mustang GT new for $1200 but I dont have a place to park it so I wont buy it".

audiobliss

Well, not really. Mom (and Dad, sorta) keep saying how I'm only 17 and I don't need the best frist time around. There is no way I can get it if I can't first figure out where to put it and explain it to Mom so that she agrees. The guy at the audio store told me it won't fit under the back seat....and I gotta say I *think* he's right. I haven't measured, but it is small udner there.....and that amp is pretty big.....

MacLeod

I agree you dont have to have the best at first. But if you can get one of the best for the price of mid level stuff, why wouldnt ya?

audiobliss

Because of Mom.....lol

Look, don't try to persuade me....I agree!!.......:p This is just the way it is. So, I hafta figure something out.....lol

exalted512

dude, you have an SUV and cant find a place to put an amp!?! take off a panel and stash it behind there??mount it the box your sub is on? mount it as close as you can to the seat on the floor? to the sides of the back? sideways under the seat so only a little bit will stick out? if your parents think you shouldnt get the best the first time around, thats fine--alpine is far from the best
show them these:
http://www.speedsound.com/caraudio.asp?pg=products&specific=jncqhmkpc
http://www.speedsound.com/caraudio.asp?pg=products&specific=jpmonrg4
http://www.speedsound.com/caraudio.asp?pg=products&specific=jnerrnlmc
you dont want to get something cheap and be unsatisfied rather than spend a little more and get what you like, something that will actually last you and worth the money...
you need to develope some better persuasion skills bud, my parents didnt want me spending money on my stereo either and i just dropped almost $600 on a set of components...
-Cody

AustinKP

Originally posted by exalted512
i just dropped almost $600 on a set of components...

And you wonder why you only have $26 in the bank...

audiobliss

Ok, guys. The amp is totally out of the picture. I had a talk with Dad about funds.....it's out.

So, I CAN run these Memphis components off the HU, right? Would I want to hook up one channel to each driver?

http://pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4041_64496601_tab=B,00.html?compName=PNA_ProductDetailComponent

If you'll go here and scroll down and hold your cursor over "Pro Mode". That sounds to me like a program to do just what I need to do.

This should work fine, no?

Thanks a bunch!!

MacLeod

Sure, you can run your components off of 12 watts per channel. You could also tow a 35 foot boat with a 4 cylinder Ford Ranger.

If youre going to run head unit power you should go with coaxials. They will work better off of h/u power.

Instead of going with a $400 head unit why not get a $200 model. You can get a $200 Alpine with 3 sets of 4 volt pre outs and thats all you need. Then youve got the extra $200 for an amp.

Kind of pointless to spend a ton on a head unit and then underpower your speakers. Youll have this great head unit and so-so sound.

One other suggestion. Get a job!!! Then you can spend your own money and tell your pop to kiss yo' ****!

exalted512

you have a good chance of blowing speakers when you run them off the HU. you can do it, but you have to be extremely careful, it might not blow them right away but can shorten the life of the speakers. i would go as far as going to a pawn shop and picking up something...a sony amp is better than a HU...and if youre lucky enough to find an old Sony ES amp...those are actually pretty good...
-Cody

audiobliss

....have I said, 'arrrrgggghhhhh'......yet?????



Well, I don't think the speakers are up for debate.....I'm gettin' the Memphis components......sorry...I just hope I don't blow 'em....


I'm also about 90% sure I'm gonna get the DEH-P860MP; it has a Burr Brown DAC in it. I have NEVER seen a Burr Brown DAC in a car CD player.......I want it....

As for a cheap amp.....possibly a good idea for me to look at a pawn shop....hadn't thought about that.....I have friend at church who has Alpine gear for his car...maybe he has an amp he's not using and would sell me....hmm....

Hey, could y'all give me some figures to throw at my folks? Like "HU puts out 12 watts......speakers will fry with anything less than 207 watts....I need this $800 amp....."....ya know...something like that..

Thanks!

MacLeod

How about something like this Pioneer amp? Yeah I know its only 40x2 but its a hell of a lot better than 12x2 and Pioneer amps have the lowest THD Ive ever seen! Its not very powerful and doesnt have much headroom but its only $85 and itll be 100 times better than a h/u.

audiobliss

Well, there may be hope yet. I just realized that I have ~$250. The speakers that it appears I'm going to have to pay for are $175. that leaves ~$75. It seems thus far that I'm not going to have to spend much if anything on presents for other people....:D ...so let's just pretend I get to keep all that ~$75. Now, I have a job lined up that'll get done, I'm not real sure when, but definitly within the next 6 weeks that's going to pay $200. So, that leaves me with ~$275 for an amp (that I'm not getting for Christmas because of budget). So, maybe I can just install the HU after Christmas and work on installing the speakers but not play 'em 'til after I get an amp. What kind of an amp could I get (at a store) for ~$275? Does anybody have any access to prices on Memphis Car Audio's amps? I'm thinking that will be what I end up with, but I don't know how much they cost without going to the store.


BTW, has anyone here ever operated a ditch-witch? That's what my job is....and I've heard they'll really beat ya up.....