First car system -need advice

Systems · January 2005

Hi,
I'm putting together my first car system and need some advice. I on a budget and I really don't listen to music overly loud I like medium volume but clarity is big for me. What are the flaws with the following set up.

Already own:
Alpine CDA9831

Looking to buy:
Polk MMC 6500 or MMC650 (how big is the difference for the price?)
Orion 4004 (is this enough power?)

Also I need so cheap rears (know that i'm already over budget (-;

Any inof is appreciated.
Thanks!

MacLeod · January 2005

First off youve got excellent taste. For somebody thats new to car audio you already know the good stuff.

I would advise against rear speakers. Dont need em. Theyre for passengers only and they screw up your sound stage.

I would stick with the MMC6500's, theyre damn fine speakers. I would also stick with the Orion amp. Those are also quite excellent.

Rather than buy rear speakers how bout something along the lines of the MM2104 subwoofer. Run the speakers off the front channels of the amp at an underrated 50x2 then run the sub off the rear channels bridged at 200x1.

That wont be an overly loud system but will be pretty stout.

Another way to go would be to get this MTX Thunder684 at a steal for only $280. You would run your speakers off the front channels at 85x2 and then move up to something like the MM2124 and run it off the rear channels bridged at 340x1.

That would be a much more powerful system and would sound much better.

Systems · January 2005

I'll look into both recommended options. I'd love to not have to buy the rears I felt like that may be a waste of money Thanks!

AustinKP · January 2005

Good choice on the CD player. I really like Alpine.
As for the speakers, the MMC 6500's will sound the best, but will require more effort to install. Are you going to install them yourself, or pay someone to do it? The Orion 4004 will be plenty of power. You might also consider the HiFonics Zeus ZX6400 if you want to save some money. You can get it for around $200. Also, if you have the room, the Polk Momo MM6's are polk's top-of-the-line from last year and are only like $160 from SoundDomain.com. Fully authorized w/ the factory warranty.
-Austin

MacLeod · January 2005

Sound Domain is fresh out of the MM6.

I guess they are officially RIP.

Glad I got em while they lasted!!

Im also glad Polk did the right thing and came out with an equally excellent speaker in the MMC6500. Its well suited to take the reigns from the mighty MM6.

Systems · January 2005

Thanks for the help!

Does anyone think it's worth it to go with the MM6's if I can get them for under $200 instead of the MMC6500?

Also, if I don't put speakers in the back (atleast in the short term) and no sub will this sound ok? I drive a 4runner and I'm not sure how it would sound with no rears or sub. Again, i'm new to this so I may be way off.

Thanks Again!

MacLeod · January 2005

The MM6 is a great speaker but they require a lot of tweaking in order to get them to sound right and I highly recommend you bi-amp them.

The MMC6500 is a little more user friendly. Just plug it in and youre set.

The MMC6500 will handle full range duty pretty well and sound a lot better than your factory set up but I do suggest you get a sub for the best sound.

kwade89 · January 2005

Joelsbass · January 2005

ATM in my dakota all i have is a well powered (150x2 from a high end amp manufacturer) MM6 component set and it sounds WAY better than the 6 speaker infinity system that cam with the truck. You'll want to plan for subs if you can't get them now cause the'll round out your low frequencies and improve your sound quality, but running just front speakers (when it's a good quality component set) w/o rears is a great way to go IMHO...

Systems · January 2005

Thanks for the reply. I went ahead and purchased the MMC6500's i'm just narrowing down the AMP at this point. Based on some replies i've recieved here i'm looking at the Hifonics Zeus 4400 or 6400 or the the Orion 4004. I think I like the Hifonics ability to bridge 2 of the channels later to power a sub. Any thoughts? Is there another amp in that range I should be looking at. Thanks!

MacLeod · January 2005

The Orion will be able to bridge both front and rear channels also.

In my opinion, the Orion is a much better amp. There arent many amps Id choose over Orion.

duane26 · January 2005

Now I should not open my big mouth because I'm a extreme newbee but I have had a few drinks so what the heck. I thought 50 watts was not enough for the mmc 6500's? Now the orion 8004 looks great but wow $700. I get my 6500's on tuesday and my mtx 684 is collecting dust, can't wait to get rolling.

MacLeod · January 2005

That is true that 50 watts would be kind of smallish for the MMC's but like all high end amps, the Orion is pretty underrated so you could expect at least 65 watts per channel out of it which would be ok.

85-100 watts would be the best but as you said, $700 for the 8004!

Systems · January 2005

Thanks again for the help Macleod.
One more thing do you think i'd be better off going with a Orion 4002 or 6002 to power the MMC's and then upgrade later with a seperate amp to power a sub? I think I can get the 4002 for the same price range as the 4004. It seems that everyone is recommending no rears so the 4 channels may be a waste. Sounds like this may be a better way to go.

spwuinmk67 · January 2005

4 channels wouldn't have to be a waste, If the amp does 50x4, bi-amp the mmc's. You'd be looking at more power, and more control.

Systems · January 2005

Good point, I like that idea except that I would lose that power to the MMC's when I add a sub later. I have a question though (remember i'm new to this), are most amps cabable of bridging channels? I'm looking at the specs on the Orion 4004 and it doesn't say if it's capable of bridging or not the only reference I found says not capable of external bridging (which I assume means bridging more than one amp together?) Thanks for the education everyone!!

AustinKP · January 2005

Almost all 4 channel amps are capable of being bridged to 2 or 3 channels. The Orion is one of them. Also, have you considered the HiFonics Zeus ZX6400? It puts out 84x4 @ 4 ohms, and double that @ 2 ohms. I have one, and it's a solid performer. I couldn't be happier with it. I paid $220 from Sounddomain.com after they pricematched thezeb.com.
-Austin

MacLeod · January 2005

Im a big, BIG supporter of bi-amping. It gives sooooo much more control and flexibility in tuning your speakers.

Running 2 channel doesnt suck by any means but you will ALWAYS get the best SQ by bi-amping.

Get the Orion 4004 now and bi-amp the MMC's then when you get a sub, buy another Orion amp. Youll have some of the best equipment on the market.

Systems · January 2005

I narrowed it down to the Orion and the Hifonics, and then narrowed down to the Orion based on a few reviews plus I can get the Orion 4004 a little cheaper actually.

Plus Macleod has done a great sales job on the Orion. I'm finally buying the Orion tonight. Thanks guys!

First car system -need advice

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