Questions about my system

audiobliss

Great news!! Well, that is if I had any money! I went by that store again today and talked to the guy about equipment.

He has some (2; including the display model) D3400.4 amps. Since they're 2004, they only have a 3-year warranty - and are discounted! They're marked down to $279. Is that a good deal?

After talking a while about subs, he recommended a CM3 - before I had even said anything about it. They have a few 10 inchers left, and he'll let me have one for $140. Is that a good deal?

He said they could make a custom sub box that would go behind the back seat and that'd go from wheel well to wheel well. The sub would be on one side, and the amp would somehow be mounted on the other side. (Inside, yet visible and accessible, somehow; I didn't quite follow that part.) He said that'd be about $200. Or I could just have 'em make a standard box for about $140 or so.

A wiring kit and fee for finishing the component installation would round at the deal and would cost $40 and $55, respectively.

The total comes to $713 without tax. Does that sound like a pretty good deal for a whole system? I'm not at all sure that I can afford all that, but the amp seems to be real nice and at a good price, and the sub seems to me to be a steal. So, it sounds like it's going to be hard to compromise any farther here.


What do you guys think about this? Any advice, opinions, comments are much appreciated!

AsSiMiLaTeD

$200 for a freakin' box?!?!?

Maybe it's just me...but that's crazy. I just build a custom sub box for less than $30 in parts, and about half a day labor...

MacLeod

That sounds about right.

This custom box would be more than a simple cube. It would be custom fitted to your rig and probably be made of MDF and fiberglass. A box like that would likely cost $300 if you bought it from Q Logic or the like and it wouldnt be near as well made.

If youre not wanting to build your own box then I suggest letting your local shop do it. They can build it just the way you want it to fit perfectly in your rig.

Of course hes pushing the CM3's. Hes trying to get rid of last years models. And $140 is not much of a discount. I was looking at a CM3 8" last year and they were running $100. If youre going to spend $140 on a 10" sub, get a Momo. Theyll sound better and cost less. Plus if you dont buy at least one thing Polk for your system you cant hang out with us anymore!

audiobliss

You really think the MOMO sub will sound better than the CM3? The only draw back to getting the MOMO would be that this shop doesn't carry Polk, and thus I don't reckon they'd make a sub box/install the amp in it and all like they were planning on doing. The only place around here that sells the MOMO subs is Tweeter, and I really don't want to give them any money.

exalted512

$120 would be about the right price, not $140, and $120 is a tad high.

$200 for a box isnt bad for custom, but i wouldnt want the amp mounted to it. amps mounted on sub boxes just doesnt seem like a great idea to me. A standard box for $140 is insane though. More like $75. The box I bought before I made this one was $130. It was very detailed as it had to fit under my backseat and it was made with 3/4" MDF. $140 is very unreasonable when its not going to cost more than $20 in materials and an hour to make.

the price for the amp is very reasonable.

What about buying your own amp kit and installing it yourself if itll save you some money...
-Cody

MacLeod

Originally posted by audiobliss
The only place around here that sells the MOMO subs is Tweeter, and I really don't want to give them any money.

Dont think about it like that. You would be supporting Polk, not Tweeter.

audiobliss

Well, I don't want to install it myself. I have neither the time, the know-how, the confidence, nor the (family/parent) support to do that. And if they install it, I'll get a 3-year warranty.

So if he's set on $140 for the sub, would you recommend going another route for the sub? I can get a JLAudio 10W1 in a (regular) box for $250. What would you think about that? I might be able to get the amp under the back seat, and then have the small sub box in the back of the car.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to try to stretch it for the amp since it seems to be such a good deal.

unrealii

IMO, I wouldn't go with that w1...$250 just seems like a lot to be spending investing on a w1. I paid $130 for my image dynamics ( http://imagedynamicsusa.com ) idq 10" 3 years ago. Its their midline sub and it rocks. That leaves you with ~$100+ to go find a box.

exalted512

$250 for a w1 is outrageous, get the cm3
-Cody

AustinKP

Cody, did you see the first post on this page?

MacLeod

Originally posted by AustinKP
Cody, did you see the first post on this page?

Didnt matter. He just sees "JL" and automatically goes into a rage. :rolleyes:

The 10W1 reatils for $110, however it wont handle the power of a Diamond or Polk.

OK, lets recap:

The Momo sub would be better than the JL and the Diamond but you dont want to support Tweeter.

You cant build your own box because your parents wont support you. .

You cant order online with YOUR OWN MONEY because your parents wont let you.

This is now officially more complicated than it needs to be.

Tell ya what. Figure up how much your parents will let you spend of your own money and then get whatever will fit in that budget. If you can afford the Diamond with the custom box then go with that. If you can only afford the W1 then go with that.

spwuinmk67

This is getting to the point where I almost say send me the money, I'll order online for you and then ship it to you...lol. Almost though, not quite yet

exalted512

send me the money, I'll order plenty of audio stuff...
-Cody

VR3

Give me the dimensions.

I'll build you a box come September, I'll even buy the wood, free labor.

You just gotta pick it up and apply the carpet.

But I'm not making anything special, standard box....that fits your car...that fits the required volume... if you want that special stuff...you will be paying that 200 lol

Heres the catch...

Today is the 25th...

You have until the 10th of July to give me an answer. This includes confirmation from your parents, your commitment to pick it up, and this is with no complaints. That gives you 15 days to convince your parents that you can drive 3 or so hours...pick up a box and only spend around 40-50 dollars (if not much less)...

MacLeod

Damn!!

Where were you when I was building my box?

audiobliss

If I decide I can buy from Tweeter and get the 2104 (at $119), would that work with my proposed system? The MOMO sub handles 300 watts continuous; the D3400.4 amp puts out 50x4; would the two rear channels bridged give me enough power to move the MOMO?

If not, I guess I'll be looking at amps again. I looked at Tweeter today, and I didn't see anything near as nice as the Diamond for near the price point. The next cheapest thing was a..err...I forget.....but it was still $399. So I'd like to stick to the D3400.4 if I can.

Thanks!

MacLeod

Eh, it would power it but not enough.

The Diamond is rated to put out 200 watts bridged and I would assume it would make a little more than that so expect 225-235 which would be ok.

You would get very good SQ from the sub but youd be missing out on a bit of volume.

audiobliss

I'd be just fine with not getting a whole lot of 'punch' from it. But you don't think I'd be messing up the sub by feeding it w/e the Diamond could dish out? Do you think the CM3 would be better mated? Or would you still personally go with the MOMO?

MacLeod

The CM3 10" is a 500 watt sub so youd definitely be underpowering then.

Get the Momo. Its a better sub and the power would be a bette match.

audiobliss

Ok, sounds like a deal. Now, should I expect store A (who doesn't carry Polk) to still build this custom box and install the MOMO sub in it for me if I can buy the sub from Tweeter? Or will I be lookin' at something else for a box/installation?

I mean, if I pay 'em, wouldn't they install the sub, even if I bought it somewhere else?

exalted512

they should still install it for you
-Cody

MacLeod

If youre paying them to build a box and install a sub then they wont care what brand it is.

exalted512

isnt that what i just said, but unsummarized?
:cool:
-Cody

audiobliss

I guess I could also just buy the sub from Crutchfield or something.....wonder if I could be that persuasive.....

exalted512

i would rather try to do it off of sounddomain...theyre cheaper
-Cody

swerve

Phil at woodlawn cabinetry down good work. He built my box and it's wonderful... yet you may be better off with a prefab.. i dunno.

http://www.woodlawncabinetry.com/

website is kind of iffy... but he's a really nice guy and will help with whatever you need box related.

-adam

audiobliss

Thanks for the box recommendation, swerve, but I think I'm gonna let the stereo shop build me a custom one (assuming I can convince my parents to let me spend that much money).

The only reason I said Crutchfield instead of SoundDomain or something else (besides the fact that I can't get on their website) is that Crutchfield is an established, undeniably solid retailer. Though there may be countless, countless happy (and richer) customers of sounddomain, it'll be easier (though maybe still not possible) for me to convince my parents to get something from Crutchfield.

I'm really digging the idea of having a MOMO! I like it, I like it....

swerve

yea anytime!

audiobliss

Well, now I'm disappointed. I went by the store again after work today for about 15 minutes. He said that he still has two of the (last year's) amps in the back. So that's good. However, I told him that I was thinking about a Polk MOMO 2104 instead of the CM3. He really didn't like that idea (duh, I wonder why...he doesn't sell Polk..). He basically said that Polk's not worth the money. He said that he's had two guys come in the store that had Polk MOMO subs in the bandpass boxes they came in, and they sounded, to use his exact words, like butt. I said, whoa, I didn't know they came in bandpass boxes! 'Yup.' What's up with that? Is that true? I can't imagine it is. I don't think they come with any boxes, and if they did, I wouldn't think it'd be a bandpass. I mean, Polk is about quality sound, and as far as I know, bandpass boxes are about output.

So now I don't like this guy anymore (though he's very nice and remembers everything about my system), and I'm not sure I want to do business with him. I want that Diamond Audio amp as it seems to be a good amp at a great price. I'm just confused as to what to do, now. I'm thinking about just buying the amp from him and then having this other guy (my dad's customer who I've been buying from) to install it. However, this way I don't guess I'd get a warranty. I also wouldn't get that cool sub box.


I'm just confused now.

MacLeod

Dude, youre making this way, way too hard.

Get the Diamond amp if thats the one you want and the Polk sub. Then get this dude to build your enclosure. Eff him if he doesnt like Polk. Youre paying him to build a box not critique the brand of sub you choose.