Base Sound System Upgrade/Build

[Mike777]

Ok so I’m at the finish line of almost deciding what I’m going to buy. From everything I’ve read so far don’t replace the 6.5 kick panels as they don’t make a significant difference. Thoughts on the four below? I’m stuck and trying to decide which to go with. Starting with no amp to speakers unless I feel it’s necessary.


https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091RCX100/Focal-RCX-100.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646CC44/Kicker-46CSC44.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_109CL422F/JBL-Club-422F.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_108R4032CM/Infinity-Reference-REF-4032cfx.html

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[2022 base]

Well, that seems pretty awesome. I don’t know a ton about amps. I assume the extra two/four channels just go unused? The Kicker Key 400.1 is one a bunch of people have mentioned. It looks pretty great and can be mounted under the dash.

6 Channels for all of the speakers and 2 channels for duel voice coil sub 2ohm. DSP eq for all speakers. With the kicker you still need power for woofer.

 

[bb7bb7]

6 Channels for all of the speakers and 2 channels for duel voice coil sub 2ohm. DSP eq for all speakers. With the kicker you still need power for woofer.

I plan to get a self powered sub. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/CERWIN-VEGA-...t=&hvlocphy=9030944&hvtargid=pla-784806208057

 

[Theowlhoothoot]

Im not a fan of super “bright” speakers does the focal 4 inch sound a little more balanced? I just noticed the RMS is fairly low at 35.

So we installed boom mats and it really help round off the focal sound. We also had to add bass blockers and the entire system is pulled together well now.

 

[Mike777]

So we installed boom mats and it really help round off the focal sound. We also had to add bass blockers and the entire system is pulled together well now.

Nice I'm debating between the four speakers below. Not sure which one to get tbh. Crutchfield had a sound comparison option but not sure how accurate it is. If I was to take the comparison, I thought the JBL Club sounded really good. Even though I like Focal I was worried about the 60 Watt peak if I ever did have to add an amp.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091RCX100/Focal-RCX-100.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646CC44/Kicker-46CSC44.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_109CL422F/JBL-Club-422F.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_108R4032CM/Infinity-Reference-REF-4032cfx.html

 

[Theowlhoothoot]

Nice I'm debating between the four speakers below. Not sure which one to get tbh. Crutchfield had a sound comparison option but not sure how accurate it is. If I was to take the comparison, I thought the JBL Club sounded really good. Even though I like Focal I was worried about the 60 Watt peak if I ever did have to add an amp.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091RCX100/Focal-RCX-100.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646CC44/Kicker-46CSC44.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_109CL422F/JBL-Club-422F.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_108R4032CM/Infinity-Reference-REF-4032cfx.html

The only reason we went with Focal was since it was the no amp route. If you get anything nicer is could sound like shit without an amp, so tread carefully before you drop cash on it.

 

[Roll Sound]

I just ordered four of the Infinity 4032 for $117.80 prime one day delivery. Cruchfield sells a pair for $109. I'll be using a 300hz high pass filter for the front two.

 

[zombie]

Not going to lie, boom mat was the biggest waste of money I ever spent (well they're cheap, but they're also useless)

Absolutely killed the sound for the kick panel speakers in my case, took them out and threw it in the trash.

 

[Roll Sound]

Not going to lie, boom mat was the biggest waste of money I ever spent (well they're cheap, but they're also useless)

Absolutely killed the sound for the kick panel speakers in my case, took them out and threw it in the trash.

I would tend to agree. Good speakers are engineered to work as well as they can. If it was such a big plus, makers would already have them on their speakers. I would guess, the larger the driver, the worse the outcome. I can see these fighting the driver to move air pressure. So maybe people don't notice as much on the 4".

 

[mangelo]

I ordered the JBL sound bar...reviews seemed pretty good, but may not be the sound quality some more discriminate may want.

DId u get and install yet? Looks like it really blocks rear mirror view but hey you have a rear camera though not ideal when using your LCD for other things and are simply changing lanes etc. Thoughts appreciated

 

[HalfCab]

Nice I'm debating between the four speakers below. Not sure which one to get tbh. Crutchfield had a sound comparison option but not sure how accurate it is. If I was to take the comparison, I thought the JBL Club sounded really good. Even though I like Focal I was worried about the 60 Watt peak if I ever did have to add an amp.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091RCX100/Focal-RCX-100.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646CC44/Kicker-46CSC44.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_109CL422F/JBL-Club-422F.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_108R4032CM/Infinity-Reference-REF-4032cfx.html

Mike - I'll suggest another option.
https://www.kicker.com/47KSC40, these only a bit more $ than the CS series kickers that you listed above, but have a silk dome tweeter which is much less harsh.

I also upgraded the 6.5 to https://www.kicker.com/47KSC650. Not as much of an impact as the 4" dash speakers, but with the higher efficiency of these 6.5's, you can actually hear them now and they blend well with the 4" dash speakers (especially with the Kicker key auto tuning).

I am powering everything with a Kicker key 200-4. That should be the first purchase, even before speakers.

To complete the system...I installed a kicker 500-1 to power an enclosed sub https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20648CF102/Kicker-48CVTDF102.html?tp=112

Feel free to message if you have any questions. Very happy with overall system now.

 

[Mike777]

Mike - I'll suggest another option.
https://www.kicker.com/47KSC40, these only a bit more $ than the CS series kickers that you listed above, but have a silk dome tweeter which is much less harsh.

I also upgraded the 6.5 to https://www.kicker.com/47KSC650. Not as much of an impact as the 4" dash speakers, but with the higher efficiency of these 6.5's, you can actually hear them now and they blend well with the 4" dash speakers (especially with the Kicker key auto tuning).

I am powering everything with a Kicker key 200-4. That should be the first purchase, even before speakers.

To complete the system...I installed a kicker 500-1 to power an enclosed sub https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20648CF102/Kicker-48CVTDF102.html?tp=112

Feel free to message if you have any questions. Very happy with overall system now.

Thanks for the insight! I actually ended up going with Alpine S-S40 S-Series 4" 2-way car speakers at Crutchfield . After reading many reviews online the kicker CS series, Focal, and Infinity were too bright. I didnt see the KSC series but they look better than the Alpines I just bought. For now I left out the 6.5 inch. From what I read doesnt have as much of an impact as the pods in the back and the dash. Part of the reason I went with the Alpine was for the silk dome tweeter as well.

 

[HalfCab]

Thanks for the insight! I actually ended up going with Alpine S-S40 S-Series 4" 2-way car speakers at Crutchfield . After reading many reviews online the kicker CS series, Focal, and Infinity were too bright. I didnt see the KSC series but they look better than the Alpines I just bought. For now I left out the 6.5 inch from what I read doesnt have as much of an impact as your mentioned as the pods in the back and the dash. Part of the reason I went with the Alpine was for the silk dome tweeter as well.

Those Alpines are great, glad you found a good set.

 

[Mike777]

Those Alpines are great, glad you found a good set.

Thanks for the confidence because I wasnt really sure when I bought them today Lol. I get them on Thursday so hopefully they sound good. I bought it without the amp for now to see what it would sound like without. I did find this amp below that I think pairs with it pretty well. Thoughts vs the kicker one you linked?

Alpine KTP-445U Power Pack Compact 4-channel car amplifier — 45 watts RMS X 4 at Crutchfield

I was also looking at the Infinity BassLink someone posted earlier. Went to a car audio shop and the kicker hideway didn't fit under any seat. It fits under the seat in the back but once you try to lay it down the sub moves. I'm not sure about the Infinity since no car audio place carries them nor do I know how they sound.

Infinity BassLink Mini Compact powered subwoofer with 6"x8" sub and 100-watt amp at Crutchfield

 

[HalfCab]

Thanks for the confidence because I wasnt really sure when I bought them today Lol. I get them on Thursday so hopefully they sound good. I bought it without the amp for now to see what it would sound like without. I did find this amp below that I think pairs with it pretty well. Thoughts vs the kicker one you linked?

Alpine KTP-445U Power Pack Compact 4-channel car amplifier — 45 watts RMS X 4 at Crutchfield

I was also looking at the Infinity BassLink someone posted earlier. Went to a car audio shop and the kicker hideway didn't fit under any seat. It fits under the seat in the back but once you try to lay it down the sub moves. I'm not sure about the Infinity since no car audio place carries them nor do I know how they sound.

Infinity BassLink Mini Compact powered subwoofer with 6"x8" sub and 100-watt amp at Crutchfield

I’m sure the alpine amp would do well, but you really should get the Kicker Key 200.4. It really is an amazing value - you will be impressed with the auto tune ability to make the stock system sound good.

I have no experience with the sub you listed, but I have https://www.crutchfield.com/p_777B8PTD/Sound-Ordnance-B-8PTD.html
in my 77 half cab. It fills out the low end nicely but won’t rattle the windows out. It’s a decent cheap option.

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