SQ system that won't take up a lot of room?

i'm in need of some help on a system setup that will sound good but not take up alot of room. i listen to r&b, country, pop, rock, and some rap. i was told by a friend who has a system as well that i'd be happy with one 12 inch or two 10 inch subwoofers. here's what he said i'd be happy with....

12inch alpine type r wired in 2ohms to get 500watts

i dont want it loud but i want it to sound good. is my friend giving me good advice, or would anyone recomend something better for the type of music i listen to? or would i be happier with some 10 inch subwoofers? i also dont want to spend too much money because i have a crappy job til college starts. i found this forum by searching around the net so it looked like alot of people help on this forum. i just need some good sound besides stock. if anyone can help a girl out, i'd be happy. thnx

also i might be getting a nissas xteria in a few months. if i get that stuff to put in my eclipse, will it still sound good in the xteria?

Disagree with boulderguy's "general rules" on the difference between 12" and 10" subwoofers.  There's no reason to believe that because a cone is a bit smaller that the sound will be more "tight" or accurate.  But I mostly agree with what he generally says....

I agree that an amplifier is needed for the main speakers (don't power anything with the deck).  But all in all, your friend seems to be giving you some sound advice.  And I would recommend a 12" for your SQ system.  A 12" in a 1 cu. ft. box takes up very little room.  However, keep this in mind:  the sub will get very little action with your music preferences.  Your choice of ...and installation of... amplified front components will either make or break your system.

And BTW...it always sounds good in your next car.  You've got experience by then!

I'll rephrase that - The 12" may have a bit more output, the 10" may sound a bit tighter, assuming all other things are equal & the subs are comparable.  Unless you're particular, you probably won't notice a difference at this stage.  Better yet, listen to several different ones & pick the sound you like.

Trying to give the most generalized info that will help with your decisions.  Is it possible to get a 3 or 4 channel amp & use half for the sub & the other half for your front speakers?  Then you could run the rears on the head unit outputs and have much better front SQ, which is where most the music is anyway.  It would definitely be money well spent. 

And don't feel like you have to have the same CD player your friend has - find the one you like.  Unless you're into equipment the way we are, the biggest factor will probably be ease of use.  (someone's gonna tear me up over that statement!)

ok, so what i got out of everything is the 12 inch will be more loud than the 10. it'll have more bass. would 500 watts be to much for what i'm looking for? the friend told me that i could always adjust the settings on the amp and cd player if the bass is too loud, and i'd be happier with a 12 than a 10. and yes i forgot to mention that the bigger the box, the better sound, so i planned on letting him get me the box. what i meant by less room was i didnt want a huge box filled with more than 1 subwoofer. so i only wanted 1. he said 2 will have better sound, and i could get 2 subwoofers that could equal 500watts give or take some. but i want more space, so 1 will do.

so as of now, i plan on picking the alpine type r 12 inch with the alpine 500 watt amp (or something with the same watts but different brand, and cheaper).  the correct size box.  some good 3-way speakers up front and rears. i asked him about running the rears off the cd player and he said it's fine, and a 2nd amp for the fronts would put out better sound than the cd player, but didn't think it'd matter for what i'm looking for. it'd be a waste to add another amp and all the accessories for the 2nd amp when i just want a better sound than stock (which is about anything) but i'll end up going with a 2nd amp to just use for the front speakers to have nice sound. i'll be letting him install it all.

so, what i'm asking is, to make sure he knows what he's talking about, and i spend my money on good sound, not crap. is everything I picked out will sound good in a eclipse. thnx

All right, I think I got it.  Sounds like your friend knows a bit about car stereo, but it also sounds like he's building you a system that he'd like, not necessarily what you'd like.  That's the problem you'll run into having someone else pick your system for you - everyone has a different idea of what sounds good and "right."  Can you describe what "something that sounds good" means to you?  Stunning detail, powerful bass notes, crisp highs, accurate vocals, drum solos, or just something that sounds good at volume?

The original plan would create a system that's very bass-intensive IMO.  Adding a second amp with about 35-50wpc up front for the mains will balance that out well if you're using a single sub, 10" or 12" with about 250w to it.  That system will be balanced - is that what you're looking for? 

Now if you opt for 500w into a single sub you've got the same problem - bass heavy system.  Fine if that's your thing but it doesn't sound like it.  I'd stick with a single sub w/about 200-250w or so to it.  And I'd pick a good 10" over the 12" - probably not much difference in their sound, but the 10" will fit into a smaller box which is in line w/ your goals.  This "bigger box = better sound" is a load of crap, don't buy it.  Most 10" subs need a sealed box with about .7-1.0 cu feet of space.  Going bigger will probably sound worse.

what you really need to do is swing by the shop you're getting all this at & have them rig up a system similiar to what you're thinking in their listening room.  This is especially important with the front speakers.  Hear the difference between 250 and 500w of sub power, deck powered speakers vs amp powered speakers, sealed sub box vs ported sub box.  While you're at it, listen to good speakers without a sub vs with a sub - you may find that your listening habits don't need a sub.  If so, take the extra money & buy a better front amp & speakers - the gains will be huge.

If you do go with a sub, I'd recommend something already mounted in a matched box, preferably sealed (my ears like that, you'rs may not).  Either way, it'll take some potential for problems out of the equation.  Good luck.

thnx for the responses. first i'll get a cd player, with some good front speakers and rear speakers, run the front speakers off a amp, and the rear off the cd player, and if i'm satisfied with the sound, i'll leave it at that. once i get the important things put in (what i listed) i'll go ahead and run another rca wires to the cd player incase i want to add another amp for the sub(s), instead of messing with the dash to take the cd player out a 2nd time. and if i want a little bass afterwards, i'll look into a single 10 inch or a single 12 inch. or maybe two 10 inch, with the right amp. then i should be satisfied.

would one 12 inch or one (or two) 10' inch make the car rattle? (a guess that is) thats one thing i dont like about loud music is the car sounds like it's gonna fall apart. i like to have mine sound good, and no rattles.

and about what you said boulderguy, i want it to sound good, like clean bass but not a whole lot, with "sort of" loud highs and mids, but nothing to hurt your ears. thnx again for the replies.

Just put some weather stripping behind the license plate to stop it from rattling. Cheap inexpensive way to stop that problem. As for the rest of the car,...that could be a problem depending on how old it is and if it already has a few squeeks and rattles just from every-day life out on the road.