Printer Friendly Forum Posts - I need some sub advice

Im looking for a inexpensive system for my car, nothing fancy, Im only 16 so I dont have much money, but I want some boom. My car is a 1991 2 door Chevy Cavalier. Im trying to decide what sub to get. Im trying to decide betwen these two.

AudioBahn Dual 12" Tuned Bandpass System 800 watts RMS

I like this becasue the subs are already in a box, so I dont need to bother with building or buying one, plus it has the neons, which are cool.

The other sub im considering is a Audiobahn 15" Alum Sub 1100 watts RMS.

The 12"s are 139.99, the 15" is 159.99. Both from cardiscountstereos.com.

I will be buying a pyramid 1000 watt 2 channel amp to run them.

Which of these is the best buy? Will the 15" pump better than the 12".

I dont really know that much about car audio, and dont know anyone that does. I dont have alot of money to spend on a professional install. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You can get much better equipment for your money. Nix the Audiobahn and Pyramid. There is much out there besides what is at your neighborhood store. For the sub, you can order this https://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=260-581 and the box is calculated and built for you. It's audiophile sound for a great price. You don't need two, just use one sub.

For the amp, I have had really good experience with this amp in the 4 channel version, but otherwise identical https://www.thezeb.com/detail.aspx?ID=3511 You'll get bang for your buck with this, and it looks good too. You can bridge the sub to this amp.

Your keeping the car's radio head unit? If so, you'll need a line output converter to run a signal to the amp. This is a good one https://www.autosoundgear.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jnqrdnr8

Set this up in your car and then go compare it to somebody's Audiobahns running off a Pyramid.

So you recommend Profile CL series for the budget-minded? Which 4 channel amp do you recommend? The CL640? 75Wx4 @ $129.00.

Does "thezeb.com" warranty the Profile line?

How is Profile on the scale of reliability and quality?

Do not use a bandpass box for those subs(I'm assuming they are 1251s). I had a similar setup for a pair of 1051s and it really sounded bad. Sure the box looked great and was cheap(on ebay), but it was not the right size for the subs. Subs always sound best in a box built specifically for them. I've since built a duel-chamber ported box tuned to 36hz and they soung awesome! If you've never built a box, this site is the place to be, it has many box-building resources and members are always quick to help!

Ditto the Dayton Quatro suggestion from Parts Express. These are very good sounding woofrs. I cannot recomend Profile for an amp, although I have not heard their newer CL series. In the same price range I would rather recomend Phoenix Gold or Lighning or US Acoustics or even Crunch, and there are some Autotek amps that can be had for around $100 to $120 that are very nice.

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Dyon is right....stay far away from the profile amps...you might as well buy roadgear. I have installed many of them for customers who bring them in and they just don't put out the power they should. i used to have a 91 cav and i went with the 15, two 12's and two 10's. just my suggestion now....but if i were you i would down the sub size and go for a pair of decent 10's ( the audiobahns are pretty hard hitting) and take the extra money left from the subs and put it into a JBL 600.1 to push them....trust me...it will hit. You could shop around and prolly find that whole set up for 300 to 400.

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if its jammed force it - if it breaks in the process it needed to be fixed anyway
posted_image

NOW THIS IS BUDGET FRIENDLY:
I like the KOIILER German made amps myself, they are really cheap and true to the written specs. I use a Koiiler 1500 watt amp in mono at 2 ohm and I get 1000 watts rms and a bit under 1500 watts max!!! It only cost 150$ and you can do a web search to find them. I matched it with another german company Volfenhag for the 2 zx-4712DVX subs in a devided ported box tuned to 45hz and WOW I get 103 DB (THAT IS COMPETITION LOUD) in the cab of my 96 Chrysler LHS (Box is in the trunk) and all for:
AMP- 132$
SUBS X 2- 120$
Box parts- 45$
NOW THAT IS CHEAP!! And all of that equipment is warrentied. If this is what you decide use WinISD to design a box, That way YOU can make one to fit your space because there is no one size fits all sub box.

BY THE WAY-
WinISD is found and downloaded here: IT is AN excelant BOX design PROGRAM!!

https://www.linearteam.dk/default.aspx?pageid=winisd posted_image

....... if the Audiobahn box is model# ABP122T, that thing absolutely wails. Powered properly with proper gains setting and use it will wail. I do not like bandpass at all, but this box rocks, audiobahn did a good job with it.

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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

cmh]NO wrote:

THIS IS BUDGET FRIENDLY:
I like the KOIILER German made amps myself, they are really cheap and true to the written specs. I use a Koiiler 1500 watt amp in mono at 2 ohm and I get 1000 watts rms and a bit under 1500 watts max!!! It only cost 150$ and you can do a web search to find them. I matched it with another german company Volfenhag for the 2 zx-4712DVX subs in a devided ported box tuned to 45hz and WOW I get 103 DB (THAT IS COMPETITION LOUD) in the cab of my 96 Chrysler LHS (Box is in the trunk) and all for:
AMP- 132$
SUBS X 2- 120$
Box parts- 45$
NOW THAT IS CHEAP!! And all of that equipment is warrentied. If this is what you decide use WinISD to design a box, That way YOU can make one to fit your space because there is no one size fits all sub box.

1. 103 decibals is loud but not terribly loud (not competition loud)

2. Just because they have a german like name dosnt mean they make a quality product or are even made in Germany.. Check DYohn's post on this company: click

I agree, the name is synonimous with what is left in la toilet.

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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

Look, you're 16, and your not competing with friends an whose got the loudest bump. So I'm assuming you want to play music that seriously sounds good. Now with a modest budget...What are you starting out with? Just what the car has from factory? You will also need a pair of coaxials to replace the front door speakers. You can power the whole system with one amp, but make it a 4-channel: half the power at 4 ohms to the coaxials, the other half of the power at 2 ohms to the sub.

If all you get are subs, you're going to get a loud bump, but its going to sound like sh!!t.

Thanks for the advice everybody. I have some more options to check out now. To replace my speakers Im gonna buy some factory repalcement speakers from wal mart. My friend bought them for his Lincoln, they sound pretty good to me. My friend has some Sony Xplod speakers in his car. Thet arent really much better then the factory ones, and they cost alot more. But I will look into some cheap coaxials 6X9s for the rear.

The Audiobahn box is model number ABP12, is that still a good box? Also, willl that one 12" really hit harder than the 2 12s? I want people to hear me coming, so I want something that will get good bass outside of the car, as well as inside. My friend recently purchased that Pyramid amp for his car. Its hooked up to 2 Memphis 12's. It pumps good inside the car, but not much bass gets out. It could be becasue he has Lincoln Towncar, which has quite a bit of sound deadning. Also, is MA Audio a good name.? I found some reasonably priced subs from them.