Printer Friendly Forum Posts - Best Boom for the Budget

I am helping out a friend with an installantion without your help. He may end up with that Audiobahn stuff that alot of people will just turn and walk away. He has 2000 Ford Zx3. He has already upgraded his front and rear speakers. He has a budget of about $500-700 bucks. I'm not for sure if he wants true SPL or a mixture of SQ/SPL? I do know that he wants his bass to be heard. I don't know what category that would be in. I would know more about it, but I am doing this as a surprise for his birthday while he is over in Irag. His mom is buying the system. I am going to put it in. So all suggestions welcomes. Here is the low down... $500-700 bucks for sub(s) and amp, and it has to be heard for blocks preferrably.

Thanks

Wait my bad... I was reading over it and it sounds kinda mean. I meant to say that without your help he may end up with something crappy.

Thanks again

Well my first question is... Do you want 15's or 12's? It all depends on the space available. You could also go ported if you had the space. And secondly. Is your friend fighting in Iraq? If he is tell him thanks.

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That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.

Yeah, he is over there fighting. I never would have thought that he would join. He is one of the nicest guys that I have ever met. He would do anything for anybody. I'm not for sure how much space he has. It's the same size as mine. He doesn't use his rear any so it could be full of speakers he would not mind a bit. i forgot to mention this Focus is a daily driver so he needs something loud for everyday use. The question about the 15's or the 12's whichever will be the loudest. Like I said, he would like something that would be heard before seen...lol. Any other specs you need just let me know... Later

I know that might be asking alot and it may be pushing the limits, but that budget has to include the enclosure too... so i will talk to her about the budget? so let's say for safety sake... $500-800 for
sub(s), amp, and box.

Thanks again...

Where in the US are you? I need to take shipping into account.

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That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.

TheMadScientist wrote:

He would do anything for anybody.

Prolly why he's over there battin' for the home team. posted_image

Lets get this man's stereo *nasty* shall we?

arrow12 wrote:

Do you want 15's or 12's? It all depends on the space available. You could also go ported if you had the space.

Hmm. Since our mission statement is "be heard for blocks" I'm not sure if either would be my *first* choice.. perhaps a pair of 12's, but for the same space, I'm not sure I can justify *anything* except a nice row of 10's.

For example, a 2.6ish cft box will give 3 10's a nice ported box, take up minimal room (as far as "heard for blocks goes"), and take a round 800ish watts. Right in the low-end of that price range.

Tell ya what there MadScientist, why don't you pick out a few monoblocks in the 600 - 1000watt range, or at least tell us what brands ya like, and we'll help whiddle down your choices in that department.

Once we have your amp, the subwoofer choice is *easy* ... if ya'd like, you can do a fully bi-amped system for that price range.... for $800, with the HU and speakers already purchased.. the possibilities are *endless*..

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"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

For $500 here is what I would get...

Crutchfield has the Kicker Solo Baric S5L10 Buy one get one free right now for $200.

Run the pair at 1 ohm and then power them with a nice MB Quart RAA1000 amp from woofersetc for $280.

So that would be two 10" L5 Solo Barics getting 1000watts rms. That should be more than enough to "be heard."

Since no preferred brand has been mentioned, I'll throw out my recommendation with my preferred brand.

2- Memphis Model: 15-M1124 12" Subs in a vented enclosure powered by a Memphis Model: 16-MCD500 500 watt amplifier. You should be able to pickup the amp for $250-300 and the subs around $350-$400 a pair. That leaves you $100-$200 for a vented enclosure.

Good luck!!!!

Maybe you can go to a local shop, and tell them what your doing. Maybe they will cut you a deal for your buddy. It's worth a try

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Big Dave

I was working with about the same budget a few months ago. Not sure what the general consensus of these products are, but...er' go..

1- Hifonics Brutus 2005D - $300

2 - 12" Clif designs CD120c's ( I went from 2 ppi pc12's, and the CD's blow them out of the water!

I picked the 2 12's up for $200. (although that was north of the border, not sure how the pricing is where you are.

I built a sealed box. Though if you have the room you could go ported.

Anyway my neighbors hate me (lol), and from what friends say I do not need to call ahead...they know I am on my way!

Not sure if that will be any help, but that is what I did. Is your wiring part of the budget or do you already have that?

You should definitely go with what 'Speedwayaudio1' said! You never know it just might work. For some suggestions on subs though JL Audio has some cheaper brand subs that work very well along with Orion. Some P series Orion subs would sound great.They aren't as expensive as you would think neither... you can get 2 12"pseries subs with a box and a 800watt Orion amp for $600 bucks! That's not too bad for as loud as those bad boys are! If that isn't loud enough for you then step up to H2! One Orion 12" H2 with an Orion 1200 Mono D amp would be around $700-800. The H2 is certainly loud enough to annoy everyone on the block!! Orion is AWESOME! I love them! By the way, say thanks to your friend for defending our country!

kicker 12" L5 in a ported box (circuit city 299.99) and kicker 600.1 amp(circuit city 359.99) and money left for amp kit and misc.

Why I said go to a local shop is that they can sell to you at his or her wholesale price. CC or BB and the internet will not. Ebay can have some "deals" I don't trust it myself. The big box or internet, they would not be premited to help you with a good price. Even if the sales people wanted too. A local shop has local control and most times the owner is right there to say yes or no. like I said it's worth a try. If they all say no, then you could go the other way.

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Big Dave

There is no good local shops in my area. The closest ones are in Knoxville,TN, and they aren't that good. I live in Middlesboro,Ky 40965 if that helps any.I was looking at sounddomain.com.They have a good deal on an Orion I can'tremember what it was though. It was huge though.Just let me know what you guys think. Internet is my only resource pretty much for products. Brand does matter to him. Like I said he just wants to be heard. thanks guys

Don't mean to be rude, but I jsut flat out wouldn't use Audiobahn. My experience, at least with the subs, is that they are "boomerangs". They leave the shop, and then come right back

Hey guys how good is this sub.

https://www.cardomain.com/item/ORI27311

Will this give me the loudness that my friend is looking for? remember be heard before seen.Also if this was the way to go what typeof enclosure and amp would I be looking for the sub is about 250 bucks shipped to the door. remember my budget is about $500-700 or so...let me know what you guys think about that sub.

Or would that sub be overkill?

Okay, I might need to make things clear. His mom has told me somemore stuff.She really can't spend that much because she has another big surprise for him. So the budget has been dropped to $500. I will need to buy sub(s), amp, enclosure, and maybe wiring if I can't find some left over. I do installs for almost everyone so I may have some stuff laying around. That really sucks about the budget, I really liked that orion sub. Well, all suggestions are still accepted...later guys

Well I did some searching. I found what would be a pretty loud setup for about $550. It's at www.sounddomain.com.

1 Kicker Solo-Baric S12L54 Subwoofer

1 Phoenix Gold Octane-R 8.0:1 Subwoofer Mono Amp

1 Q-Logic QLH-1.0012SS Subwoofer Enclosure

The subtotal is $539.92. Shipping for you is $14.00. So the total cost including shipping is $553.92. That's about as close as I could get. Hope that helps.

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That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.

I think Arrow12 has a good plan there. That set-up should be loud enough to get him heard before seen.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

Hey thanks Arrow12. Thats sounds like a pretty good setup. Does anyone have any feedback on that Orion sub that I was talking about? Would be a better than the Kicker?

Here is the Orion sub.

https://www.cardomain.com/item/ORI27311

Orion Sub

Arrow12 might have linked to the wrong box there. That one is for a 10" (?) and it's made with 5/8" baffles. It looks like a 1 cu ft sealed box is the way to go, too. I would make a double-baffle face, meaning 1 1/2 " thick, because this is where the box resonance will be most troublesome, and there's not a whole lotta wood left after you cut out that hole.. The rest, I would use 3/4" MDF, and I would get some bracing inside it as well. That's going to pound mad. I like the sub/amp combo, though, and they should do the job.

If you order a premade box that is built sturdy enough (...doubt that you can find one...) for that sub, the shipping would cost at least $30, I'll bet. But you should be able to build one for $50 or so.

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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

luckydevil wrote:

For $500 here is what I would get...

Crutchfield has the Kicker Solo Baric S5L10 Buy one get one free right now for $200.

Run the pair at 1 ohm and then power them with a nice MB Quart RAA1000 amp from woofersetc for $280.

So that would be two 10" L5 Solo Barics getting 1000watts rms. That should be more than enough to "be heard."

This would be the setup I'd get if I wanted to be loud on a budget. I would put them in a slot ported box and call it a day.

Sorry for the wrong link. That's my bad. Oh and customsuburb... woofersetc.com doesn't give a factory warranty or else I'd give other suggestions from there.

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That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.

There is no way that Kicker is going to be a louder setup than the Orion sub! The Kicker is the cheaper way to go, and you said you were on a strict budget so if that's what you gotta do then that's what you gotta do. Too bad, cuz that Orion could kill that Kicker! Sorry, but I've had bad experiences with Kicker and they are a brand I don't too much care for! Everyone does have their own opinion though.... posted_image