Z Audio

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Newmo, Aug 16, 2005.

  1. Newmo

    Newmo Lover of XXXX

    G'day everyone,

    Seeing as I'm fairly new to the whole Zed thing, I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me some advice on their stereo systems? :D

    Now, I was wondering, what to put into my Zedder? ('90 N/A Coupe) I've done abit of a search and a look through the tech section and haven't come up with much.

    The way I was thinking, was a half-decent HU, some maybe 5 1/2" or something splits in the front, some 6" in the back and a 10" sub? (With an amp in there ofcourse) If not the sub, just some 6X9s? I heard along the grapevine somewhere not to put 6X9s in with a sub because they both try to do the same job, therefore, making the sound quality worse?

    I'm not going for an all-out SPL machine, just something with good quality sound and maybe abit of volume when needed?

    No idea on budget at the moment.. just gathering some ideas, so if anyone has any, they would be greatly appreciated! :zlove:

    Maybe I will go down to my local car audio place and ask?

    Thanks heaps for your time everyone

    Newmo :)
     
  2. dr_zx

    dr_zx New Member

    you'll have to be more specific on your budget

    it all depends on your budget

    you can get shit subs and amps that'll give u bass but shit bass. or you could get something like a JL audio w7 that'll give you the clarity and SPL that you want.

    I've had pretty much every setup you can ask for

    I went from
    2 x 12" JL Audio W3
    to
    1 x 15" Performance Techniq
    to
    2 x 15" performance techniq
    to
    1 x 18" audio pipe (still in progress)

    I can tell you now go for something small... you get over the doof doof and you need something that'll make the music sound good rather than just boomy bass lines that drown out the music.

    Personally i'm going for SPL but i'd luv to have a 12" or 13" JL Audio W7. I'm actually contemplating designing a box that can have my 18" and a 12" W7 obviously not running at the same time coz it'll sound shit

    I'm thinking of having a switch that goes from one to the other depending on the music.

    All work in progress though.

    My 2cents worth is get something high quality... something like MTX, JL Audio!!! (highly recommend), rockwood fosgate (punch series is awsome)

    at the end of the day you get what you put in.
     
  3. Fate

    Fate Evil Genius

    EBAY IS YOUR FRIEND!!!!

    Use ebay to build your stereo system.

    Make sure that you stick to the buy it now items as best as possible.


    But do a bit of research on the items first of course.

    Make sure you know what is actually the newest models.

    Pioneer is very trustworthy brand.

    I did the research for ya.

    Heres a few things you should get.

    Note that for the 6x9's you'll need to customise the rear speakers enclosure though.



    6x9's


    6 1/2" with splits


    Head Unit

    That should be enough for you to start your system

    As for subs and amps, it's suggested that you use 10" subs for the Z just to save on room in the boot.

    Alternatively you could be creative and go with 2 12" like a lot of us do.

    Just remember when it comes time for the subs that you want to be able to put your targa's in the boot safely as well.

    Hope that this helps.

    Fate... DOOOF IT UP
     
  4. pr0phet

    pr0phet New Member

    I went for one 15" sub, but I wish I had gone for two 12". The dual 12" setups I have heard give a lot tighter bass then my 15. It sounds like the 15 can't grip and cut the bass when I needs to.
    (goddammit, I just got over it but now it's bugging me again)
     
  5. Fate

    Fate Evil Genius

    I've got a 15" you could buy from me... Then you'll have 2 :)
     
  6. DrongoMan

    DrongoMan Sir

    I'll see your 1 * 15" Sub and raise it...

    2* 15" Dual voice core subs!
     
  7. -_-StRyDeR-_-

    -_-StRyDeR-_- New Member

    well, as people say, all depends on what you want...

    6x9's dont sound bad with subs, as long as you highpass them so that they do not produce much bass at all, and leave all your bass to be produced by the subs.

    im selling my complete system in your interested haha. (wasnt in a zed tho) i got HU, 6x9's, 6", 2x 12" subs. and 2 amps...both amps are 1100watts... lol. PM me if your interested, but i spose id need to know what State your in first!.

    CJ
     
  8. Newmo

    Newmo Lover of XXXX

    Thanks for the replies everyone..

    ;) Much appriciated!

    To answer your question Stryder, I'm up here in Central QLD champ, and also thanks for the offer, but I'm just getting some ideas at the moment.. might be awhile before the purchase! :thumbsup:

    Sort of just wondering what setup would give me the best sound/quality? Like with the 6X9's or whatever.

    I make a fairly decent wage each week, so I'm prepared to fork out the cash for quality.. you suggested Pioneer? I've also been thinking Alpine Type R, Kicker and Rockford Fosgate series?

    Would it be best to run the head unit, with an amp to power the splits, then a seperate amp to power the sub? (If thats the way I go) Sorry if I have no idea.. a bit new to all of this :LOL:

    Thanks alot for all your time guys! :thumbsup:
     
  9. Fate

    Fate Evil Genius

    suggestion

    Best idea is to run your rear speakers with an amp, and your subs with an amp each as well.

    Thats what has always been suggested to me.


    Fate...
     
  10. jaybo

    jaybo New Member

    some answers (long)

    hey mate,
    been into car audio myself for a while now, so i'm familiar with the sort of questions that are probably running through your mind at the moment.
    so far, everyone's made some really good suggestions, here's what i'd be opting for:

    HU: go with pioneer, they're excellent quality and very well priced. if your going down the alley of alpine, don't buy brand new, they're great hu's but very pricey in my opinion. get one with 2 sets of RCA's preouts minimum, so maybe one with subwoofer control.

    Splits: go 6" - 6.5". these will provide great midbass. if your after sound quality, go with brands like Hertz HSK165's, they are about $299 and are great sounding speakers, also brands like MB Quart are also worth considering. Pioneer make some great splits, but in terms of price-quality ratio, its still worth checking out the brands mentioned above. i have Hertz and will never go back, i've had quite a few speakers, and found these to be the best for the price you pay.

    Rears: wouldn't even bother, the cabin in a zed is that small, it just isn't worth it, that or get a set of 4" cheapies like kenwood or something. i don't run rears, i think the system sounds better, once you have rears you lose your fronts more.
    Subs: 10" subs will be the tightest and punchiest, i prefer 12" subs but with my install etc. 10"s were better suited. i wouldn't bother with a 15". i'd go 2x10"s or 1x12". for subs, look at brands such as kicker, rockford fosgate, JL. JL make awesome subs, if your getting a JL, 1x12" will do more than required. a guy i know ran one JL in his car and it was very loud!!!
    Amps: i'm not sure how much your prepared to pay for amps, as these can get very expensive. look at brands like cadence, jaycar etc. kicker have some very nice amps, which are under - rated so are definitely worth looking into. alpine are good, but again, quite pricey but do look the goods.

    thats just an idea, for a zed, i reckon a nice sounding system which won't break the bank will consist of hu, splits, sub/s. then from there, you can work out the amp. for example, if your running one sub, i'd consider just getting a 4 channel amp, bridging two channels for the sub, and then the other two for the splits. i'd amplify your splits to keep up with the sub, its definitely worth it. so you pretty much have to work out what sort of setup you want. choosing your amp will help you decide what sort of configuration you'll need for the subs eg: SVC or DVC.
    then with that, you also need to pick how many subs, if your having 2, have a dedicated amp for the subs, and another for the splits.
    this is my input. its also worth going out and listening to as many subs as you can, splits as you can etc. they're your ears, its your car, so pick what sounds good to YOU. for gear, also check out 2nd hand. www.caraudioaustralia.com is a forum where they have for sale stuff, its worth checking this out, people on this forum love car audio, so the gear they sell will no doubt be in pretty good nick. i've bought quite a few bits and pieces off there and never had a problem. you can get stuff for a bit over half price etc. just an idea.
    hope this helps in some form.
     
  11. Newmo

    Newmo Lover of XXXX

    Cheers mate!

    Just the answers I was looking for! :thumbsup:

    Bloody champion!

    Just one thing.. what's SVC & DVC?
     
  12. MAX

    MAX Ex Zedder

    give you an idea of cost

    With small cabins like the zed's in dont think any more then a decent 10 is needed, plus you only need a small box if you choose the right brand.

    i went all alpine speakers and pioneer head.
    head = 350
    6" splits 100WRMS = 300
    10" dual coil sub 300WRMS = 300
    Blaupank amp 4x400WRMS = 300

    The rears are disconeted, its only a two seater.
     
  13. -_-StRyDeR-_-

    -_-StRyDeR-_- New Member

    why not run everything from the amp...

    or 2 amps, i dont like running any speakers off the HU, i had a pretty big system myself, and my HU was a 4x55, but i still run everythign off the amps... as i said, i had 2 1100watt'ers. 1 was a 6channel and 1 was a 5channel.... of course not all channels were used, but it supplied as much power as i could to every speaker...

    iv found that even if your speakers arnt top of the range, as long as you have peak power goin to them, they can still sound really really good.

    Pioneer head units cant be beat!!
    Alpine are awsome for subs, specially your Type S and R's.
    and your speakers...well... i know pionner put out some good 6" ones with seperate tweeter...

    main piece of advice out of this whole essay i wrote would be to get a big amp... lol
     
  14. Claymen

    Claymen Active Member

    What are kicker 6.5" like ?

    I have a set of K65.2 and a set of K65's ready to go in. Got them cheap :)
     
  15. -_-StRyDeR-_-

    -_-StRyDeR-_- New Member

    kicker is good, go hard, wat wattage are those??
     
  16. Claymen

    Claymen Active Member

    Specs

    the K65's are 130W peak and 65W rms

    the K65.2's are 150W peak and 75W rms

    the K65.2's are a set of splits which are goin in the front and the other 2 are going in the back. I already have a 2x Kicker 12" in the boot and a Kicker KX700.5 amp. Looking at buying a new deck, atm I have a clarion cd deck which is pretty good that came with the car but I want an mp3 and was looking at the pioneer 9650.

    Paid $260 for both including overnight delivery.
     
  17. -_-StRyDeR-_-

    -_-StRyDeR-_- New Member

    thats pretty good!!

    and that Head unit...well...you cant beat top of the range lol.
     
  18. Claymen

    Claymen Active Member

    my only problem is fitting the speakers into the doors

    Im not quite sure how im going to do this yet, they are pretty damned big.

    gonna put the old jl splits i have in the front into my other car, i think the jl's are 4 or 5" they fit perfectly into the stock speaker spot. Give my excel some better audio.

    I love my zed but when I can get 400-500km's to 35L of fuel in the excel i will stick to that for the shitty driving to work.
     
  19. Chino

    Chino New Member

    need some advise aswell

    might aswell post it here than creating another audio thread. i've got zero speakers. i don't really want super loud, heavy and overly expensive (3-5k) stuff but something good value. if i was in a room full of gear i wouldn't know what to get :angry:

    willing to hunt around for 2nd hand aswell. what's a realistic budget and setup?

    i mainly listen to r&b/hiphop, techno/trance, and metal. but deep at heart im a rock boy, i love my deftones/metallica/pantera/fear factory and 100's more.


    Cheers
     
  20. -_-StRyDeR-_-

    -_-StRyDeR-_- New Member

    with those styles of music

    id go 12",
    as 10" is more for techno, as it is very punchy and can respond to the quick beats.

    a 15" is more for your heavy rock, where its got alot of bass. and doesnt need to be as quick as a 10".

    thats y i suggest a 12" or 2 12"... its a good "in between"
     

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