Finally took the plunge, need some advice
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Finally took the plunge, need some advice
Recenlty decided to upgrade the bass of my car, and have decided to go with two 10inch 10w6 Jl audio and alpines pdx 12 amp. with a custom vinyl box and bass **** for in the car the shop is trying to charge me $2300, is this a reasonable price seeing as they are supposed to be a great instillation shop?
Custom boxes vary too much to put a price on them.
Quick pricing online puts the amp and the two 10w6's at about $1300. Wiring adds another $100. So you're looking at $900 combined for labor on install and building a custom box.
If their work is good, then it's up to you to decide.
For comparison, 4080enclosures sells their 10" fiberglass enclosure for about $360.
Having essentially two of those comes to $720, and you're looking at them charging $180 for the labor, which definitely isn't bad for what you're getting, if the work is good and the enclosure is very good as well.
Quick pricing online puts the amp and the two 10w6's at about $1300. Wiring adds another $100. So you're looking at $900 combined for labor on install and building a custom box.
If their work is good, then it's up to you to decide.
For comparison, 4080enclosures sells their 10" fiberglass enclosure for about $360.
Having essentially two of those comes to $720, and you're looking at them charging $180 for the labor, which definitely isn't bad for what you're getting, if the work is good and the enclosure is very good as well.
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i'd walk away from that... no i'd run. a box built to the specs of your subs will sound better than any prefab box you can buy. the box u can build yourself if you know how to cut wood. the 3/4 mdf is ike 60-75 bucks a sheet i think. jl is overrated imo i don't think their subs are worth what they cost. you can buy competition spl subs for less money. same thing about the alpine. for $1300 i can put together a system that will make you gasp for air in between bass notes just to breathe. there are a couple diy guides for system installation here on g35driver. you can do it all yourself man.
You read the part where the OP says:
, right?
Where did you get prefab from?
Going by the assumption that the shop is reputable, and recommended those woofers, the OP is going after sound quality over SPL.
And it's very unlikely a beginner is going to be able to put together anything as clean or professional as the OP seems to be after, which again is going off the assumption he took it to a reputable shop instead of Best Buy.
If the OP is after SPL then the shop he discussed this with is worthless. If the OP discussed SQL as a high priority, then the JLs are a very good recommendation, and the overall build price is fair. Again - that goes off the assumption that SQ is what he's after.
custom vinyl box
Where did you get prefab from?
Going by the assumption that the shop is reputable, and recommended those woofers, the OP is going after sound quality over SPL.
And it's very unlikely a beginner is going to be able to put together anything as clean or professional as the OP seems to be after, which again is going off the assumption he took it to a reputable shop instead of Best Buy.
If the OP is after SPL then the shop he discussed this with is worthless. If the OP discussed SQL as a high priority, then the JLs are a very good recommendation, and the overall build price is fair. Again - that goes off the assumption that SQ is what he's after.
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the OP never said they were going for sql or spl. even so, you can buy a 10x better sql setup for alot less money. i guess i thought of prefab box when you said 4080 enclosure? not sure what you mean by vynil box? are they running all 1/0 ga wires or something? 2300 is alot of money for 2 10w6's and a alpine amp+install. are they building the enclosure to special fit your trunk? an amp rack? are they just trying to get over because you drive a nice car and they assume you have a nice amount of money? OP are you trying to have a spl or sql system? maybe they just said JL w6 to him because they assume everyone is a sucker for a JL system?
4080 enclosures is a company that sells fiberglass enclosures molded to fit in our trunks. Very solid, air-tight, perfect fit, wrapped in material that matches the trunk:
I'm assuming the vinyl box being built is either MDF or fiberglass wrapped in vinyl.
As for going with the JL 10w6, the reason I went with it, is because it's the standard that everybody compares against, because they are good, and they around enough that you can probably hear one in action, as opposed to a brand that isn't carried as widely that people end up saying "Brand Y sub is as good as a 10w6 for $100 less!", followed by 10 more people saying they have compared Brand Y against Brand W, and that W is superior to Y, and that Brand T is better than brand W... I figured if they're all claiming to be as good as the 10w6, I'd just spend the extra $100 and get the one they all trying to be as good as, since I could never get all those less expensive ones together for a test.
I'm assuming the vinyl box being built is either MDF or fiberglass wrapped in vinyl.
As for going with the JL 10w6, the reason I went with it, is because it's the standard that everybody compares against, because they are good, and they around enough that you can probably hear one in action, as opposed to a brand that isn't carried as widely that people end up saying "Brand Y sub is as good as a 10w6 for $100 less!", followed by 10 more people saying they have compared Brand Y against Brand W, and that W is superior to Y, and that Brand T is better than brand W... I figured if they're all claiming to be as good as the 10w6, I'd just spend the extra $100 and get the one they all trying to be as good as, since I could never get all those less expensive ones together for a test.
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I went into the shop knowing i wanted sound quality over just plain spl/loudness, I'm not trying to wakeup the neighborhood when i ride through, just rumble it a little bit. So I picked the two w6's over the w7's, like wrathernaut said the shop tried to point me to some subs that were "as good" as the 10w6s but I had always wanted them so i paid the extra $$. Also they said it would be a custom vinyl box designed to my liking to fit my trunk, nothing prefabricated, if i wanted just a box they were going to charge me $2000 flat. This shop mostly deals in 10-40k dollar systems, but the owner assured me that even though this is a small job, they have their reputation in the industry to protect.
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Man i really don't know about that, i'm sure the quality is awesome and it will sound great but...
i could have one hell of a system for $2300! as in including all internal speakers and amps... (by the way 2 10w6's are wayyyyyy overkill for "a little rumble")
I just bought:
an alpine type R for $115 (probably the amount of bass you are talking about)
a Kicker 750.1 amp for $150 (incredible amp, no one will tell you otherwise)
built a box for $20 (i know this doesn't apply,since you wont build the box yourself)
altogether about $300 including wiring.
For you, tack on $200 for install at a normal shop, and $360 for a 4080 box. I don't think anyone would disagree with the quality of that box.
So if you aren't going for A) a killer show car quality install with like matching painted fiberglass pieces and the works or B) 150 db knock your pants off system, i don't see any reason to spend more than say... $1000 on top quality parts and install.
with the extra $1300 i could do a DD conversion with new head unit, internal Type R components running off another 4 channel kicker amp and have money left over for sound deadening.
i could have one hell of a system for $2300! as in including all internal speakers and amps... (by the way 2 10w6's are wayyyyyy overkill for "a little rumble")
I just bought:
an alpine type R for $115 (probably the amount of bass you are talking about)
a Kicker 750.1 amp for $150 (incredible amp, no one will tell you otherwise)
built a box for $20 (i know this doesn't apply,since you wont build the box yourself)
altogether about $300 including wiring.
For you, tack on $200 for install at a normal shop, and $360 for a 4080 box. I don't think anyone would disagree with the quality of that box.
So if you aren't going for A) a killer show car quality install with like matching painted fiberglass pieces and the works or B) 150 db knock your pants off system, i don't see any reason to spend more than say... $1000 on top quality parts and install.
with the extra $1300 i could do a DD conversion with new head unit, internal Type R components running off another 4 channel kicker amp and have money left over for sound deadening.
Type R's are very good for their price, they hit hard, but they're not as SQ as the 10w6, but for the price... you can't beat them.
One 10w6 @ 500w RMS in my sedan is plenty. I never have it cranked up, it fills the car, and doesn't leak out at all. In fact, when running it as loud as I would when not on the freeway, I got out of the car and shut the doors. I thought it was between songs, since I could not hear the sub from outside the car. Opened the door and stuck my head in and I was definitely wrong.
Ksnow has some great points - if you're not doing a show car, you're at overkill. My sub-only setup:
4080 10" enclosure: $360
JL 10w6v2: $330
JL 500/1v2: $400
Some of the prices were a bit lower, since I was watching for sales, but it still comes in around $1000, and I guarantee the sound quality and volume levels are enough to take on whatever music you listen to. If you want your neighbors to listen to it too, you should go a different route.
That much sub or more will easily overpower stock speakers, so with the extra $1300, adding some good components front and rear and a 4-channel amp (or just 2-channel for front sound stage) will give a much better sound quality than 2x 10's and stock components, and leave you with enough money to take your girl out for a night on the town.
One 10w6 @ 500w RMS in my sedan is plenty. I never have it cranked up, it fills the car, and doesn't leak out at all. In fact, when running it as loud as I would when not on the freeway, I got out of the car and shut the doors. I thought it was between songs, since I could not hear the sub from outside the car. Opened the door and stuck my head in and I was definitely wrong.
Ksnow has some great points - if you're not doing a show car, you're at overkill. My sub-only setup:
4080 10" enclosure: $360
JL 10w6v2: $330
JL 500/1v2: $400
Some of the prices were a bit lower, since I was watching for sales, but it still comes in around $1000, and I guarantee the sound quality and volume levels are enough to take on whatever music you listen to. If you want your neighbors to listen to it too, you should go a different route.
That much sub or more will easily overpower stock speakers, so with the extra $1300, adding some good components front and rear and a 4-channel amp (or just 2-channel for front sound stage) will give a much better sound quality than 2x 10's and stock components, and leave you with enough money to take your girl out for a night on the town.
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From: Buckingham County, VA
I'm trying to go the same route as you Ksnow.. but I wanted to dynamat the trunk and I was either gonna buy one of the 4080 sub boxes or one of the prefabbed sub boxes like this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT
the thing is i'm not going for a booming system.. I just want a lil' bump in my trunk while looking pretty.. I'm looking for subs and an amp now but I'm unsure what to get because I'm unable to test anything out.. but I think 1 sub in a 4080 box pushing 300 rms is good or 2 10's pushing 150-200rms each is good.. Is this a good idea and if not, what do y'all suggest?
the thing is i'm not going for a booming system.. I just want a lil' bump in my trunk while looking pretty.. I'm looking for subs and an amp now but I'm unsure what to get because I'm unable to test anything out.. but I think 1 sub in a 4080 box pushing 300 rms is good or 2 10's pushing 150-200rms each is good.. Is this a good idea and if not, what do y'all suggest?
If you're not looking for booming, a single 10" w/300+ will do just fine.
If you're going to lose the fold-down access, have you considered going with the zenclosures 10" one? They have one offset so that your amp can sit right there next to the sub.
That'll give you another $200 to spend on the woofer and amp.
Recommended subs:
10" Alpine Type R $120
10" IDQ10V3.D4 $240
10" JL 10w6v3d4 $330
Amp:
JL J2 250.1 $150 (This has differential-balanced inputs, a great feature if you're running the Bose headunit)
RF P300-1 $190
PA 400.1 $200
If you're going to lose the fold-down access, have you considered going with the zenclosures 10" one? They have one offset so that your amp can sit right there next to the sub.
That'll give you another $200 to spend on the woofer and amp.
Recommended subs:
10" Alpine Type R $120
10" IDQ10V3.D4 $240
10" JL 10w6v3d4 $330
Amp:
JL J2 250.1 $150 (This has differential-balanced inputs, a great feature if you're running the Bose headunit)
RF P300-1 $190
PA 400.1 $200
Are you buying a box to look at, or a sub to listen to?
Are you trying to enjoy the music while you're in the car, or are you trying to be the King of the High School or K-Mart parking lot?
If you're not participating in car shows, there's no reason to not go with something clean and functional like the zenclosure or 4080 enclosures units.
Are you trying to enjoy the music while you're in the car, or are you trying to be the King of the High School or K-Mart parking lot?
If you're not participating in car shows, there's no reason to not go with something clean and functional like the zenclosure or 4080 enclosures units.
