extra 400 i'd get the focals i listed on page 1 and use the rest on sound deadening.

Rear speakers aren't needed. A properly amped front stage is all you need.

 

From what I have heard in person when testing out amps at the local cartoys, the sealed boxes deliver a tighter, punchy bass, good for rock.

The ported boxes are much more efficient, giving you more volume for your power, and are good for tech and rap.

I mainly listen to a combination of tech and rock, with some occasional old school rap thrown in for good measure.

 

Depends on box design, the woofer used, and how the box is built.

 

Yeah - those focals are dope.

You wouldn't upgrade the amp(s)?

 

Ported tuned low is what you need.

I listen to everything from jay z to sade and my ssa xcons are in 4.5 cubes tuned to 30hz and they sound amazing with anything i throw at them.

 

Nah, in most cases, power is power.

Better amps have better filters and are less noisy but you'll notice a bigger improvement with better speakers vs a better amp.

 

These amps are a really good deal.

Not using the rear speakers changes everything.....

2 8" subs though? I have never heard an 8" sub in person, but I can hear the difference between a 10 and a 12 usually. I imagine the 8s are tighter, with less boom. I am ok with this. I was originally looking at single 10s - I had my eyes on a Alpine type R, or the 10w3v3 - although both were originally a little more than I wanted to spend. If I stick with a 10, I can still add the 4080 later.....thoughts?

 

That's just a myth

sub size does not determine frequency response, enclosure does.

i'd ditch the whole 4080 or zen boxes.

They look good but they perform poorly.

When it comes to the way a sub is gonna sound and perform, it's all in the box.

 

These MB Quart DSC 2150s get really good reviews for the price on a lot of mobile audio forums.

Do you have suggestions for finding the right enclosure?

 

I get mine built here.

http://www.caraudioclassifieds.org/forum/

These 2 guys make lovely boxes @ reasonable prices.

http://www.caraudioclassifieds.org/f...play.php?f=147

and
http://www.caraudioclassifieds.org/f...play.php?f=121

 

Is that 4.5 cubic feet? That seems HUGE.

 

yeah 2 12's in 4.5 cubic feet.

 

Wow, this thread bloomed in a day.

As for mounting amps in the sedan:


No loss of pass-through at all, no new holes were even drilled:

 

It looks like you replaced the whole backside with a piece of carpeted MDF. Are those holes threaded? I really need to take my trunk apart and get a look up close.

How do you measure out the template to cut the MDF? Should I use some cardboard and attempt to fit it back there to create a template? Hmmm...another search on the interwebs. I really wonder how people did projects like this by themselves without the internet 15 years ago.

Next item - subwoofer issue resolved. A buddy of mine called me tonight and we were talking stereos, and he said he was about to sell his sub since he is having a baby in the next few weeks, and his passat is essentially the baby mobile. 12" xtant x124 with a Rockford Fosgate 500 watt amp, custom sealed enclosure, and a 5 farad cap to boot. $100. Not going to beat that anywhere, and gives me a sub which sounds pretty good in his car right now.

That changes my approach a little. Definitely a two amp setup now. And I need to start looking at 4 channel amps. I am pretty sure I want to keep the rear speakers.

Also - do I need a plastic panel tool? I have never used one of these before, relying on screwdrivers and hand strength. I am not even sure how a plastic panel tool works.

 

Eggy - I am ordering those Focal 165vrs for the front.

RMS power handling on these is 75W with a Peak of 150 - I don't think I need the juice you were recommending.