Car audio advice

[Flames_Gimp]

Looking to add more subs, would it be better to buy a mono amp for each sub? or get a multi-channel amp to power the subs and the speakers? Currently I have 2 12" subs, going to get 2 more 12's in a box and new speakers, the stock grabd caravan speakers blow!

if someone here does installs please pm me

[81MC]

Do you speakers first. That’s the most important part of your overall imaging. Just curious what makes you want more subs? Unless your going for competition performance, there’s no audio quality or imaging improvement to be had, just overall volume, which will quickly overpower whatever sound you can endure from your speaker.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

Looking to add more subs, would it be better to buy a mono amp for each sub? or get a multi-channel amp to power the subs and the speakers? Currently I have 2 12" subs, going to get 2 more 12's in a box and new speakers, the stock grabd caravan speakers blow!

if someone here does installs please pm me

You're pimpin' up a minivan??

[TorqueDog]

Judging by their username and past posts I've seen, I think a minivan is pretty much their only option given their predicament.

I used to do a ton of car audio stuff in my teens; speakers, amps, subs, head-units, not that I had any methodical approach to what I was doing -- bigger, more power... let's do it! Since they started integrating vehicle computer and control functionality into the head units, I haven't done a lick of it (basically since '06), so I'm actually kinda interested to see what Flames_Gimp does to his minivan.

[chubeyr1]

I use to be a car audio nut.

More details on what you are rockin would be good.

I mean you have 2 12 inch subs and want to add another 2? I use to have 2 12 inch Kicker subs in a car and my rear view mirror would do circles and the seats in the car would physically move. Crazy insane loud and it kicked the snot out of you.

You want 4 12 inch subs??? Are you using the minivan as a sound system at the Saddledome?

Not all car audio is created equal. It is a pretty crooked industry if I am being honest.

A cheap 800 watt amp may only produce 100watts of power. Where as a quality amp rated at 100watts may be able to produce 400watts of power depending on the ohm load. Running speakers in parallel or in series.

Speaker ratings are all over the place too. Speakers power ratings are a joke.400 watt speaker can get blown up with 50watts of power. They rate the speakers at a certain frequency. They might be able to handle 400watts at 40kilohertz which a human cant hear, but blow up with 50 watts of power at 50 hertz.

Dont let name brands fool you either. They sell junk too. They also sell some good stuff too.

Lastly speaker box design. An awesome sub in a poorly designed box will suck. Do you want to run a sealed box, Ported, Bandpass, isobaric? In the properly designed box one sub can sound like 2 or 2 can sound like 4.

Then there are crossovers that control the frequencies to each speaker. Capacitors, wiring.

I have spoken too much sorry. I don’t know what you know or do not know.

You say factory speakers suck. Yes in general they do, but if a capacitor is used it can block unwanted frequencies from being played by a factory speaker. Making them sound so much better.

Need more info from you. What are you trying to achieve? Competition stereo, loud,quality, kick butt system on a budget?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Judging by their username and past posts I've seen, I think a minivan is pretty much their only option given their predicament.

I used to do a ton of car audio stuff in my teens; speakers, amps, subs, head-units, not that I had any methodical approach to what I was doing -- bigger, more power... let's do it! Since they started integrating vehicle computer and control functionality into the head units, I haven't done a lick of it (basically since '06), so I'm actually kinda interested to see what Flames_Gimp does to his minivan.

its odd how car audio, audio in general has just ceased to be a thing now, its a niche hobby for a tiny portion of people these days

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Judging by their username and past posts I've seen, I think a minivan is pretty much their only option given their predicament.

I used to do a ton of car audio stuff in my teens; speakers, amps, subs, head-units, not that I had any methodical approach to what I was doing -- bigger, more power... let's do it! Since they started integrating vehicle computer and control functionality into the head units, I haven't done a lick of it (basically since '06), so I'm actually kinda interested to see what Flames_Gimp does to his minivan.

Ahhh those were the days. When you helped your buddy put a $3500 stereo into a $900 Ford escort.

[chubeyr1]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

its odd how car audio, audio in general has just ceased to be a thing now, its a niche hobby for a tiny portion of people these days

Car audio industry is worth 8.5 billion dollars and expected to grow to 13.5 billion by 2028.

Home audio industry is worth 12 billion dollars today expected to be 17 billion by 2026.

Everything about your post is wrong.

You might aswell say the smartphone industry is dying or the video game market is dying. That is not fact.

That is you getting older. Absolutely no insult intended. I am in the same boat.

Kick ass audio in my car and I listen to sports radio. I use to play video games always. As for home audio? That still gets used often for movies.

[chubeyr1]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Ahhh those were the days. When you helped your buddy put a $3500 stereo into a $900 Ford escort.

It was a Ford Escort EXP. 2 seater, kinda looked like a mustang.

It was an upgrade on the normal Ford Escort because of instead of having 65 horsepower it had 66.

Stereo worth more than the car!

[2Stonedbirds]

Oooooo the sport model. Sonic AND performance prowess!

[Sliver]

Would your lights dim when the base hit?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by chubeyr1

Car audio industry is worth 8.5 billion dollars and expected to grow to 13.5 billion by 2028.

Home audio industry is worth 12 billion dollars today expected to be 17 billion by 2026.

Everything about your post is wrong.

You might aswell say the smartphone industry is dying or the video game market is dying. That is not fact.

That is you getting older. Absolutely no insult intended. I am in the same boat.

Kick ass audio in my car and I listen to sports radio. I use to play video games always. As for home audio? That still gets used often for movies.

I assume thats 12 billion spent on bluetooth speakers headphones and soundbars then because actual home stereos seem to all but have gone

[chubeyr1]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Would your lights dim when the base hit?

LOL!

It was like having stobe lights for headlights!

[81MC]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I assume thats 12 billion spent on bluetooth speakers headphones and soundbars then because actual home stereos seem to all but have gone

I get sad when I go to someone’s house and a cheap Bluetooth speaker is the sole audio. People talk trash about new music, when it’s the consumer who has stopped caring.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

Looking to add more subs, would it be better to buy a mono amp for each sub? or get a multi-channel amp to power the subs and the speakers? Currently I have 2 12" subs, going to get 2 more 12's in a box and new speakers, the stock grabd caravan speakers blow!

if someone here does installs please pm me

It would be convenient if the guy doing the wrap for your van could install the speakers and subs and the same time. Does he offer that service? I just use the paint and speakers that came with my vehicle, so I have no idea.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by 81MC

I get sad when I go to someone’s house and a cheap Bluetooth speaker is the sole audio. People talk trash about new music, when it’s the consumer who has stopped caring.

I had a friend go on about how wonderful his speaker sounded, and if you never put it in a room with a proper stereo it did
People who've never heard a decent stereo dont know any better which is why the closure of stereo shops is so destructive

[Northendzone]

count me as someone who agreed with the psot above about car stereo upgrades being a dying business and i then scraped myself up off the floor when i read a few poss later that the business segment is growing.

i would have thought with the stereos in newer vehicles being more integrated into the vehicle system itself, that upgrades would be more complicated.

Flames_Gimp I guess my only real add to this is that are taking any extra steps to ensure that your stereo system is hidden somehow to ensure your vehicle is not more attractive to thieves? I remember that years ago, you could remove the faceplate from tape decks or have decks that slid out

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I had a friend go on about how wonderful his speaker sounded, and if you never put it in a room with a proper stereo it did
People who've never heard a decent stereo dont know any better which is why the closure of stereo shops is so destructive

Do they have it paired up with a sweet Bluetooth turntable?

https://www.amazon.ca/Audio-Technica...s%2C110&sr=8-5

That's a product that should not exist.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

It would be convenient if the guy doing the wrap for your van could install the speakers and subs and the same time. Does he offer that service? I just use the paint and speakers that came with my vehicle, so I have no idea.

Isn’t he crowd funding for the wrap? Money can’t be too much of an object for the guy if he’s also upgrading his speaker system.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Do they have it paired up with a sweet Bluetooth turntable?

https://www.amazon.ca/Audio-Technica...s%2C110&sr=8-5

That's a product that should not exist.

This review made me giggle(and weep).

I use this turntable with my BOSE bluetooth speaker and the sound is excellent. Great to hear the music from my old LPs.

Here's a thought. Download some 96 Kbps MP3's and save yourself the hassle of swapping records.