New Speakers-Choices?

Nelsonmd said:
Hehe, you have good taste, JL's are some of the best (definitely > the others you mentioned). Was it just the price holding you back from the JL's? And you are going with speakers that you havn't listened to? Not meaning to second guess you, just want to keep you honest.
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These are the JLs I was looking at:
JL Audio C2-650 6-1/2" Component Speakers System (C2650)

True I didn't listen to the Memphis speakers. I would still like to find someplace that has some setup so I could compare them to the JL and MB Quarts. I may do some calling around tomorrow to see if I can find a place. I think I'm going with the Memphis though as they are cheaper, not out of stock like the JLs, and everybody I have talked has given the Memphis speakers good reviews. A buddy of mine who I consider fairly knowledgeable about car audio said that he prefers Memphis over JL.
 
chris360hawks said:
Thanks everyone for their help especially Nelsonmd. You obviously know what you are talking about regarding car audio.

Alright I THINK I have made up my mind. Went and listened to some speakers today and read a bunch more online and talked to my buddy. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the major brands. I liked the sound of the JL Audios amped in the store compared to Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, and several others. Wasn't able to listen to Infinity, Memphis, or MB Quarts. I read that JL>Infinity alot of times, but alot of people really like Memphis audio so...I think I'm gonna go with Memphis. These are the speakers I'm probably going to settle on:

Front:
15-PRS6V2 - Memphis 6.5" 2-Way Power Reference Component Speakers
Rear:
15-PR52V2 - Memphis 5.25" 2-Way Power Reference Coaxial Speakers w/ Swivel Tweeter

I'm going to get a amp that has speaker line level inputs so I can run my stock headunit for now. In the future when I find one I like and can afford I will get a nice headunit. I'm guessing I'll need a 4 channel amp that has at least 50 RMS watts per channel, based on the speakers RMS.

Anybody have any final thoughts on this?
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YES! But seriously, I've run 2 previous memphis systems and I love them. Great choice. Let us know how you like them. You won't have any regret!
 
YA Nelson i didnt mean the sound quality difference in a single din and a double din... i just meant the sound quality would be better with any reputable branded aftermarket radio.

Well looks like ur set then Chris, just gotta order them and hook them up. U can try Custom Sounds or Electronics 2000 to see if they will have the Memphis but doubt it. THhey probably have some u can listen to at the flea market...
 
I'm not in SA, I'm at A&M so there are only a few sound places around here. They had Memphis speakers at one place but they weren't hooked up.
 
Oh ok... but ya dude if ur gonna spend around that much i really think ull be happier with the Focals my friend is selling since they are really crisp on sound. When ur in SA i can try to get a diff friend that has them hooked up to come and let u listen to them if ya want. I think if u want those Memphis ur jsut gonna have to go off comments bc im guessing itll be hard to find a shop that actually has them.
 
DANG! I just read the title of this thread and i was going to just go to the bottom and put buy Memphis speakers......

They are great. I have the 6.5" in the front doors and they sound really nice, plus they have a good warranty. I blew a set of polk db's in my 4runner and replaced them with the memphis ones

They are extremely durable. I GOT MY 4RUNNER STUCK IN A CREEK AND THE CAB FILLED UP WITH WATER TO THE SEATS COMPLETELY SUBMERGING THE SPEAKERS AND THEY STILL WORK GREAT!!!!!! i had them on for a few seconds when i got stuck so they ran under the water for a sec before i shut the stereo down. I dont know of any brand of speaker that will hold up to stuff like that. and they are not marine speakers

money well spent
 
I put in an Alpine IDA X305 last year and left the stock speakers in place and it was a huge improvement over the stock HU but still I could tell I needed new speakers. So for an early Christmas present I started shopping around for a new system and wanted to get all new speakers/amp and sub but didn't have enough for all of that at once so I went this route.

I found JL Audio C2-650 components for the front on "ugly box' sale directly from JL as well as TR525-Cxi full range for the rear doors. Along with the speaker bracket from www.car-speaker-adapters.com Car-Speaker-Adapters -http://www.car-speaker-adapters.com/index.php for the rear (since I bought a 5.25 speaker for the 4inch hole). total for speakers was $204. I also purchased an Infinity Kappa 5 channel amp because it's only 14" and will fit under driver seat. This will power all my new speakers and for my birthday I will add the sub when I get a little more cash. Amp cost me $286 from Amazon.

I've yet to install but i'm pretty excited and i'll post some pics when it's done.

All in all shop around and really think about what type of music you will listen to, how loud, and how much of an 'audiophile' you think you are. I do agree however that a better HU will make your speakers sound better and I'd start there then go with speakers later.

Hope this helps and good luck.
 
throw another vote in for jl everything. im running 3 10's in the back right now, with a jl amp. one of my favorite things about these amps is that you can run them on a stock stereo system if you truly wish too. the power signal to the amp can be turned on by a remote wire from an after market amp, or the amp will turn itself on after it receives power from the component audio cables into the system.

i plan on running an extra 300w amp just for my speakers, and i might just run stock speakers. on the fence about that one. double din touch screen dvd player first :thumb3:
 
here goes my nickels worth of advice:

Credentials: Installed about 5 head units, 4-5amps, numerous speakers (never components), and some subs in my life.

The on thing I can clearly say is, the HU rarely outputs enough power to aftermarket speakers. If you are just upgrading the HU then who cares about an amp. But if you plan on installing aftermarket speakers, go for the amp!! In one install (it was a 99 nissan altima), I put infinity kappa 2-ways in the front and rear running off a pioneer 45x4 HU... sounded pretty good, but not as great as the reviews stated. I hooked some POS amp from a friend, and holy sh*t, night and day.

So my advice after my rant: buy a head unit that you like, install it, then when you get the money/time... buy the speakers/amp all at once. You can actually damage the speakers by running insufficient power to them (the tweeters usually). Good look!
 
doubleA has a good point. more power to speakers can make a huge difference. if you get a JL amp and hook it up to your factory HU, it can make it sound way better, and without having to change out your HU if you want the stock look :bigok:
 
I got the Memphis speakers for Christmas...now I just need to order a amp. I'm assuming I'll need a 4 channel amp to power the front and rear speakers. I need a amp with speaker line level inputs, so I can run the stock headunit. The front speakers are 50 RMS watt, with a peak of 100 watts and the rears are 30 RMS watts, with a peak of 60 watts. So does that mean I should be looking at a amp with a rating of 50 RMS watts per channel at 4 ohms?

I like the looks of this amp, like the small design too:
Sony XM-4S Slim Series 4-Channel Amplifier
 
Sony doesn't make really good amps.

50 watts x 4 channels would probably work. You just need to adjust the gain so that 50 watts are not going to each of the rear speakers.

Shouldn't you get an LOC (Line Out Converter) to connect to your head unit?
 
I don't really get wanting to keep the stock head unit. You can get a new aftermarket one with iPod connection, etc. for less than $100. these days.
 
Thanks for the info man. I just ordered the Alpine off of Amazon for about 140. It got nothing but positive reviews, and the jew in me liked it being cheaper then the Memphis amp. I am excited to be able to get it all installed!
 
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