Rockford-Fosgate opinions?

[Mixed4u]

I went down to Best Buy yesterday and purchased an entire aftermarket audio system for my 4Runner. For my subwoofers, I got 2 Rockford-Fosgate P210S4's. They may be alright, I don't know. I've never heard of Rockford-Fosgate before although the salesguy assured me that this is a know company that makes good equipment. I haven't gotten bad information from this store yet, so I pretty much trust them. Could you all give me some feedback/review/comments? If you have experience with these subs, and don't like them or can suggest something better, that information would be appreciated. I haven't schedule the installation yet, so it's not too late for me to switch these 2 sub's out for something else if they are not that good.

 

[brick privy]

Rockford is definately a good name. i don't think you'll be disapointed. when you get your system, give your subs a chance to break in. they'll loosen up a little with use and sound even better.

 

[broncosi]

Could you all give me some feedback/review/comments?

F-ing loud! a kid at my highschool had 2 T1's and they will blow the clothes off your date/wife.

Rockford is what people bring to sound system competitions, its like instead of buying your kid a beater to start off with, just going straight to the 06' benz

anyways, you will be very pleased, rockford is top of the line products for sound.

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

I don't think you can go wrong with RF. I've been using their amps for years, starting with the original Punch 45 to the Punch 120s I have now.

 

[Mike415]

To telly ou the truth at the store I wasnt impressed the with P2's, but you really need to hear them in a car. I was more impressed eith even the Alpine E types. The P1's also sounded louder than the P2 for some reason. I think BB has a 90 or 30 day thing where if you dont like them you can bring them back so you could ask about that.

 

[riceandpho]

rockford fosgate is not that good but ok, the p2s u got will hit like a jl audio w3 but u juss dont get the quality, ull get the feel of the sub but u dont get the quality of the sound, how much did u pay for it, if its over 160 juss for subs then its like a rip off, they dont worth much of that price. i also had the same p2 subs u got, but mines were in 8ohm, they did hit but i juss didnt get the quality, u should save up and spend some money on jl audio or elemental designs, i heard elemental designs are cheap and pretty good, but if u have the money to spend, get jl audio or focal. also what amp do u have, if u dont have a choice but RF, ull need the p6001bd its 600watts at 2ohms, which is best for that sub, http://mobile.jlaudio.com/gallery/i...ake=86&amp=&Search=Search&model=676&mid_high= look at those 4runner, especially the 2000 4runner that got the 12w7 in that ho ported box, im sure thats loudd

 

[atomic punk]

Guys, you gotta remember that he's getting the system installed by Best Buy. They may not have all of the "top of the line" stuff available to buy and install. Also, it sounds as though he's on a budget due to going to Best Buy and not a car audio speciality shop. That being said: I think you'll like the RF system. Very popular and reasonably priced.

 

[Mixed4u]

Thanks for all the input guys! Much appreciated. I didn't really think about a budget, I just haven't had much experience in the area of audio equipment. I went to Al & Eds and they had one option. No selection, no nothing. I have bought a lot of electronic equipment from this Best Buy store (computers, home theater, etc.) and have been happy with everything and they seem to be fair so I just trusted them. I'm a little unsure about car audio specialty shops because they seem to be here today gone tomorrow operations unless I'm looking in the wrong places. I like the stability that Best Buy represents. With that all said, this is the rundown of the equipment that I have ready to go into my 4Runner:

HU-Kenwood KDC-MP828
Amp-Alpine MPR-F450 (4 channel to power my 4 speakers)
Amp-Alpine MRP-M650 (Mono to power the subs)
Front Speakers- Rockford-Fosgate Punch P1694C (For the front. I liked the way these hit the 'high-end' range better than the Alpine speakers they showed me)
Rear Speakers- Rockford-Fosgate Power T162C (They told me that I should keep the 4 speakers similiar make for best balanced sound)
Sirius 'Kenwood compatible' Tuner so that I can use the readout in my HU for my Sirius
Enough Dynamat to insulate all 4 doors
2 Rockford-Fosgate Punch subs P210S4
Q-Logic enclosed box to house the subs
Faceplate for the HU
Programmable steering wheel control interlace so that I can use my steering wheel audio controls with the new stuff
Finally, I've always used Monster cable, but the guy at BB told me that the Rockford-Fosgate competition stuff would be better.

Also, the front speakers that I got didn't have a seperate tweeter so the guy told me that the spot in my front doors for the tweeters would just be blank. I also have the back-up mirrors in the back so there will be no speakers going into those two spots. I know that I could do something about that, but I'm OK with it and I just have the basic stock Toyota audio 6 speaker system because I have planned on changing it out all along, so I didn't have the three dash mounted surround speakers either and I'm fine with that as well.

I went onto the Rockford-Fosgate website and it looked like the P3 subs were better. I don't know why, they just did.

And just to confirm, the guy at BB did tell me that Rockford-Fosgate is the equipment they use in competition and that there was a period where I could change anything out if I wanted to.

riceandpho - please forgive me, but most of your response I just didn't understand. It all seemed very technical and I don't know enough to understand. I will tell you this though, I paid $105 for each of the subwoofers. I did understand your question to me. I tried my best to understand the specs and abreviations in your response, but I just don't know enough. I wish that I did. I probably could have made better choices if I knew more.

atomic punk - thanks for speaking out. Mostly, I'm just a guy who doesn't know much so he goes to someone/place that he feels he can trust. That's why I'm on the forum. This usually works well for me. This is all new.

Thanks to all who took time out to try and help me. I really appreciate all of it. Any more input would also be greatly appreciated and welcomed.

 

[Mixed4u]

brick privy - How do you break in subs?

 

[Mike415]

brick privy - How do you break in subs?

some people say play it at low volumes (enough to speak over it normally), I think you should just not crank it to its peak. Basically after about 20 hours they get broken in and have better SQ and some say a bit more SPL if broken in correctly. By breaking it in its also supposed to prolong the life of the sub.

 

[NND]

I'm no expert but I think the one area where you will be disapointed is with the front speakers. I would suggest that you put in components for the front doors. Also I would suggest that you might want to check circuit city out as they just started to carry Eclipse which makes better subs and headunits then what you are currently listing. If you end up going to a speciality shop then you can end up buying some nicer highend equipment as Best Buy and Circuit City doesn't carry highend equipment.

 

[broncosi]

Basically after about 20 hours they get broken in and have better SQ and some say a bit more SPL if broken in correctly. By breaking it in its also supposed to prolong the life of the sub.

Also not sure if it matters but go easy on them in the winter, in the mornings, when you first crank up your 4runner make sure the bass is off and gradually ease it up to your liking

 

[NViejeP]

Definately switch out the front spekaers to components. Right now you have coaxials. The difference is that components have a tweeter. You will be REALLY disapointed if you don't.

Rockford is a GOOD brand. Not excellent. If you really want something good, go to a car audio shop. But if your on a budget, its great.

 

[Timo]

I have to agree on the component issue. This is something that you're really going to want to have. I had components in my last car (Lexus IS300) and I was amazed at the difference in sound quality. They are currently sitting in my basement waiting to go into my new 4 Runner and I really miss having them.

Best Buy is an OK place to buy from, but you will get better stuff from an actual car stereo shop. They will be more expensive but car audio is the same as everything else, you get what you pay for. If your not sure on which components to buy and cant find a good car audio shop, then I would recommend that you go to crutchfields site and do some research.

You can still have them installed by the folks at Best Buy if you need to, but you will be much happier with your new system. Hope this helps.

 

[SH0ck-D]

I trust Fosgate Amps. My brother has a 1200 watt amp from them when he bought it in 1994, the thing still puts out today after about 5 years sitting in the Garage.

Fosgate subwoofers aren't that great until you get into their power series. But to an untrained ear, who really cares?

David

 

[broncosi]

Best Buy is an OK place to buy from, but you will get better stuff from an actual car stereo shop. And you can still have them installed by the folks at Best Buy if you need to.

BB as well as CC have instated a policy about a year ago that they will not install any products not sold in their stores to cut down on stupid theives wanting their new stolen eclipse GPS installed in their 89' buick and what not

 

[brick privy]

brick privy - How do you break in subs?

actually, they'll break themselves in over time, but if you want to speed up the process you play them pretty loud (don't go nuts) for awhile.

what you're trying to do is loosen up the spider and the surround by working them back and forth. the spider and surround dampen the movement of the cone like the shocks on your suspension. what this dampening does is it keeps the cone in the middle if its travel, and it takes more power to get it to move. once the subs break in they'll sound better all arround (hit harder and sound more realistic). some of the home audio nuts take this break in period VERY seriously.

personally, i don't like the foam surround on the punch subs, i pefer a rubber surround because it offers less dampening. but since you're new to car audio, i don't think you'll hear much differance.

 

[NViejeP]

I went to best buy 2 weeks ago and they said they'll install my gear that I didn't buy from them.

 

[broncosi]

I went to best buy 2 weeks ago and they said they'll install my gear that I didn't buy from them.

sweet, that might have just been circuit city then, because i know we wanted a GPS installed on my buddies but they wouldnt do it because he hadnt bought it there

 

[Mixed4u]

Yeah, the BB guy told me that he would install anything for me. In fact, I'm having the system I put in my Matrix pulled because I traded it in for a Tundra over the weekend and he told me that he would be happy to do the install for me to have that equipment put into my Tundra.

I went on that Crutchfield site and have been pulling tons of information off that. (thanks Timo for that suggestion.) I'm going to hold off on the install and call Crutchfield and do some more research in order to make sure that I get the right stuff put into my 4Runner.