Speaker upgrade with wattage questions!

[BrianSD_42]

Brian, no offense, but I don't like Alpine products. Do you have any experience with other brands? I recently moved my music to a tablet and am using that as a head unit.

I do and have used at least 5 of their decks in the last 10 years. I've kept to the sub $300 models and why not? Everything above that is just the screen. The $300 Alpine and Kenwood single DINs have the same or better audio features than the $1000 double dins. Also, I have my Nexus 7 and it sounds crystal clear with an internal audio processor capable of 95 db s/n. The head unit is a bit higher than that of course @ 105 db but I can't really tell that I'm loosing anything with MP3 processing. The (6) 4v outputs don't hurt much either.

Please note that I haven't purposely bashed other brands in any of my posts. I did recently try out a $300 Kenwood and although it sounded great the antenna did not work correctly and the screen was low quality - that's not meant to be a bash lol its just what happened.

As far as stereo's and speakers go it is very subjective. I think that the Alpine Universal Power pack (as in works with any brand HU) must be pretty good since it has hundreds of 5/5 reviews on multiple different websites.

I've been nothing but happy with my Alpine 4 Channel Amp and Infinity Kappas over the last several years but that doesn't mean there aren't lots of other great solutions. I'm only posting about what I have personal experience with.

What I like to get out of a stereo system is absolute clarity at 75% volume max with no crackling and high DB sound. You don't have to go HIGH HIGH end to accomplish that but it does take some planning.

As with any stereo conversation though it is all in the ears of the beholder .....

Just Google Bose and you will find plenty of haters and countless lovers of their sound.

At home I have a Harmon Kardon AVR 3700 with Infinity center and Bose 301s as front L/R stereo speakers. I have (2) 12" subs Klipsch. I think it sounds great and have been told so by many people who've visited but again to each their own.

Another thing .... many people (not saying you) make the mistake of testing speakers and amps using relatively crappy music recordings. Find some good music to test and by that I mean music that was recorded by an artist that actually cares about sound quality. A 320 Kbps MP3 recording means little is the studio version has static in it lol - and it isn't that uncommon.

A few good examples I've found would be:
* "I want it all" on Queen Greatest Hits CD (and other tracks)
* Almost anything by Trent Renzor
* The Day The World Went Away by NIN (see above) is an excellent test track at 75% max volume
* Vicarious (and other tracks) by Tool
* 99 Problems by Jay-Z
* "Down to the River to Pray" on O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack
* Quite a few tracks off the most recent Les Miserables soundtrack
* "Hail to the King" and "This Means War" by Avenged Sevenfold are both F'n awesome and sound clear as day

There are plenty of examples out there.

:usa2:

 

[IBallEngineer]

What I like to get out of a stereo system is absolute clarity at 75% volume max with no crackling and high DB sound. You don't have to go HIGH HIGH end to accomplish that but it does take some planning.

As with any stereo conversation though it is all in the ears of the beholder .....



A few good examples I've found would be:
* "I want it all" on Queen Greatest Hits CD (and other tracks)
* Almost anything by Trent Renzor
* The Day The World Went Away by NIN (see above) is an excellent test track at 75% max volume
* Vicarious (and other tracks) by Tool
* 99 Problems by Jay-Z
* "Down to the River to Pray" on O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack
* Quite a few tracks off the most recent Les Miserables soundtrack
* "Hail to the King" and "This Means War" by Avenged Sevenfold are both F'n awesome and sound clear as day

There are plenty of examples out there.

:usa2:

Thanks for the detailed response. First I should have mentioned that my Alpine experience was a long, long time ago. I'm 52 in 5 weeks, and my first Alpine was in 1981. My first Fosgate amp was a punch 230 in the late 80's, what an awesome little amp that was. These days I just want a rich clear sound. I don't bump no bass, but I listen to a wide variety of music, and I've been known to scream Achilles last stand or just groove to Miles Davis. I'm sure Alpine has some good products. I'm leaning towards Kicker or JL Audio for my speakers. I love Polk Audio, but I am going to keep to the budget since my motor home needs a lot of repairs right now. I understand the limitations of not having a high end HU, but the tablet is just so awesome for everything, texting, email, FB, TV, and of course music. At my age it's the package that works, not the best "anything". I'll look at Infinity too. Car speakers are a simple thing, but it's easy to get out of touch.

Thanks again!

:cheers:

 

[BrianSD_42]

Sure thing. I've definitely considered an JL Audio amp for my next setup, whenever that occurs.

As far as head units if you spend on the right specifications the main differentiator will be the screen, layout and buttons as most medium end head units will have similar audio specs and you are just running the sound to the 4 channel amp anyways.

That leaves the speakers ... I wish I had a chance to try out more but I've had Infinity Kappas for at least 5 years now and been nothing but happy with them.

 

[Victim026]

Thanks for the detailed response. First I should have mentioned that my Alpine experience was a long, long time ago. I'm 52 in 5 weeks, and my first Alpine was in 1981. My first Fosgate amp was a punch 230 in the late 80's, what an awesome little amp that was. These days I just want a rich clear sound. I don't bump no bass, but I listen to a wide variety of music, and I've been known to scream Achilles last stand or just groove to Miles Davis. I'm sure Alpine has some good products. I'm leaning towards Kicker or JL Audio for my speakers. I love Polk Audio, but I am going to keep to the budget since my motor home needs a lot of repairs right now. I understand the limitations of not having a high end HU, but the tablet is just so awesome for everything, texting, email, FB, TV, and of course music. At my age it's the package that works, not the best "anything". I'll look at Infinity too. Car speakers are a simple thing, but it's easy to get out of touch.

Thanks again!

:cheers:

Ive put the same system in my last 4 cars relatively speaking with excellent results for what I would consider a cheap price(sub$500). I would grab a modestly priced $130-$180 Alpine head unit with the matching power pack amp, pair it with some db series polk audio speakers(can be had for under $140 for the pair, and I actually purchased these last night through sonic electronix for my new 4 runner) and then call it good. Huge upgrade on sound for a modest price.

 

[brkosk]

I finally installed my tweeters last night. Wow- really easy using the stock bracket and screws. Perfect fit!

Have you guys seen the Pioneer DEH-80PRS? I've decided I need it!

Really great specs marketed towards the audiophile crowd :music:

Burr-Brown® 24-bit D/A Converters: Three Burr-Brown digital to analog converters are used - one each for the high, mid, and low frequency ranges.

3-Way Digital Network: The DEH-80PRS features a 3-Way Digital Network, connecting (via three 5V RCA preouts) up to three external amplifiers, each dedicated to driving high-, mid- and low-frequency ranges, respectively.


I'd run the tweeters off of the head unit amp, 6.5s in the front doors off of a 200W 2 channel amp I have, and the sub off of a 600W amp I have as well. I don't think it gets any better! (Except maybe a dedicated amp for the tweeters)

 

[IBallEngineer]

I would grab a modestly priced $130-$180 Alpine head unit with the matching power pack amp, pair it with some db series polk audio speakers(can be had for under $140 for the pair.

I just don't want to pop 3 bills for 4 speakers, I'm going to stay in the sub $80 for the pair range. And I am NOT going to use a head unit. I have a good Pioneer, in both my trucks and one in the MH. But I'm going to use my Galaxy Tab as my head unit, well actually I already am using it that way. If I didn't have $1000 worth of RV repairs looming, I'd have already bought the Polk Audio speakers. LOL

:couch2:

 

[2000se]

This is where I mounted my crossovers…

 

[Scramble]

I finally installed my tweeters last night. Wow- really easy using the stock bracket and screws. Perfect fit!

Have you guys seen the Pioneer DEH-80PRS? I've decided I need it!

Really great specs marketed towards the audiophile crowd :music:

Burr-Brown® 24-bit D/A Converters: Three Burr-Brown digital to analog converters are used - one each for the high, mid, and low frequency ranges.

3-Way Digital Network: The DEH-80PRS features a 3-Way Digital Network, connecting (via three 5V RCA preouts) up to three external amplifiers, each dedicated to driving high-, mid- and low-frequency ranges, respectively.


I'd run the tweeters off of the head unit amp, 6.5s in the front doors off of a 200W 2 channel amp I have, and the sub off of a 600W amp I have as well. I don't think it gets any better! (Except maybe a dedicated amp for the tweeters)

Sounds sweet, I love Burr Brown.

 

[Victim026]

I just don't want to pop 3 bills for 4 speakers, I'm going to stay in the sub $80 for the pair range. And I am NOT going to use a head unit. I have a good Pioneer, in both my trucks and one in the MH. But I'm going to use my Galaxy Tab as my head unit, well actually I already am using it that way. If I didn't have $1000 worth of RV repairs looming, I'd have already bought the Polk Audio speakers. LOL

:couch2:

I think you misunderstood me, I paid $140 shipped for both the front and rear sets of speakers through Sonic Electronix, not $300.

 

[IBallEngineer]

I think you misunderstood me, I paid $140 shipped for both the front and rear sets of speakers through Sonic Electronix, not $300.

Cool, I definitely misunderstood! I'll check on that for sure!

 

[Victim026]

Cool, I definitely misunderstood! I'll check on that for sure!

You'll want Polk DB521 for the rear and Polk DB651 for the front.

 

[wc11]

Your head unit, amp, recordings, music types, listening volumes etc are all unique to you so choose what sounds good to you.
Everybody's taste is different.