why skimp on audio

[ddnww]

Im new to 4runners, and ive noticed most people skimp on the quality of product when upgrading their sound system. There are some badass rigs on this site with some quality products when it comes to suspension, wheels, aux lighting, led and hid, engine, custom work, etc etc..

Ive noticed that with most of the audio upgrades, most are using entry level, low end, kinda novice stuff. Im wondering if this is because your not familiar with the quality stuff( not necesarilly expensive), think only the expensive stuff is quality and dont want to spend lots of money, or think because its namebrand its quality.

I ask this because i love a good, quality sounding audio system and am familiar with some quality products that arent expensive, about the same price as the average stuff, that is high quality, great sounding and performing, and long lasting.

head units- nakamichi, alpine, clarion, kenwood in that order are quality sounding recievers, pioneer and others are decent too, just stay away from the bottom of the barrel products,

amplfiers- there are alot of inexpensive powerful amps that do real rated power and will last a lifetime. sundown, audioque, hifonics are great priced and very efficient and clean powerful amps. rockford bottom end amps suck, only there bd and comp amps are good, stay away from pioneer, alpine and other known namebrands.. just cuz you heard the name dont mean there good. they may have been in the past.

front stage mid and tweet speakers- jl sucks for these components, high quality would include, hertz, rainbow, mb quart, infiniti kappas, and my favorite diamond audio.. there are other great brands not mentioned that are higher priced.. again stay away from the common stuff.

subs- please stay away from rockfords lowend stuff, its just garbage, same with pioneer etc.. im not saying that they dont hit or put out bass etc, im just saying there is so much better quality stuff out there for nearly the same price.. sundown audio, image dynamics, arc audio, again my fave diamond audio.. just to name a few.. a good rule of thumb is the size of the magnet will tell you how powerful the sub is..

let me say this with stuff like jl audio.. their subs hit hard as hell, but they blow easy and are way overpriced, you can gett better for way cheaper,same with their amps,good quality, powerful, overpriced.. i used to be a jl fanboy for years till i got wiser..

last its all in the install and enclosure.. go to an audio website for you audio advise.. im just trying to help you get the best bang for your buck.. take it or leave it...

 

[riceandpho]

I dont think i skimped on my setup, i been changing it alot and now its where i wanted for now, but i still want to do a 3 way setup on my front with the mid on my a pillar, and change out my 3 jl audio amp for a rf t400-2 and rf t1000bdcp.

 

[earthrealm]

well..i probablly fall into the category of not being skilled enough, so if u wud be willing to help..i want to upgrade my sound.
here is what i have presently..
pionneer 4400bh HU, with stock speakers...sound is ok..but not so gr8.

pls give me option a: no amp/ext sub woofer..unless there is stealth subwoofe that can fit under the seat, what speakers or hu did i need to make my sound awesome?

option b: wudnt mind buying amp/subwoofer..what make/model of amp/subwoofer would u recommend..note: both shudnt be more than $500...thanks.

 

[Bucket81]

I think people have different experience with diffrent products, I had a hifonic amp catch fire for no apparent reason. And don't think they sound that great. I like JL C3s and love the XD line of amps good power small foot print. I completely agree with you on pioneer decks I think people like them bc if you use the internal amp on stock speakers or low end they will sound decent for not having an amp but they brake.

Alot of the company's you talked about aren't ran or owned by the same people or made in the same countries they started in, Focals a good brand and I wouldn't touch the entry level stuff made in Taiwan I think. A brand can be ruined by one poor modle in a product line.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I didn't skimp, I went with JL amps and sub, and MB Quart components :naughty:

 

[ddnww]

I dont think i skimped on my setup, i been changing it alot and now its where i wanted for now, but i still want to do a 3 way setup on my front with the mid on my a pillar, and change out my 3 jl audio amp for a rf t400-2 and rf t1000bdcp.

i said most , not all, .. i think you have a pretty good setup there.. i like the focals.. i would still steer away from RF.. their over rated, over priced, and you could get better for less. but thats just my opinion.. either way.. you got a pretty nice system...

 

[ddnww]

well..i probablly fall into the category of not being skilled enough, so if u wud be willing to help..i want to upgrade my sound.
here is what i have presently..
pionneer 4400bh HU, with stock speakers...sound is ok..but not so gr8.

pls give me option a: no amp/ext sub woofer..unless there is stealth subwoofe that can fit under the seat, what speakers or hu did i need to make my sound awesome?

option b: wudnt mind buying amp/subwoofer..what make/model of amp/subwoofer would u recommend..note: both shudnt be more than $500...thanks.

option b.

WoofersEtc.com - SA-8 V.2 D2 - Sundown Audio 8" Dual 2-Ohm SA V.2 Series Subwoofer

Q1-750 Amplifier

great match right there.. under 400 and you need aprox 150ish for a properly built ported box designed to specs for this subwoofer.wire the sub down to 1 ohm. this will add more than enough low end bass as well as volume output of bass.

keep your hu you have its decent..

for front stage

WoofersEtc.com - D364.5 - Diamond Audio 6.5" 2-Way Convertible Component Speaker

you'll be more than happy with just a pair of these in the front doors (rear optional). these will sound very loud, very clean and crisp with no distortion at higher levels.

you can run the front stage off your pioneer hu, or you can opt for a small front stage amp.

heres something cheap but powerful and reliable.


WoofersEtc.com - ZRX500.2 - Hifonics ZEUS series 2Ch 500W Amplifier

wire the speakers to this at 4 ohm.

this will give a very clean, musically accurate sound system in your truck, with good low end pick up, tight mid range, and rich crisp highs..

remember proper sub enclosure is vital, as well as proper installment of equipment. So you a reputable installer who know there shit.. not bestbuy.. make sure the sub box is properly built to specs of this sub.

 

[ddnww]

I think people have different experience with diffrent products, I had a hifonic amp catch fire for no apparent reason. And don't think they sound that great. I like JL C3s and love the XD line of amps good power small foot print. I completely agree with you on pioneer decks I think people like them bc if you use the internal amp on stock speakers or low end they will sound decent for not having an amp but they brake.

Alot of the company's you talked about aren't ran or owned by the same people or made in the same countries they started in, Focals a good brand and I wouldn't touch the entry level stuff made in Taiwan I think. A brand can be ruined by one poor modle in a product line.

i had a hifonics brutus 2000d pushing two diamond audio 15d9 subs and it nearly destroyed my car from so much bass.. never had a problem once.. ive never liked jl mid n tweet, even when i was a big jl fan.. there just not that good.. jl make great amps and subs, theyre just over priced rediculously.

I didn't skimp, I went with JL amps and sub, and MB Quart components :naughty:

mb quart is great, on the jl, i think they make great product, but i found that there subs blow often and theyre simply overpriced.. i would rather pay half the price for a sub or amp that is as good or better . iwas a huge jl fan for probably 7 years straight.. went thru probably a dozen subs.. when someone turned me on to diamond audio subs.. i bought a pair of 15 inch d9s, and have hd them in three different cars, most bass ive ever had, im talking make your chest, nose and eyes shake bass, cleanest , lowest bass, and they aint even broke in yet.. ive had them for 5 years. they will probably be passed down to my son who will beat the crap out of them for another 10-15 years

 

[Randyman...]

I don't believe I skimped 4048 Watts RMS, designed around a Loud and Proud "SQL" (Sound Quality + SPL) premise to appease my 30 yrs of drumming and audio engineering. Includes Alpine, ARC Audio, JBL, JL & Morel gear:

2013 4Runner Audio Build Log @ DIYMA

Audio is always #1 on my list. Even convinced me to nix buying a 2013 Tacoma 4-Door in favor of the more expensive 2013 4Runner - MAINLY for the audio install possibilities it provided me So I dropped an extra $5K-$10K on the truck to house the audio system (above what a Tacoma would have cost), then I dropped close to $10K on the audio system itself . I'm a little bit OCD if you can't tell :wave:

But truth be told - most people don't care about Audio - Ear Buds are plenty good :blah: For most laymen, dropping more than $200 on an aftermarket radio is considered a big ticket item for them!!! Bullocks I say. My wallet, however, tends to disagree with me (it's friggin E-M-P-T-Y!!!)...

 

[97BlackAckCL]

i had a hifonics brutus 2000d pushing two diamond audio 15d9 subs and it nearly destroyed my car from so much bass.. never had a problem once.. ive never liked jl mid n tweet, even when i was a big jl fan.. there just not that good.. jl make great amps and subs, theyre just over priced rediculously.

We have very similar tastes, I had a Hifonics Brutus amp until I killed it, the I switched to a Diamond Amp. I agree, the JL midrange and tweeters are way overpriced and over rated.

mb quart is great, on the jl, i think they make great product, but i found that there subs blow often and theyre simply overpriced.. i would rather pay half the price for a sub or amp that is as good or better . iwas a huge jl fan for probably 7 years straight.. went thru probably a dozen subs.. when someone turned me on to diamond audio subs.. i bought a pair of 15 inch d9s, and have hd them in three different cars, most bass ive ever had, im talking make your chest, nose and eyes shake bass, cleanest , lowest bass, and they aint even broke in yet.. ive had them for 5 years. they will probably be passed down to my son who will beat the crap out of them for another 10-15 years

I've never had a problem with their subs blowing, I've known 12w3's that took poundings back in the day, but that was at least 10-12 years ago. I'm only rockin an 8w3 in my 4Runner and that thing is doing just fine, it's also been around for quite a while, took me 5 years to throw it in my truck.

 

[ddnww]

I don't believe I skimped 4048 Watts RMS, designed around a Loud and Proud "SQL" (Sound Quality + SPL) premise to appease my 30 yrs of drumming and audio engineering. Includes Alpine, ARC Audio, JBL, JL & Morel gear:

2013 4Runner Audio Build Log @ DIYMA

Audio is always #1 on my list. Even convinced me to nix buying a 2013 Tacoma 4-Door in favor of the more expensive 2013 4Runner - MAINLY for the audio install possibilities it provided me So I dropped an extra $5K-$10K on the truck to house the audio system (above what a Tacoma would have cost), then I dropped close to $10K on the audio system itself . I'm a little bit OCD if you can't tell :wave:

But truth be told - most people don't care about Audio - Ear Buds are plenty good :blah: For most laymen, dropping more than $200 on an aftermarket radio is considered a big ticket item for them!!! Bullocks I say. My wallet, however, tends to disagree with me (it's friggin E-M-P-T-Y!!!)...

i love, alpine, morel, and arc audio.. in my post i didnt say all, i said most.. you obviusly are not included in this bunch.. kick ass gear(although im not a fan of JL much any more)... im also a audio engineer, producer and artist.. i like you love audio SQ and this is why i made this thread...

 

[ddnww]

We have very similar tastes, I had a Hifonics Brutus amp until I killed it, the I switched to a Diamond Amp. I agree, the JL midrange and tweeters are way overpriced and over rated.

I've never had a problem with their subs blowing, I've known 12w3's that took poundings back in the day, but that was at least 10-12 years ago. I'm only rockin an 8w3 in my 4Runner and that thing is doing just fine, it's also been around for quite a while, took me 5 years to throw it in my truck.

ya those brutus amps are great for the price....put out rated power... diamond amp are great, i just never had the money for the one i needed..
i went thru 10w6's, 12w6's, 13w7's, and had my jl 1000/1 repaired twice.. both my brothers and a couple close friends were also on board with being big JL fans and all of us had blown several subs..mind you this is with proper installs and use of equipment in case your wondering.. did we bang the shit out of them,, YES.. thats what i buy subs for, to put them to their limit and pissoff old people.. lol.. but actually in my runner.. i plan to just have a single 8 with some good low end pickup and spl.. not trying to set spl records, just clean accurate sound quality..

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Yep, that's why I have a single 8 in my truck, I have the 12's in the ack for when I want to go deaf :ear:

 

[Bucket81]

That's exactly my point, if I buy JL I'm not skimping it's just my preference on diffrent equipment.

Alot of people don't see the point I have an amp and sub I'm going to install not BC I need a stereo system but bc it's been hanging out in my garage for a year and nobody wants to give me a resalable offer for them.
I'd rather spend money on other equipment.

 

[Finest]

As long as they're not running Pyle or Boss or Dual, it's all good. :noidea:

You keep saying that there are cheaper alternatives, that people are overpaying for the bigger brand names, but you're not giving any substantial reason WHY you think they're "inferior" to the brand names you're name dropping.

99% of the population can't distinguish the difference between a two-way and components when both are installed properly. And not many will want to pay that much more for components and installation, they just want a stock replacement that will bring out more of the sound spectrum to their ears instead of the muffled sound from the old stockers. You start dropping terms like active systems and front sound stage and whatnot, and people tune out. They just want something that sounds better than stock, not everyone wants to listen at eleventy hundred decibels. A good clean install is just as important as equipment to get the most out of it.

By comparison, I still have an old JL 10W0 sub from 10 years ago that still goes strong in my other car. And right now I even have an old school 12" RF HX2 Power in a sealed box in the T4R. My passengers complain all the time that their vision gets blurry so I have to turn them down. To me, that kind of reliability is king and why I'll stick with JL and RF, because that's what has worked for me. Your experience might differ, and you're entitled to your opinion. But you're not going to sell me on those other brands anytime soon, just like how I probably won't convince you to come back to the old school stuff. Just enjoy the music instead of calling each other cheap for buying "common" equipment.

 

[Offroader5]

Many of the "big brands" (I said many...not all)...are built with the same components and sometimes out of the same build houses/factories as lesser known brands. Believe it or not, some of the best drivers are built using the simplest materials....not crap like carbon fiber, titanium, etc... I know of many very high end audio manufacturers that still use paper or a paper composite for their driver cones. A lot of people would assume that a driver made with paper is "cheap" or "cheesy". Many of the big brands use these exotic materials in their construction as a marketing gimmic...and to demand a higher retail..when these materials may do very little or nothing to make the product any better.

Im getting together the pieces for my next system in the Runner that will include names that most people have never heard of. I'll be running a 3 way active front stage using Audible Physics components that include 8" midbass drivers along with Mosconi amps and their DSP.

 

[ddnww]

As long as they're not running Pyle or Boss or Dual, it's all good. :noidea:

You keep saying that there are cheaper alternatives, that people are overpaying for the bigger brand names, but you're not giving any substantial reason WHY you think they're "inferior" to the brand names you're name dropping.

99% of the population can't distinguish the difference between a two-way and components when both are installed properly. And not many will want to pay that much more for components and installation, they just want a stock replacement that will bring out more of the sound spectrum to their ears instead of the muffled sound from the old stockers. You start dropping terms like active systems and front sound stage and whatnot, and people tune out. They just want something that sounds better than stock, not everyone wants to listen at eleventy hundred decibels. A good clean install is just as important as equipment to get the most out of it.

By comparison, I still have an old JL 10W0 sub from 10 years ago that still goes strong in my other car. And right now I even have an old school 12" RF HX2 Power in a sealed box in the T4R. My passengers complain all the time that their vision gets blurry so I have to turn them down. To me, that kind of reliability is king and why I'll stick with JL and RF, because that's what has worked for me. Your experience might differ, and you're entitled to your opinion. But you're not going to sell me on those other brands anytime soon, just like how I probably won't convince you to come back to the old school stuff. Just enjoy the music instead of calling each other cheap for buying "common" equipment.

lots of truth in your statement.. i love oldschool RF and their new higher end gear, but their bottom end is complete junk.. if i cant convince you to buy an amp or sub for half the price of JL that is equal or better quality than i cant.. and im not necesarilly trying to. just wanna help others get better quality gear for the same price.. like i said i was a huge JL fan.. i over the years figured out and was educated by others that their not the best and i can get as good or better for cheaper.. its a no brainer to me.. MY diamond audio subs are the best ive ever had.. For 15 inch, they have the tightness of tens, pick up rediculously low end, and spl and SQ are unbelievable.. my sundown sa8( pair) are in a 1.65 cf enclosure taking up almost no room in my cadillac, and it sounds like i have 4 12's in the trunk, low , deep, hard hittin.. i paid less than 300 for the pair of subs.. and a sundown 1200 rms amp that is underated, highly efficient and half the price of the jl 1000/1

 

[ddnww]

Many of the "big brands" (I said many...not all)...are built with the same components and sometimes out of the same build houses/factories as lesser known brands. Believe it or not, some of the best drivers are built using the simplest materials....not crap like carbon fiber, titanium, etc... I know of many very high end audio manufacturers that still use paper or a paper composite for their driver cones. A lot of people would assume that a driver made with paper is "cheap" or "cheesy". Many of the big brands use these exotic materials in their construction as a marketing gimmic...and to demand a higher retail..when these materials may do very little or nothing to make the product any better.

Im getting together the pieces for my next system in the Runner that will include names that most people have never heard of. I'll be running a 3 way active front stage using Audible Physics components that include 8" midbass drivers along with Mosconi amps and their DSP.

ima hearin, and ima likin:naughty:

 

[Rubberdown]

So... What do you have in your 4runner. Mr ddnww?

 

[BrianSD_42]

[No message]