[volker]

Hi,

In case the title wasn't a give away, total noob here.
Till recently I was pretty happy with my OEM system in my car.
And then I saw pictures of an install a friend got for his car and that changed everything.
I'm reading, planning, drawing... fill online shopping carts and empty them again... and of course have no idea what I want.
My planning went from full show install (of course not done by me) to stealth to something in between.
From converting my 4 seater (MINI Cooper) into a 2 seater and then deciding to leave the backseats in.

So yeah, current status is:

I would like to start by adding an amp and sub to my OEM.
This post is not about the technical part, I'm pretty sure what I need there.

My problem is that I want to avoid a system in my car that looks like a quilt.
Amp from A, subs from B, later mids from C and tweeters from D.
Oh, and let's not forget sound quality (mostly Rock)

Which system would you recommend that could easily cover these criteria out of 1 hand ?

Or to take any cost objections out:
Which company would you like to approach you to sponsor your install ?
(I know, free stuff lets you forget about preferences very fast, but anyways)

Any input is welcome !

Thanks,
Volker

 

[Hispls]

I'd lean towards Alpine since they have solid head units and processors, their amps are decent and reliable, and their higher end speakers are quite nice. You'd also have options from entry level to pretty damn expensive. Also it's pretty readily available.

10 years ago I'd have said Rockford, but I think their amps are way overpriced these days (though they do have some nice amps). They also have the 3sixty for integration for you, and servicable speakers.

 

[capnxtreme]

This is just silly.

Besides matching amps for aesthetic purposes, who the hell cares? Who the hell cares whether your speakers are the same brand as the amps?

Do you wear Nike shoes, socks, underwear, pants, shirts, watch, glasses, jewelry? Personally, I'd rather buy my watch from a watch manufacturer, just like I'd rather buy my speakers from a speaker specialist, and my amps from an amp specialist.

 

[chad]

funky pup

 

[mSaLL150]

I think every piece of equipment in my system is a different brand. Well besides that 2 of my 3 amps are from the same manufacturer. Otherwise, my system is a complete mutt.

 

[chad]

Mine is Heinz57 too

 

[MuTT]

<PERK> WHA?

 

[HIS4]

I tend to agree with the others here. There is no 1 manufacturer that excels in all categories. In fact, a lot of the high end manufacturers tend to specialize. For example Audison, they make amps and that's about it. If you want to stretch it Hertz is a division of Electromedia which Audison also falls under but if you concerned about matching badges that means nothing to you. The only ones that you'll find everything under 1 badge is the stuff that's sold in the big box stores so stuff like Alpine, Pioneer, and Kenwood. Some of the stuff is decent and some of it is usually not even considered when talking about a nice system.

You'd be better off ust matching stuff that will be in similar locations. So maybe amps and subs assuming all of that will be in the trunk. That might give you a little more flexibility in equipment choices. Better yet, if you just go totally stealth, nobody will see your equipment so it doesn't matter what brand it is.

 

[volker]

Thanks for the responses so far, folks !

Of course, I understand the comments in regards to specialists, but that wasn't the question. And I really didn't want to start the 100th "what sub to what amp" post.

So, no benefits at all to go with one manufacturer (amps, subs, mids, tweeters, not Head units) ? Nothing that this companies amps does better with their own subs ?

Do you want me to ask more specialized ?

What sequence would you rate them in ?

- Infinity
- Elemental Design
- JL
- Alpine

?

 

[ErinH]

why?

 

[volker]

why?

Me ?

 

[ErinH]

yes .

 

[traceywatts]

ALPINE
JL
INFINITY
ED

 

[volker]

why?

Just thought it would help me to get a different approach.

So, the general answer from most of you would be that there is

a) no benefit to go with only 1 manufacturer
b) no manufacturer is able to get it right in all areas
c) if a manufacturer knocks on your door, offering to use your car for a demo install, free of charge for you (you gonna keep the gear, installed for a few years), none would get your vote of total confidence ?
d) you would reject the offer because it would be too painful for you to not get your preferred part of another brand installed ?

 

[ocuriel]

Alpine

 

[Genxx]

Zapco Speaker, amps, processor
Hertz speakers, amps and Audison processor.
Piece together a PPI set-up and processor.

Doesn't Audison have speakers coming out. If so then you can do Audison amp, speakers and processor.

As other have said why not sure I get your goal. I do like matching amps. I like to match subs also. I always try to match front speakers also so basically they have the same tonal signature, some will not agree with this though.

Pick a HU I don't care.

 

[subwoofery]

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/diy-mobile-audio/53870-prefer-using-all-one-brand-your-car.html
The above thread might be a good read for you.

Hope that helps,
Kelvin

 

[volker]

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/diy-mobile-audio/53870-prefer-using-all-one-brand-your-car.html
The above thread might be a good read for you.

Hope that helps,
Kelvin

Thanks Kelvin !

 

[SPEEDBUILT]

sorry volker, but you are wasting your time.............
Find a hu you like, some components, and amps, and last a sub.
Ooops I left out wires, distro blocks, fuses, processors, and deadning material.
My point?
If you want the best do the research for each individual part of your system and then add them together for your take on SQ.
If you are looking for a single sponsor for your ride then I suggest going to soundomain.com!

 

[MrDave]

Zapco, DLS, Hertz/Audison, JBL, Rainbow.

I'd say stick with DLS/Rainbow/Hertz.