My audio journey so far...

first, heres my 2012:


So, I had some gear that I took out from my old car. I had a head unit (kiv bt900) a Rockford 10" P2 in a cheap prefab box and a Rockford Prime 250 watt mono amp. I wanted to keep this system "budget" like all my previous systems - which I had been totally happy with.

setup 1:
Installed my headunit (with 2005-2011 dashkit), went to my local stereo shop and got some Alpine Type R components. Type R's running off the head unit. Wasn't too impressed with the tweeters in the stock location, so eventually moved them to the kick panel.



After a few weeks, since my old prefab box was way too big to fit, I ended up with a Kicker 10Tcvt:

(that black thing is Stinger Overkill over Stinger Roadkill)

Result - not bad. For most music I was ok with it, but on certain Rock tunes the Kicker got real sloppy and couldn't keep up. Also, it really did sound like a "flat" sub - hard to explain but it didn't go low when it should have.

not bad, but not satisfied.

Setup 2:
So I figured I would find a cheap prefab box and mount my P2 in it. Found a box for $35 or so on Amazon and got it installed. Surprised at how much louder the Kicker was. P2 sounded like a 10in should, but again very sloppy bass.

//I should note that by this time, I had created a playlist of songs that mainly centered around "sound quality" to use for testing.. Dire Straits - money for nothing, Eagles - hotel california, some radiohead, some r&b, etc//

not happy.

Setup 2.5:
I took the P2 out installed the Kicker CVT. (the box is about .8cf) Sound improved from the tiny box the cvt was originally in. But still on some songs, it was slow.

//also note, I had exhausted all tuning possiblities including crossover points, slope, time alignment, eq.

not cool.

Setup 3:
Maybe I need more power? Remember, "budget build"... So I ended up getting 2 new amps, a kac 8205 (500 watts @ 2ohms) and a kac 1502 (60x2 @4ohms) for about $180 or so. Got those installed, hooked up all three previous sub configurations.

definitely louder with the extra 250 watts for the sub, but the sound quality was still the same. on a plus note, the Type R's sound much better with the added power.

I need help.

Setup 4:
Went to a different shop that deals with more boutique brands, sound quality oriented it seems. Went in and he asked what kind of music I listened to most. I said "rock". He said "Hybrid Audio Technologies". So I got it, wasn't exactly budget, but was willing to pay more to be done with it.

//right about this time, I noticed the prefab box i bought used 1/2 mdf for the back,bottom, sides and top, only the front used 3/4. - could be why the Rockford didn't go very loud, but oh well.//

So I braced my prefab box externally and installed the HAT 10. Sounded incredible! perfect....

or not.

Setup 5:
The one issue I wasn't really concerned about (spl) was apparent - it couldn't go loud. not competition loud, just loud enough to be clear over engine/road noise.

So I went back, and he suggested I try porting the box. He gave me the specs for port length and size to tune to 40hz. So I ported my box and it got way louder. It lost all the detail though and the port noise was incredibly loud (straight pvc, no flares). So I sealed my now franken box up again and took the sub back as the stereo shop offered to take it back.

He brought out a box and installed an Alumapro sub and we hooked it up. It had the sound quality similar to the HAT, which I loved, and it also got loud.

(had my 50mm prime lens attached, was too lazy to get a wider lens)
I had to pay a little more, but at least for now, I got the sound I was looking for.

//one note about the alumapro... it does not like rap. I tested just about everything, rock, pop, r&b, dubstep - and it all sounds great, except rap.

anyway, thats my story. I took a video of the alumapro playing some music with a lot of drums but I have no idea why... crappy mic doesn't illustrate sound correctly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47siAgJmc4A&feature=player_detailpage#t=109s
I'll just say that it hits very hard and and blends in well with the front stage. (skip to about 2:00 minutes in to see the sub)

tl;dr - went through 4 subs and two boxes and bought two new amps in about a month.

 

very nice.

Just wondering how the old dash kit fits? my patience is running out waiting for the 2012 dash kit. I have a single diny bluetooth deck i want to install.
Worried the trim would be a little off, but yours appears flush.

 

Bump for reply

 

dash kit "fits" and installs securely. if you were to sit in the middle seat and look straight at the dash kit, it would probably look completely stock.

But at an angle, the top of the dash kit is recessed from the dash. The bottom of the kit sits above the dash.

its not terrible, but its not flush... i may switch it out for the 2012 kit when it comes out, but it hasn't been bothering me.

 

Did you ever download the test album I made and posted in the sticky? That has a TON of great recording snips that will make your system shine.

 

ooh, where where?

I've been listening to a wide variety of music lately, never hurts to have more reference material.

edit:found it,downloading... thx for the tip.