^^that's a good deal...2 dd 10" and a clarion mono amp for 370.00. Those Infinity perfects on ebay for about 240.00 (shipped, duty, and taxes). A good deck for about 200.00, and you can initially run the comps off the deck's power until you can afford a decent amp for them. You're looking at around a G note. It'll sound good, those perfects are very good components...retailed for 600.00+ here. In a month or two, you get a decent 100x2 amp, and you have a nice system for 1200.00 that would have retailed(actual retail price) for over 2G's brand new!

 

That's what I'm thinking indeed. That would also give me time to get components wired while waiting for amp. Would have to take door apart and build an adaptor to either put into the stock place (bose did some weird things with that), but it's been done before.

If interested, check out this link.
AudiWorld Forums: Blaupunkt 5.25" components installed - 200q20v
What i'd have to do to get them installed in the doors.

Already contacted timmyturtle, he lives prettymuch a tennisball's throw away from me =D

Lets see what the parental units say.

Question about the amp. To drive two subs w/ a mono amp, would i just run two wires from the amp terminals (or split a ways down a common cable), or run in series? Haven't looked into the logistics of wiring that yet.

As for the clarion, how would it rate for SQ? Livable?
-Mike

 

first of all those Infinity perfects may be a little deep for you...i think they're around 2.5"+. Check it out before you decide. With regards to the wiring...it all depends on the amp's set up. Some of them give you two sets of speaker outputs, no difference as they're wired to each other internally anyway, it just makes it easier(I guess) to wire the subs to their own terminals. I think the Clarion is set up like that. Otherwise you would just wire both subs to the amp's single terminal together + to +. - to -(if it's a parallel set up). If the subs are in series, then one + wire from sub 1 to + of amp's speaker terminal, sub 1's - to sub 2's +, and then sub 2's - to the amp's -. In the case of the DD you're looking at, I'm pretty sure they're 4ohm each, so you'll want to parallel them for a 2 ohm load on that amp...about 1000watts rms...plenty!
Lastly, are Clarion amps any good....yes, excellent for what they are designed for, sound as good as any other, and very reliable...plus that amp looks good. Don't get sucked into amp sound quality hype...except for a handful of really poorly built, designed, or manufactured amps...virtually nobody can hear the difference between amps in a proper abx double blind test. It's a very hotly contested topic, so I won't start it again here...do a search on Richard Clark's amplifier challenge, and read it completely. If nothing else, you'll realize that amp sound quality isn't nearly as big an issue as application, build quality, features, and reputation (value and performance over time). On top of that, subwoofer amps are used in such a narrow band, and with speakers that are inherently high in distortion, that it would be impossible to hear the amp's distortion compared to the speaker's. Quite frankly that deal from Timmyturtle is a steal, if I was in the market for a sub system...I would have bought it already! Keep your eye out for a decent 5.25" comp set in the for sale section, they pop up regularly, as do great amps...some really top notch goods in there all the time.

 

What are the general views about MB Quarts? Still exploring Comp options. From further reading, it looks like the install is what would actually make the system sound great. AKA I'd be sounddeadening doors and trunk, but hopefully dont have to tear up the floor or headliner.

I have a possible alternate install for the front woofers. Attached picture, you can see the stock bose pods in the doors D=. I was originally planning on just replacing that spot, but that would play right into my feet. There is a possible alternate spot though. It should be possible for me to cut a 6.5" hole in the door (roughly drawn =P), and build some adapters to mount the speaker. If I ever sold the car, i could just drop some inexpensive 6.5's in there, make it look decently OEM, and new owner wouldn't mind a bit. Or i could scavenge the junkyard for a possible door panel and experiment with that. In any case, that's an option. As for tweets, dont know where I would mount yet. Would fool around with them once bought and figure out where they sound best.

I got those DD's and the Clarion timmyturtle was selling, and it looks like they'd fit nicely each in their own fenderbox (one each side). Would have one on each side. Each sub needs around 1.25-1.5cu.ft., 16" port, 20"SA crossection. This should be fairly doable. I started modelling the box w/ cardboard to get the dimensions. It'll be kinda tricky to actually fit/build (it's not just a square box...), but it'll be nice when it's done. Am planning on taking pictures of install.

Anyways. Opinions on MB Quarts? Looking at either Reference, Premium, or older Q-Line.
-Mike

 

well it sounds like you're off to the races! That was a steal you got from TimmyTurtle. Now, I like Quart equipment, the high end stuff is very good, and overall they're a good brand, though some find them a little too bright. I like bright, as long as it's ultra clean, and very refined. With regards to the doors, that location is much better than the stock one. If you're going to cut it try to locate the speakers as far forward as possible and as high as you can get them. Since you're cutting, put the largest component set that will fit...6.5" more than likely.

 

If I cut the door I would also try to build the baffle such that they're angled up a little towards where you'd actually sit. Think that would do well. Can't really cut much more forewards that that though. you can see where the leather changes to plastic... That's about as far forwards as they'd get. As for bringing them up, you can see the shadow of the armrest right above that. So there isn't really much room to play around with that.

Bright can be dealt with by tweeter placement/eq. As long as it's clear & crisp, I think that is fine. Premium's aren't very expensive. The newest Q-line are pricy, but previous models aren't so much.

NEW MB QUART PVF 216 6.5" CAR COMPONENT SPEAKERS PVF216 - eBay (item 180245518412 end time May-31-08 19:03:47 PDT)
-Mike

 

Oh right. I forgot. I was having a look at CDT comps as well. Comments about them?
-Mike

 

I recently got a Eclipse CD3200 from the guys at selective sound, what a great HU. I highly recommend it, its an amazing deck.

 

Noted.
-Mike

 

Word.. CDT ES 6.5 comps from a couple of years ago? Maybe?
CDT Audio ES-610 - CDT Audio EuroSport 6.5" 2 Way Component Speakers
-Mike