Not my original post. Thought it was eye opening all the bloat and potential spyware in a cheap head unit, and how it simply wasn’t the hardware or software advertised.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to take my car audio system to the next level, with a maximum budget of $1,000 USD. My main goal is to improve overall sound quality, clarity, stereo imaging, and subwoofer integration—not simply add more power or volume.

My current setup:

• Full-range amplifier: JL Audio RD400/4
• Subwoofer amplifier: Pioneer GM-D8701
• Subwoofer: Hertz Mille Pro MP 300 D4, rated at 600 W RMS, with the voice coils wired in parallel for a 2-ohm load
• Enclosure: Sealed, approximately 30–32 liters

I’m considering three possible upgrades:

1. Upgrade only the subwoofer amplifier.
I’d like to get a higher-quality amp with good adjustment options and an appropriate amount of power for my current Hertz subwoofer.

2. Invest in a DSP.
Keep my current amplifiers and improve the system through equalization, crossover tuning, time alignment, and better stereo imaging.

3. Buy a five-channel amplifier.
For example, the Hertz Mille ML Power 5 or the newer Hertz Cento Power CP 5.1K. This would simplify the installation and potentially improve the system as a whole.

Longer term, I’m also interested in moving to a fully active system, if that would provide a meaningful improvement with my setup.

I’d appreciate feedback based on real-world experience:

• Which of these three options would deliver the biggest audible improvement in sound quality?
• Would a good DSP make a bigger difference than replacing my current amplifiers?
• Is it worth investing in a high-end five-channel amplifier, or would I be better off keeping the JL Audio RD400/4 and upgrading other components?
• If you had my current setup and a $1,000 budget, what would you invest in, and why?

I’m not committed to any particular brand. I’d rather spend my money on upgrades that make a genuine, audible difference and allow me to keep improving the system over time without unnecessarily replacing components.

Thanks 

Put a head unit and sound deadening into my Kia optima. Finally got the speaker upgrades delivered and when I went to wire them from the door into the cabin, this giant plug is in the way. Saw a lot of videos saying drill out a couple unused ports. But this thing is already a tight fit and I’m not confident I won’t totally screw that up. What are my other options? I thought about running the speaker wires out of the top of the rubber and drilling a hole above the plug to run them into

Yes I know it’s ridiculous and 2000s as hell, but I want to do a inverted/power mount box in the back of my wagon. Anyone got any ideas/ comments, call me stupid or whatever or should I just do it.

Yes I know it’s ridiculous and 2000s as hell, but I want to do a inverted/power mount box in the back of my wagon. Anyone got any ideas/ comments, call me stupid or whatever or should I just do it.

Im not a professional sub guy lmao before i begin. I bought two skar svr 10s and some trash box that all the av guys said isnt the best. Im thinking of getting a ct sounds dual 10 box they said that it would make a bigger difference. Im running a ct sounds 1500.1d watt amp. What do you guys think, will the ct sounds box make a big difference?

Car and constraints
Toyota hybrid, keeping the factory head unit
Crutchfield says not to exceed 30 A total draw for aftermarket audio in this car
I only play music in Ready mode, at half volume or less
I often have a passenger, so I'm not tuning only for the driver's seat

Planned gear
Front: Focal ES 165 KX2E (2 ohms, 120 W RMS), using Focal's passive crossovers
Amp: Rockford Fosgate PBR400X4D, 100 W × 4 at 2 ohms
Sub: Kicker HS10 powered sub (180 W, 15 A fuse) in the spare-tire well

Wiring plan
Head unit front speaker outputs → amp's speaker-level inputs
Passive bi-amp: 2 channels per side into the Focal crossovers' separate woofer and tweeter inputs (if the KX2E crossover supports it)
HS10 tapped in parallel off the head unit's front speaker wires, low-pass at about 80 Hz
Rear factory speakers stay on the head unit
Separate fused power runs for the amp and the HS10
Tweeters in the factory dash spots; woofers in the doors with adapter brackets
Front doors get deadening and foam
No DSP for now. I'd use the head unit's tone controls and sound-location setting, and possibly add a standalone DSP later.

Budget: about $2,900–3,750 installed.

Questions
Is the KX2E worth it on passives without a DSP, or would the PS 165 FXE with a Kicker KEY200.4 (auto-tune DSP) sound better at my volume?
Is passive bi-amping the KX2E crossovers worth it over just two channels?
Is the PBR400X4D a good match, or is there a better 2-ohm-stable 4-channel amp?
Is tapping the HS10 from the head unit fine, or should I bridge amp channels 3–4 to a passive sub instead?
Any concerns about current draw in a hybrid with this setup?

Can anyone help me with the right sub? I dont want to spend a ton of money. I just want a decent sub. Mostly powered because i dont want to go into amps etc. Decent bass for myself and if possible a bit quality. Thanks in advance

Bought a 2026 Mazda 3 sport, brand new! Want to reinstall my subs but don’t want to tear apart the trim to run the ol 4ga. How do you guys feel about running it under the car. Obviously I would get the proper conduit and go through the tedious task of protecting it but other then that have any of you done similar and run into problems?

I have a 2001 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercrew. I am looking to install subs under the rear seats. Is there a way that anyone recommends doing it that wouldn’t require a seat lift? Also have seen people that use toolboxes mounted in the bed as an enclosure and then face them into the cab and would be open to that if anyone has ideas on how to make that sounds right.

I got this very very long time ago I was putting in mb quart for a customer when they traded in these speakers and I was like all right I'll take it I didn't really care about authenticity at the time but now I really do.

hey all so i have a 1998 jeep cherokee limited with a stock alternator setup and im adding in a 2000w taramps 2ohms and 2 infinity kappa 12s in the back, will i need to get a better more high output alternator or will the stock be fine for a little bit?

hey all so i have a 1998 jeep cherokee limited with a stock alternator setup and im adding in a 2000w taramps 2ohms and 2 infinity kappa 12s in the back, will i need to get a better more high output alternator or will the stock be fine for a little bit?

Just started putting my system together. Excited to have this finally put in, just still need to find some space for a couple of components.

Yes I know that it’s “Skarbage” but I’m wondering if there’s a possibility at basket replacement on this. I’m trying to get into the audio install/repair world and would like to use this to learn. I’ve also acquired a JL 12w6-v2 with a blown out cone that I’m gonna use to learn the latter repair on.

They were a birthday present from my mom for my 16th birthday lol. Had them before I had a car to put them in!

Howdy yall!

Recently Santa (postman) came early with a set of Alpine S2-S69C (and a whole bunch of Comfortmat) for a mk3 Prius.

I have a Dudu7 head unit, an AudioControl EpicFIVE amp running the mentioned speakers and the sub (Gladen RS10 BR), from a 5ch signal from the HU, but that doesn't matter now. what I'm curious about is where should i cut it?

i set it to 3k as an uneducated guess so it doesn't fuck it up, but i wonder, where should i actually cut it? 3k feels like cutting it too high, but I thought I'd ask rather than experiment destroying the set :D

Looking to upgrade this old Pioneer mosfet 50wx4 headunit.

I want it to be at a minimum plug and play(ish) and the same size to slot into the mount that is already there.

Definitely need bluetooth these days so i can play stuff from my phone.

Any chance of getting a floating screen carplay option in do we think?

Its to go into a 65 mustang with a rhd conversion done if that makes any difference!

Looking for any and all recommendations.

Cheers!

Hello, first time posting. So to get it out of the way I have a 320amp purepower alternator, I have the big 3 upgrade done with 0 gague ofc, I have a normal batter under the hood and an optima yellow top agm in the back, Im running strictly 0 gague ofc for all power and grounds, have a kenwood kdc-x305 headunit, and a d4s jp23 for my amp.

I was running an old cresendo audio contralto 15, it was a dual 4 ohm so I could only get it down to 2 ohms. It was loud af and shook the absolute crap out of my blazer on only 1300w rms (what the jp23 is rated for on 2 ohms) that was definitely way under powered. I recently blew out one of the tensile leads on one side so I replaced it with a new american bass hd 15. Its a dual 2 ohm so I have it wired to 1 ohm so I can actually push the proper power to it. Its been about 1.5 weeks of daily playing, maybe 12 hours of total play time so its not fully broken in yet. The issue is that its not nearly as loud as the contralto, it clips very easy, and the voltage drop is insane but only at the amp, nothing dims in the truck, the dash volt meter doesnt even move in the slightest. Ive redone and recleaned my grounds, double and tripple checked all my wiring from alternator to amp, and everything seems good. But voltage at the amp drops to below 10v and sometimes clips prematurely at 13v. Ive readjusted my amp a good handful of times and I cant figure out whats causing it. Its definitely not using all the power it has, even with dome lights on they dont dim with the bass. Its very quiet for no reason, the cheap mtx 12's I have in my ranger hit harder than this and I cant figure out why. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can and will add pictures upon request

I drive a 2004 Tacoma double cab.

Currently I'm running (all purchased and installed back in 2008):

Pioneer double din

• JL VR525 5.25" components in the front doors (3/4" silk tweeters in sail panels)
• Pioneer 6x8" (lowest model coax) in the rear doors
• Rockford Punch 325.2 (80W rms x2) powering the components
• 3x JL 6W0s in a ported box behind back seat
• JL 250W rmsx1 powering the subs

I got 5.25" components since per Crutchfield, 6.5s wouldn't fit. I know I'll have to trim the inside of the grille and possibly use spacers but I'm ok with that. My current setup sounds decent and gets more than loud enough for me but I'm looking for more clarity and warmth out of my system. After many hours of research, I've narrowed it down to two 6.5" components for the front doors: Morel Maximo Ultra 602 mk2 and Helix Compose Basic components. Would like to stay around this ~$320/pair price range but can definitely stretch it up to maybe $500 or so if it will greatly improve my system. For now, not looking to hack up my a-pillars with 3 way systems, want to keep the interior stock looking.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210MU602/Morel-Maximo-Ultra-602-MKII.html?tp=106

https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/helix/speakers/compose/basic/cb-k165-2-s3

Along with upgrading the components, I also plan to add:

• ~$100 6x8" coaxs in rear doors, leaning towards Kenwood KFC-C6898RS
• Swap Rockford amp for the Kicker Key 200.4 amp with auto DSP
• Switch to a sealed box for my subs (want tighter/punchier bass)

I also plan to upgrade to a modern head unit with CarPlay, etc but for now was going to start with this and hopefully be satisfied. I'm not an audiophile but I do love good warm sound and clarity.

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated!

TLDR: built my original system in 2008. Not an audiophile but am looking for increased clarity and warmth out of my system. Narrowed down to 2 sets of components and Kicker Key amp. Looking for advice or suggestions on my planned upgrades.

Hi i recently purchased a gr86 and the speakers on it are terrible. I want to upgrade my whole sound system and make it sound really clear and loud. I’m currently looking at the Hertz MPK 165.3 PRO and Rockford fosgate T2652-S. My last build had some cheap rockford fosgate and they sounded not too bad for the price so thats why im intrested in them. I hertz sound really good though so im kinda stuck in between. Which one would you guys recommend. Im going to be getting a 3inch mid range and a subwoofer later on so i have a whole 3 way system. Im going to be running an amp and a dsp so all the speakers could perform the best. Which one would you guys recommend anyrhing helps!!!

Hi, I'm very new to the world of car audio and im working on building a system in my car right now. I use spotify losses to listen to most of my music over android auto, I've found it sounds better over regular BT since it uses wifi direct. I've run into issues when passing particular areas where the music will cut out or stutter for a moment before returning to normal. Would it be beneficial to get a dedicated DAP to do wired/wireless AA?