VWdude

So a brief introduction... I have been into car audio since 1995. I have done some serious custom installs and I was a manager at a few shops in town. I have since moved on as an engineer and lost interest when I had a company car (no need for a system).

I now bought a '13 VW CC and the factory system is sub par.

Here is what I am looking to do:
-factory stereo: I plan to use one of the DSPs out there to correct the factory EQ settings and boost to RCA level output. Not sure what model to do with, need advise.

-Front Stage: Doors can hold 6.5" woofer, 3" mid, and 1" tweeter. I wanted Dynaudio, but their 3-way setup only comes in 7", and I would rather not build an adaptor. Im considering CDT sets, but not sure whats good anymore. Suggestions?

-Rear stage: Doors hold 6.5" woofer and 1" tweeter, but the tweeter is high and right behind the head of the front passangers. I am considering 6.5" coaxials, matching the front speakers if possible.

-4 channel amp: I want to go old school. I am trying to find a Phoenix Gold ZPA0.3. If anyone has a suggestion on a high end amp, like a zapco, macintoch, audison...not sure whats good anymore, this is why I am resorting to my old school ways.

-Sub: I am going to build a fiberglass enclosure for this, but i want to go small, in the 10" range, due to needing space in the trunk. I really want to make it stealth.

-sub amp: i want something small to power the 10". I do not plan to compete, I just want a really good sounding setup. Im thinking 200-300 watts would work.

heres my car:



here are some examples of previous jobs that ive done:
2001 Camaro stealth box with 12w6v1



Dodge Magnum with L5 sub:



Scion XB with Alpine Type-r subs, ampline amp:

Sonic

iTrader: (1)

Speakers: look into hertz, focal, dls, Hybrid Audio Technologies
Amps: hertz, audison, JL. I think the JL hd 900/5 would work nicely for your goals.
Subs: Jl w3 & w6 or even an image dynamics idq

VWdude

im pretty familiar with JL, a few cars ago I had a 300/4 and 500/1 with a pair of 10w6v2s.

I have seen stuff about Hertz... are they really ranked up there with those other companies?

So the IDQ is still made? I thought I saw several years ago that Image Dynamics was going out of business...

Sonic

iTrader: (1)

Hertz are up there,the Hybrid Audio Technologies is right up there as well.

Yes, the Idq and idmax are still made, actually the latest version were just released, and id was bought out by power bass.

VWdude

Ive never heard of Power bass. they sound like a cheap ebay brand, has ID kept its quality?

BTW heres my car that had the JL stuff. This was during the peak of my car audio time.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/482117...and-am/page-4/

Sonic

iTrader: (1)

Yes, power bass is crap, but the quality of the id's remain the same.

Car looks great mann, nice work !

Sonic

iTrader: (1)

For dsp, I like the rockford fosgate 360.3, it allows you to do a nice 3 way active front stage + sub stage. Or depends on your budget you can get and active 4 way hu.

VWdude

so to do a active 3 way front stage i would need 4 channels for the front, right? or would it be 6 channels?

Also, how is the sound Q of that JL 900/5? I always felt that class D amps for mids and highs gave lower quality sound compared to class A/B, amp. I am ok with having a larger amp for my front/rear stage if need be.

Sonic

iTrader: (1)

The jl hd amps are clean and class D has come a long way especially digital, some people still prefer the class a/b.

For a 3 way active front stage you will need a 6 channel amp, the ZED Audio Leviathan - III 6 channel amplifier comes to mind.

If I was doing a sq install and have the budget, these amps would be my choice.

http://store.soundsolutionsaudio.com...zed-audio.html

VWdude

So I think Im going to keep it simple with 2 channels for the front and use the passive 3-way crossovers that come with the speakers. Im not looking to compete, and I need to be somewhat budget conscious.

so for the DSPs, i had cleansweep and I know that its only 4 channels, so Im not looking at that one. How does the Audison Bit 10 compare to the Audio control LC6i and Alpine imprint and the fosgate 360.3? I know that you recommended the fosgate due to the channels, but if I am only looking for 5 or 6 channels im not sure.