heres a question: what do you guys say to someone who says they're system is the best because it has "tight, punchy, clean bass" while they might say someone elses "isn't tight, it just rumbles and shakes the car"

I figure the rumble car makes the music sound better because they are playing the music the way it was meant to be heard, or else the artist and co. would not have recorded the rumble part to the music.

situation comes as follows, a friend of mine claims that he knows more about car audio than I do, which may or may not be true. but then he went on to say that my system is trash and is only good at making noise outside the vehicle because it shakes everything and that his setup is all anyone in the world would need. granted, he listens to different music than I do, but his system does "rumble" on the right songs, it just sounds sloppy. mine however has the same punch when a bass note comes through the speakers, but mine doesn't sound so muddy when the rumbling comes. I even allowed him to pick a song and he said its nice punchy and tight bass, then we played it in my van and we got the same punch, plus some rumbling that he couldn't pick up in an enjoyable manner. I mean, I'm not an sq guy at all, but I thought that being able to produce the rumbling meant that my system could reproduce more notes in a given song than his, which made mine sound better, which it did.

thoughts?

 

"Better" or "Best" is a matter of opinion. My sealed 10" on 450rms hits tight and low and leaves plenty room for drums and baby stuff. I can't hear my passengers, but it is barely audible outside the vehicle(no sticky finger mf'ers). Therefore it is the best(for me). Yeah I would like to be heard 3 blocks away but I don't want my son to be deaf by 2yrs either. I have a great respect for the SPL'ers setting off alarms worldwide even though I am not among them (now). SPL is not as simple as throwing cash at your ride, and neither is SQ. Just two different objectives. Sounds like your boy doesn't realize this, or maybe he's too cool to admit his woofer envy

Peace from K-town

 

So your saying his system lacks extension? That's a major fault. It does not have to flex the windows but it a good system should dig as low as possible. If Planet Krypton only produces farts and barks then it is not a good design IMO.

 

Awesome, it sounds like I'm right about this. Oh, and I agree, the ability to shake pieces of the vehicle, or other vehicles for that matter, isn't necessary, so long as it sounds proper accross a wider spectrum. To be fair, we both have Pioneer decks, and though his had more bells and whistles, I let him choose the volume we would listen to it at because he also thinks that being loud like I am is pointless. So, volume was 20, or 15, can't remember, and all I did to match him was increase my source level adjustment to 3 from 2, and he had his Loudness set to high. Mine was off so I had to change that as well. Needless to say at the same volume I certainly sounded better. Dukk, you got the words I needed. My low end extension far surpassed his, but he still refused to admit my stereo sounded better. Though footballdad I do get what you're saying about it being subjective, but I've had more compliments on my stereo than he has, that I know for sure, and while I can make my kid go deaf, I refuse to play the stereo loud while he's in there. I'd rather he damage his own hearing with his own stereo than blame me for it.

 

Wait wait - he has a subwoofer and has to set his loudness to high? With a decent sub setup you should not be able to listen to it with loud on at all. wtf is this guy running on the bottom end?

 

Two 12'' JL's if I'm not mistaken, on a JL amp. He doesn't listen to his stereo above 15 so it kinda makes sense, but its the same as listening to it in the 20's with loudness off as far as I can tell. I'll be honest I chalked his arrogance up to being a JL fan.

 

So his system has less low freq range AND isn't as loud or clear. Whats he basing his "better" claim on? It's definitely woofer envy, or maybe his ears are plugged. Put his head to your ports and let 'er rip, problem solved. Reminds me of this... go youtube New Family Member: An moves in!
Good man, ditto.

 

sounds like you have a ported box while your friend has a sealed one :