Hey, just picked up an 04 PW xB a few weeks ago and am missing the sound I get with my 06 BSP xB. Now, the 06 is a show vehicle so the audio setup was a bit much with twin 8w7's, Mac mini computer, in-dash touchscreen, etc.

For the 04 all I'm looking for is something that sounds nice and will be quite a bit cheaper than what I put in the 06. I'm hoping to spend $500 - 700 or less for amps and speakers. What do people like for normal listening, not break the windows bass or make your ears bleed highs?

Right now I've only upgraded the head unit. I wanted it to work with my iPhone and have navigation through the receiver instead of messing with the phone. Since I already have an Alpine in the 06, I decided to stick with them and went with a CDA-105 for around $200. It works with the original iPhone cable (no extra crap to buy) and has 3 sets of 2V pre-amps, pretty much all I need.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...?model=CDA-105

Now I'd like to upgrade everything else, mids, highs, add a sub, and amps. I would like to keep as much trunk space as possible, so I may end up mounting the amps in the c-pillars and am only looking for a singe sub, mounted on the side or under the front passenger seat. I do my own fiberglass and paint, so I don't need to buy a box, $30 for a sheet of MDF and another $30 for a gallon of resin and mat will do just fine.

I like JL, but don't feel like paying the premium for a daily driver, so right now I'm thinking of going all Alpine. My short list is:

Front: 6 1/2" Type-S Component
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=SPS-600C

Rear: 6 1/2" Type-S Coaxial
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...?model=SPS-500

Sub: 10" Type-R (12" if mounted in hatch)
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...odel=SWR-1042D
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...odel=SWR-1242D

4-Channel Amp: V-Power 50Wx4
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=MRP-F300

Mono Amp: V-Power 500Wx1 (2 Ohm)
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...&lang=en&tab=F

I've priced everything out on Sonic Electronix for about $620. if you've had good experience with JBL, Pioneer, Kenwood, etc. and the system falls in my price range, let me know what else works.

 

if you want to save some money then don't bother upgrading your rear speakers.

 

Well, it's only an extra $80 for the rear set and I'd already need a multi-channel amp, for the front, so I think it's worth it to add. I just haven't had much experience with other brands and was hoping to hear how other people liked what they have.

 

I put in an Alpine HU with Ipod controls, JL speaks in the stock locations, and a little Kenwood 10" with built in 200w amp for about 800.00 and it's great! Nice and clear, and if i want to bump some old cuts, the 10" packs a decent little punch. I was into the huge systems when i was younger, but now that i'm older, i wanted simple.

 

Which JL mids? Are you running a 4-channel to them as well? The Alpine is only rated at 18W x4 RMS, and anything with a cross-over I prefer to run through a dedicated amplifier. About the only thing near my price range for JL was the Evolution TR's, they'd run an extra $50 for all four, just not sure if it would be worth it.

I suppose I should also mention that even though this is a daily driver, I may use it next year for a few shows in the mild class if my other xB is in the shop at the time. The only thing I need to make it ready is a new headliner, and I may also paint the pillars white. Clazzio covers are on order in ivory / black and wheels will be going on in the spring. The engine is staying stock on this one, I really just want to make it as clean as possible.

 

ditch the rear speaker upgrade and stick with your stock rears. a rear speaker upgrade is going to be near useless in improving imaging and sound quality.

take the $80 you would save by not doing the rear speakers and increase the upgrade level of your front speakers to a higher capacity. you can use the same multi channel amp and bridge it to provide more power to your fronts. the car stereo cookbook states that you don't need rear speakers to have volume or frequency range. using the rear speakers exclusively for low volume fill will give you better stereo imaging from the fronts.

the jl 250/1v2 amp paired with a 6,8 or 10 inch jl w3v3 series subwoofer will provide a good bang for your buck. you can punch it up with a jl 500/1v2 paried with a 12 or 13 inch jlw3v3. i recommend the w3v3 series of subwoofers because they represent the pinnacle of off the shelf technology and a low cost culmination of jl audio research.

imo it's silly that you would waste your money on rear speakers and decline to go with jl audio for subs when they are so cheap.

 

I have the car stereo cookbook, but found it a bit dumbed down for box design. I've been using Advanced Speaker Designs by Ray Alden, it's more for home audio but the principles are the same.

I have to disagree with you on the rear speakers. In my 06 xB, for a while I was running only fronts and subs while I was still making a box mount for the rears. Once I added the rear set, there was a large and noticeable improvement in sound quality and cabin fill. Without it it's like listening to a stereo in a truck cab, all the sound is forward.

JL is nice and all, but most of their innovation is with amplifier and sub design, I just don't see their mids being heads above anyone else in that price range. My 06 xB has a 500/1, 300/4 and two 8w7's, but for mids I went with a set of MB Quart RVF-216's (looks like the new model is the PVI-216).

The w3 is a nice sub. Unfortunately, JL subs like big boxes, and for the low-volume box I want, it just wont cut it. They only use a 10w1 for the 04-06 xB stealthbox to be able to fit it under the seat. The 12w3 wants 1.25 ft^3 sealed,where the Alpine only needs .85. of the JL's I've owned, they also seem to sound much better in ported applications, I switched the 8w7's from sealed to ported and it's more than noticeable. Unfortunatley, that means 1.75 ft^3 for a box, and that eats a lot of space on the xB's already small cargo area.

I do really like JL's amps, mainly because they are one of a few who use a regulated power supply for constant power from 1.5-4 Ohm and 12-14.4V. However, I just can't justify $400 for another 500/1 when the Alpine will put out 500W @ 2 Ohm for $170. The HD900/5 would be perfect, except it's $750 by itself.

 

I have no idea what the number on them is, been a couple years, and i'm not much of a audio guru. I'm running them off my deck, which says 4 x 50W.