Veterans opinions needed

seight311 · 05-20-2008, 03:18 AM

Suddenly decided that i want to make my escort into a small project. Budget spl is the name of the game. I plan on first getting everything to seal good so trunk lid doors etc are going to need some adjusting. Next is the alternator, not exactly sure what im going for there i just know i need something big, atleast a 200. Then what i seek from you guys. I would like to stick with a smaller driver but i dont think thats possible, cause i would rather suprise people tossing out big numbers with say a 12 but im thinking to do this with a tight ish budget in mind i need to go big and use a single driver. So it appears an 18 or 15 is whats going in this. So far what im thinking is fi. amp im really not sure, for the most part i have always been about moderate power and clean power. Now i need reliable and loud. Also i dont want this thing taking up the entire car cause this wont be a trailer rider. So 7 cubes is about my max. I plan on doing a 2 inch layer of concrete in the floor seeing how i do with that and then consider doing some paint on through out the rest. I would like to be able to say i still havent done this this or this yet so if i want to go louder then i can do those steps. So give me some spl amp and woofer suggestions guys. Rough idea on budget would be 350 max on the sub and amp... I dunno 300 would be great. Oh and its not going to be a one note wonder, although all i plan on doing is tossing in some coaxials or cheap comps up front and a tiny profile to run them, mostly for the sake of calling it a dd system. Thanks in advance

disturbed471985 · 05-20-2008, 05:39 AM

sounds like fun seight. But with the budget allowed u are very limited i would search the web for used apx's or 9500 even 3500<< even being used i doubt ull be able to get one (not needing a recone) for under 200$. As far as amps go ull have to go used again and would be needing atleast 2500 at whatever ohm u chose << off top i cant come up with a brand that would fit this bill and the price even though the amp would be used. Clean high reliable power isint cheap but you know that. Ive seen a few btl's and are nice basiclly a old XXX with new badge. But even used these cant be found for under 150$ <atleast in the 15' 18' model. But with enough searching and looking anything is possible.

If looking for alt talk to excessive amperage built my custom 240 on my sentra <<was the only company that seemed sure they could make one without changing anything under the hood to make it sit stock and not charge me an arm and a leg.

seight311 · 05-20-2008, 06:57 AM

Maybe this will help... Lets shoot for a 1500 watt or less system. I wasn't really thinking up in the 2000+ watt range.

Thanks for the tip on the alternator issue, I wasn't sure at all who would make a replacement nor who would build up an Escort stock one, I think the stock one is like 50 amps or something, thing would constantly let my CD7000 shut off...

So with the lower wattage thing in line now... Maybe the BL 18"? The BTL has the obvious power handling increase, but xmax is 5mmmore in the BL.... [>:]

Anything from Audioque? Don't forget I live in Iowa, just about anything thats not JL or someone with 6-12" type-r's in their explorer is loud. I took second with the Tempests! Come on! How is that possible in a drag with 50+ entrys, no one around here has a clue, so even with a super effective 1500 watts I will be in excellent shape. Plus, doing this all for under a grand would be a big achievement as well.

disturbed471985 · 05-20-2008, 08:20 AM

Whats amps do you have now?

I assume u mean 1000$ for everthing including concrete, altand the whole shabang correct? Never seen aBL in action but can assume they are the exact copy of the old sx's(slightly higher power rating for the bl)which got pretty loud but i dont think they were known for holding up in a dedicated spl system. Even going with a bl whats an 18 go for with no option's? Prob around 250 -300 new? There website is blocked at wrk unsure why but oh well. So there goes the budget right there. Thats if u buy new ive seen some bl's used go for as low as 150$ but those are mostly 12's it looks like. BET u WISH you still had ur DD. If u can place 2nd with temps then look for a old tumult prob can be found dirt cheap and for there time were some producing speakers and with the right box im sure a 18 tum with proper power would result in a 1st place for you easily.
No exp with AQ heard good things but thats just talk but for the price it might be worth a try i mean cmon there des byDD so they cant be that bad im sure there miles ahead of any mainstream sub as far as quality and bang for the buck so might wanna look around. << dont think ull find any used ones yet though.
Also, might wanna look on the bay for an old stroker the real ones those things were animals back in the dayz and would still keep up with most new chit out and in most cases destroy all of them.

Hisss04Cobra · 05-20-2008, 12:40 PM

That altenator is going to run You probably 300 if not more.

PReal · 05-20-2008, 05:19 PM

I'd go with a Fi BTL.

Cheap high power amp and comps... (Been doing a ton of reading on DIY Mobile Audio and really want to try these out.)

http://www.cadencestore.com/ProductC...idCategory=124

disturbed471985 · 05-21-2008, 02:36 AM

Hiss is also correct my 240 was $489.14 with shipping(they had cheaper units but would require mods under the hood for it to sit and wrk properly which would have set me back way more than 500$) so its a great investment but a high priced investment.<< also only comes with year warrenty which blows but this seems to be the norm in the industry. But with the road it looks like your going down i dont see any reason for a 200+amp alt.

seight311 · 05-21-2008, 06:46 PM

Yeah around a $1000 would be great. Concrete wont cost much, the obvious thing thats going to kill a good portion of my budget is the alternator, which sucks. I have a yellow top sitting around I can use, make my own big 3 with wire I have laying around.

I wouldn't mind using the big 1000 watter Cadence, cheap and decent power is what it looks like. And thats what im after.

They didn't make 18" Tumults I don't think, I check ebay and find 12's and 15's every so often, I will snag up one of those 12's at some point. Tumults are sick and I need to have one to keep forever.

disturbed471985 · 05-22-2008, 06:58 AM

seight i was thinking about the maelstrom forthe18". Alt will eat up funds for sure might wanna see if any other ford vehicles have a higher ouput alt that would be a direct replacement would save alot of money if u could go to a jy and get a alt for 40$.

seight311 · 05-22-2008, 04:19 PM

Good idea on the alternator. Maybe a newer escort or focus even...

Yeah the ol Maelstroms, they were moderatly priced.I think alot of people were using them for large high output subwoofer set-ups, pro audio almost, and car audio. I miss Adire. Dearly.