sausesq9

Any advice? Where should I start? I want it professionally done, any places recommended in CT or MA (Boomer Mc, Tweeter)?

Stock system sounds ok, bass is lacking. I have non-Bose. I need to improve sound quality, db level, and most importantly add some tight bass (for techno, rap, metal). I have a 10" bazooka in my old car but I didn't think it would make sense putting that boomy, half-*** tube in this awesome machine. My budget is around $1000. I prefer to keep the head unit and getting another amp to power new speakers (replace all 10?) and the sub (thinking 1 or 2 12"s in a sub box against back of backseat to conserve space). Dealer warned me about messing with the electronics in the car, he's heard horror stories. I searched through the forum and didn't find much. JL and MBquart have been recommended components. I have BA's in my old car, love em but didn't think it was worth the hassle and expensive of switching the five yr. old speaker (6.75s) into the A4.

Thanks for the feedback in advance.

jbenedict

I am doing a whole revamp of my system: Headunit, mids, highs, subs, amps, caps, etc. Retail I would be looking at $16k to $25k for the system, but after searching the internet and finding alternatives here and there, I have reduced this to around $10k.

Since the sound is good, but lacking bass, I would suggest you upgrade on your bass first. For the genre that you mentioned, I would go with 2 tens. Tens have better clairity and tighter bass, whereas a 12 would be more boomy and not hit as fast for those techno beats. Listen to it over a couple of months to see what you think. If you need more from your mids and highs, then you can think about upgrading some more.

Some figures:
ex. 1 retail pricing - $1850
(2) JL Audio 10w6v2 subs - $379 ea
(1) JL Audio 500/1 amps - $600
(1) Sub box with amp rack - $500

ex. 2 internet pricing - $1150
(2) JL Audio 10w6v2 subs - $289 ea
(1) JL Audio 500/1 amps - $420
(1) Sub box with amp rack (build yourself) - $150

sausesq9

good advice...where online do you recommend buying JL? I heard their amps are overpriced. I'm suprised you described the stock sound as "good"; I thought an audiophile would be more critical. Not sure if local places will install my stuff I buy online. I' gonna buy a box. Tweeter has JL though. I don't want the subs to drown out the mids and highs though. What about 2 12"s?

jbenedict

But you are right, the stock sound is ok, at least for the average non-audiophile driver. Since I am taking the do it myself approach, I have begun removing speakers, making custom speaker mounts, lots of measuring, blah blah blah. And although this will take me quite some time to do, I will have saved a tremendous amount of money. Plus I will know what I did to my car and not have to worry about taking it to Audi on my service calls.

I think two twelves will be more money and sound than you may want. A good system with two 12's will run you over a couple hundered dollars more than what I had quoted before (if we are talking 2 JL 500/1 amps , 2 JL 12x6v2 subs, box). Besides, I think a true audiophile would prefer the clarity of the 10's over the 12's. Although, I am going for 2 12's

Here is an out of date diagram of what I am planning. I have both added and subtracted items from it since the initial design.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/20056/stereo.jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://www.onlinecarstereo.com">http://www.onlinecarstereo.com</a</li></ul>

O.W. Kenobi

If you have them already, why not continue to use them?