Hey guys, as you might know I just recently got an Alpine CDE-9846 Link, and I want your opinions on what would be a good amp/subwoofer combo. Let me give you an idea of what I have to spend, and what I'm looking for:

1) I have about $300 to spend TOTAL, this includes an enclosure for the sub.
2) I do not want boom boom, I want excellent sound quality. I listen to mostly rock and some non-progressive techno. I repeat NO BOOM BOOM, sound quality is the priority.
3) I don't know a lot about amps, so something that doesn't draw too much power, doesn't get too hot, and has low low low distortion.
4) Oh yeah, and it has to be 100% compatible with that head unit. Link

I am asking for your personal opinions. When you suggest a product, please state why you chose it, and if that product has any enthusiast legends. (In other words, headphones enthusiasts all say that Grado SR-60s are some of the best headphones under $150, and the company is an amazing company, so they reccomend those headphones for beginning enthusiasts.)

Thanks a lot guys, hope to hear from you all!

I say to get an Elemental Designs sub/amp combo, and then build your own box. For your price range, I would suggest one of their kv2 subs and a compatible amp. They sell package deals to save you some money.
I would say get the 11kv2 and a nine2 for $280, that saves you $50. This will put you a bit above your price limit, once you add the price of building a box, and a wiring kit for the amp, but no by much, and you won't be dissappointed. Here is a link for a review on the nine2 http://edesignaudio.com/septreview.php The nine2 power is: RMS Power @ 12.5v : 2 x 100 @4Ohm, 2 x 150 @2Ohm, 1 x 400@4Ohm.

I started using elemental designs a few years ago, and they are just awesome, I can't praise them enough. You get free shipping, they absolute best customer service hands down. A 3 yr transferable warranty is also accepted. Any mechanical failure and they will replace your sub or amp. You can even destroy it yourself and they will replace it for 1/2 the price...how many companies will do that? They are simply amazing, they aren't very well known, but everyone who has heard them or used them will tell you they are amazing. I'll link you the page for the amp and sub that I'm reccomending for you.

Sub-->http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=1&pid=14&cur=USD

Amp-->http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=5&pid=24&cur=USD

Resonant Engineering SE series, Image Dynamics ID series, Adire Koda Brahmas are nice as well (boom with SQ) With any you'll only want 1.

in any case you need to build the box around the sub, thats why you stay away from generic boxes. Some perform better in a large sealed box, some in a small, vented etc etc.

As far as Amps go, anything by US amps, Hifonics, Cadence, Adire Audio or equivalent brands will suit you fine. Just pick what type and price range.

I cannot stress enough that if you want sound quality you need to stay away from anything you can buy at Best Buy, Sears, Cartoys ( except for Focal that is)
Most of that stuff is pure garbage. The lowest of the low.

rock on, thanks for the good info guys! :biggthump

I built a sealed box for a 10 in MTX speaker and used a MTX sub bridged to run it. I have run it with a built in HP/LP in the head unit and also using the amps HP/LP setup. Either way the sound is tight, tight tight at any resonable sound level. I built the box to the exact specs listed for the ideal size that MTX recommended for a sealed box. Pay attention to bracing, type of wood, etc. I think the box will matter far more then any of the other pieces as long as what you have is of good quality.

Okay, I've pretty much decided to go the Elemental Designs route.

I am interested in getting a full setup, tweeters, woofers, subwoofer.

AMP: NINe.2 (http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=5&pid=24&cur=USD) or NINe.2X (http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=17&pid=33&cur=USD)
Sub: 13Kv.2 (http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=1&pid=19&cur=USD) (is this a 12 inch?)
Tweeter/Woofer etc: eDi 6000s (http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=12&pid=28&cur=USD)

I'm confused as to where the tweeters and woofers would go. Aren't there supposed to be two in back and two in front? What about size, will they fit? Those tweeters seem awful small... How do they interface with my head unit?

You'll need a nice set of components to go well with the subs. Look into CDT. I just got their Eurosport series but if you dont wanna spend a few hundred then look into the Classics. For 150, you get comps. crossover, and tweets. Just a suggestion. They are very very nice peices.

Okay, I've pretty much decided to go the Elemental Designs route.

I am interested in getting a full setup, tweeters, woofers, subwoofer.

AMP: NINe.2 (http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=5&pid=24&cur=USD) or NINe.2X (http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=17&pid=33&cur=USD)
Sub: 13Kv.2 (http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=1&pid=19&cur=USD) (is this a 12 inch?)
Tweeter/Woofer etc: eDi 6000s (http://edesignaudio.com/product.php?cid=12&pid=28&cur=USD)

I'm confused as to where the tweeters and woofers would go. Aren't there supposed to be two in back and two in front? What about size, will they fit? Those tweeters seem awful small... How do they interface with my head unit?
This is where I put my tweeters.
http://www.sr20forum.com/img/data/500/medium/Shawns_tweeters_2_005.jpg
The tweeters will run off a high pass filter from your door speakers.
http://www.sr20forum.com/img/data/500/medium/Shawns_tweeters_2_009.jpg

kicker makes some high quality stuff.... there comp vr might be what your looking for... they can be had for 100 brand new. there speakers are also nice. I run all kicker audio for speakers and subs. I have 4 6.5s in my altima running off a alpine 360.4 amp for highs and mids, and then 2 kicker comp vr 12's in the trunk running off a pheonix gold 500.2 brigded to 1 ohm... sound quility is impecable.
just my $.02

This is where I put my tweeters.
http://www.sr20forum.com/img/data/500/medium/Shawns_tweeters_2_005.jpg
The tweeters will run off a high pass filter from your door speakers.
http://www.sr20forum.com/img/data/500/medium/Shawns_tweeters_2_009.jpg

Are the OEM speakers set up as tweeters in front woofers in back?

infiniti basslink series

*self contained, no need to mount amp and sub
*choice of 2 sizes/wattages
*good band name, usually known for higher sound quality than quantity (clean bass rather than booming bass)

Are the OEM speakers set up as tweeters in front woofers in back?
Nope. The head unit feeds full range to the door and back shelf speakers. The tweeters are run off of a passive high pass filter (filters out the mid/low frequencies and directs highs only to the tweeters).

Depending on your amplifier, you will run one channel (or mono) to your subwoofer sending it only the bass frequencies (say 80-120 hz and below depending on your speakers). The amp will probably have the ability to act as a crossover (crossover sends the appropriate musical material to the appropriate speakers). The other two (or four) channels of amplification will run the four (4) mid/hi speakers, two in the doors and two in the rear deck. The tweeters run off the passive (unpowered) high-pass filter (comes with the speakers) from the door speakers.

You could run your four door speakers (and tweeter) off your head unit, and buy a mono amp for your subwoofer. Feed the subwoofer all the low frequency information, and "lighten the load" on the mid/hi's in the doors/rear deck. That alone would improve both your sound pressure (volume) capability and the fidelity of your system. Your mid/hi's would no longer have to deal with low frequency information. They would both sound better and play louder with less distortion.

Make sense? :)

I LOVE Alpine :) For subs, I've always been partial to JL. It sounds like you just want some added low range, not window shaking bass, so I'd go no bigger than a 10" sub. Even an 8" may be adaquate.

So to save some money, assuming you have the tools, I'd just build my own box. Well, I've always built my own boxes, but you could build one too :) It's pretty easy to do. Just make sure you use at least some 3/4 thick MDF. JL's website has a really good tuturorial on building boxes and bracing, etc. Also, you'll probably want a sealed box as the vented tend to sound 'looser' and more boomy. Good for rap, not for a lot else.

For an amp, I have a Kicker A120 that I use to power my JL 10W0. I had a 10W6 that lasted 5 years and I loved that thing, but my amps doesn't put out nearly the power for it. MTX has a good rep. JL amps are suppose to be really good.

Yes, a 13kv2 is a 12". You can get a blueprint to build a box to spec, I will say to go vented. You will not be disappointed by elemental designs, their speakers and amps rock. I have heard great things about their components as well. They have a forum, it's part of www.icixsound.com, get on eD section and search around or ask some questions.

Here are some pics of my awesome eD stuff that I have had, they are awesome.

My old 15a
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/7000-7999/7543_10.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/7000-7999/7543_9.jpg

The new 15AE
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/7000-7999/7543_26.jpg
15AE vs. my most recent 11ov2 in a sealed box
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/7000-7999/7543_64.jpg

11ov2 in a vented box
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/7000-7999/7543_85.jpg

Sexy! After I detail my car and get it clean and running like a champ, there will be an elemental designs 13k.v2 along with either a NINe.2 or a NINe.2X in my trunk. :biggthump

if you are on a tight budget i always recommend kenwood amps with any infinity ref, JL W0, mtx 6000 series, or any other comperable subwoofer. kenwood amps are usually pretty reliable, rarely get too hot, and a good bang for the buck amp.
i worked in shops for 5 years doing this stuff.

check out this system i did for a customer.....
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/theDUKEwillruleyou/sentra4.jpg
diamond audio sub, Xtant Amp, fiberglass box.......1700$

I have an Xtant X603 with a JL 12W6 and dynaudio mids/tweets and I just love it. If you want a great sub/amp combo there you go. I have heard it in multiple cars and with two subs instead of one and it is just awesome, great amp, great sub.

Brent

I just went to Tweeter Etc, and listened to the difference between a ported and sealed box. Both were double 10" JL audio subs. The ported sounded so boomy/rap style, lots of reverb. The sealed was clean, crisp, accurate, present, I thought I was going to orgasm just listening to them. I want a pair of 11Kv.2 in a sealed enclosure right now!

not sure how big you want to go on the kv2's, but I subscribe to the eD newsletter and I just got this in my email, (2) 13Kv.2 D4 + NINe.2X for a Special Price of $400. It's for this week only though, i think. Here is the link.
http://www.edesignaudio.com/catalog/shopping_cart.php