Right, ive been searching and reading the forums to try n help me but im still left confused to what i should buy.

Want: 4 channel amplifier & subwoofer.
Car: current Mazda mx5
Current equipement: Standard 6 stacker HU, MB Quart DSF216 components, Dynamat SD in the doors.
Aim: SQ with a touche of loudness - vocal quality not doof doof. Not intending to change the HU as yet.
Music: Alternative, pop, r&b - i like vocal stuff...
Budget (based on realworld price, not RRP): Total: $600 = Amp $400, Sub $200

All installation will be done by myself.

I am planning on putting the subwoofer in a custom fibreglass box shaped to the passenger's footwell according to the volume required by the sub. I would like to maximise feet space as much as possible. This plan is due to the fact that the boot is isolated from the cabin, and hence bass reproduction will be poor if the sub is in the boot.

I am after a 4 channel for simplicity. 2 Front channels for the splits and bridge the rear for the sub.
Dont have much room (and money) for both a 2 channel and mono-block, although i know it is much desired.

I know i have to compromise due to space and money, but I do want a quality system. and perhaps, maybe for show one day.

So far, i have these in mind:

Sub:
DD1008 or 1010, SS Edge 10x, pioneer TS-SW124D... IDMAX??? TREO TSi 10.4???
Does anyone have any opinion on these and perhaps, street price? Are there others?

Amp:
Alpine 345, Audison SRx4, SS Lil Wonder II 4.480.... Any others???
Response is tempting due to power/dollar, but i would like quality.

I hope you guys can help me. Any sales coming up in melbourne?

Thanks all!

Perhaps look at amps with your setup in mind? 3 channel amps, with a dedicated sub channel. something like class a/b for the fronts, class d for the rear. I'll be betting such amps would offer the power for the sub, the quality for the splits, your looking for.

But sorry, NFI what amps offer this

audison srx3 for one

yeh audison srx3 would be ideal. but that would be out of my budget. any other guys?

Best price I found for Alpine MRV-F345 was $519 from RRP $699 in the Xmas catelogue. Pretty sure that opportunity has passed though but doesn't hurt to ask.. The audison SRx3 I have seen for around $550. Perhaps you can squeeze a few hundred bucks into your budget, might give you more options.

ill certainly shop around. im a bit tight budget at the moment.
i cant find any dealers in melb for audison?

i found that rrp for srx4 is $487 compared to rrp ?$629 for the srx3. srx4 would ideally be in my price range...and i seem to read only praises of audioson, unless theres something specifically wrong with the srx4???
i was offered $350 for Soundstream Lil wonder 4.480.

Pick up an Audison from the Trading section here. I've seen about 2-3 in the last 2 weeks, all going for $400 and less... One I just happened to pick up myself

if you have a soft-top mx5...well.

from what i've gathered on here, soft-tops SUCK for sub-bass...might be worth investing more on powerful punchy splits than your sub...wait for people to confirm.

yeh, i know convertibles are crap for SPL etc. but ive already got the MBQs installed.

i know the first thing to get would be the amp to get better dynamics & so forth. but if i could invest in a sub, ill do that too just to fill in some bass more.

An option you could consider...

You could buy an amplifier for MBQ's, hear the difference and then decide if you really need a sub.

Check out the Alpine V-Power amplifiers. The MRP-T220 2/1 channel amplifier has RRP $199. It is very small, roughly 6X8 inches. You may do better on $$$ if you haggle, might get it for $150 or less. It's spec is 2 X 70 RMS at 2 Ohm/14.4V or 2 X 50 RMS at 4 Ohm/14.4V but pretty sure most Alpine amplifier power ratings are under-rated.

Then decide if you really want more bass then you could buy a mono block and subwoofer. The Alpine MRP-M350 (350 RMS Power) Mono Amplifier with Type S 12" Subwoofer (300 RMS Power) is in the Alpine summer catalogue for $549 normally $678. You may do even better with some more haggling.

We are planning this ssme setup in my brother's gemini with an amplifier under each seat. The V-Power amps fit nicely in the very small space we have between the racing seat rails.

get a eclipse pa5422 if they are still around

4 x85watts rms or 2 x85 + 1 x240

i ran a whole system off one of these babies and the results were amazing. Very very clean amp no turn on thump and a joy to use.

however a word of warning the sub channel bridge to 240watts rms so buying a massively power hungry sub isnt the best idea.

new you should be able to get one for $550 since these are now discontinued

Not that i mean to sound like a total ass, but i have a fairly sweet front stage, with AVI mids and vifa tweets, and i honestly cannot criticise the response's performance...!

I couldnt bring myself to spend the same money on a 2x65w amp as a 4x130w amp

Benny

that's a fair way to split the budget. i'd be looking at a 10" sub: smaller enclosure and ample subbass if mounted in the cabin. also choose a sub that suits 'sealed' enclosures as it will be smaller, and trying to fit a long port in a small enclosure will be ver hard.

the audison SRx4 would be a top choice; so too the lil wonder or eclipse. also look into:
*coustic 800Q: try jb hifi
*kicker: ditto
*phoenix gold octane R R5.0:4

for a sub:
*alpine type-S SWS-1022D
*JL audio 10W0-4
*rockford fosgate P1 10S4

or else the DD1008 you've shortlisted already.

i haven't checked the sub specs to be sure they all suit small sealed enclosures, so confirm that.

Thanks for your input guys. I just bought a Rockford Fosgate P210s4 sub just the other day. So now its just the amplifier. Im still tossing between Audison sr4x or the ss lil wonder or the Rockford Fosgate P4004(i really like).
The RF P4004 i would have to buy on aussie ebay store - yes, they say they offer 1 year warranty and they have 100% feedback - so should i??? Anyone ebayed stuff like this?

Do you guys know wat LOC is good? I was recommended a stinger one? i cant seem to find it on the net tho.

All those other woofers are 10s, perhaps look at our 2010, they work in smallish, sealed boxes.

Phil

hey ive been looking for EXACTLY the same stuff for my honda crx,

ive got some MBQ DSF216s at the moment,

i was looking at the RF P4004 too, on ebay too!! but yeah, the whole $400 on ebay thing is still kinda hard to decide upon.


how do you guys think the JL slash and e series amps would compare to the RF??

ta!

Its very tempting since the p4004 costs like $550 in the shops.

i heard that the srx4 is out of stock until march but im wondering what the street price of that is?