Another VE audio thread

[Mrk_Mickey]

Sorry to post up another thread on VE audio guys; I've searched through the threads on VE audio and still have a few questions.

Basically, what I want to do in my series 2 sv6 ute is get a nice set of splits to replace the door and dash speakers (and replace the paper centre speaker with something normal, nothing special), and then a powerful but clean sounding 12" sub to fit behind my drivers seat. I was also thinking about getting speakers installed either on the back wall or just beneath the rear cabin lights on the side walls, but is this thinking too much into it or what?

Brands like Kicker, Rockford Fostgate, Focal etc all sound good to me, but I don't want to go ballistic on the price for the ute. I'm after a stronger sound that won't sound cheap when I crank it a little. Nothing major.

So really I'm looking for recommendations on whether to put rear speakers in or not, and what people would recommend for speaker, sub and amp brands to make the ute sound good without going overboard.

[JD 6L SS]

Hey Mickey

About 2 months ago had my cars audio taken care of.. i could no longer stand the crap speakers the VE's come with it was a joke!

Went with the Rockford Fostgate gear for the amps and subs. Very good quality gear, cant fault it, the LC7 subs we chose kick hard (they're square)

Didint go with the RF splits though tried this brand POLK AUDIO made in the US of A and are great i was after clarity over volume - cant stand hearing anyone elses stereo now haha, they got a pretty good wrap from some mates of mine so they went in!

Just my 2 cents
Cheers - JD

[Nic92]

if you look on ebay, you can get good car audio stuff from US like half the price than at the local shops

[Mrk_Mickey]

Hey Mickey

About 2 months ago had my cars audio taken care of.. i could no longer stand the crap speakers the VE's come with it was a joke!

Went with the Rockford Fostgate gear for the amps and subs. Very good quality gear, cant fault it, the LC7 subs we chose kick hard (they're square)

Didint go with the RF splits though tried this brand POLK AUDIO made in the US of A and are great i was after clarity over volume - cant stand hearing anyone elses stereo now haha, they got a pretty good wrap from some mates of mine so they went in!

Just my 2 cents
Cheers - JD

Thanks for that bud, how much was the installation altogether then?

if you look on ebay, you can get good car audio stuff from US like half the price than at the local shops

Cheers mate, I'm not too sure how keen I am to do that though as I've found that just getting it done locally saves you the hassle and worry of overseas ordering. I'm not overly worried about price because if it works out $300 extra then I'll work an extra day and it's all good

[Mrk_Mickey]

Another general question I have is this:

I still have all the audio gear from my old car. It's currently for sale, but the thought did cross my mind to use some of it in the ute.

The sub won't fit, and the monoblock is way too powerful for a ute, but the Kicker KS splits and the Jaycar amp were well matched and I'm sure I could just bridge two channels on the jaycar amp for a 300w RMS sub anyway. Does anyone think this is a good idea or should I just start fresh?

[Nic92]

yeah that would work, its better to have more power than not enough

[Mrk_Mickey]

So you reckon my splits and amp would be alright to use in the ute? Might have to find a sub to match 300w RMS then...

[JD 6L SS]

yeah mate about 5gs all up but i did go a bit insane... haha

6.5 polk splits came up about $280 a pair, pretty pricey but, i sourced through the installer (save bs warranty dramas)
Polk Audio - db Series - Mobile / Marie Speakers

if you wanna check em out they come in a range of series i went with the db's

Great stuff but its probably best if you go listen to any of your potential option first..

[Mrk_Mickey]

yeah mate about 5gs all up but i did go a bit insane... haha

6.5 polk splits came up about $280 a pair, pretty pricey but, i sourced through the installer (save bs warranty dramas)
Polk Audio - db Series - Mobile / Marie Speakers

if you wanna check em out they come in a range of series i went with the db's

Great stuff but its probably best if you go listen to any of your potential option first..

Wow, that is a lot! I thought 2k for my old car was expensive!!

I'm happy to spend about $1-1.2k on the system in the ute. I reckon that will get me decent brands, decent power and a really nice sound. The guy I spoke to at Lifestyle Audio down at north Parramatta recommends (obviously...he sells it lol) a rockford fostgate sub in either the normal box which should fit, or a custom box. I think he sells Focal splits as well but I assume they're pricey there.

[JD 6L SS]

Wow, that is a lot! I thought 2k for my old car was expensive!!

I'm happy to spend about $1-1.2k on the system in the ute. I reckon that will get me decent brands, decent power and a really nice sound. The guy I spoke to at Lifestyle Audio down at north Parramatta recommends (obviously...he sells it lol) a rockford fostgate sub in either the normal box which should fit, or a custom box. I think he sells Focal splits as well but I assume they're pricey there.

yeah was a tad pricey but my system includes

2 x 12" subs
3 x RF amps (one mono)
2 x 6.5 splts
2 x 6.5's
also had a bit of dynamatting done for good audio experience...

In your ute 1 amp, 2 splits and a sub i'd suggest paying a bit more and getting a nice box... if you plan for the sub to be in cab

all that and you should make it within your budget mate - good luck!

[Mrk_Mickey]

That's what I'm thinking. I checked out the specs of my monoblock (which was powering my kicker L7 12") and the differences between one bridged channel on the 4-channel amp and the monoblock was only 20Hz and obviously the RMS power difference. Seems alright to me if I get a nice Rockford Fostgate sub matched in a good box that will fit behind my seat. Just need to get an idea on what splits I want now haha...looks like another trip to the audio store.

Thanks for the advice bro

[Adamski]

Cadence FXB-10C

Here's a 300wrms sub that fits perfectly lying down behind the drivers seat in a VE ute. $240 too.

[Mrk_Mickey]

I don't want a slimline sub. Something about them just hurts my head haha.

Went into the audio store today to get a better idea of what I should be looking at. for about $1000, I could have focal 165VR splits, my own jaycar amp, a rockford P2 12" sub in a custom enclosure behind my seat and the necessary line output filter thingo installed.

It seems like a good deal, however I just still get this feeling I'm being ripped off. Any thoughts anyone?

[YUM.55V]

I had an audio system installed in my ute about 2 weeks ago.

This is my setup

2 x Focal 165KR 6.5" component speakers (Mounted in front factory locations)
1 x Focal 33V1 12" subwoofer (In a sub-ported box behind drivers seat)
1 x V-Power MRP-F300 4 Channel Amp (mounted under passenger seat)
Disconnected central dash speaker
Disconnected rear mounted speakers
Sound deadening on both doors

Came in at around 2000 installed.

I chose focal because after researching they were the ebst speakers for what I want, a nice clean and crisp sound at all volumes.

The splits are great and provide a very good sound clarity. While the sub gives a nice level of bass without being over powering.

I didnt want a system that was only volume so other people on the street can here it as I drive, I wanted a system that sounded good to ME as I drove. This system does this very well. The sound deadening eliminated outside noise and keeps the sound in the cabin, so when all windows and doors are shut in sound impecable at any voume.

However, audio input quality can be an issue. Forget playing your ipod through a system like this the quality of the audip is too low. Mp3's on a CD sound ok, but CD quality audio is best. Higher bitrate = Better sounding music.

Thats my 2 cents anyway
Dave

[Mrk_Mickey]

What happened, you posted the same sort of info twice? hehe.

Dammit, I went back in today and the guy couldn't replicate the price. It seemed good enough and then when I went back in he said he couldn't get it that cheap without the computer saying even a ridiculously good deal should be more expensive. I think the guy yesterday might have missed a cost on labour or something.

Still, I put a deposit down the the above setup plus Dynamat and they're gonna get back to me on the price cos they couldn't get hold of the manager I spoke to yesterday. Fingers crossed, should have it all installed with Dynamat for $1250 or so!

[YUM.55V]

Yeah damn work computers not working properly.

But you should be really happy with the focal splits mate they are superb

[Mrk_Mickey]

Yeah I went back in for a second listen and far out, they are just a pure sound hey! Can't wait to get them installed, been waiting 4 years for a proper SQ system in one of my cars.