I have a limited budget, and don't need a competition quality system.

I was thinking about getting a four channel, decent quality amp (V12 maybe). Power some aftermarket components with the front two channels, and find some strong 6.5" speakers to squeeze into the rear pannels (Lucid Style) for bass. I'd use the crossover from the amp. My computer speaker system uses two 4" subwoofers for bass, and it gets plenty loud enough. Can I get two 6.5s to sound decent as subwoofers?

Thanks for the help!

 

This is a very personal subjective question. I say NO! Keep in mind your computer subwoofer system does not have to defeat road noise AND wind noise.

 

Most subs are needed to be in some enclosures to produce decent bass.
There are not much room behind the rear panels for 6.5" subs with enclosures. If you remove one rear panel, you will see there is no room for anything larger than 5.25" speakers.
There are few subs less than 8", JL6W0 is one and another one is Tang Bang
If you can install two 6" subs inside cabin, it will sound decent with enough power, about 100W to 200W each sub.

 

you probably won't be able to get sub action out of the rear panels. they aren't sealed tight enough, and don't have the depth or size for even 6.5" speakers, much the less a subwoofer excursion 6.5"...
the most likely reason your computer subwoofer can do what it does for bass is through the use of porting and enclosure tuning, along with some higher excursion 4" speakers. you won't have that luxury (porting and enclosure tuning) in the rear panels, and you're going to be fighting a pretty serious noise floor that you don't have at home.


however, adding a modest 5.25" speaker back there is going to help increase your bass response, but you won't be getting down to subwoofer low ranges. it will probably satisfy your needs, since you are aware that you're looking for a modest upgrade.


honestly, it sounds like a decent plan. what's your budget? and what are you using/planning to use for the HU?

 

My budget is, well, low. I don't want to upgrade the HU. I want to just get the amplifier adapter for the stock head unit.

I know everyone says I NEED a new deck, but I just spent $100 on an aux interface (it will be useless without the stock head unit). I may just try rear speakers, and if that isn't enough, then I'll get a 10" sub and Lucid's custom box.

 

in order for the subs to work and sound decent in the rear panels, you would need to find 6" Free Air rated subs.....I dont even know if they are made.

 

Instead of an average 4-channel amp and two pairs of average speakers (front/back), I would just get a nice 2 channel amp (~125W x 2 @ 4Ohms) and some nice component speakers (e.g. Focal 165K2, or the newer version, etc...) for the front.

You can get pretty decent bass from properly installed/amped good door speakers.

Later, if you want, you can add the rear speakers for rear fill - they don't have to be expensive and you can power them off the stock HU.

Just my $0.05

 

that's a sound decision.

i still vote for a newer HU, even if it is an used 4v unit. Return the aux out.


i just don't think you're going to get good bass from those rear panels, unless you do some major modifications to that part of the car. such as fiberglassing behind the seats, taking your spare out and creating some kind on enclosure.

plus, it's not worth it to spend alot of money on rears, because you mostly listen to your fronts.

 

Yep, return the Aux jack or eBay it. Buy a new HU with decent power and add two 6.5" components to the doors. That's the only decent shot at a good sounding budget system. While Focals are awesome, consider speakers that run well on deck power (IMO, Focal Utopias [I haven't heard the others] need about 100 watts RMS -- someone correct me if I'm wrong here). They're usually about 1/4 the price anyhow.

Check these speakers out. For the money they look amazing. All the Soundstream-branded speakers have great sensitivity so they should get plenty loud with an in-HU amp as well as come alive with an external amp down the road.

http://store.soundzoo.net/cosy.html

I'd skip any rear speakers in a budget system. First, they're easy to add later. Second, they're terrible bang-for-the-buck IMO.

 

Good budget head unit. $170:
http://www.discountjungle.net/alcdmp3pl1.html