As you may know, I was building a system for my S2K and received great advice from some of our resident "experts" on the matter.

Although the stereo shop wanted me to go with what they recommended, they said I could change it if I wasn't happy.

They tuned the system well and asked me to give it a test drive during the weekend since I would have a chance to go for a trip with the top down.

Here is a summary of my current setup:

1) Clarion 745
2) Focal Polyglass 165CV and additional Focal tweeters
3) Memphis Baby Belle 5-channel amp (55x4, 400x1)
4) TREO SSX 10" sub in custom fiberglass enclosure

The mids and highs sound crisp and clean. The Memphis is doing a pretty good job of giving me good sound, but, unfortunately, the trip to the beach was too much for the amp and it overheated and shut off until it had cooled down. Since the TREO sub handles 500w RMS and 1000w max, my amp is barely pushing the sub, but it is also pushing the amp hard.

I told the shop I wasn't happy with the amp and wanted to upgrade, as I couldn't have an amp that couldn't play near max volume with the top down on various trips. I also decided that I wanted more midbass and am upgrading to the Focal 165KP's.

This will be the new setup:

1) Clarion 745 (I'm still debating going with the Alpine 9831 - I really like it!)
2) Focal 165KP and additional Focal Tweeters
3) Audison LRx 2.250 on mids/highs
4) MMATS D700.1 or 700.2 on sub
5) TREO SSX 10" sub in custom fiberglass enclosure

This should give me exactly the sound quality and volume I wanted to begin with, and something that will have plenty of power so I don't overwork the amp. And these two amp choices were both recommended by those "in the know!"

Also, thanks to Willie Gee for meeting up with us on Sunday at the beach to give my system a "sound check." I told him the next time he sees me, the system will be much improved. He heard it, so he can give feedback on the current setup versus what I'll have done within the next week.

 

Man,

That MMATS is going cause that sub to POUND! Holy SMOKES! And that Audison should give those Focals all they can handle.

I might have to drive down to hear that system.

 

Maybe I'll drive up and show you! I travel to Tallahassee every few months for work. So next time I'm headed that way, I'll let you know.

Otherwise, if you are headed this way, let me know!

I'm hoping it'll pound hard and still have plenty of juice so it doesn't work too hard and cut out on me.

 

If you're comin to Tally let me know. I'll grab lunch with you. I don't often come that way and when I do, I'm usually on my way somewhere else.

 

Cool deal. I'll let you know the next time I'm up there for business. Not sure when it'll be at this time. I'll be there in Sept. for sure, if not sooner.

 

btw -- 2 sets of tweeters? it may be too much... the KP2's are a much brighter tweeter than anything in the PolyGlass series. but you said you liked it bright....

 

Oh yeah, two sets. They are bright, no doubt about it. But I like it sharp (almost painful), and luckily, I can adjust the crossovers so that if they are too bright, they can be taken down a notch.

I did notice that it really made a difference to the soundstage, even with the top down. I can hear it perfectly and have no need to add rear speakers.

The KP's are being put in now. The amps are on order and will be here next week.

So I'll have to let you listen to it at the Southeastern meet in Atlanta in July.

I should recieve my lip and side strakes today. My wing (04' style) will be here next week.

I took some pics of the current stereo set up last night. Hopefully, the pics came out okay. I'll post them later.

 

and hopefully, i will get to hear it at the SE meet... i'm still somewhat in the air for childcare... but the wife and i are very much wanting to get away, and that's the perfect weekend imo.

 

Hopefully you can find someone for that weekend. Luckily, you have time to plan it out.

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Nate

 

Nate, hopefully we'll meet again before the supermeet. Good luck with your system, it's well on it's way! But I'm still gonna bring a sandwich, 'cause those dogs were scorched!

A bigger amp was mos' def in order. I think that the KP's will have a better midrange, you might want to test the system with the extra tweeters and without. The components on their own might be brite enough for ya.

i know your installer told you that your sub is tighter with a port, but I've been doing the math in my head, and well, it just doesn't add up. How can a ported sub be tighter than a sub in a sealed box?

of course, I could be wrong. it's a bad habit i have...