Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me build a very good stereo setup. Budget is very high. I listen to many different kind of music. Rock, Hiphop, Dance, Pop... anything except classic. haha.
Here is what I have in mind:

Head Unit:
Pioneer P7500 DVD player: $1500

Front Component Speaker:
Focal Utopia 165w3 3ways speakers (will the S2K fit with these 3 ways)?
or
Focal Utopia 180w 2 ways speakers

Subwoofer:
JL 12W7 subwoofer ( been using JL subs be4, loved them..but not sure if W7 will be a need in a S2K, maybe it'll be a waste on a convertible)

Amps:
Phoenix Gold Ti 400.2 (powering front speakers)
Phoenix Gold Ti 800.1 (powering subs)

Rear Speakers:
Not sure about these... should I go Lucid's rear panel? or S-pods? I heard these screw up the stereo's imaging. Should I get one?

also, should I dynamat the car?

Help is appreciated, Thanks!

 

You can make anything fit with money

What are your goals with the setup?

 

Here are my thoughts on SPods,

Many people who have weaker sound systems use the Spods so they can hear their stereo at speed over the windnoise. It has been pointed out to me that if given enough power to the fronts Spods are unneccessay. Many people who have the stock system in the '04 love the optional headrest speakers for precisely the same reason,: it enables them to hear their stereo at speed. If you properly power the fronts many argue that you don't need the rears.

But if you do get the rears:

Over Amp the fronts so that they WILL over power the rears. It creates a stereo soundstage in the front and utilizes the rears as fill only. One should not even be aware that the rears are there. This is the set up I have in my van and it works quite well. The mono idea, as suggested by PJK, was to eliminate any problems with imaging, due to the close proximity of the rear speakers. If the stereo has an emphasis on the left channel than the driver will be overwhelmed with this left channel focus. Mono-ing the rears would eliminate this problem, because the driver would be aware of both channels at all times from the rear, and the imaging would left to the front soundstage only.

I feel that by underpowering the rears and utilizing the fader that I can lessen the poor imaging created by the close proximity of the Spods without mono-ing them. However, it would would be preferable to buy a separate amp and run it mono to the rears if given the budget. The listener should barely be aware that rears are there. It should sound as if all the sound is coming from the front and bouncing off of a wall far behind you, giving the impression of a listening space. The rears would be, in effect, that wall. Remember we listen to stereos not five channel surround.

I find that having the rears on changes the overall effect of the stereo considerably. I played with this in my van tonite. I turned off the rears and the stereo lost its "fullness." When I had the rears on, you couldn't hear them distinctly , but the stereo regained it's full sound.

All the reviews I've read of the lucid systems have not been favorable. But they do make a heck of wire kit, and they are a great resource for audio enthusiasts who happen to be in an s2k.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LemonS2k
Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me build a very good stereo setup. Budget is very high. I listen to many different kind of music. Rock, Hiphop, Dance, Pop... anything except classic. haha.
Here is what I have in mind:

Head Unit:
Pioneer P7500 DVD player: $1500

Front Component Speaker:
Focal Utopia 165w3 3ways speakers (will the S2K fit with these 3 ways)?
or

 

Yeah, 7500 most likely won't fit. I researched this possibility myself.

Now if you wanna cut into the dash, that's a different story.

 

Like s2kmugen says, that's overdone for a car that you will not even hear well without proper installation. Like he said the w3 will give you what you need. Amps are very important. PPI, JL, and autotek are great amps. For components my suggestion is mb quartz, diamond audio, infinity kappa perfects, or jl's. For subs, Image Dynamic, Infinity, mb quartz. Last but not least, wiring, don't skimp out on cheap wiring. Get shielded if you can, and get someone who can install it right. You don't want your power cable run throught same way your rca/wire go throug your car, else you'll get terrible sound.

-Trung

 

Yes, I guess that setup is a little overdone to put in a convertible car.

Yes, I planned to cut into the dash. Any site or anyone know how to do this?

PPI are great amps, JLs.. i'm not sure, I know Phoenix Gold are not bad either.

As for components, I had mb quarts on my previous car, too sharp for me. So, i decide to go for Focal this time.

Subs, I never heard the rest, but i thought JL has always been the best at subwoofers.

 

dash cutting thread
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...ght=ff2skip+nav

 

NEone with suggestion? Help...... please.....

 

Very happy with my recent install of:

Boston Acoustic Z6
Alpine 9815
JL 10W3V2D4
JL 300/4
Lucid DCI

Unless you need extreme volume or thump, this system sounds clean, balanced and looks stock.