Sub and Amp Gotta be small

[des_pd_ tdi]

In my mk6 I'm using the gamma & changer combo but'd like some more ooomph.

Nothing that'll rattle my ear drums and shake the dash loose but something with a nice kick. Oh I don't wanna loose too much boot space either. I'm probably asking to much

[Josh_PoloGTi]

Hi Des

Welcome to the forum!

Could you add a post to the "Where you heard about the forum" Topic... Just so we know...

Anyway, making gamma's sound better...

I have a Gamma, 6 Disc, Apple iPod 20gb MP3, Rockford Fosgate 2x 30w RMS amp for front Focal 165 component speakers and a Kicker 120w RMS amp running a 12" Sub in a sealed box.

It all sounds lovely!

First of all, you'll need a Gamma to 2x Stereo Phono adapter. Music World in Sheffield sell them... A company called Autoleads makes them...

Then you'll need a long (5m) stereo phono cable to run from the back of the Gamma to the boot...

Then you'll need to run a live power lead from your battery (with a fuse near to the battery) all the way through the car to the boot...

Then you'll need an earth wire going from underneath your rear seat (screwed to bare metal) into your boot...

Then it gets interesting!

If you want a bit more bass you can get a powered sub (Vibe do a good one which isn't too big) which is a box with an amp and subwoofer built in.
Halfords sell them. (This is the very easiest way to get started in bass - The other option is to get a separate amp and sub-in-a-box)

If you want more power from your speakers, you'll need some new speakers (woofers and tweeters)... I wholeheartedly recommend Focal Speakers, and you'll need an amp and some speaker wire

If you want more sound from your (uprated) speakers AND more bass, you'll need both of the above!

OR, you could get a 4 channel amp (if you're only using front speakers and a sub - Like I have) or a 5 channel amp (if you want 4 speakers and a sub)

Don't go for 6"x9"s.

To start with, I'd probably go for one of the Vibe all-in-one boxes and go from there... I ran standard speakers/gamma/amp and sub combo for a while and it is a lot better than not having a sub... Road noise kills bass from normal speakers, so a sub will reinforce this bass so it doesn't get drowned out by road noise. Even a small sub will make a lot of difference if you don't require it to go LOUD...

It's a bit of a bug once you start though... If you get a sub, it will be fine for a while, but then you'll want better speakers... You'll get new speakers, they'll sound better, but then you'll want to amp them... You'll amp them, they'll sound amazing, but then you'll want a bigger sub/amp combo!... Etc, etc until you've got a Playstation 2 and a TV in the dash!!!

Hope this helps, BUT, I recommend that you get a professional company to install whatever you buy unless you've done it before and are confident with this sort of thing. If you've never done it before and have a go, there's a very real risk of fire/buggering up your car/it sounding crap!

Again, Welcome to the Forum! Tell all your friends about it! (It's only been live for around a month, so that's why it's not mega busy at the moment)

[KarlM]

I've heard that Alpine have designed a range of speakers just for people like yourself. there called the DDD series. Similar to the old Kenwood Dualmags, they have a very shallow mounting depth and because the magnets are quite small, they are aimed at giving a more punchy feel, rather than outright bass. Just take a look at thier Impreza demo car on the website, or see it at a show

[whitie]

i thought DDDrive wernt doin ne more?iv got the R type sub and components,ther ok, but id go for focal components

[polo2k]

iv got the R type sub and components

note to self: must not say the obvious

[2hot4u]

With the IPod been so small I was wondering where you abouts mount/keep it? Can you also use it like a personal mini disk player? What other types of hard drives are out there for your car and are they really any good?

[stevie007]

Its 8inch sub with amplifier. Looks like a Rolled up Campers bag.

If you want more details let me know. I know of one person who has got it. He's fitted it in his smart car and it looks cool. But also sounds cool.

[Randall]

Vibe do an active 8" sub - these are meant to be quite good

[stevie007]

Vibe do an active 8" sub - these are meant to be quite good

They're good if space is at a premium. Put one in a smart car Its a cylinder shape ironically called a bazooka. Probably because it looks like one. Works really well in a smart sits behind the drivers seat.

[Tigz]

Theres only one 8" sub I would even concider.
The Cystal cmp or comp 8
Blade Ice
I have the 12" version, and another member has the 10" version is his Loop.
The most solid sounding 8" I have ever heard.
you wouldn't ever belive it wasn't a larger sub.
Ive heard these both sealed (in a 0.4cuft box) and ported (in a 0.8cuft box) and both sounded fantastic.
The ported one, had as much guts to it as my 12" does.
they need alot of power, my 12 is rated at 500wrms @ 4 ohms, but even after giving mine 800wrms it still really needs another 200 or so.
If you are able to build a good ported box, you could stick with teh recomended 400wrms and be happy as larry.
Sealed I think you'd need a good 600wmrs.

Theres a review on the range here I posted a while back.
Clicky



ref the vibe comments.
I would never go anywere near that brand.
Sorry if that upsets anyone with them.
I think they are the biggest waste of cash ever to grace the pages of Lax Power.

[ModifiedMadness]

If you're going to go ported you might as well chuck 500-600 at is as well, and really get some bang for your buck, just to make it that bit more evil