Car audio

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Mavix

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So I'd like to add some more "oomph" to the sound system in my car. All I have now are two 6x9's, but I need more BASS. Really not sure where to start, but I do know that I'll need a sub, an amp and maybe also another battery. Its a 1980 mini, if that makes any difference. Which means that the sub will probably take up the entire boot :D

So I poked around on the Hi-Fi Corp website and found the following:
12" Sony sub for R400 (300W input)
2 channel Pioneer amp (350W) - I'm guessing that 2 channel isn't gonna cut it, and the cheapest 4 ch amp they have is a Calibra 1800W for R1100.

I'm sure I can get it cheaper somewhere else though. I'm also not too sure how much the labour's going to cost.
However, I'm liking Hi-Fi Corp because I see they have a credit facility, and that would be a great help because there's no way's I'm going to afford it cash only.

So anyone got advice or anything to add? Any help would be appreciated!
 
Ok so I've been looking on the Autostyle website and they seem to have some nice combos there. Would something like this or this do the trick?

A friend of mine suggested buying from Autostyle and then going to Designer Audio in Pinetown for installation, which he said cost him about a grand.
 
Last edited:
Tim182 said:
Makes a big difference. Save the money and get a decent car.
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Yeah that's not gonna happen. It's gonna be nearly two years till I get a "decent" car, as you say, so I would at least like some decent sound in the mean time.
 
Mavix said:
Yeah that's not gonna happen. It's gonna be nearly two years till I get a "decent" car, as you say, so I would at least like some decent sound in the mean time.
Click to expand...

Then take the money and save it in case something in the car breaks
 
Tim182 said:
Then take the money and save it in case something in the car breaks
Click to expand...

Or, I can use the money to buy myself some better sound. That way at least I'll have some rocking beats until my car breaks down. Might as well make the most of it while I can.
 
Had a mini once, easy car to fix.
Also made a point of finding out where i can get spares.
Mine was more a party mobile than sound.
Think your 2nd link would fit in there. Also do install yourself & save some cash (if you can).
 
IceQB said:
Had a mini once, easy car to fix.
Also made a point of finding out where i can get spares.
Mine was more a party mobile than sound.
Think your 2nd link would fit in there. Also do install yourself & save some cash (if you can).
Click to expand...

Ah, thanks, I was also leaning towards that one. Tomorrow I'll go and measure the boot to see how big it is. Judging by the size of the sub I'm guessing that the box is about 50cm wide by 40cm high. Should fit though.
I'm just worried about the self installation because I don't really know how, though with some help shouldn't be a problem. But I'm just worried we do something wrong and mess it up or something. Although it shouldn't really be too hard because it's just wires running from the amp to the radio and probably the battery, right?
And do you think it would run fine on the car's battery?
 
Depends on what size battery u have.
You can run the 6x9's off your head unit
So basically only need to run remote & power to amplifier & from amp to head unit rca's.
 
IceQB said:
Depends on what size battery u have.
You can run the 6x9's off your head unit
So basically only need to run remote & power to amplifier & from amp to head unit rca's.
Click to expand...

Ok cool. The battery is a bit smaller than the regular size car battery. Like around 3/4 of the size. I probably wouldn't run the sound though when the cars off, only when the engines running so it doesn't drain the battery.
 
Yup, try it out at first & upgrade as & when needed.
Not much space in the mini so have to go with what u have & try improvise.
 
stricken said:
Are your 6x9's currently on an amp?
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I'm honestly not sure. If there is an amp, it's stuck beneath the back seat, and it'll be a mission to open that up, that's why I've never bothered. But I'll have a look tomorrow to see what I can find.
 
k. my point is, if they are connected straight to the head unit, you are getting about 20% of their potential out.

i found (years ago in my first golf), that if you amp a pair of 300W 6x9's with a good amp, and cut some air / sound holes in the backboard, you pretty much turn your entire boot into a bass box that amplifies the backscatter from the speakers, and thus no need for a sub per se.
 
stricken said:
k. my point is, if they are connected straight to the head unit, you are getting about 20% of their potential out.

i found (years ago in my first golf), that if you amp a pair of 300W 6x9's with a good amp, and cut some air / sound holes in the backboard, you pretty much turn your entire boot into a bass box that amplifies the backscatter from the speakers, and thus no need for a sub per se.
Click to expand...

Wow ok that's pretty interesting. The problem here though is that the 6x9's are basically at the bottom of the backseat, as in behind the back passengers feet. And behind that is pretty much nothing, and it doesn't lead to the boot. Also, I doubt that they are 300W 6x9's ...

By the way, if I do purchase that sub/amp combo box and if I do the wiring myself, what would I need? Just a RCA cable to connect it to the head unit? Apart from the connection to the battery.
 
buy one of those wiring kits. Has everything u need in it.
 
Slayeruser said:
You already have a decent head unit?

What about something like this
10", as you do not have a huge boot.....
http://www.autostyle.co.za/product/16915/Starsound101000wattSubwooferwithportedEnclosure/

4channel amp, bridge 2 channets to the sub, and the other 2 for the 6x9's
http://www.autostyle.co.za/prodview.php?prod_id=21101

+1 for the wiring kit, and with your car the install should be straight forward.
Click to expand...

Too late... The head unit is a bit crappy, but it does the job. Will upgrade that later. But I went for the JVC and got a wiring kit as well. It seems my calculations were a tad out. I knew it wouldn't fit standing up, but I figured that it should fit if I put it on it's back. But no such luck. It's like 1cm too long... So I might try to make some modifications to my car to make it fit, but for now it'll live on my backseat :D. I faced it towards the seat so that it's not blasting right at my head. And so far so good! Didn't have any problems installing it with the help of my dad.
 
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