Audio Companies

[cherrington17]

I'm just looking for who is best for the buck out there. Obviously opinions apply to some degree...

Most people know the major brands, Alpine, Infinity, Rockford, Soundstream,JBL,Kenwood,Kicker, Pioneer,Sony...etc

But what other lesser known companies are out there, that make better stuff, for a similar price range (I've noticed some smaller companies produce better product, but for a ridiculously higher price...which eliminates them from most user's market)

So... lets try to rank who makes the best... Obviously list best first... but put a side note beside the name, if the company will drain your accounts for one piece of their equipment...

Hopefully this gets done to some level... and clears up some questions for people.





Component Speakers:



Amps:



Subwoofers:

[Silentalero]

actually the shop i merged with has their own line coming out that blows every major line away. ALl high end audio for half the price.

Its called Shockwave.

Right now we're working on the site to get into but if you want I can pos specs.

shockwavecustoms.com

[cherrington17]

absolutely post specs. this thread is for potential customer research!

[FrankTheTank]

actually the shop i merged with has their own line coming out that blows every major line away. ALl high end audio for half the price.

Its called Shockwave.

Right now we're working on the site to get into but if you want I can pos specs.

shockwavecustoms.com
really?

[Ryan from Ohio]

Such a broad topic.

Theres a few companies out there borderline mainstream that produce excellent products. ARC, Massive, Audio Que, Resonant Engineering, Ascendant Audio, Fi, Ultra, Almani, RD Audio, DC Audio and I know Im missing some.

Some of these fall into the small places also.

It truly depends on your budget. If you think your going to get something totally kick ass for next to nothing you are sorely mistaken.

Each brand has its strengths and some have better values over the other.

[cherrington17]

thats what i mean. obviously you can't do audio on a budget, but some are unreasonably priced for what they do.

what are the strengths/weaknesses of each? clearly... you can only give this with ownership/experience.

and I'm eagerly awaiting silent's specs, because high end audio for half the price sounds wonderfully assanine. Good audio can't be cheap, unless you use cheap parts... and then they don't last long.

i'm pretty sure one of my woofers has blown... and i'm not happy about it. No tears, no damage at all.. just sounds muddy.And my amp clearly puts out less power then these handle RMS. Cheap parts FTL

[Gr1m]

i like kenwood and orion

[Ryan from Ohio]

In the last many years theres been MANY audio start ups. Many failures. Some promising only to disappear.

If you want some good woofs for cheap, hit up Audio Que. They are made by Digital Designs, which is primo stuff.

American Bass and Massive Audio have some good stuff, which I can get you.

Ultra is making a name for themselves right now also. Good stuff, decent price.

Depends on your budget though.

Whats cheap to you may be expensive to me.

[lonnie]

actually the shop i merged with has their own line coming out that blows every major line away. ALl high end audio for half the price.

Its called Shockwave.

Right now we're working on the site to get into but if you want I can pos specs.

shockwavecustoms.comThe problem with this statement is the above highlighted line. Not saying you are that type of person but this could be a sales pitch, and the equipment could be garbage..just being devils advocate here. Who will manufacture the equipment for this brand?

[cherrington17]

for myself specifically... I have components. the tweets work great, the xovers are good... one woofer might be toast.

is it possible to replace the woofers w/ another company, or do you have to keep all those sets "matched"?

and $200 isn't horrible to me. but 500 is unreasonable, unless it'll regenerate itself. :lol:

[lonnie]

for myself specifically... I have components. the tweets work great, the xovers are good... one woofer might be toast.

is it possible to replace the woofers w/ another company, or do you have to keep all those sets "matched"?

and $200 isn't horrible to me. but 500 is unreasonable, unless it'll regenerate itself. :lol:
I would keep them the same...although you can run mismatched...if you have to I would make sure the specs of the mix matched subs where fairly close together.

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

I'm satisfied with my JBL stuff I didn't pay an arm and a leg for it and it all sounds good I still gotta install my rear 6x9 speakers but the sub and amp are doing me wonders.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Just get some new Mids then Cherry.

Dayton Audio RSDs come with good recommendations at fair prices.

www.partsexpress.com

[cherrington17]

I would keep them the same...although you can run mismatched...if you have to I would make sure the specs of the mix matched subs where fairly close together.

i didn't mean mix the woofers. i meant replace the pair of woofers and leave the tweets/xovers i have in place.

so instead of spending 200 on a new component set, i'm spending 200 on new woofers alone.

ryan, i didn't see anything remotely close to that name... anywhere on their website. :huh:

[Ryan from Ohio]

Dayton RS I mean. RSD is Phoenix Gold... lol

[cherrington17]

65W peak on both... i'm gonna destroy those quickly.

[PappaSmurf]

Cherry,
go to walmart and see if they have the JVC CS-GS5120. I have 2 of them and they are the best bang for the buck...Literally! They can handle up to 900 watts max. I can personally vouch for the sound, as I have all JVC equipment in my car and they are GREAT. If you want go to my NEWBies' Mods thread and check out the pics of them in my trunk.

Also, the T-10 inverted LED bulbs are not as bad as in hotspots. They DO have hotspots or maybe that is just me. They are WAY better than the dome tip LEDs though.
-Smurf-

[cherrington17]

well... now we know.. inverted = bad.

and i'm not sure how much i believe 6.5" woofer can handle 900W of anything. Thats greatly over exaggerating AND probably leads to bad quality. (high W means low clarity)

I guess i'm thinking infinity for new ones?

How do i buy new woofers w/o being 2 way? i mean.. the xover i have will eliminate that feature almost completely....

[ryanJ]

i like phoenix golds rsd line. I dont think you will beat them for the price. Ive seen their 6.5 components for as low as $59/pr

[Ryan from Ohio]

Infinity wont work, you need a 4 Ohm speaker.

Get a link to your specific component set like from the manufacturer or a link to a PDF manual.

You need something wattage wise similar to the tweeter. Then you need to choose something that will "blend" well with the tweeter. Its not just picking just something/anything up.

[cherrington17]

ah. hmm... well.. here what i have...

http://soundstream.com/AudioProducts/Components/tarantula.htm (last version. new ones look different)

recommendations?

[Ryan from Ohio]

Hell, given what I can find/see...

Your crossover points a 2KHz. So as long as the mid you pick out can hit 3 KHz you will be fine. You will want a speaker that can handle at least 75 WRMS, maybe 100.

What amp were you powering these with?

[cherrington17]

an olde..

http://support.radioshack.com/support_tutorials/audio_video/afq-1202018.htm

power output on the gain isn't maxed, either. 2 channels go to the front, 2 to the back.

[Ryan from Ohio]

OMG toss that relic ASAP.

10% THD? OMG.

Get a new amp! Replace your mids or just buy a whole new comp setup.

[cherrington17]

i'm eager awaiting for a good deal on a replacement amp... but as it stands... i haven't seen anything to fit as a decent replacement

[Ryan from Ohio]

Ive looked at Parts Express and I dont know if they trimmed their speaker line up but they certainly did change their website layout.

[Silentalero]

have you ever looked into cadence cherry? THey have some good stuff to.

We just had the owner of power acoustics/soundstream in here this morning and he was telling us that slowly they are reamping that line but as of now its not the greatest quality

Im getting the specs for the subs, but since we just got the info 2 days ago I gotta have him forward me the email

[lonnie]

I got to agree with silent that my cadence amp has served me well since I got it....Ryan turned me on to them...haven't heard him say much about them recently?

http://www.cadencestore.com/ProductCart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=125

I got the TXA-3002 600watts rms...and I feel it...lol

[cherrington17]

I'm definitely waiting for the next cadence summer sale. I almost jump on one last year, but money was thin. I'm already saving for one now. :lol:

[lonnie]

I'm definitely waiting for the next cadence summer sale. I almost jump on one last year, but money was thin. I'm already saving for one now. :lol:They still got some good ones left and for 129 to 179 you get more then you pay for.

[Silentalero]

I got to agree with silent that my cadence amp has served me well since I got it....Ryan turned me on to them...haven't heard him say much about them recently?

http://www.cadencestore.com/ProductCart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=125

I got the TXA-3002 600watts rms...and I feel it...lol

Well the good news is, the new shockwave line that we're coming out with is cadence's design with better internals, connectors and whatnot. Platinum circuit boards, 100% waterproof and a 100 fully lifetime guarantee. Even against physical damage. You just pay 10% of retail and you get a new speaker.

There wont be any internet sales either so this way you know where it comes from

[Ryan from Ohio]

Cadence is OK for the money. But theres way far better out there.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Heres a cheap option Cherry:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=290-308

The RS Lines a little more costly, but its a better mid.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=295-374&FTR=180-4&CFID=9571465&CFTOKEN=24864009

If your interested you could just go with the RS's and a value tweeter and pick up a 4 channel amp or 2 two channels and a crossover and run active. Yes its a lot but its more rewarding.

[cherrington17]

run active? / (elaborate)

and as it stands, couldn't i keep the tweeters/xover i currently have... along with those RS woofers?

[Ryan from Ohio]

Yes, just plug and pay different woofers.

[cherrington17]

ok. i'll keep that in mind. I'm not doing anything yet, due to ASS funds and Fiberglass pods.... but maybe toward summers end.... hmm

anyone else have speaker questions they want to throw in here?

or have a 4chan cadence amp they want to sell, cheap?

[lonnie]

ok. i'll keep that in mind. I'm not doing anything yet, due to ASS funds and Fiberglass pods.... but maybe toward summers end.... hmm

anyone else have speaker questions they want to throw in here?

or have a 4chan cadence amp they want to sell, cheap?
one 4 chan or two 2 chan is the same difference.....and for little over 200 thats cheap....look on there forum members there have some deals on there from time to time on expensive stuff.

[cherrington17]

i don't have the room to do 2x2chan. My sub amp takes up half the wall.. and my current 4chan takes up the other half. the 2chans would be overlaping each other.

[lonnie]

i don't have the room to do 2x2chan. My sub amp takes up half the wall.. and my current 4chan takes up the other half. the 2chans would be overlaping each other.Forgot you had all that stuff back there...well 4chan it is...LOL

[cherrington17]

Cadence is OK for the money. But theres way far better out there.

Like? don't hold out on me! :lol:

best bang for the buck. I'm looking for clarity, not necessarily obscene power. $200 isn't my limit, if something is far better... i just don't want to try to justify spending 500 on an amp

[itsbmw]

I lold at 10% THD..

[Silentalero]

Yes, just plug and pay different woofers.

im curious what brands you stick by? Everybody has their favorites

[Ryan from Ohio]

Im an open book.

May last set was Rainbow Profi's.

My current set I will be installing is Ascendant Audio Havoc Mids w/ Rainbow CAL 25 NG Tweets. That should create a lovely front stage!

I tend to like the obscure stuff.