Help deciding on a system upgrade

I am in the market for a new system upgrade and so far have been offered the following options from 12volt:

1)JL package
1 rd900/5
2 C2-650
2 JL 10w1 (I assume the ported box from his website based on what is offered on it)
All wires and parts for install (I assume amp wire kit harnesses etc)
$1350

2)Sundown package
5 channel SD amp (assume its the SAE-1100.5 he didn't say)
4 SD components (assume the 6.5" again he didn't say)
1 SD12 in sealed box
All wires and parts for install (I assume amp wire kit harnesses etc)
$999

Based on some of the comments I have read here they seem like the prices quoted me are higher than the deals some of yall got. Something of note, this is my first system upgrade in nearly 20 years. Back in the day I had sealed 2-JL 10's pushed by an Alpine MRV T500 (75 W x 2 4 150 W x 2 2 300 W 1 (4 bridge) and up: 150 W x 2 4 300 W 2 ( 2), 500 W 1 (4 bridge) and I wasn't that impressed with them, although loud they couldn't reproduce really deep bass notes well. It may have just been the tuning of it though bc I certainly wasn't educated on it then. I also had Aria 5.25s components being pushed by a Alpine MRV-F250 (- RMS Continuous Power output (@ 12.0V 20 Hz to 20 kHz)

25 watts x 4 @ 4 ohms, 0.08% THD
35 watts x 4 @ 2 ohms, 0.3% THD
70 watts bridged into 4 ohms, 0.3% THD

- Dynamic Power (a 14.4V, 20 Hz to 20 kHz)

40 watts x 4 @ 4 ohms, 0.08% THD
50 watts x 4 @ 2 ohms, 0.3% THD
100 watts bridged into 4 ohms, 0.3% THD

Frequency Response - 10 Hz to 50 kHz (+0, -1 dB)
Signal to Noise Ratio - 100dB
Slew Factor - Greater than 5
Inout Sensitivity (for rated power output) - 200mV to 4.0V (1.0V at center detent)
Active Network Frequency and Slope - 50 to 200 Hz, 12 db per Octave)

Not that strong an amp for sure. Funny thing is I still have both of these but haven't hooked them up in nearly 20 years so I dont know if they work or not. I would hate to go through the trouble of installing everything and they not work so I was figuring that a new amp made the most sense.

I don't need a neighborhood rattling system now but I would hate to under size the system, I could always turn the bass knob down on a bigger system, right?

What are your thoughts on the 2 quoted systems above? TIA

 

If the JL's are the 10TW1 they will most likely be in a sealed box. I'd go with the JL setup. Top quality.
I have a set of C2-650's in the rear doors and they sound good. Make sure james is including speaker adapters as well.

 

Yeah his responses to me have been pretty vague but they did say "All wires and parts for install" which I would hope means the adapters and wiring harnesses. He usually replies to my emails in the middle of the night so I am sure he is exhausted by then. What advantage would sealed be over the ported? In my very limited knowledge and research the ported would produce lower deeper notes and be louder (which was something I felt was lacking in my old JL set up) I am leaning towards that package as so far it seems that the custom box, wiring kits and adapters are essentially "free" compared to buying separately online.

 

JBL or non JBL system?

 

What kind of music do you listen to?
Ported will be a much louder bass sound, if you listen to a lot of rap/hip hop.....that'll shake the windows.
Sealed will give a tight bass note, great if you listen to all kinds of music.

 

Non, sorry I shouldve mentioned that

 

80's-90's rap and alternative rock mostly, but when wife/kids along for the ride pretty much everything else lol. Will a ported box make a kick drum sound too boomy?

 

$1,350 is cheap. You might be able to find cheaper getting your parts at different online shops but a lot of them are non authorized and do not carry a manufacture warranty.

I say cheap because mine was about 3 times that in parts all said in done but on a system you can spend as much or little as you want.

I have a dedicated sub amp running 900W with 2 JL 10w3 in a sealed box which has the dual voice coils. I have the base knob at about half and the mirrors shake. I plan on getting the headliner dynamited because of all the rattling up there.

I would get a sealed box since you dont want to shake the neighborhood. ported is good for loud base but it is muddy. Its good for bass hits but not so good for bass guitar. You will get more bass out of a lower power amp with a ported box though.

I know you are looking to spend less but even with a non JBL you should look into a signal processor. If you dont you are taking the factory systems sound and just making it louder. a signal processor will allow you to clean up the signal and eq it for your new your new equipment. You can spend the money on a signal processor or a new head unit. You can get away without it but as i said its all about the final goal, to make what you hear now louder or to make it sound better.

 

Yeah I had hoped to avoid the head unit change and use a LOC to clean up the signal. James didn't mention it being in his package so I assume I would have to add that on

 

And yes I agreed that was a pretty good price for the JL package. Especially given it wasn't a whole lot more than the Sundown one.

 

Look at the cost of a LOC compared to a head unit you like. I had the JBL which no matter what there was a hiss so i went with the aftermarket. As long as you do it right you lose nothing and gain things like car play and android auto. Up to you and your goals though

 

Yeah not going to lie I wouldnt mind having android carplay. BTW you could almost do one those "count the number of differences" games with our profile pics lol

 

If I decided to change the head unit down the road do those Kenwoods everyone like allow you to still use the line out connections at the amps or would I then have to add RCA's off the back of the new headunit to the amps?

 

aftermarkets will have rca outputs, so no need for a loc.

 

Sorry I meant if I went the LOC route now then upgraded HU later

 

I was working with an adviser from Crutchfield on a system update for my 2018 CrewMax, with the proviso that I did not want to change the head unit. Their recommendation was:
Front: Infinity Kappa 60.11cs
Rear: JBL Club 5020
Sub: Kicker 11HS8

With all of the required adapters and whatnot's the total came to $511.97. I tend to trust Crutchfield with sound ideas. However, I did not pull the trigger because some unexpected expenses came up, so I cannot say exactly how well it sounds. Just my two cents.

 

You can always use the high level inputs but an RCA signal will be cleaner.

 

JBL or non JBL? Where is your amp?

 

You would remove the loc when you upgrade you HU at a later date.

 

Gotcha so a loss of 80-140 down the road if I counldnt resell it

 

you'd be able to resell it. its a common piece to a sound system when you want to keep the factory HU.

 

Thanks for everyone's help here today. Depending on when James gets back to me I may be placing my order this weekend, JL package it is...

 

good choice!

 

Well I heard back from James already that package above is for 2 sets of C2-650, so a complete system. Also said the 10w1 are the full size not T and the box can be either sealed or ported. I think I am going to ask him how much extra to upgrade fronts to the C5's since you recommend them so much.

 

c2's sound good
c5's sound great

If you can fit it in your budget, i would go for the c5's. I'll eventually find a deal on a set of 5's for the rear doors.

 

I have the non JBL system. All stock systems suck, so why pay extra?

 

I was asking to know if you needed a processor or if it would just be nice to have.

 

Ordered placed...For the price and what I am looking for I am willing to start off with the C2 up front, if I find they don't fit the bill I can always replace them. I need the extra savings to go towards the sound deadening anyway...and that diamondback cover that I need too..

 

keep us posted

 

Well hit a bit of a snag today. Came home today to a surprise package (never sent a tracking number) It was nothing but the sub box and it had a different logo than I ordered...I sent James an email hopefully he makes everything right.