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Hey guys,
I've never posted but I've been around searching through before I ask any questions to make sure I don't get the...Use the search button response...haha

Well...i'm gonna be picking up a 99 Grand Prix with the Bose system. This is the setup I want.

HU:MP3, CD...etc...either
Eclipse
Clarion
Kenwood

Front doors have 5.25" and tweeters in by the mirrors stock....so...either
Boston Pro's components
Focal
MB Quart's

Rears just keep stock running off the HU.

This car has an 8 speaker system but i'm not sure where they all are and what not. I'm sure they are counting the tweeters...so atleast 4 speakers up front. I think the rear has 4 speakers in the rear deck....probably sort of like a component set up like the front...should I disable the "high" tuned speaker and leave the mid??

Anyways...I want to also get a EQ and a X-over...not sure what's good out there. Although I think the Eclipse HU would be best I think since they have the cool feature of Eserv or something. I want to get a 8455 but I can't seem to find any on ebay or anywhere. and since that deck has a 10band PEQ then I would just need a x-over. The x-over is for the components because i want to ditch the one that come with the components. Can I use a 4 channel amp...using two for the tweeters and two for the mids? or should i get two seperate 2 channel amps?

Sub...1 sub
probably a MTX9500 12"
JL 12W7 or 6
Adire Brahma

sub amp either a JBL BP1200.1
or Hifonics 1605D

probably using the decks sub out lines xover and the one on the amp...should be enough to filter out any unwanted freq's

what do you guys think???

Thanks ahead of time for even reading this. look forward to your inputs!!

I'd forget kenwood, hifonics, and the mtx 9500 right off the bat.

other than that, not a bad start.
consider Pioneer as well for a head unit, RE and Treo for subs, and DLS for component speakers.
Also look at better amplifiers even if it's an 'entry level' brand like Kicker, MTX, or Infinity.

x2

And as for biamping the components, as long as your deck can help you get the crossover frequencies you need, you'd be fine with a 4 channel (or if the 4 channel you are looking at has separate crossover controls for the fronts and rears- channels 1/2 and 3/4 -then that would be good too). Just make sure you have enough preouts on your HU.

About the rears, just make sure you disable any stock amplifier and use a multimeter on the connection from each speaker to make sure they aren't some weird ohm. (i.e. lower than 4 ohms or more than 8)

if you had a high enough eclipse deck i would just skip the xover because they have one hell of xover built in. id skip the kenwood and clarion decks too i have had lots of trouble with them. the best deck i have ever had was an eclipse. and for the comps what are you looking for for sound cause MB quart will sound differnt then focal or boston or other high end ones. i think mbquart sounds like ass but thats just my taste in speakers you might really like them.

i want the eclipse deck. the newer ones though...cd7000 has 5v preouts not 8v like the 8455 from what i read.
I think the JBL BP amps are good. I have a 300.1 powering a L5 and it seems to be a match made in heaven...hahaha. Good clean power...but I want to get a 1200.1 I was thinking about RE, but I might as well get the Brahma because they are practically the same thing. Treo i have considered as well. But I think I would go with either the Brahma or one of Adire's other subs for the price. If i did go RE i would get either a XXX or the SX. I was only thinking about the MTX 9500 because it's readily available to me for cheaper than a W7. I'm also not sure what size woofer I want. two 10's?? one 12?? one 15??
I honestly never heard MB Quarts but people tell me it's good stuff. I do like and have owned Boston's and like those very much. Will probably end up with them. I heard of DLS and CDT but never heard them. No one here has those brands here in hawaii(big island).
I want the eclipse 8455 but can't find any.

any suggestions on what 4 channel amp to run the components?

thanks again for the input

Not knowing your budget, I would suggest a good clean amp. Something like JL Slash series, Zapco, Audison LR or SR series, I have heard very clean sounds from the Eclipse amps. Look into a very good 4 channel for your comps. Don't worry so much for the sub as you will only be concerned with low frequencies. Any good amp that performs to its rating will do you justice for your sub. I have the 8455 and the crossover is fantastic! Also the Ei-serv is a neat piece that uses white noise from the deck and a microphone attached to download frequencies from your system to a memory stick. The upload the memorystick to your computer and upload it back to Ei-serv. Eclipse will then give you a set of settings to improve the overall soundstage in your system.

wow...the 8455 is almost 700 dollars!!! haha. but i guess the money i would be saving on not buying a EQ and X over would be worth it. Actually since i don't want to use the x-over that comes with the components then I guess i would need a x-over. what's a good x-over and what freq should i cross out the mids at and the tweets?
i never really figured my budget, but i'm guessing since just the HU is 6-700. components another 350...component amp about 2-350...maybe i should save some money and use the factory xover...HAHA...i think i will. hmmmm
well looking at this now...i think i need to cut back some...dam!!! still want to do the same thing but i will need to use a lower line...boston sx series which is about 150. comp amp is probably jl audio 300/4. looking at this amp it has seperate x-overs for front and rear channels...might have to play around with that to see if i want to use the comp xover or just the amps. 500 for a sub and 300 for the sub amp give or take in either direction. maybe save some money on the sub amp with a hifonics. so right now budget seems to be about 18-1900. hopefully i can save some by looking around for some used stuff. this is my first attempt at a somewhat SQ setup. i've had and heard SPL...what's the point really?!! i've heard booming bass and loud tweets...no mids. i haven't heard a true SQ system yet. but hopefully spending the extra on the HU will get me closer since it can adjust everything on it's own pretty much. any other HU's offer this kind of feature???

you don't need a crossover cause the onboard one is excellent. I would use it only if you are planning on using a 2-way component set. It doesn't like the 3-way set I have so I have to use the passives. But that isn't a bad thing, the Focal's are excellent passives! I love them!

Well the Boston's is only a 2 way component set, plus I don't really want to custom locate anything or make a custome enclosure for the components. so the 2 way should be perfect. UNLESS...i get Kick panels so I can still run the stock door speakers and just add the 6.5" components.

regarding the subs, if you like the XXX, the Brahma is very similar.

if you're after SPL (which I'm guessing since the 9500 isn't a SQ sub at all) go with the SX instead. it's louder than a XXX and works better on less power.