This might sound somewhat stupid but im not familiar with much about car audio. I want to put a sub in my car (kicker solobaric L5 12") and im unsure as to what kind of amp i would need to power it properly. Also would i need to change any of the other speakers in my car or even the deck to ensure a good sound? Im on a fixed buget so i dont want to go with anything too crazy. Thanks in advance
Why is that? I put down some serious cash on what I thought sounded out of this world and I haven't been able to get to distort or skip a beat. Why Infinity?
__________________ Hookers need love too!
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I am sorry if my previous post sounded a little harsh. Bad things happen when you post on a forum when you are half asleep. What I think I was trying to say was, do they only build really high end stuff? Do they build up highend cars for shows instead of honda civics like some car audio companies, such as sony, or is their reputation built soley off their gear?
I also noticed that I have never seen Infinity in a ricer, only in bmw's, mercedes and so on.
I am just curious because I have never seen Infinities sold at stereo shops like car toys (which means it is of a higher quality... I hate car toys), and the guy I get all my stuff through doesn't sell them either. I wouldn't mind hearing an infinity system, to see if I threw more money at a system then I needed to.
__________________ Hookers need love too!
What we do in life echoes an eternity
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my expernices and choice came only from from experince. I've had several friends switch to infinty and it depends on the shop. but the place they got their gear was a high end shop (I mean HIGH end. like 10,000 home speakers and 30,000 projectors and McIntosh equipment...) they wouln't carry anything that sucked.
If you are ever around Eugene oregon lemme know you can listen to mine.
Infinity is a division of the Harmon group, which manufactures Harmon Kardon, Infinity, and JBL stuff.
The entry level Infinity Reference are incredible bang-for-the-buck speakers. I just installed some today in a Jeep and the difference was phenominal, and they were being swapped from JBLs. The mid level speakers and Infinity Kappas, and the Infinity Kappa Perfects are the top of the line.
__________________ <span style='color:gray'><span style='font-family:Courier'>1995 e36 3 Series RIP
1999 e46 3 Series BURN IN HELL
2000 MR-S Roadster= Current</span></span>
I hope this helps a bit, but yes, you will need to replace the head unit, other speakers, and the amp. The reason is that the crossovers, speakers, amp, head unit are all integrated unlike the aftermarket systems. You can however add a active subwoofer like the infinity basslink, but the output compared to kicker with a amp is not comparable. The problem with the stock head unit and amp is that the pre-amp voltage signal out of the HU is less than 1 volt. An amp makes power based on equation with the input voltage; so the more voltage a HU has the the less gain you need on an amp to make it loud, and the signal will be clean of alt. whine. Lots of suggestions on speakers, but let me say this, a correct install (which is more than simply bolting the speaker ot locationa and wiring) will make decent speakers provide great imaging. The stock locations are better on the E46 than that of the E36. You don't need speakers in the rear. In SQ less speakers is better. I would suggest MB Quart, Focals, Inifnity, Alpine, Kicker, etc.. but in component form. Try to eliminate tweeters high in the doors, a big surprise to people, but this is not good practice. High frequencies are directional and, lower frequencies are omni-directional, and in between they are pro-rated. So when you decide on a speaker set keep this in mind. The other reason is frequency seperation that occurs if you seperate the woofer to far from the tweeter your going to lose imaging. I know this seems a little anal, but if you play with your tweeter position you will be amazed. Sometimes they sound the best coaxially mounted on the woofer, which is soemthing I suggest when you are looking for front speakers is the option to mount coaxially. As far as an amp for the kicker make it a class D, because less strain on your car's charging system, and they run cooler. Alpine for the money is one I would go with. MRD-M501. B)
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I hope this helps a bit, but yes, you will need to replace the head unit, other speakers, and the amp. The reason is that the crossovers, speakers, amp, head unit are all integrated unlike the aftermarket systems. You can however add a active subwoofer like the infinity basslink, but the output compared to kicker with a amp is not comparable. The problem with the stock head unit and amp is that the pre-amp voltage signal out of the HU is less than 1 volt. An amp makes power based on equation with the input voltage; so the more voltage a HU has the the less gain you need on an amp to make it loud, and the signal will be clean of alt. whine. Lots of suggestions on speakers, but let me say this, a correct install (which is more than simply bolting the speaker ot locationa and wiring) will make decent speakers provide great imaging. The stock locations are better on the E46 than that of the E36. You don't need speakers in the rear. In SQ less speakers is better. I would suggest MB Quart, Focals, Inifnity, Alpine, Kicker, etc.. but in component form. Try to eliminate tweeters high in the doors, a big surprise to people, but this is not good practice. High frequencies are directional and, lower frequencies are omni-directional, and in between they are pro-rated. So when you decide on a speaker set keep this in mind. The other reason is frequency seperation that occurs if you seperate the woofer to far from the tweeter your going to lose imaging. I know this seems a little anal, but if you play with your tweeter position you will be amazed. Sometimes they sound the best coaxially mounted on the woofer, which is soemthing I suggest when you are looking for front speakers is the option to mount coaxially. As far as an amp for the kicker make it a class D, because less strain on your car's charging system, and they run cooler. Alpine for the money is one I would go with. MRD-M501. B) 
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