Cheap Bass.. which to chose?

[BaxGTI]

Howdy doody guys,

In my mk2 I've got some cheap 6x9s, some cheaper 3.5"s, and now after a cheap sub and amb for the boot. Obviously, due to the budget of my project, I'm probably best going for a Sub&Amp deal, so been checking BassJunkies.co.uk for some cheap ones.

http://www.bassjunkies.com/index.php?pid=39131&show=expand_image - Usually £99.99, down to £69.99 for the day
http://www.bassjunkies.com/index.php?pid=19638&show=expand_image - £89.99
http://www.bassjunkies.com/index.php?pid=80366&show=expand_image - £99.99
http://www.bassjunkies.com/index.php?pid=36280&show=expand_image - £99.99
http://www.bassjunkies.com/index.php?pid=20081&show=expand_image - £99.99

To be honest it's the first two that stand out for me, and so I'm partial to the first one due to the price.. What do you lot think? Which should I go for...or, are there any other packages you know of that might be better? (Lookin for max £120 including p&p).

Just a side mention, I'm not keen on "Active" subs as I eventually intend to make my own box for it to go in

Cheers in advance..

[Mikester]

Seem to be deals as they have a high power sub with a low power amp. You obv dont want an amp thats more powerful that ur sub. But im not sure on the qulaity of these amps in the deals. But they seem ok as long as you have the named brands to rely on.

[BaxGTI]

Argh, off out in 30mins and I'll be out all night, and really wanted to get it ordered tonight... So being the bargain b!tch that I am, I've ordered the top 1 (T1 amp with JBL sub for £69.99).. Hopefully should be here soon

Still, might be worth continuing this thread for other people..

[Heyho]

Argh, off out in 30mins and I'll be out all night, and really wanted to get it ordered tonight... So being the bargain b!tch that I am, I've ordered the top 1 (T1 amp with JBL sub for £69.99).. Hopefully should be here soon

Still, might be worth continuing this thread for other people..

That's the one I'd have gone for personally, but only because I have experience of the JBL gear.  Not too sure about the amp though - shame there are no RMS figures for the single channel configuration, but going from the figures I'd guess at 120 - 150 watts RMS which is a little low, but should be OK for a start.

[Chris 'N' Jen]

You obv dont want an amp thats more powerful that ur sub. But im not sure on the qulaity of these amps in the deals.

An amp that has a higher RMS rating than the sub is the best way to go then you don’t have to thrash the tits off the amp to make the sub move. Also, with the amp not being flat out there is less chance of sending a clipped signal, which fries voice coils. 

If your planning on a sub, loose the 6x9's and spend the doe on some better comps. 

[BaxGTI]

Surely, even with a sh!t amp working at saturation (a clipped signal) it wouldn't fry the coils if the amp has a saturation voltage of less than the sub?

Well, the 6x9s are set more for mid-range on my headunit, and provide a very good low signal, but not low enough for some decent bass... I think the 6x9s in the back door cards are good replacements instead of hacing 5.25" in the front... Anyway, I'll see how it sounds with the sub and make decisions from there

[mattneck(Beavis)]

Surely, even with a sh!t amp working at saturation (a clipped signal) it wouldn't fry the coils if the amp has a saturation voltage of less than the sub?

No, this is the wrong way to go.. In PA (Pro-audio aka PROPER audio because im biased) you search out an amp that is 1.5-2x RMS than the driver you are powering. This allows for headroom on the amp. If you do not have this headroom and suddenly boosh theres a peak in the signal or something, theres no headroom in the mp for this peak to stretch through, and thus it sends out a clipping signal. Underpowering a speaker is the worse thing you can do as youre having to push the amp to the limit to move the speaker, and even then it wont do much, besides distort and the peaks will just hit the vc and eventually fry it

disclaimer - i ignore car audio and have never had any real experience, although it is the enxt step in a long list of jobs i think ill be doing.. i only have experience in PA after building a sound form scratch.. carpentry skills scratch.. but the technical buisness obviously comes with that.

[mattneck(Beavis)]

pps, either way coming out the amp its a clipped signal. its square waves by that point.. the speaker will just be in or out.. the whole point of the design of a speaker is that it mvoes in and out freely.. picture a sine wave and th way it flows up and down.. thats the same ide, the flowing movement blows back and keeps the air moving to cool the coil 

[Guy]

Surely, even with a sh!t amp working at saturation (a clipped signal) it wouldn't fry the coils if the amp has a saturation voltage of less than the sub?

No, this is the wrong way to go.. In PA (Pro-audio aka PROPER audio because im biased) you search out an amp that is 1.5-2x RMS than the driver you are powering. This allows for headroom on the amp. If you do not have this headroom and suddenly boosh theres a peak in the signal or something, theres no headroom in the mp for this peak to stretch through, and thus it sends out a clipping signal. Underpowering a speaker is the worse thing you can do as youre having to push the amp to the limit to move the speaker, and even then it wont do much, besides distort and the peaks will just hit the vc and eventually fry it

disclaimer - i ignore car audio and have never had any real experience, although it is the enxt step in a long list of jobs i think ill be doing.. i only have experience in PA after building a sound form scratch.. carpentry skills scratch.. but the technical buisness obviously comes with that.

that sounds just about right 

Argh, off out in 30mins and I'll be out all night, and really wanted to get it ordered tonight... So being the bargain b!tch that I am, I've ordered the top 1 (T1 amp with JBL sub for £69.99).. Hopefully should be here soon

Still, might be worth continuing this thread for other people..

That's the one I'd have gone for personally, but only because I have experience of the JBL gear.  Not too sure about the amp though - shame there are no RMS figures for the single channel configuration, but going from the figures I'd guess at 120 - 150 watts RMS which is a little low, but should be OK for a start.

ooh sh1t - have just forked out 10x that on my sub and amp combo!! 

[BaxGTI]

But again, surely, the amp will be built to different limits. For example, a certain beat wont produce 20v on every single amplifier, and therefore lower quality amps will just amplify the signal less, sending a smaller signal to the speaker? I couldn't imagine a £50 amp trying to amplify a signal to the same spec as a £1000 amp for example.. Therefore, again, surely cheaper amplifiers wont necessarily clip more, just not amplify as much?