[Shadow007]

What's going on everybody? I need some advice from people who have already been there done that, as far as upgrading their car audio systems. First off, I've had a few systems in the past, but for what I'm planning on getting requires much more juice than the basic amp + sub combos. Within the following weeks, I plan on upgraded my subs and amp, due to my current amp blowing. The amp I'm getting is a Hifonics Zeus ZRX 3216.1D mono block 3200 watt mono block D class amplifier
• 1 x 800 @ 4 Ohms, 1 x 1600 @ 2 Ohms, 1 x 3200 watts @ 1 Ohm

I'm planning on hooking up two 12' Kicker Comp VX DVC @ 2 Ohms 1,500 watts peak and 750 watts RMS, which I want to run down to 1 Ohm andget the full power. I currently have a Hifonics 600 watt 4 channel amp that's pushing the components. With this total project, I'm looking at about 3,800 watts and from the opinions of different audio specialist, they recommended me to get a secondary battery and an high output alternator, since my factory alternator will surely burn out quick. I've been browsing through the forums and I have yet to find any options for an upgraded alternator, the secondary battery isn't an issue. Are there any alternatives out there that I could have possible overlooked? Or would I be better off running both subs @ 2 Ohms instead of the full 3,200 watts? I would prefer the opinions of those who have already been there done that, more so than the nay-sayers. Thanks

[kaigoss69]

Good luck with that...I have not seen any HO alternators that work with these cars. But the good news is that the existing alt has a lot of reserves and modern amps are very efficient. I am running a total of 2300W RMS off of the stock alt/batt without any dimming whatsoever. Of course, my system is set up for SQ so I likely will never push that much power either...

If you ask me, stay with the stock alt and get the most efficient set-up possible. Infinite baffle is probably the most efficient. You can also do a ported enclosure and set it up like IB with the face of the enclosure firing into the cabin and sealed off to the trunk.

I have a single 15 IB and it gets plenty loud for me. Two 15s IB with about 500W each are reported to be "stupid loud" in such a set-up. Good luck.

[bmw325i]

I'm kind of doubting that amp puts out rated power. My Audioque(soundqubed) amp puts out 2200 watts rms for double the price and I still consider it a cheap amp. I couldn't find a video with the hifonics amp on a dyno so there's no way to know for sure. The most power I've used is around 3000 watts and I'm sure I was using every bit of that. Now I am using around 2500-2600 watts and going for sq more than spl. Get an xs power d4800 for the battery that is what I use.

What subs are you using? I started out with a fully loaded 15" fi btl with an upgraded psi recone kit. That sub could have easily handled over 3kw on its own. My box was 7 cubic feet net and took up the entire trunk. The port alone took up nearly 2 cubic feet. I actually designed and built the box so it goes in pieces and bolts together because it was too big for the trunk opening. With that setup my rear doors would move in and out on low bass notes. Now I have 2 swr 12d4's. With both setups my subs were facing the front of the car and sealed off from the trunk.

[Shadow007]

Originally Posted by bmw325i

I'm kind of doubting that amp puts out rated power. My Audioque(soundqubed) amp puts out 2200 watts rms for double the price and I still consider it a cheap amp. I couldn't find a video with the hifonics amp on a dyno so there's no way to know for sure. The most power I've used is around 3000 watts and I'm sure I was using every bit of that. Now I am using around 2500-2600 watts and going for sq more than spl. Get an xs power d4800 for the battery that is what I use.

What subs are you using? I started out with a fully loaded 15" fi btl with an upgraded psi recone kit. That sub could have easily handled over 3kw on its own. My box was 7 cubic feet net and took up the entire trunk. The port alone took up nearly 2 cubic feet. I actually designed and built the box so it goes in pieces and bolts together because it was too big for the trunk opening. With that setup my rear doors would move in and out on low bass notes. Now I have 2 swr 12d4's. With both setups my subs were facing the front of the car and sealed off from the trunk.

I've used multiple Hifonic amps in the past and I've never had any issue, besides the current one that I had and blew. It all happened after I was listening to one of my songs in a friend's car, who's car is strictly for audio competitions, and I was blown away to some of the low notes that I wasn't able to hear in my car. So what did I do, crank up the volume and try to replicate the sound, but to no avail, the only thing I did was fry my amp in the process. So being that as the case, I can finally do a one time go and make it right this time. I'm debating between two 12' Kicker Comp CVX or until recently I've been doing research on the SoundQubed HDS 312. I've never heard of Soundqubed until a few days ago when I was doing random research on subs and for the most part they have a good reputation.

[csu87]

Hifonics tend to do rated, but they are rated at 14v vs 12v like a lot of companies.

As far as alternators go, you won't need one. I ran a true 6kw amp at .25ohm ( close to 7000watts to the subs after rise) with the stock alt with no issue. Just need to have the battery capacity to handle it. A group 31 will be more than enough for that amp.

And stay away from the kickers. Those Soundqubes will blow them away.

Head to the car audio forums and research before you buy anything though. Lots of good info on equipment that you won't get from any local shop

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by csu87

And stay away from the kickers. Those Soundqubes will blow them away.

Head to the car audio forums and research before you buy anything though. Lots of good info on equipment that you won't get from any local shop

+1 No offense but kicker

You should look at psi subs or maybe a pair of fi q's(fully loaded without internal leads). The electrical system is fine with 3k rms. The only time I ever got a low voltage warning was when I had the stock battery and it was ready to be replaced. The xs power d4800 fits perfect and is much better than the stock battery.

[Shadow007]

Aww man I appreciate it! The few audio shops I went to all had the same input..."What kinda car you got?" " Oh yea...yea you definitely need a new alternator and secondary battery...blah, blah, blah those stock systems can't handle all of that". So in respect to the Kickers, those are a no go compared to the SQ, really? I've heard the Solar Baric L7, in which the CVXs are based off, and I was blown away. I've never heard any SQ systems, only from Youtube, but those videos don't do any justice. Lastly, based off the amp's configuration which Ohm setting should I get, DVC 2 or 4 ohms? Thanks again!

[bmw325i]

The amp is 1 ohm stable so if you get 2 subs get dual 4 ohm. If you only use one sub get dual 2 ohm if the sub can handle that much power.

[Shadow007]

Originally Posted by bmw325i

The amp is 1 ohm stable so if you get 2 subs get dual 4 ohm. If you only use one sub get dual 2 ohm if the sub can handle that much power.

Awesome I appreciate the input! I'm now looking at getting two Soundqubed HDC3 112 those things look like they will take everything the amp has to offer. So with that neing said I guess I will order the dvc 4 ohm version and see how low these things can go.

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by Shadow007

Awesome I appreciate the input! I'm now looking at getting two Soundqubed HDC3 112 those things look like they will take everything the amp has to offer. So with that neing said I guess I will order the dvc 4 ohm version and see how low these things can go.

Two 4 ohm coils wired in parallel will be 2 ohms for each sub, and the 2 subs wired in parallel will give you a 1 ohm load at the amp.

Do you have folding rear seats? I have my subs facing the front of the car and sealed off from the trunk. I like this setup because there are no rattles. I usually keep the seats down or the ski pass open, but I can still hear the subs with both the ski pass and the seat up.

Have you looked at the soundqubed 2200d? I have an Audioque 2200d which is the same amp I just bought it before they changed the name. I don't have any complaints about it. This amp paired with my 15" fi btl(with upgraded psi recone) was a bulletproof setup that would play as low as you want it to. The only reason I switched it up is because that setup was very heavy and I had no trunkspace at all.

[Shadow007]

Originally Posted by bmw325i

Two 4 ohm coils wired in parallel will be 2 ohms for each sub, and the 2 subs wired in parallel will give you a 1 ohm load at the amp.

Do you have folding rear seats? I have my subs facing the front of the car and sealed off from the trunk. I like this setup because there are no rattles. I usually keep the seats down or the ski pass open, but I can still hear the subs with both the ski pass and the seat up.

Have you looked at the soundqubed 2200d? I have an Audioque 2200d which is the same amp I just bought it before they changed the name. I don't have any complaints about it. This amp paired with my 15" fi btl(with upgraded psi recone) was a bulletproof setup that would play as low as you want it to. The only reason I switched it up is because that setup was very heavy and I had no trunkspace at all.

Ok cool, yes I have folding rear seats thats the way I like to ride around with both amps showing and glowing lol. I have a traditional setup as far as the subs facing outwards, in the trunk. I'm not trying to buy another box when the one that I have is a custom build and only a few months old, being that I blew the amp. As far as the amp, I can't justify the extra $100 bucks when I'm getting more power for less and like I said I've used Hifonics in all if my systems and never had any issues. So it sounds that if I want to get full power from the amp, 3200 watts rms, I should get two dvc 2 ohm setup and have them wired to 1 ohm parallel. I will never go full tilt I'm quite sure with this new setup, but I do want to maximize the equipment. Out of my last few systems, those subs would have been the most expensive parts I've ever spent. So I'm excited to see what difference a $280 sub can do compared to $150-$175. Thanks again for the help!

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by Shadow007

Ok cool, yes I have folding rear seats thats the way I like to ride around with both amps showing and glowing lol. I have a traditional setup as far as the subs facing outwards, in the trunk. I'm not trying to buy another box when the one that I have is a custom build and only a few months old, being that I blew the amp. As far as the amp, I can't justify the extra $100 bucks when I'm getting more power for less and like I said I've used Hifonics in all if my systems and never had any issues. So it sounds that if I want to get full power from the amp, 3200 watts rms, I should get two dvc 2 ohm setup and have them wired to 1 ohm parallel. I will never go full tilt I'm quite sure with this new setup, but I do want to maximize the equipment. Out of my last few systems, those subs would have been the most expensive parts I've ever spent. So I'm excited to see what difference a $280 sub can do compared to $150-$175. Thanks again for the help!

If you got 2 dvc 2 ohm subs you wouldn't be able to wire them at 1 ohm.
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/wo...s.asp?Q=2&I=42

The soundqubed amp works at .5 ohm but you void the warranty and I dont think the stock electrical system can handle that.

[Shadow007]

Originally Posted by bmw325i

If you got 2 dvc 2 ohm subs you wouldn't be able to wire them at 1 ohm.
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/wo...s.asp?Q=2&I=42

The soundqubed amp works at .5 ohm but you void the warranty and I dont think the stock electrical system can handle that.

Oh damn dude...this website was all I needed...fu**in mind blown right now! So dvc 1ohms it is I just noticed they didn't have a dvc 4 ohm sub! http://www.soundqubed.com/HDC3112-Co...ofer_p_23.html

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by Shadow007

Oh damn dude...this website was all I needed...fu**in mind blown right now! So dvc 1ohms it is I just noticed they didn't have a dvc 4 ohm sub! http://www.soundqubed.com/HDC3112-Co...ofer_p_23.html

Get dual one ohm then.
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/wo...2&I=12#results