Quote Originally Posted by audi527 View Post
Hi I intend to set up my car using Focal 165V15 in the front then Polk MM1040 as subs but I dont know what amp to use. Can anyone please suggest? Budget is more or less 15k max but if there is a good amp for around 10k that would be better
I live in QC and most of the threads recommended Candyshop and Araneta Accessories. What do you guys think of quest audio? Or better if I go to nogs or jeff tan?

One more thing, would it sound better if I do a full active set up? In this case, 2 channels will power the tweeter and the other 2 will power the midrange? Tama ba? If yes, what's a good 5 channel amp or better mag 2 amps ako? Although I'm hoping if I go this route may ok naman na 5 channel amp na hindi super expensive.
Finally, in case I don't want to replace my OEM head unit(2012 Hyundai Tucson LMX20), would it be advisable to save up for a good sound processor like the JBL MS8? I saw this kse installed sa Sonata ni Sir Jhnkvn kse he also didn't want to replace his head unit. Tama ba Sir? Although ang mahal baka may cheaper alternative. Hehe Mga 500usd sha sa amazon eh.
Sorry sa late reply. I haven't been visiting the forums frequently lately. Most of your concerns were answered naman on the other thread on the "other forum".

First, I would suggest a 5-channel amplifier if you plan this system to be an end-all system. If you plan on upgrading and see yourself having two or more amplifiers in the future, get a 4-channel amplifier for flexibility purposes. For the amplifier, I would suggest a Phoenix Gold SD 5-channel amplifier at around 15.8k I believe. Quest Audio isn't bad at all, I'm also following them on Facebook and their works aren't bad. Like I said, most of the installers in Banawe are competent naman. It's just that I have my favorites ;)

Also, to correct your driver "perception", the usual 2-way set consists of a tweeter to cover the highs and a midbass to cover the low-end. Although there ARE 2-way components that consists of tweeter and midrange (ex. SEAS Lotus), the 95% of the market are usually the tweeter-midbass combo variety. A good rule of thumb for car audio: anything larger than five inches is a midbass.

Would it sound better to have a 2-way active setup? Not really. However you'll highly enjoy the benefits of flexibility as you are not constricted by the passive crossover. There are "cheaper" alternatives than using a sound processor, true. But they're pretty hard to find na. One alternative is to use an external crossover and EQ such as Audiocontrol DQX/EQX/etc. they were pretty popular way back in the 1990s and early 2000s but sourcing them today is a pain in the ass. With at least a 13-band parametric L/R EQ and a good tuner, you can have old-fashioned time alignment and a nifty EQ to boot. Another more "modern" alternative is the use of a digital processor embedded in the amplifier itself. The best example for this is Zapco's old DC Reference amplifiers. It's basically a processor+amplifier all-in-one.

Also, go for the slow but steady route pare. Try using your stock head unit for now without an external processor and see if you can "live with it", if you feel you're still lacking or want to hear what a processor can do, hit me with a PM either here or in KAC and I could always demo my car. I just live 5 minutes away from Banawe.