Stereo component opinions

[Razzman]

OK so i realize everybody has a favorite brand so i need some advice. I found a Visonik sub setup, two 10" subs in a box with a Visonik 400 watt amp for $120. Is it a good deal, is Visonik any good? I haven't been in the audio scene for years so i have no clue about the gear out now.

I'm installing a new stereo this winter. I've narrowed it down to either a Clarion, Sony or Pioneer source unit, Polk DB650 speakers, two amps and the sub setup. Any recommendations?

[Coach]

Re: Stereo component opinions

Originally posted by Razzman
OK so i realize everybody has a favorite brand so i need some advice. I found a Visonik sub setup, two 10" subs in a box with a Visonik 400 watt amp for $120. Is it a good deal, is Visonik any good? I haven't been in the audio scene for years so i have no clue about the gear out now.

I'm installing a new stereo this winter. I've narrowed it down to either a Clarion, Sony or Pioneer source unit, Polk DB650 speakers, two amps and the sub setup. Any recommendations?

I have never heard of Visonik but 2 subs and and amp for $120 I am guessing the quality is very poor. The old theory of you get what you paid for. I would also post this over at Wake World, they have many very good stereo guys over there.

As for HU I have owned 2 Pioneers and was very happy with them. I don't like the Sony's or Clarions. I felt I had more overall control of the sound with the Pioneer vs the Sony or Clarion (esp with the subs and HPF). The Polks are great speakers which are marine capable. I am getting ready to do the stereo in my boat. I have done a ton of research and I am going with Kicker speakers with Polk being a close second. The main reason is great sound and a bomb proof build. As for amps there are some very good ones out there and some that are just crap. I am looking at Zapco, Arc, Kicker, Crossfire for my Amps. As for subs I know many guys love the JL's and the JL amps for the sub.

[Razzman]

Hey coach, so what are you using the Kicker marine or non-marine speakers?

[Coach]

Originally posted by Razzman
Hey coach, so what are you using the Kicker marine or non-marine speakers?

All Kicker speakers are rated for marine use. I am going to go with the KS components 65.2. I really like the RS 65.2 but the cost starts to really climb with the RS vs the KS.

The KM (marine) are only in 6" speakers. The bigger the speaker the more sound you will get out of it. Alpine has a 7" marine speakers that is nice as well. I know the holes that are in the front of my boat are set for 6 1/2 speakers so I can't go any smaller than that. Plus with the Kickers you can mount the tweeter in the middle of the cone if you like vs a sperate hole for for the tweeter.

[talltigeguy]

I have the Polk DB 650's and they sound pretty nice. I am pleased with them for the price. Given the usual environment of noise, wind and splashing as well as engine noise, brute volume is nice to have. There may be some with slightly better sound quality, but I am not sure you can tell the difference unless your primary listening is in the quiet garage at home. My Polk's sound good there too.

I have never heard of those subs, and the guys who seem to know a lot seem to mention the Kicker solobaric as one of the best for a lower price. If you are willing to spend a lot, then go with a JL W7 with a powerful amp to it.

I have the Clarion XMD3 and have had no problems with it. Very good unit. Remote controls are worth their weight in gold, depending on where your HU is located. With mine at the glove box (which is full of things), having a remote at the helm is a must!

[Moki]

I had Polks in my last boat and was very pleased with them. They were non marine, but didn't seem to suffer any problems in the boat. I just replaced my JVC speakers with infinity and I am very pleased with them. I agree with Talltigeguy, an amp with 2 subs for $120 is very very inexpensive and will probably sound that way. I am putting in a Digital Audio DA3200 amplifier. On sale, it is $360 just for the sub. Search the internet for any reviews before you buy. I found some very good deals on www.ubid.com.

[dogbert]

Re: Stereo component opinions

Originally posted by Razzman
OK so i realize everybody has a favorite brand so i need some advice. I found a Visonik sub setup, two 10" subs in a box with a Visonik 400 watt amp for $120. Is it a good deal, is Visonik any good? I haven't been in the audio scene for years so i have no clue about the gear out now.

I'm installing a new stereo this winter. I've narrowed it down to either a Clarion, Sony or Pioneer source unit, Polk DB650 speakers, two amps and the sub setup. Any recommendations?

I would agree with what everyone else said. You get what you pay for. I know NICKYPOO's been braggin' about his set-up (RE sub w/ Fosgate amp). I recently got a Kenwood 10" w/ 200 W amp for right around $200. I still have to build a box for it, but it already sounds really good just installed in my driver kick panel.

I've got a Kenwood head unit and a Kenwood KAC-7202 driving my tower speakers from Monster Tower. The Kenwood amp kicks butt!

I would highly recommend that whatever head unit you buy has an iPod adapter cable as an option. You'll never play CDs again!

[Razzman]

So what is the size range for a sub i should be looking at? 8,10 or 12"? I have no place to put the sub but under the closed bow on the helm side behing the footrest so I'll have to have a box as well.

[spharis]

Visonik is owned by the same company that owns swiss audio, audiobahn, and other entry level cheaply made stereo components. I would stay away. All of those brands are poor choices, and you will not be happy in the long run.

The only Polk speakers that are rated for Marine are the DB series. If you live where it is humid, you should get marine grade; otherwise you are looking at a max of about 4 years. Polk DB series are top notch and sound really good. In my 02 Ram with a comp setup, I ran DB for all mids and highs.....it had a "Polk" sound, but it was good. I eventually sold that truck, system included.


Everyone has a different opinion on stereo and how it sounds. Many people will tell you this brand sucks, or recommend some homebuilt brand, but in the end, you want it to sound good to you. It is very hard ot hear an audio component without having it installed, so sample them in the same environment you will have them in if possible. A sound room sucks for making a selection on audio, but sometimes it is the only place to hear them.

As far as brands go, I really like the power and marine level Rockford stuff, though many people do not like Rockford due to some issues it had in the late 90's and early 00's with quality and public trading. I avoid the "punch" line. I also like RF head units, especially the ones made by Denon, but they get $$$$. I avoid Sony (save a specific set of Head Units I can give model numbers if you want), Alpine, Memphis, Bazooka, and Pioneer; soon to also avoid Polk depending on what DEI decides to do with them. DEI purchased Polk this year. I prefer RF, JL, Kenwood (head units only), Orion, and Clarion in that order. I base my selection on sound, and the way it "feels". Here is a video of the last SPL woofer I had in my tahoe. This is just 1 12".
http://www.realmofexcursion.com/vide...rstage12.2.wmv

In my boat I am currently specing out and pricing a mid level audio system that should last at least the life I own the boat. it will have 1 10", and 4 sets of 6" comps with seperates. I will have a sinlge 6 channel, or a specable 4 channel amp on all of it. It will all be Rockford Fosgate Marine, including the head unit. I was goign to get Polk DB series seperates, but found Rockford selling last year model marine comps on ebay, and picked up 4 of those instead. Hard to beat $45 on $250 comps. These were $210 at a local shop in town just this summer. I posted a thread on them earlier.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Rockford-Fos...QQcmdZViewItem
If you buy one set it will automatically repopulate another set within a few minutes. HighDesertAudio is Rockford Fosgate. These are brand new.

[spharis]

One more thing....since you are considering the Polk DB650's....I would recommend dropping the extra $50-$100 and getting the DB comps, MOMO's, or MOMO comps. Basically the same drivers with subtle changes. Also all of these come with a remote x-over. You will love it if you are driving them to RMS.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-WfvxbkU...io&i=107DB6500
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-WfvxbkU...lay=Polk+Audio
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-WfvxbkU...lay=Polk+Audio

And buy on ebay.....you will save 30%-50%

[Razzman]

OK so i decided after checking them out and reading like 60 freakin reviews to go with the Polk MOMO MMC650 speakers. So i start researching head units and come across this one. JVC KD-G720.

Now i don't know what the quality of JVC mobile audio is but what inpressed the hell out of me is that it has a front mount USB port. Take a couple of 1 GB thumb drives along with you for the day and you've got more music than you can play without the hassle or expense of an ipod or other mp3 player.

So if one lives in a non humid locale how important is it to have a marine reciever? I know quite a few people around here that just use car audio units.

[spharis]

Head unit should be fine. The internals never get exposed to the sunlight, or much moisture. The faceplate may fade a good bit, so make sure it has a shaded flip down on it. Also most marine radios have wired remote options that fit into instrument holes, or mount on the transom. Non-marine will usually have funny steering wheel wired ones, or just a wireless remote.

JVC makes decent headunits as of late. They just aren't a super popular brand.

[dogbert]

Originally posted by Razzman
So if one lives in a non humid locale how important is it to have a marine reciever? I know quite a few people around here that just use car audio units.

As long as you keep it from getting wet, you're fine. Mine's mounted in the dash, so I have a flip cover for it. I know others have it mounted in the glove box.

[Razzman]

Originally posted by spharis
Head unit should be fine. The internals never get exposed to the sunlight, or much moisture. The faceplate may fade a good bit, so make sure it has a shaded flip down on it. Also most marine radios have wired remote options that fit into instrument holes, or mount on the transom. Non-marine will usually have funny steering wheel wired ones, or just a wireless remote.

JVC makes decent headunits as of late. They just aren't a super popular brand.

I like the USB capability but JVC doesn't have a mounted wired remote and that's important to me as the head unit is in the glovebox and unreachable from the helm.

[rushin]

I have the Polk DB650's and a set of DB6750 comp's and love them, the comp's are well worth the extra $$$. I saved about $100 by buying the comp's on ebay.