Audio Brands - noob list for high end audio

I found this list on [URL="http://www.vipstylecars.com/forums/www.diymobileaudio.com"]DIYMA[/URL] and thought it may be a good starting point for members to familiarize themselves with a few of the top name brands. This is NOT a complete list, nor do I claim these are the best brands. It is simply a list and will be updated as needed.

[B]Amps:[/B]
[URL="http://www.adcom.com"]Adcom[/URL]
[URL="http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com"]Hertz[/URL]
[URL="http://www.trutechnology.com/products.htm"]TRU[/URL]
[URL="http://www.audison.eu"]Audison VRx, LRx series[/URL]
[URL="http://www.audiotec-fischer.com/236.html?&L=1"]Brax[/URL]
[URL="http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/"]McIntosh[/URL]
[URL="http://www.milbert.com"]Milbert[/URL]
[URL="http://www.butleraudio.com/"]Butler[/URL]
[URL="http://www.zapco.com/"]Zapco C2K[/URL]
[URL="http://www.sundownaudio.com/"]Sundown Audio[/URL]
[URL="http://www.genesiscaraudio.net/"]Genesis Series 3[/URL]
[URL="http://www.sinfoni.com/"]Sinfoni[/URL]
[URL="http://www.xetec.de/"]Xetec P5 line[/URL] 
[URL="http://www.audio-system.net/steg/index.html"]Steg[/URL]
[URL="http://www.focal-america.com/"]Focal Power[/URL]
[URL="http://www.arcaudio.com/index.asp"]Arc[/URL]
[URL="http://www.rdaudio.net"]RD Audio[/URL]
[URL="http://zedamps.com/"]Zed[/URL]
[URL="http://www.hssfidelity.com/"]HSS Fidelity[/URL]

[B]Speakers:[/B]
[URL="http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com"]Hertz[/URL] Mille
[URL="http://www.seas.no/"]Seas[/URL]
[URL="http://www.rainbow-audio.de/"]Rainbow[/URL]
[URL="http://www.focal-america.com/"]Focal Utopia, K2P[/URL]
[URL="http://www.dynaudio.com/"]Dynaudio[/URL]
[URL="http://www.hiquphon.dk/page1.html"]Hiquphon tweeters[/URL]
[URL="http://www.tymphany.com/categories/scanspeak"]Scan Speak[/URL]
[URL="http://www.alpinef1status.com"]Alpine F1 Status[/URL] (similar to Scan Speak Revelators, but tweaked for Alpine)
[URL="http://www.arcaudio.com/index.asp"]Arc ACS[/URL]
[URL="http://www.dls.se/en/car/index.html"]DLS[/URL]
[URL="http://www.beyma.com/%5DBeyma%22%5B/URL%5D%3Cbr%20/%3E%0A%5BURL=%22http://www.hybrid-audio.com/"]Hybrid Audio[/URL]
[URL="http://www.imagedynamicsusa.com/"]Image Dynamics[/URL]
[URL="http://www.avisound.com/"]AVI[/URL]
[URL="http://www.lcy.com.hk/diyhp/25114/enus/home.html"]LCY[/URL]
[URL="http://www.accuton.com/"]ACCUTON[/URL]
[URL="http://www.fountek.net/"]Fountek[/URL]
[URL="http://www.cdtaudio.com/"]CDT[/URL] HD, Eurosports and 07 model lineup.
[URL="http://www.bostonacoustics.com/car/default.aspx"]Boston[/URL] Z6
[URL="http://www.diamondaudio.com/index.php"]Diamond [/URL]D9
[URL="http://www.morelhifi.com/"]Morel[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ozaudio.com/index.html"]Oz Audio[/URL]
[URL="http://www.hssfidelity.com/"]HSS Fidelity[/URL]

[B]Subs:[/B]
[URL="http://www.tcsounds.com/"]TC Sounds[/URL] TC9/Soundsplinter RL-p SQL/SPL subs. 
[URL="http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com"]Hertz[/URL] Mille
[URL="http://www.imagedynamicsusa.com/"]Image Dynamics[/URL]
[URL="http://www.tymphany.com/categories/peerless"]Peerless[/URL] XLS and XXLS
[URL="http://www.diamondaudio.com"]Diamond[/URL] D6 
[URL="http://www.arcaudio.com"]Arc[/URL] Audio D series
[URL="http://www.arcaudio.com"]Arc[/URL] Flatline
[URL="http://www.daytonaudio.com/loudspeaker/index.htm"]Dayton Audio Titanic[/URL]
[URL="http://www.adireaudio.com/"]Adire Audio[/URL] 
[URL="http://www.reaudio.com/"]RE Audio[/URL] 
[URL="http://www.soundstream.com/"]Soundstream[/URL] Exact's 
[URL="http://www.ddaudio.com/dd/default.asp"]Digital Designs[/URL] 
[URL="http://www.ficaraudio.com"]Fi[/URL]
[URL="http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/products/icon/"]SSA[/URL]
[URL="http://www.treoonline.com/"]Treo[/URL] 
[URL="http://www.illusionaudio.com/"]Illusion Audio[/URL] 
[URL="http://www.focal-america.com/"]Focal K2 series and Be series[/URL]
[URL="http://www.morelhifi.com/"]Morel ultimo[/URL]
[URL="http://www.stereointegrity.com/"]Stero Integrity[/URL]

i've seen that list before and theres some stuff that i would consider "quality mid-grade" rather than high-end (sundown, fi, and ssa are the ones that jump out).
 
still a great list though.

Nice "Sound Quality" List :runcoold:

i havent heard of any of those lol

you forgot my stock infinti bose stereo! :innoutrofl2:

lol bose is all marketing, i wouldnt consider them among real high end audio companies

Those are all nice SQ brands.  Like Mike said, id consider most of them mid-quality although there are a few that are very nice high-end companies.


Rainbow ftmfw

[quote=RaCinStylez;176412]Those are all nice SQ brands. Like Mike said, id consider most of them mid-quality although there are a few that are very nice high-end companies.
 
 
[B]dynaudio[/B] ftmfw[/quote]
 
fixed.

id love to run dyn or dls on sinfoni amps for my next setup :giggity:

man i wanted to run a sinfoni on my next build until i found out the amp i wanted was $12k. they really are works of art though.

[QUOTE=HoeBag;176421]id love to run dyn or dls on sinfoni amps for my next setup :giggity:[/QUOTE]

I <3 DLS too.... It was a toss up between the two but the Rainbow ones just look soo much cooler tho

[quote=BLACKonBLACK98;176423]man i wanted to run a sinfoni on my next build until i found out the amp i wanted was $12k. they really are works of art though.[/quote]

werd, their elegance is unmatched

[img]http://realmofexcursion.com/ampguts/Sinfoni_AMPLItude_150.2x/outside1.jpg[/img]

copper series tru amps are slick too

[img]http://www.mobileaudiosolutions.com.au/picts/c7at.jpg[/img]

[quote=RaCinStylez;176424]I <3 DLS too.... It was a toss up between the two but the Rainbow ones just look soo much cooler tho[/quote]

werd. dls looks a bit plain, but no doubt they perform. i like everything about the ipaul amps, except the name lol.

added adcom and hertz to the list - totally forgot about them. i think adcom stopped making car audio, but their old amps are still badass.

im still a fan of mcintosh very very good amps. .. too bad im running some shitty memphis

some other beautiful sq amps

focal's new line
[img]http://www.extremeaudio.de/images/Focal/800-fp-5500-paar_1141812493_57040287.jpg[/img]

brax
[img]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h274/Honda_Frode/15018-Brax_X2400-1.jpg[/img]

helix (made by brax)
[img]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/mobster909/AAU%20items/DSC01510.jpg[/img]

soundstream davinci
[img]http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l173/barnz008/129058.jpg[/img]

soundstream human reign
[img]http://ampguts.realmofexcursion.com/Soundstream_Human_Reign_4/outside1.jpg[/img]

phoenix gold ms series
[img]http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/delerium168/00000001-1.jpg[/img]

phoenix gold titanium series
[img]http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/delerium168/ticombe.jpg[/img]

another pic of the tru copper series
[img]http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j239/jewlike1/DSC08471.jpg[/img]

zapco c2k
[img]http://tristanrules.com/BESTLOOK/P1000625.jpg[/img]

and of course mcintosh
[img]http://www.geocities.com/chaz7193/McIntosh4000.jpg[/img]

thisis the sinfoni amp iwas talking about.
 
[IMG]http://autopilot.kommersant.ru/Images/2007/01/avto_02_133-1.jpg[/IMG]
 
i love these focals. i almost bought the 5.500 nib on ebay for a nice price, but it was still too much to just have laying around.
 
[IMG]http://www.suchartsound.co.th/images/newproduct/focal_fp5-500.jpg[/IMG]

HErtz/Audison FTW.

How come JL isnt on there? I dont know much about audio but I love their speakers/amps. Thats what Im gonna use again for this car:)

jl may be one of the top 'mainstream' brands, but its not considered 'high end'.

Jl is for the normal kids.  All the other brands are for the ballers. Damn I really want a new setup for my system. I wish i went with mcintosh when i had to chance too.

tiny you need a pep talk? rofl.

[QUOTE=airmax;178506]tiny you need a pep talk? rofl.[/QUOTE]

lol. no. I have no money right now. Throwing it into the 4dr to get it running again.

dang you guys balling outta control. Ill stick with JL, if thats not high end and is already expensive as hell I wont even  look into these brands lol.

you'll spend just as much on jl [I]at an authorized price[/I] as you will on something much better.

[QUOTE=jeebus;178699]dang you guys balling outta control. Ill stick with JL, if thats not high end and is already expensive as hell I wont even  look into these brands lol.[/QUOTE]

When you want the audio. Give me a call. Looking into selling my Jl system.

[QUOTE]Dayton Audio Titanic -- anyone know the URL?---[/QUOTE]
 
[URL]http://www.daytonaudio.com/loudspeaker/index.htm[/URL]

look to [url]www.partsexpress.com[/url] for dayton stuff.

thanks bob98, updated the first post

partsexpress.com is a great site for misc audio equip.
monoprice.com is as well

a nice place to look at the best systems in certain price ranges that can fit your needs for high end car audio... 

[url]http://www.fastfoursforumscarclub.com/temp/fhrxstudios/faq.asp#0[/url]

Critical Mass Speakers and Amps are top quality also...  but they are MONEY...

Crazy.

For me, "high end" was JL and Alpine.

How wrong I apparently was.

I got RE Audio components though, for cheap, even if it's the subs they're known for.

No list for headunits?         Got the dls myself..

headunits would be a model list not a brandf list since pretty much every brand has a nice offering or 2.

[QUOTE=Kohinoor;179162]thanks bob98, updated the first post

partsexpress.com is a great site for misc audio equip.
monoprice.com is as well[/QUOTE]
or even madisound.com

I bought three Boston Acoustics GT28 Amps, they're rated at 1100wx1ch at 2ohms.  I also bought two Boston Acoustics SPG555 subs. I only have one of each installed in my ride and it pounds so f&*kin loud for just one sub, I think the Boston Acoustics should not be overlooked.

Those boston gt amps are nice... i was looking into them when I had my Z6 components, but I ended up selling them since they needed WAY too much power.

Another set of speakers/components I'd like to add are the Zapco CK 16.2's and the ESB Audio Ottomila (ESB Audio is a sister company of Zapco in Italy and the Ottomila is the same thing as the 16.2). The difference between the two is the mid.  The basket is different on the ESB, little bit better design basket wise and for the speaker terminals.

I ran this set when I had my Alpine W200 and H701, so I was goin the active route, used a PDX 4.150, barely had the gains up, maybe 3 notches, which is really nothing.  Tweeters are phenomenal, midbass is pretty good.  They are a bit pricey, but I had gotten a good deal on them...sad to let them go for the price I did.

The Alpine F1 status are also great components.

Glad to see you have TC Sounds on there, I had a collection of about 40 of their subs, many of them prototypes.  The TC-5200 is phenomenal, didn't even give it it's full potential, gave it 3,000w (rf t30001bd) and it wanted more :)

The RL-p is truly underrated. I had the 18", one of the coils turned out to dead from the manufacturer and the way I had it wired, it was able to play, but off one coil....basically it was seeing 2k (dual 2 ohm on the same RF amp) to one coil. Took it quite well, very smooth.

well to add to the list, i recommend Diamond Audio's D9 for subs, the old ones at least anyways and Phoenix Gold's Tantrum series for amps.

There is a alot of great stereo equipment out there....My opinions..American Bass, MMats, JL Audio and even Orions new HCCA series(just to name a few) are hard hitters as far as subs..They take a beaten.  And as far as amps  Phoniex Gold, Earthquake,and my personal favs Zapco,And again... thats just to name a few. Bottom line..you have your bottom line,middle line and Big Boy equipment.It's all in what your wallet can handle.:shrug:

[QUOTE=davipstar;264265]I bought three Boston Acoustics GT28 Amps, they're rated at 1100wx1ch at 2ohms. I also bought two Boston Acoustics SPG555 subs. I only have one of each installed in my ride and it pounds so f&*kin loud for just one sub, I think the Boston Acoustics should not be overlooked.[/QUOTE]
 
 
I agree..Boston Acoustics are veterns in the game. Never had there subs...but there components sets were kick a**:biggthumpup:

I love old school Orion amps, pre DEI era

If you want to see some really clean installs, check out:
 
[URL]http://www.winning-jp.com/[/URL]
 
 
When I can save up, I'm going to go all Focal...:biggthumpup:

[QUOTE=actolex;279309]If you want to see some really clean installs, check out:
 
[URL]http://www.winning-jp.com/[/URL]
 
 
When I can save up, I'm going to go all Focal...:biggthumpup:[/QUOTE]
 
 
Sweet link actolex.....alot of clean..yet...flashy installs     I like:biggthumpup:    Even got a few ides for my install:giggity:

[QUOTE=w8lifter21;279272]I love old school Orion amps, pre DEI era[/QUOTE]

love orion zapco my phenoix gold 1845 amp and mcintosh!

i like jl audio focal hertz and alpine

Hey guys my father in law has a shop in Pasadena he is a hertz/audison and focal dealer if you need anything lmk special pricing for you guys... I always put hertz speakers and audison amps on all my cars..

audison amps are nice, I'm now running a SR1DK

Just put Focal in my Tundra....love em' !!!!

[QUOTE=actolex;279309]If you want to see some really clean installs, check out:
 
[URL]http://www.winning-jp.com/[/URL]
 
 
When I can save up, I'm going to go all Focal...:biggthumpup:[/QUOTE]
Winning was my inspiration  :biggthumpup:

Wheres Masconi/Audio Systems or Micro Precision?

I'm thinking of switching from soundstream to DC Audio.

Audison are awesome

Old Skool Orion I'd put in the Soundstream and older Stillwater/Kicker stuff. Great powerful and compact amps.
 
 I used to compete in SPL and SQ+ categories with comp grade Kicker amps and subs with CDT fronts for SQ+. 
 Source wise I always used Kenwood PS900 or 905 with Phoenix Gold prossessors back then but after a brief use of Nakamachi I've settled on Alpine sources now purely for AV and aux capabilities.

 In my build I'm using CDT speakers and subs with Audison   amplification. 

 I do like a lot of brands in that list but like focal and a few others on there,  I think quality has taken a big dive in the last decade. Which is a shame. 


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