Car Stereo System options

It's been awhile since I've been up to date on this sort of stuff.

I'm looking to do some stereo upgrades for the 2001 Outback LL Bean I just purchased.

I will be buying an Alpine head unit with the ipod full speed cable interface.

I own a Clarion 5 channel amp and a 12" sub.

One concern is sacrificing the utility of my car to put in a stereo system. I'm not sure I want to install the amp and then think twice about folding the seats down and using putting stuff back there. The amp is great though and it would be a shame to not use it, especially since I already own it.

I'm kinda thinking of not using the amp and getting a powered Bazooka tube which I could connect up with some quick disconnects in case I wanted to take it out.

Given what I have and the fact that I'm not a devout audiophile, nor am I in need of ear-splitting volume, does anyone have any thoughts on a good setup?

Subaru is a small car. New decks have tons of power. No need for an additonal amp imo.

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Originally Posted by shmerham

I'm kinda thinking of not using the amp and getting a powered Bazooka tube which I could connect up with some quick disconnects in case I wanted to take it out.

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Or if somebody else wanted to take it out.

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Originally Posted by 4matic

Subaru is a small car. New decks have tons of power. No need for an additonal amp imo.

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Don't offer opinions when you don't what you're talking about. JONG!

I gots a WRX which is smaller than the outback and I have an amp and used to have a subwoofer until someone broke into my car. :mad:

The bazooka tube is going to sound nearly as good as an amp and a subwoofer. Ideally you would want an amp running to your speakers and another one to the subwoofer :biggrin:

But I gots my amp mounted under the passenger seat and I have never once thought it was in the way. B4 my sub got stolen I used to remove it when I needed to - just as easy as with the bazooka.

If you claim not to be an audiophile then the bazooka tube might be fine but since you got an amp I say use it. Mount it under a seat and you wont even know its there.

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Originally Posted by P_McPoser

Don't offer opinions when you don't what you're talking about. JONG!

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That's maybe a touch harsh.... but seriously..... you don't know what you are talking about.















JONG.

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Originally Posted by nutcase

If you claim not to be an audiophile then the bazooka tube might be fine but since you got an amp I say use it. Mount it under a seat and you wont even know its there.

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Not gonna happen. The amp is 18" X 8".

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Originally Posted by shmerham

Not gonna happen. The amp is 18" X 8".

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sell it and buy a new one!

I got one that's probably 12 x 12 and it fits perfectly- plus it puts out enough power to have blown up a bazooka a friend loaned me

What about just puttin the amp under the front seats?

I have two amps. One under drivers seat, one under passengers. Works fine and dosent diminish interior room at all.

i have pioneer deh-p6800mp with ipod adaptor wired into glove compartment. good shit. best ipod interface thingy you can buy

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Originally Posted by yooper

That's maybe a touch harsh.... but seriously..... you don't know what you are talking about.















JONG.

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I have another opinion. Bazooka tubes sound like crap and even worse unless you have a dedicated amp controller with active crossover. Plus, they are a waste of space. I suppose you young guys listen to hip hop so in that respect I really don't know what I'm talking about. Also, OP said he is not interested in loud music and he did not mention replacing the stock speakers which are probobly rated at 5 watts. Why would OP need more power than a new Alpine to push stock speakers? Would you experts please explain why additional power is needed for stock speakers especially when the new unit he is buying has more than double the power of the stock system? Thanks

OK, good point. If he isn't upgrading the speakers, there isn't much sense in an amp.
Replace those speakers, too!

Hey JONGmatic. Read. He is talking about having a subwoofer. Show me a headunit with a built in 400 watt amp, and I'll take back what I said about you being a dumb ass.

FWIW, Bazzoka tubes are indeed shitty. If you just want some more bass, they are fine.

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Originally Posted by 4matic

I have another opinion. Bazooka tubes sound like crap and even worse unless you have a dedicated amp controller with active crossover. Plus, they are a waste of space. I suppose you young guys listen to hip hop so in that respect I really don't know what I'm talking about. Also, OP said he is not interested in loud music and he did not mention replacing the stock speakers which are probobly rated at 5 watts. Why would OP need more power than a new Alpine to push stock speakers? Would you experts please explain why additional power is needed for stock speakers especially when the new unit he is buying has more than double the power of the stock system? Thanks

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Originally Posted by 4matic

Subaru is a small car. New decks have tons of power. No need for an additonal amp imo.

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You threw me off with the car part; you're probably talking about motorized vehicles in general. For a car, I don't think an outback is small by any means. Compared to a Winnebago, suburban or H1 Hummer, I guess it is though.

Ok. So we've established that outbacks are small, bazooka tubes suck, and that I should replace the stock speakers, and that I should have an amp to power all the speakers, but I should get one that fits under the seat.


I was going to replace the stock component speakers but they sound pretty darn good actually at volumes that I listen at, and that's with the stock deck. I've actually talked to people that upgraded the stock speakers and said they didn't notice much difference. I used the stock component speakers in my audi (not bose) and those worked great to be honest. I don't think I'll upgrade at least until later. I'd rather have the money for a pair of freerides.

So, if I shouldn't get a bazooka tube, maybe having my amp on the rear of the back seat won't be that big of a deal? There's already plenty of space ot begin with, I never had the need to put anything huge in my Audi. I'm more worried about the amp and the wiring. If I folded the seat down and tried to cram stuff in there, I'd be worried about the wires getting caught by something or the speaker terminals breaking.

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Originally Posted by P_McPoser

Hey JONGmatic. Read. He is talking about having a subwoofer. .

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I don't see where it says he is just putting in a subwoofer witht hat amp. Why would he need a huge 5 channel amp for that? Is it a bridgeable amp? If it's not then using it for a subwoofer would be pretty pointless; especiallu without an amp controller.

Where did you get the assumption that it is in fact a 400 watt amp?

Name calling online. My my... Growing up without parents must have been difficult. Sorry about that and Good luck overcoming your disadvantaged childhood.

To clarify, if I was going to use the amp, I would use it to power all the speakers (mainly because I can). One big advantage to the amp is being able to cutoff the low frequencies on the main speakers. Having done some listening, I don't think it's a necessity (where it was on my audi), but I'm sure it would be beneficial at times.

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Originally Posted by shmerham

One big advantage to the amp is being able to cutoff the low frequencies on the main speakers. .

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You can do that very easily without the amp.

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Originally Posted by nutcase

You can do that very easily without the amp.

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Infact, much easier, much cheaper, and with much more control.

isn't that what the highpass filter in your head unit is for?