Is this true?

Question

I heard that when it comes to good sounding bass, it really helps if all your stuff(subs, amp, and head unit/receiver) are the same brand. I didn't really buy it, until i heard my friend's system, he has all Dual brand stuff, and it sounds phenomenol. I have varied brands. Sometimes, on songs with fast paced bass, the bass will lag behind a little. My friend's doesn't do this, and he has less power, but it seems like it's louder. Would it help if i got all Dual brand stuff?

Answer 1

It does help but only a little, your problem sounds like something else, i have 3 diffrent brands pioneer headunit and insides, hifonics amp and audiobahn subs and i have no problem with my sound. About the less power thing, if his box is closer to spec and yours is way off thats your problem, your box is just as important as the subs and amp, dont slack on the box

Answer 2

At the IASACA sound competitions, the winners rarely have the same brand all through out the system. As a matter of fact, a very respected writer for the car audio & electronics magazine said once: The best sounding systems have mismatched brands" And I 200% agree with him.

What your system is lacking is not the brand name, is the design, setup and execution.

Therefore, I would like details of your setup, from the car year and model, the equipment you are using, the charging system, down to the actual settings on the stereo and amplifiers. And I will tell you how to make it sound better than your buddie's system.

"just an opinion"

Answer 3

Brand matching is rarely a good idea. I can't think of any manufacture who makes even a top 10 item in every category.

Lagging bass is probably a design problem or cheap stuff!

There are many great brands and many that suck! You generally get what you pay for.

Just my personal tastes, I like, but don't limit my self to these:
(high end models not the entry level stuff)

Alpine head units: they sound great and for me last for ever

Kicker subs: I seem to get the flattest in car frequency response from them. (i design the boxes that way)

Rockford amps: Thought they may be rated at fewer watts than others, they can really deliver the current when needed.

Boston Acoustics separates: I have the Pro 60's. Expensive but So smooth, holy cow!

Now from above I don't like Rockford speakers, too harsh, or alpine speakers, too hollow. I probably wouldn't by a Boston acoustics amplifier, it's not what they do best.

go with what you like and remember it cost more for a reason!

Answer 4

Some people will swear by the same brand theory, mainly because having so called "matched components" is supposed to be the better way to go. As far as using different brands for different parts of the system,you can do that also. You need to make sure that all the ratings are compatible as far as power output and power handling.

Answer 5

To debunk the myth is easy, as watts are watts, ohms are ohms.

Now, as to what a system has for ACTUAL watts and sound quality depends on many things, and they are:

1. condition of battery and charging system
2. correct power wire size for current
3. correct grounding
4. a CEA compliant amplifier
5. the quality of the HU, RCA cables
6. the amplifiers gain and LPF (on or off) being correctly set
7. the correct speaker wire size
8. the speakers impedance is within the amps rating by how their wired
9. The type of box used for the subs

and last but not least, the cabin of the car!!!

All of these (and some I may have forgotten) WILL determine sound quality.