I have been reading so many cardomain pages and I have noticed that everyone these days rates their audio setup by the price they spent... "Audio: $1700 sound system..." Well woopti doo, you just spent way too much money on stereo equipment. My 90 max has a sony xplod reciever, xplod 6.5s, xplod 6x9s and an xplod 760 watt amp. I have a single 12" pioneer sub in a sealed box and some tweeters on the sail panels. Total Spent: 500 dollars and 3 hours putting it in. I got more bass than I could ever stand to listen to and I love it... Where does 1700 dollars go??? And how does spending that much make their's so nice? Anyways my car is red with black exterior and all my stereo matches, so :-P

Just my random thoughts... yet another day in the life of a max owner

 

I agree with going cheap on the system My whole setup is a Pioneer DEH-P430 HU, Blaupunkt speakers, 1 12 Alpine Type R in a sealed box, run by a JBL 600.1. Total cost? A little under 400 bones. I got some good deals(Ebay) I would say 400 is pretty good seeing as how the Type R retails for around 200 and the amp is around 400 I think in Crutchfield.

 

Some people go for quality also. not to knock your system, but you get what you pay for.
(The guys are still idiots for "rating" their systems by price), but I've got more money in amps than you have in your car. Do I brag about it? no. does it sound good? HELL YEAH. that's what matters.

As a former musician myself, I can't stand to hear music on a cheap stereo, so I only buy the best I can afford- even if that means waiting a little on the purchase. it's taken me 6 years of buying things here and there, new and used, but I've got the system I want, and there's not many out there that can beat it quality-wise. (Wanna argue? I've got an IASCA Finals trophy on my desk to prove it.)

total price?
let's just say somewhere between $6 and 7 grand. And that's just for the equipment, not counting install materials.



blah.

 

I totally feel you on that one, I bet your system rocks. I guess its like everything else: everyone has their own taste and is entitled to it. I will never win any SPL competitions, nor do I care, all I know is my Chicago CD sounds awesome and I love it.

 

theres a lot of factors to take into account....take me for instance...my system is over $1000 and this is just a quick rundown of what i have....Pioneer HU - $300...Pioneer digital EQ - $350...Pioneer 3-way 6.5 - $60...Pionner 4-way 6x9 - $125...Pioneer 280 watt amp - $250....Sony xplod 760 amp - $270...2 Pioneer 12's - $150...and then thier are other things like amp kit, wiring, power fuses, distributor block, cap, dynomat....yada yada yada!! that was just a quick rundown and thats almost $1300 right there...so it can add up!! sometimes i sit and think how much money i actually put into my system and i just shake my head!!

 

I understand the sound quality part. I mean, if I had the dough, I would dump over a grand easy into a sound system. Actually, if I had paid retail for all of my stuff, then I would have dumped over a grand into all of it. I know my speakers aren't the best(I'm probably dumping them this summer and getting some components and an amp for them) but I believe that I got a good HU, and I know I have got a good sub and amp. I would love to have a custom system with custom kickpods and an amp rack and all that good stuff, but I just wanted a simple good sounding stereo that wouldn't break the bank. Plus, I'm getting a VE within the next year or two and I can go all out on that. Even though VG rules..............

 

I agree with Matt, I hate listening to music with distored sound. It's unbelievable what sounds you miss when you listen on a crap system. I got a decent set up by shoping around and doing the install myself. I was able to install a system for less than $1000. This same system would of easily cost me $1500-$1700 had i bought it from a shop, paid their prices and let them install it. If you have the money and sound is that important to you go for it. Some people are into their sound like others are into there HP or suspention Mods.

 

This is somewhat on the same subject, but I have some BOSS addon tweeters in my car, they were like 12 bucks on the net. I know they arent as spiffy as a nice component set with a real crossover, but these have a built in x-over and when installed on the sail panel, I think they are the best sounding upgrade I purchased. They get the highs up in your face so your legs cant block it and they only set me back a few bucks... if I had to recomend any upgrade to someone else I would say get some cheap tweeters. For the money they are awesome.

 

the wiring alone for my car cost more than your total setup who woulda known wires could cost so much

yah, but i agree with NCSUmax, about rating systems by price thats the stupidest way of rating a system, some idiot could of spent way too much money on crap speakers and HU, and think its awsome because he spent 2-3k on the total system or something. while another person who has better stuff and paid wholesale price (lower price) and .. what ever u guys get the picture hahah

 

what exactly do you have? I got really good deals on all of my stuff. It would have been over a grand if I had payed retail.

 

i got some pretty decent junk, they are not the best but better than what mobil one or any other "retail" place would carry, like inifity kappa high's, really ****ty jvc kameleon HU, crappy pioneer eq, and only thing good i have are my chrome precison power amps

 

i found a diamond in the rough. i recently got 2 rockford punch z 12's for $99 at best buy. thats right, $99 for both. this may sound like these subs are cheap, but let me tell you, they hit hard as hell! go to best buy and test them, youll see. they hit 3 times harder than anything in the store. im not a big franchise audio fan, but i had to go there for something else and came across these. and they only run 200 watts max. i got them running off a 2 ch. sony amp at 150 watts a channel. no need for a farad cap, which saves money. so the subs ($100) + sealed box ($50) + amp ($150) + wires ($40) + self installation (free) = about $340. you cant beat that. if youre looking to get a system cheap, im telling you look at these subs.

 

Matt, just curious, what is your setup?... I can't seem to get to your homepage, which I'm assuming would show off your system.

 

I know what you mean about retail nightmares, I bought my stuff from best buy all used, display models, and put plans on all of it, the guy told me to come back a week later and get it all replaced with new stuff, sure enough thats what they did. They didnt even ask me what was wrong with it. I paid half the price, and got brand new stuff... I just love loopholes.

 

I have an Alpine CDA-7863 (I think those are the numbers) headunit, JBL 600.1 & 180.2 amps, 1 12" infinity DVC sub, replaced my old Infinity 12" sub, 4 new interior speakers, went with Boston Acoustics, wanted infinitys, didn't have the money at the time though, I'll probably get them soon...total I've spent around...hmm...

HU: $400
Sub: ~$400 (for both)
Amps: ~$300 (for both)
Interior Speakers (with install): $600 (that also included all wiring, and a box for my sub)

So we're looking at... about.... $1700.. of course, this all wasn't dished out at once, this was over a year or so... and I'm done for now...I have the sound I want finally..for now

What's funny is that I didn't know that I had spent $1700 until I just totaled it up now.. lol...that's bad... oh well, I am happy..and I have good quality.

And for those non-computer savvy people, the ~ before the dollar sign means "about", it wasn't a typo

 

NOW YOU KNOW, i'm about to run the same scam on good ol BB.

 

This is one is a good one. I have to agree with matt. my stereo sounds good and currently i'm rebuilding it to sound even better. I used to sing and perform off broadway and to me music is my life. Distortion in music gives me a headache and therefore i have to listen to a well out together system. The first thing people usually say when they get into my car is Wow that Bose system really sounds good!! and i have to tell them thatthe first thing id id when i got the car home was to rip that bose crap out!!!!!

I had no idea that a car that was done the right way could sound so good until i heard a guys car who spent over 5 grand on his car (shop installed) and i was bit by the bug! The current system in my car consists of kicker zr600 zr360. orion hcca 6s components and kicker compvr 12' that stuff is well over 1000. and with the custom install would be well over 2g's but for me its worth it. like someone said some people like speed mods. some like their music!!

Sorry for the long post

 

i think matt wants people off his jizzock

 

matt stop bragging please

j/k

 

Hey guys here is a stereo for ya.
Pioneer HU - $380 (I splurged)
Jensen 6.5's + 6X9's - free (out of previous cars which had them)
Pyramid 1200W Amp - $200 (Not the best quality, but a lot of power)
2 Kenwood 12's - Free (taking too much power from friends mustang)
Custom Box - $15 (caulking was $15, 3/8 inch plexiglass was free)

This is the greatest system i have ever heard for 600 bucks. I got all the wiring for it for free by installing my friends stereo's for them.

PS Best Buy sucks- anything to rip them off is well worth while. They were going to charge me $80 for the "free" installation of my CD player into my 300Z. Im not sure if I am currently allowed back into the store.

 

I started a new page on cardomain.com the other day when I was bored.. some of the pics are there (and keep in mind it's not finished).. I'm still running the Blose head unit and only my front Blose speakers right now.. rest of the system is bolted into place, but I haven't got the wiring connected. there's a link to my old cardomain page too from my new one.

http://maxima.cardomain.com/id/matt93se

The actual components of the system:
Amps:
All Precision Power Art Series:
A1200.2 600Wx2 (subs), A600.2 150Wx2 (mids), A404.2 bridged to 200Wx2 (midbass), A200.2 50Wx2 (tweeters), and a "spare" A200 amp.

Speakers:
Subs: Focal 33F 12" subs. 4 of 'em.
midbass: Focal 6K4401 6.5"
Mids: Focal 4K4401 4"
tweeters: Focal TN46 1"

Crossover: Audio Control 4XS
Head Unit: Pioneer Premier DEX-P1R
CD Changer: Pioneer Premier CDX-P616

All signal wiring was Belden balanced line microphone cable using Neutrik interconnects.
power and ground cables are 1/0awg welding cable up to the distro blocks, where it's Hooker Audio 8awg cable to each amp from there.
Battery connectors, fuse block, and other power distro components are all Hooker Audio.

There's also an Eagle Power 2F brushed aluminum cap on the amp rack, wired with Hooker Audio power wire and connectors.

 

... and if you're a show-off or not. Personally, I've spent WAY too much on a system before, and I learned my lesson. At one point I had easily spent nearly $2K on a sound system that didn't nearly pump as hard as a system that my younger brother 'hustled-up' on and spent less than half of what I spent, and his system sounded MUCH better.

Right now, I'm looking to spend under the $1K mark on a system, and so far, I'm doing much better than I thought. I've gotten a lot of great deals on eBay and I've done all of the installation myself up to this point. I'm pretty satisfied with the system up to now, but the installation isn't complete yet. I'm convinced that this has to be the best system for the $$$ I've ever assembled and I think that's what really matters in the end. I drive the car everyday and it's my ears that have to be satisfied with what's in the car - anybody else that hears it and criticizes it didn't put a dime towards it so they can love it or leave it.

My point is simply this - if you love your system, then that's all that really matters. If you're satisfied with what you spent, then that's on you, but I've learned my lesson. I may not have the 'best' quality amps, speakers or wiring, but I'm satisfied with my sounds because I like what I'm hearing and, best of all to me, I did it all myself.

peace2u

 

They tell you it's free installation and you go in there all fat, dumb and happy thinking it's not going to cost youy anything. They F#@cking hit you with these inflated cost for installation equiptment that cost you $50-$70. What a scam. I'd like to see someone go in there and bring there own wiring, connectors, distribution box , etc. and see what the hell they will do.

 

I would have done that when I had my system installed... but then again, I wouldn't trust BB with my system...still would have been a funny idea... lol

 

nice. I was suprised your subs are free air. I thought youd go for sealed for the tightness. I might try pointing my sub at the rear seats like yours. It feels like the maxima absorbs a lot of the sound compared to other cars ive been in... like a civic.

 

Hey matt, what did you hit with the four focal 12's?

Two years ago I competed in IASCA, took first at every event, and If I continued I would have went to the world finals, I did go but only as a spectator, found out I would have been in 3rd or 4th in my class (consumer division 1), anyway I hit 141db with one twelve and 600rms (1200 peak) watts.

I use focal also, and right now I'm saving up for the audiodom TLR tweeter, they are F!cking expensive (retail $767/piece and best price $500/piece). And some crazy **** for the alarm, to keep the sccum out.

 

You guys, you have to forgive him. He roots for the Wolfpack, we can see why he doesn't understand anything.