alright...heres the deal...i love my car more than life itself (most of us do), but I cant stand the shi**y factory stereo anymore!! (not Bose) So, naturally, its time for an upgrade: have you guys had any particular luck, as far as easy component installs, with certain brands or makers?? Moneys not a big issue, I have many peices of plastic. I'm not new to car audio, just car audio in a Max, so if you guys have ANY input, that would be great!!!

 

Most people who begin building a system usually skimp on the headunit and spend extra on the amp and subs...Not a good idea. You'll regret it later. Your headunit is the central control piece and what you and everyone else sees. You're better off buying top of the line for that up front to save yourself time and agrivation later. I couldn't be happier with my Alpine CVA-1005. I have a 1000 watt Alpine V12 amplifier. (Amazing amp) Running three 12 inch JL Audio W6 Subwoofers (at a 4 ohm load). I also have a few other video components to spruce up the game playing and movie watching. Let me know what else you are interested in, I have been in the mobile audio/video scene for a while and have lots of advice to offer. Email me, or reply with specifics and I'll be more than happy to help you out.

 

Heres my system diagram. You can see the equipment list in my sig. I am very happy with this setup.

<img src="http://images.cardomain.com/installs/5000-5999/5517_11_full.jpg">

 

Go with the Alpine CVA-1005, I have one also and its a great unit. I had the 1000 but sold it to upgrade and it a sweet head unit. As far as speakers Infinity speakers sound great. The size of the speakers are 6.5", most companies have that size, its very popular. My advice is to take your time and buy your system as you can afford it. I have a ton of money invested in my system and it took me a while to do it, but I love it. Lastly listen to the speakers and judge for yourself, don't buy a speaker because someone tells you to. Listen and compare the speakers using one of your favorite cd's so you know what it should sound like to your ears. Good luck.
1995 GXE Alpine CVA-1005, CHA1214, ERG320A eq, Image Dynamics HLCD's with x-overs and matching mid-bass, 2 Infinity tweeters for center channel fill, 3 12w6 JL Audio sub(FOR SALE!!), 2 PPI amps (FOR SALE!!)-> PC4800 4x100 PC1800->800 mono block. Playstation, VCR and all the goods on the out side!!

 

thanks for the help guys...the car audio shop by my house tries to constantly push me rockford stuff, but i needed to hear more options. its gonna cost me a fortune, but you gotta have booms!!

 

Alright here it goes, I'm going to give you my opinion on the system you should get, that I know will sound amazing in a Max. (Don't buy rockford crap, a few of my friends got them and they are all selling their stuff now after having it 2 weeks)...

Headunit:

Alpine CVA-1005, offers lots of options including Subwoofer controls, which can be very useful if you are not in the mood for bass and want to shut the subs off for any reason. It also has a powerful 40 x 4 pre-amp. It can be used in conjunction with any gaming system, dvd player, or vcr. Looks great, and impresses the hell out of people when that 6.5 inch screen pops out, and folds up. Price $750-800 new, off of ebay. About $1300 New in the store.

Amp:
Alpine V12 series
Phoenix Gold
PPI

3 of the best brand amps on the market. Select a model accordingly depending on how much bass you are trying to push out. All offer clean sound with a lot of power.
Price - range from 250 for 500 watt Alpine V12 amp on up to 375 for the Alpine MRV-1507. (That amp will run ANYTHING)

Subs:
JL AUDIO BABY!!! Number one choice of most audio enthusiasts. If you want three 12's or three 15's go with the W6 series. If you want two 12's or two 15's W3-D4 is ideal. For three 12's you will need an amp that runs 900 watts +. For two 12's 550 watts is perfect. For three 15's you should use Alpines MRV-1507, A LOT OF POWER. People will hear you comming a mile and a half away. Approximate cost of three 12's - 500 New off of ebay w/ box. 650 new in store w/ out box. Two 12's - 300 off of ebay w/ out box.

That should do it for your bass. As for speakers, I like MB Quarts, but that really comes down to preference. You have to test them out and see what you like. I had the two JL 12's in my car for a while with the MRV-T503, and it rocked. Bigger amp means more power. And remember you can always turn the power down on the amp, and if you decide to upgrade subs you can't turn it right back up. You're better off buying the best amp you can afford (2/1 channel) up front and you won't have to upgrade later.

 

No offence meant. You didn't say what your listening tastes are. You also said Money is no object here. If you want tons of bass cool. If you want better SQ then, here are my suggestions. HU, I suggest Clarion, Elclipse, or Alpine. Amps, (well since money is no object) Tube Driver, Xtant, Zapco, PPI. Speakers, Dynaudio(Very pricey, unbleavable sound), Focal, CD Technologies, or Diamond Audio. Subs, I like JL. They make a stealthbox for the Max with 1 10W6 that sounds perfect for most bass needs(unless your a compleate basshead and don't need your trunk). If you want good advise from a very knowledgeable person, who won't steer you wrong, or try to push only what he sells, try talking to Peter Lufrano at http://www.theautophile.com . He will bend over backwards to suggest equipment that will suit your listening tastes and budget. I used him to buy all my equipment (Tube Driver, Dynaudio, Clarion) and I have never regreted it.

 

hehe, I love these subs... the new square ones. They are about the same price as other sets of subs, but you only need to buy 1! Get 1 10" or 1 12" and put it in the custom kicker PORTED boxes, and I promise, it will roll ANY set of 12"'s you want to put against it!!! They have them sitting in the caraudio places around here, and seriously you can put it up against any other subs in the place except matt's juggernauts (WAAAAAAY to expensive!!) and they'll POUND!! Atleast check them out.. thats my advice And who has a better name then kicker for quality?

 

My recommendation is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. The system can never be any better than the headunit which is the source of all signal. As for an amp, I would strongly recommend buying one of several available 5 or 6 channel amps, to minimize installation expense and potential for noise and simplify wiring. The amp should include crossovers, unless the ones in the headunit are sufficient. The simpler you keep the signal path the more pure the music will be. Select a good pair of seperates for the front, and only buy rear speaker if you often have passengers back there and you want them to hear. I have found that a sealed enclosure works best in most any car with a good single 10" or 12" sub without taking your trunk, but be sure to run as much power as possible.

I also highly recommend you talk to Peter Lufrano at the Autophile. Very helpful guy. Highly respected on the audio boards.

I lean toward audiophile systems, because they can reproduce any type of music.

Recommended head units: Premier, Eclipse, Alpine, Nakamichi
Amps: Memphis, Phoenix Gold, Xtant, Brax
Speakers: Focal, MB Quart, ADS, Boston Acoustic
Subs: Focal, Image Dynamics, JL Audio

If I was in your shoes buying now: Premier or Nackamichi headunit, Brax amp, Focal Utopia Speakers, Image Dynamics or Focal sub.

Final word: Since you're buying this for you, remember, "If you can't hear a difference, there is no difference."

 

Pioneer DEH 9200 CD Headunit
Pioneer Digital EQ (forgot the name of item #)
Pioneer 6 1/2 3-ways front and rear
Rockford 400a4 for highs
Rockford 800a2 for lows
2 Capacitors
2 12" Rockford HE2's in a sealed box

 

Alpine or pioneer for the head unit. Get the top of the line models and you'll never want a new head unit. I have a pioneer deh 8000. It is the 99 model of the deh 9200. It is great, lots of features and cool display. My fiends has an alpine that you can tilt at different angles and has a nice eq on the display.

 

go to my car stereo installation homepage in my sig. for some great ideas for a car stereo.

 

That subwoofer install is crazy! So it doesn't rattle the trunk at all? Is there anyway you could post directions or anything that would help on how to install the subs so they face through the opening and are sealed off from the rest of the trunk? My biggest problem is trunk rattles. I currently have 4 12's but I will cut down to two for that kind of install. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

the setup looks nice, but you only hit 125db? The infinity subs aren't suppose to be that great, but i thought they would do better than that...especially with a zapco amp. I guess though it looks good, the setup is inefficient.

 

Oh...you go for SQ not SPL? How do you rate in SQ?

 

yes...zapco is powering my highs not my subs...125 db is an estimate i've never actually metered my car. Here are ther new upgrades that are going in to my car: MTX Thunder 1000d 1600 watt amp, 1/0 gauge wire, dynamat of the ENTIRE vehicle, pioneer premier p1r cd player, phoenix gold bass cube, pioneer 12 disc changer with voice controller, and more more dynamat. I bought ten rolls of that stuff from http://www.parts-express.com The trunk rattles are non-existent since im not pressurising the trunk at all, however i do have very minimal rattles inside the cab. Dynamat will take care of those as it will take care of road noise. Here is a picture of how exactly the box is sealed off from the trunk. They dynamatted the box to the rear bracket and carpeted over it..so its completely sealed off.
<img src=http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/preview/an/antontumas/Subs.jpg>

 

Heres is the front view of subs
<img src=http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/preview/an/antontumas/subs2.jpg>

 

and the beginning of my dynamat project...these pictures are of my rear deck..i spent six hours just doing the rear deck...boy did my legs hurt after this one.
<img src=http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/preview/an/antontumas/dynamat.jpg>
<img src=http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/preview/an/antontumas/dynamat2.jpg>

 

comon guys...i want more posts and opinions about my system.

 

Looks good - how much did you spend on dynamat. Can you tell me what exactly you covered, how much you used on each part, and how much you used total. How bad does your car rattle w/ out it? I just got my Kicker Solobaric L7 10" square sub w/ custom ported box, and it SHOVES but I havent had it in the car yet......... will it just rattle like crazy? Its going in my trunk, is that gonna be nuts? Thanks- any advice welcome

 

yes, im sure it will rattle. Especially because you will be pressurising the trunk and not the cabin. You will need to sound deaden the entire trunk and rear deck. So far i did the rear deck only. I spent one full 12sq. ft. of dynamat and i'm not even finished with it. As you can see im going for overkill however. I just purchased 10 rolls of 12sq. ft. each to do my entire car next week. I will take pictures during the install and keep you guys posted. The whole thing should take 3-4 days. I spent about $350-400 on parts only to deaden my whole car, but like i already said im going for major overkill. I want my car to be quieter than a lexus ls400. I appreciate any further comments. And BTW, with my subwoofer setup i had very minimal rattles primarily because of the way my box is designed.