my parents decided that my christmas present would be an upgrade to the audio system in my car. but i know nothing about it. i want a clearer sound and more powerful lower tones, but not enough to rattle the trunk.

could someone help me out, explain it, or point me to a good resource?

what are good brands?
what type of things should i look for?
how much should i look to spend?
should i install it myself?
will i need an amp? should i do enough that i do need one?

sorry for the newb nonsense

 

mb quart doors and back deck all competition series
JL 12" w7 sub
eclipse double den touch screne radio with navi
JL 1000\1 amp for subs
JL 600\4 amp for high
1 faret cap
2 gauge wire all arround
stinger fuses
stinger hyper series rc's
and sone blood to make it sound great
all for about $3700
and youre done
GET AN ALARM FIRST!!!!!!!

 

1. How much do you want to spend? You can get a decent system fairly cheap.
B. What do you want it to do? Watch movies, play mp3s, sattelite, cd/fm/am
7. Buy a service manual. It will tell you how to get the dash and doors apart.
K. If you don't want to rattle the trunk just get components on the inside and maybe one sub.
72. Go to www.crutchfield.com it will give you all the answers, newbified.

 

I got an Orion HCAA amp and a 18" kicker for sale of you're interested.The amp was used like times and just sitting in my closet.Same with the sub.Let me know.

 

an 18" kicker?! ....daaaamn.how much?

 

I don't know how much for the sub but I'll take some pics of the sub and amp and see what you think is reasonable.They're both in perfect condition.I'll try to post them tonite or just give me an addy to send the pics to.I'm still at work but I'll send it thru my phone.

 

DO you want subs? If you want to go that far... then you need to realize your going to spend alot of $$$...

Reason is, you can get a nice $2 to $300 Pioneer headunit... some pioneer 2 or 3 way speakers for your doors for another $150 and your done... nice clean simple basic music..

If you want subs, thats a different story. Then you'll need to upgrade your interior speakers to components.. preferably and an amp to run them as well as subs, box and an amp to run the subs.. and thats just the very bare basics not including a cap or wiring... It just depends on how much money you want to spend and what is it that you want then we'll be glad to help you out.

 

i went into best buy and talked to what seemed to be a fairly knowledgable guy. looks like ill just be getting speakers for my doors and for the rear. around $200 me thinks. i cant really justify spending the additional $400+ to go amp and sub.

im looking at getting the pioneer TS-A1680R front and back
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...etailComponent
do those look good?

ive already got a clarion deck that was installed when i bought the car, but i dont know if the previous upgraded the speakers as well. im not sure how to check either.

the guy at best buy said that i would be better off installing the speakers myself if ive done any sort of electronics work before as they charge $30+ per pair. for $60, theres alot i can figure out.

 

my sound system is set up as follows:
Infinity Kappa componet set in front
Infinity reference 2 ways in back
Pioneer deh8500mp
Planet Audio 5 channel Amp pushing all the mids and highs
2x10 Coustic subs in the trunk pushed by a 500watt powerstream

sounds great, i love it to death....i recommend infinity and pioneer all the way. Its not necessary to amp your highs, but id atleast get a pretty nice head unit if you dont plan on it, also...id do something for bass...even if its jsut an 8 in the back dash or whatever....SOMETHING...maxes need to bump.

 

saddles, can you be more specific? member i know nothing

 

I'm in sook's same boat. I need to replace my rattlers and old aiwa head unit. For sure I'm getting a Pioneer head unit, I forgot the model but it's the cheapest one that plays MP3s.

For speakers, as of right now, I'm going for Memphis Audio 6.5s 2 ways in the front, and 6x9s 2-ways in the back (yea i'm gonna make the cutouts). Wold you guys recommend components instead of a 6.5/6x9 setup? I dont want to deal with wiring amps and subs either, but I want decent mid-bass to be heard inside the car.

 

I don't think the 1680's will fit. They are 6 1/2 and the 96 max is 6 3/4. Also, there are only a few speakers that fit the rear (mounting depth issues). Look to crutchfield to make sure what you get will fit. They also send everything you need for the install except ability. Warning, the back seat has to come out.

 

if you have a nice front stage, you wont need rear fill. if i were you i'd get some RE XXX 2ohm midbass's and get some ID Horns instead of tweeters. and for a x-over i'd look for some active x-over's. now for an amp, i'd suggest you get a soundsteam vangough amp, they have nice clean sounding output. for a headunit i'd get a Eclipse CD8053

so to ReCap
1) Headunit (Eclipse cd8053)
2) Speakers Mids (RE XXX)
3) Speaker Highs (ID Horns)
4) Active X-Over
5) Soundstream Amp a vga500.4 will suit you well.
6) Adire Audio Brahma 12" 2.1cu^3 tuned to 30hz rms is 1600watts max 4800watts
7) use the amp above to power your front 2 channels
8) bridge the rear channels of the amp to get 500watts x 1 @4ohm,
9) the brahma needs 500watts to reach full excusion in a 2.1 cu^3 box.
10) show your system off to your friends, they'll love it, trust me.
trust me, people will like your stuff.

 

wetballon: that may well be, can someone else sound off? i looked at best buys computer in the car audio section and the 1680s were on the list for speakers that fit, both the front and the back. how hard is it take out the back seat? should i just pay them to do it"?

killcrap: how much will all that cost? im only talking about spending around $200.

can i do enough to the audio system with $200 to make it worth doing anything in the first place?

 

The seat isn't that hard, You push in on the lower front to release the bottom, take out a couple of bolts to get the back out, pop out the sail panels, then lift out the package tray. There are a few plastic clips involved so a trim removal tool would be helpful. You should be able to knock it out in less than an hour. if you buy from crutchfield they will send instructions, otherwise, I can get you a copy. The reciever is harder .

 

If you want to knopw if the rear speakers are stock, climb into the trunk and look at them. The factory used low watt speakers, I think mine were actually made by clarion.

 

yah my factory speakers were panasonic all around when i got the car, rears were blown but the fronts still had that sweet paper in tack, im glad i got that crap outta my car. I love my mb quarts, but if ya get any ya definitely got to get an amp to them and with a lot of juice they love power and sound soo sweet.

 

From the sounds of it, you like you music. You're looking for a SQ set-up.

What you don't want chitty products going into your car that will not make your car sound good.

If you want some real quality sound I'd suggest going with an Eclipse or Pioneer headunit. I'd then suggest a pair of components for the front and 3-ways for the rear. Compliment those with a 4 channel amp. Now you said you don't want bump in the trunk. So I'd recommend one 10" woofer in an enclosed box in the 200-300 watt range with an amp to compliment that. I wouldn't get anything higher than 4ga wire (that'll make your headlights dim).

This stuff isn't cheap and you won't get a good sounding SQ system without putting some coin into it. I have all ARC in my car in the form of the KAR series. GREAT SQ stuff and not extremely expensive.

"You gotta pay to play" - thebigsadler

 

6x9 sound like garbage your better off sticking with 6 1/2

 

1)$250-350 (ebay)
2)$250 (reaudio.com)
3)depends on what you get (http://www.imagedynamicsusa.com/webs...cts/horns.html)
4)depends on what you get
5)$250-$300 (ebay) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW)
6)$349 (www.adireaudio.com)

 

i really dont have alot of money to drop on this.

is it not worth it to just do a little bit? im not ever going to be able to justify dropping upwards of $500 into my car audio.

if it is worth it, what should i do with around $200?

 

CDT CL-61A's (www.thezeb.com)

I amped mine, and they sound absolutely amazing. They were like 150, the amp was around 120. I'd definitely recommend them for a cheap way to great SQ.

 

Sook:

If your car has the Bose amps...installing a new head unit and speakers will take some time and effort. You may have to rip out the entire stock system and start fresh.

If your car does not have the Bose amps and system...you can replace the head unit and 4 speakers no problem. It takes some time to do this right...especially in taking apart the dash and getting into the front door panels. The rear seat and deck speakers will take you some time as well. Some say...that all of this can be done in an hour or two...not so. It took me a day and a half to get things to fit right and looking clean: Aiwa head unit (mp3) and 4 Pioneer speakers (4 Way, 6 3/4 size for all four). Do not get the 6 1/2 speakers...they do not fit right...get the 6 3/4 inch speakers...the holes line up.

I got all of my items from Best Buy including all the wiring harnesses and kits...do not forget the antenna adapter.

There is a nice write up (in the FAQ's section or How To section) on how to remove the dash hu and speakers...some of the car manuals have incomplete information...some of the other how to's have gaps and lack information...the most time consuming chore is taking apart the car to get the the items you need to replace. This needs to be done right. So take your time.

 

Sook:

To do the HU and 4 speakers (basic upgrade) no amp...you are looking at spending around $350-$400 for everything...including wiring harnesses and adapters. Do not go cheap on this...if you making the effort...do it right so that you have a nice clean basic upgrade. Given that you have a GXE...you are in luck...if does not have the Bose system...so replacing the HU and speakers is no problem.

 

Don't even both if you're going to be cheap, it just won't work.

 

Start With the basics, if you have a good reciever, get better speakers. Best you can afford. Later improve the reciever if it turns out to be less than you want. Save up and when you can, get the amp and subs. You don't have to do it all at once as long as you prepare by purchasing parts that will allow you to upgrade. When picking a reciever, look ate the preamp outputs and make sure they will allow you to do what you want later. I suggest 3 pair.

 

he already has a new headunit installed.

 

I just got a Alpine Head Unit... I love it definently worth the money.... ALPINE CDM-9821

Good luck