I am asking this question to find out how I can get a complete system for my 2k3 SE and want a complete system that is not going to cost more than that. If I can get it for less, that would be awesome, but right now this is what I am shooting for. I listen to mostly dance (trance, progressive, euro, NO HIP HOP) so the bass doesn't need to be extremely great, just much better than the bose junk i have now. Thanks for any and all suggestions.

oz

 

My setup probably totalled me $800-ish altogether, DIY...
1. Alpine CDA-9813 headunit (4V preouts)
2. Pioneer GM-X364 4-ch (35W/70Wx4) amp
3. 4 Pioneer 3-way 6.5" coaxial speakers, 2 in the front, 2 in the rear deck (cut custom holes in the rear deck with a dremel)
4. Pioneer GM-X262 2-ch (100W/200Wx1 bridged) amp
5. Pioneer TS-W10C 10" subwoofer driver in a $30 Walmart enclosure, hooked to the GM-X262
6. 16-gauge speaker wire laid to each speaker (including fronts), a 4-gauge wiring kit with distribution block and 8-gauge ground wire, 3 17' RCA cables (for preouts from Alpine to the amps in the trunk), plus an 8-gauge power feed from the distribution block in the trunk to the Alpine's 10-ga. yellow +12V power input (probably not necessary since I use preouts only, and you could get away with 10-gauge wire, in fact I think I actually ordered 10-ga. but they sent me 8-ga. instead... used solderless terminals to hook the 8-ga. to Alpine's 10-ga. yellow wire)

I guess the speakers totalled about $120, the GM-X364 I got off ebay for $130, the GM-X262 from Walmart for $80, the TS-W10C 400W IMPP subwoofer was $50, the Walmart enclosure $30, got the Alpine deck for $280 off a vendor on eBay (MSRP is $400), wiring kit I bought from sounddomain.com (though the dash install kit they sell didn't work out, so I bought one from Crutchfield.com instead... should have bought it all from Crutchfield for that matter...)
I don't have a capacitor in there or anything, and quite frankly I shouldn't need one--my headlights don't dim (though the taillights and interior lights DO dim if I turn the volume up to 75+% of its capacity, and that's with the Pioneer amps' gains turned up to around 1/4th to account for the 4-volt preouts)

The total peak power this system can push is about 480W (280W for the interior speakers at 70Wx4, 200W for the subwoofer amp)
Works great, the 3-way speakers sound excellent, though I may install some front tweeters and tap them into the front speaker wires (that'd be $45 for the Pioneer tweeters I believe)
The bass doesn't pound that hard, especially at high speeds with the windows down, but it's adequate, especially with the windows up or while driving at lower (<45MPH) speeds. I listen to a lot of techno/trance/euro. dance music too.

 

I would recommend a little different approach, get some decent separates for the front, maybe Kicker or Boston Acoustics or even MB Quart, about $300 retail for any of the above. Go to a shop where you can listen to them side by side and get the ones you like. Get a set of decent coax for the rear, nothing fancy, no more than $100 per pr. Then look at a good head unit, Alpine is leading the league there. Maybe the new one that is about $279 retail, the CDA9807? I think. Then a good Amp and sub combo, probably a decent sub for around $120 and an amp to drive it for about $200. You will need some wires, dash kit, etc. But if you find all the stuff on line you will save $250 -$300 and put that towards a professional box. do the labor yourself and enjoy.

 

If doing at least somewhat respectable components then an amp will be needed to drive those as well.

If you plan to do this one time and dont expect to be upgrading, look into a 5 channel amp. This will run your interiors as well as sub and will save you a few bucks as opposed to 2 amps. Also takes up less space and nothing else is needed for the install
(ie: distribution block, extra wire,etc.)

--Don

BTW where are you located?

 

I would recommend this approach:

Front components are most important. $200 or more. Good names have been mentioned. Boston Acoustics, MB Quart, Diamond Audio, etc.

Head Unit next, $300 for decent full feature deck. Look at Alpine or Pioneer. Steer away from Sony and Panasonic HUs (all show no go).

Amp for the fronts: Rockford Fosgate amps are cheap with a good rep. Shoot for minimal 75w x 2 (more if budget permits) to power the fronts.

Screw the rear speakers. Leave em stock, powered by the HU (can always go back and upgrade them later if you notice them at all, but I doubt it).

Sub: everyone has their own preference for sub brand. My only recommendation is stay away from MTX. Shoot for 10" for the type of music you listen to. Power it with about 300 watts. Again, you can get a RF amp for cheap. Usually getting a 2 channel amp and bridging it down to mono for more power is cheaper than getting a mono amp.

Don't fall for those crazy expensive super-duper wire kits. It's only stranded copper! As long as it's flexible and well insulated, it's good. I hear a lot of people getting a dual amp wire kit for like $30 on eBay.

And general money saving tips:
As always, install yourself!
Look on eBay and Yahoo Shopping for best prices.

 

Pioneer DEH-P6500 - 189.00
JBL BP80.2 - 70
Infinity Kappa Perfect - 229
JBL BP300.1 - 131
2-Kicker CVR 10D8s - 140
Box -50
Amp install kit and extras - 100

Total = $909

 

i like this idea so far. good choices

 

umm where are u gettin these prices from?
it seem over price.

 

you dont need an amp for components if you get a good enuff HU. I have alpine CDA-9813 60wx4 with infinity reference components in the front and coax in the rear. I can shut off the subs and it sounds fine. As long as u have speakers that max at the HU watts. of course with 2 12s and 1000 watts, why shut off the subs? The infinitys cost me $250 for both pairs, and the Hu was $240. that leaves u @$500 for sub(s), amp, and parts.

 

1000 bucks with good equipment all around not happning.

 

Not true, as most manufacturers will even tell you. The power on the HU doesnt matter. The distortion rate is way too high to run components.

--Don

 

AGREED !!!!

 

my cheap/budget system:

kenwood HU : 140
pionner 4x6 for front (shoulda went with 6.5") = 99
alpine 6.5 for rear = 130
complete 8 gauge wiring kit = 50
RF 400s amp = 250
2 RF HE 10s = 218
box = 70

total cost = $957

i know it's no where near as much as some people spend on their system here. but my setup will do for now. sounds nice and bass is pretty decent.

 

Go with concept audio interior speakers, amplifiers, and subs. Amazing prices and its all great stuff. Maybe look for a head unit on ebay or from Pearl96Max.

Go to me for Concept

 

 

unless you get the employee discount

 

still don't see it happning

 

The Alpine CDA-9813 has built in crossovers for front, rear and subs. You can "turn down" the bass to the fr.&r. speakers. The radio goes to 35 and on 32 there is very little distortion. Cant tell with ears. OF COURSE the manufacturer is going to tell u that u need more of their stuff. It's called "business". Don't tell me you've never had someone try to sell u something u don't need. But it is still hard to get a whole system for under a gee. $1500 is a lot more realistic, if u have a budget.

 

2k-2500 is realistic in todays market.

 

canal street will give u good prices =)

 

"Good equipment" is a relative term. Good for one is fair for another, and crap to still another. And you are the last person I would listen to in a "budget system" thread since you have near bottomless pockets compared to the rest of us, Mr. M5

A budget minded shopper can find some good deals on good equipment with a little patience. But first it's important to narrow it down to what is most important to spend the most money on - which has been covered in this thread earlier.

 

Thats the worst arguement you can possibly make. The fact is long b4 I owned the m5, I was in to car audio... I know what it is to build a system on a budget thats what lead me to such extreams, Ive tried building as cheap as possible, and look where ive ended up, in the end building cheap just results in a waste of money. Do your self a favor and do it right the first time...it's cheaper in the long run.

Can you find good deals sure...And i hope you look...but on a retail level tuff to go for less than 2500.

 

Alpine CDA-9813: $240
Infinity reference 6.5 components: $150
Infinity reference coax 6.5: $100
2 Alpine Type R 12's (in a ported box): $200
2 Rockford fosgate 500s amps: $530
Rockford Fosgate 1 farad cap: $75
Various parts & wires: $100

Total: $1395. If you can do it yourself

Remember, it's not who you know, it's what you know

and before u ask, it's all brand new

 

Your all crazy it is goign to cost me a total of $1391 for a complete alpine system with a computer in the trunk and a redmax tv in the front.
This system will consist of 1 alpine type r 12in, 1 mono alpine 900watt amp, 4 alpine conponent speakers for the inside, another alpine 450 watt 4 channel amp, 1 redmax tv, 1 hell of a computer im in the process of building with navigation, and tv turner inside, all the wires and cables needed to run the system, and the custom built box by me. in about 2-3 months this major project will be complete. if you folks are interested in more detail about this please feel free to aim me. take care.

 

josephmaxima96--- note the operative words "I'm building". If you can build a computer, thats awesome. not all of us can do that. Just because I can install a stereo doesn't make me a computer engineer. Than again, your"e also taking 2-3 months when it took me 2-3 hours to put mine together. that's all you buddy.

 

Max n look, I regularly install very nice systems for a little over $1200 dollars. It is very possible to make a high quality set up for 1000, just dont go for as high powered amps, and run your interiors off the HU.

Yes retail is retail, but unless he goes to best buy and blows 2500 on the best CRAP they have he will have no problem puttin it together.

Go to a local shop, hopefully they are nice and will work with your budget.

 

Let me guess you work at some best blow or ****ty city location rite...

IN either case, based off of what you just say I would not take advice from you.

 

I don't see a grand happening either, but it may be possible. Whatever you do don't get a 5 channel amp. Anything happens to it and your ridin' around singin' church songs. And if you have an amp to run subs you'll need an amp to run your highs just because more power to the subs will drown out the highs unless you turn the sub down and then what's the purpose of having it? If your not into a lot of bass you may look into a headunit that has a big enough amp to run a sub as well as your mid & highs. Maybe get an 8" sub. I've heard such HU's are out there. Never seen one, but I've heard about them.

 

The funny thing here is that the original poster hasnt even responded to any of this. LoL is he even readin it anymore?

--Don

 

- Pioneer 6.5" Motorized TV/DVD
- Pioneer DVD Navigation
- Pioneer XM Satellite Radio
- Pioneer 6.5 3-Way Speakers
- Pioneer 12" Subwoofer (2x)
- Rockford Fosgate 700S Amplifier

 

Look, I don't know why you have the least helpful person here, or why you are trying to argue with me. I never worked at a retail store. I work at a privately owned shop that works with a customers budget the best we can.

If you dont want to take advice from me, be happy paying 2500 for a system that sounds like one I could build for half the price.

Now please shut the hell up and get some manners. You need some sex.

 

thanks a lot guys. pearl96max (Don) i am in northwest indiana. i decided to wait on the system as we are getting married and Lord knows where the $$ goes, but its not in the stereo. i just came back to see what happened to the thread and wow, it blew up.

oz

 

Are you interested in having a subwoofer in the trunk?

 

get a good 4 channel amp class ab and use it to power your subs Bridged mono (two 10''ks shoud get more than loud enough for you but you want a single 12" try www.edesignaudio.com, )and the other two channels for your components . cdt components are good $150 from www.thezeb.com and get the pioneer7500 while you are there even but you might want to wait since the new pioneers soon come out http://leisuretimemarketing.com/PioneerCD.htm