I got 550 bucks to spend.... I am considering spending it on audio and I can do the installation myself with the help of a friend who knows his stuff. This is my first car and my first system, so lets see....

Can I get a "better then BOSE" decent quality system including: CD headunit, amp, new speakers all around, 10" sub?

Any reccomendations for a particular brand?

Also, is used audio equipment worth it? Is it better to get used good used stuff then new average cheap stuff at the same price?

thanks

 

Ok. Lets see. Cheap HU, Clarion 515x around $150. Infinity Basslink (Sub and amp in 1) $250 of Ebay. That leaves you with $150 for a pair of front Coax's. You can do it, but I wouldn't say it would be better than BOSE. If you have the BOSE, I would buy a better HU and converters for it, and a sub to go along with it. I think that would be a better bang for the buck for the moment. Then as time passes, upgrade the front speakers. If you don't have the BOSE, and its just the crappy tape deck and all, I would go with the before mentioned setup. Just understand that the Basslink is good at rounding out the music, but you won't be bouncing quarters of the roof of your car with it either.
As far as buying used instead of new, it depends. You run a risk with buying used, but you can get a great item for cheap. AS long as you feel comfortable with that, and the equipment hasn't been abused, I'd say go for used if you can.

 

http://hometown.aol.com/mrrizzo8/myhomepage/sale.html

check it out

 

Well ive got $300 in mine, thats a 10' Kenwood Wave in a bandpass box(Used), a 600x2 Kenwood Amp(Brand new), JVC Headunit(Used)......In my opinion, if u can find good used things..thats the way to go!! And if not, i would just save my $$ until i could get the used things, bc u may regret spending ur $$ and not like what u have.....im speaking from experience!!
I hope ive helped!!

Jeff
dmx069@hotmail.com

 

i say headunit and 4 speakers, yes, but no sub and amp. get a 60 watt alpine, and then u can get the sub and amp later.

 

AS long as he keeps the stock rear speakers, he could pull it off.....

 

If u want something betta than a decent system, ur betta off saving a couple of hundred dollars or waiting for some more graduation money to come in the mail like me.lol

 

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...=269-634&DID=7
But hurry because the sale is off the end of tomorrow. Normal price is $49, still better than the retail they quote. Buy this, and you can easlily get what you want for under $550. It's a pretty good deal for $25, even if you use it as a temp item.

 

Its a 5 channel amp with 35x4 RMS plus 75x1 RMS for a sub. With built in x-over. $149.
http://www.soundcity.com/bin/product...roduct_id=2550

 

Here go some nice component speakers at $129 a pair:
http://www.soundcity.com/bin/product...roduct_id=2639

a pair of Coaxs for the rear at $50 a pair;
http://www.soundcity.com/bin/product...roduct_id=2623


Another GREAT choice is at www.zalytron.com They have Focal brand speakers (better than most other brands made) and they have some great prices on 2 way coaxs, at $99 a pair.

 

Clarion, and this is the one I have in my wifes car. $250
http://www.soundcity.com/bin/product...roduct_id=2583

If you want to go cheaper they have this one for $169:
http://www.soundcity.com/bin/product...roduct_id=2586


Everything I've shown here is good quality, and exept the sub, is well known. Again the sub is a temp thing, and the box is very well built, and can be used later to hold a better woofer down the road. Now there is free shipping on everything from Sound City except the amp which is 4.95. The total for everything listed is $603. With the cheaper HU it would be $522.If you were to just get 2 pairs of the coaxs, you would be at $524,or $443 with the cheaper HU leaving you enough for all the wiring you would need, to hook it up. So yes it can be done, and you would have a nice little system to boot. And so you know, I have used all items shown to set up systems for friends and family, and they are happy with them.

 

IMHO it takes way more than $500 to get better sound. I would just get a decent amp and sub.

 

Ebay has many brand new cheap HUs. My friend got a new selaed, panasonic (i forget the model) for like 150, which was 369 at circuit city. Find the model you like and look there.

 

WOW..... thanks Whitemax!! I really appreciate your efforts, showing me the stuff...
I have a problem though, 2 days ago I put over 600$ into the Max for repairs... CV axles, Lower control arms, Fuel injector and some other minor things.... My pockets are totally empty

I remember seeing a post about the sub a little while ago, I almost ordered it too, but I needed the money for car repairs again!
I will save all this stuff, I may be able to get a nice headunit even cheaper from my friend, so it will hopefully be even cheaper.

again, thanks a lot for the replies, I appreciate it!

 

Hehe, no prob. Just wanted to make sure your question was answered. I know I went overboard with the info, but it's amazing what you can do when you're a depressed insomniac!!!!

 

Quick question, whitemax.. if I were to get new speakers for the front and maybe back, but no amplifier, for use with my aftermarket HU, would the stock wiring suffice?

 

Yup. That's the easiest install you could do. Make sure when you get the HU, that you get a factory wiring harness adapter to go with it(Crutchfield gives them to you when you buy from them. Otherwise, they're like $15) YOu wire up the HU wires to it, then it just plugs into the factory harness. Plug and Play as they say.

 

I have a HU already.. all I'd get is new speakers. That means I already have an adapter, right? Woohoo.

 

Yup. Unplug the factories, plug in the new

 

Lighning Audio also makes an adapter that would allow you to interchange aftermarket with OEM. I am considering keeping my factory rear amp on my 3rd Gen.
Take a look at their site, it's pretty cool. Uses flash exclusively.
www.lighningaudio.com


One more thing:
I noticed the discussion about using coaxes for rear fill. I have 6x9's now. Should I consider going back to coaxes? Or change out my Eclipse (forget the model) 6x9's? I'm into Sound Quality mostly but would like to crank it up once in a while. (I'm in the system planning and $$ saving phase.)

 

If i were you first thing I would do would be add some bass to your car. Upgrade the things that will make the most difference first, and work your way up. I learned its a waste of money to try to upgrade everything at once. If you want the best sub period check out the shiva, goto ampmanaudio.com and look under adire audio. Thats as long as you dont mind a plain looking speaker (It will kill a infinity perfect for 115 bucks, search car audio forums and youll see, i had one till it was stolen so i know). Good luck. That leaves you with 385 if you want one...........


QUOTE]Originally posted by NYCe MaXiMa
I got 550 bucks to spend.... I am considering spending it on audio and I can do the installation myself with the help of a friend who knows his stuff. This is my first car and my first system, so lets see....

Can I get a "better then BOSE" decent quality system including: CD headunit, amp, new speakers all around, 10" sub?

Any reccomendations for a particular brand?

Also, is used audio equipment worth it? Is it better to get used good used stuff then new average cheap stuff at the same price?

thanks [/QUOTE]