Car Sound System Help

[HondaEXrider22]

OK. I have my car and want a loud and nice system. But I need some help. I need to know what all the parts that are needed, prices, quality, and what they do. I am not using anothing stock, it all sucks and is old. What all and exaclty all do I need?

Will 500-600$ get me a good quality/looking/sounding system?
What are some good names?
What are some names to stay away from?
What size do I need?

[LT250RMan]

there is so many diffrent names to buy for car audio. First do you want sound quality or just lots of bass? Second what type of music do you listen to?

[Iliketogofast]

You can get a pretty decent set of subs and an amp at a pawn shop for 5 or 600 bucks. You can probably find an even better deal if you ask around... But make sure it isn't stolen.

It all depends on what you listen to and whether you want gobs of bass or good clarity AND good bass... It also depends on the car. If it's a hatch you don't need as much, but if the subs are going in the trunk you need something to push the sound to you.

I personally like a 2 12 inch sub setup with about 1000W of power. Some people get one really good 12 inch sub, buy a nice ported box and a 1000W amp and it does really good, as long as the sub has a high handling capacity.

If you want some thumpin bass and you have the room, you can probably pick up a couple of 15" subs and a 3000W amp for right around 600 bucks but you'd be cutting it close.

[PowerJunkie]

my sister got alpine type Rs in her new 07 and their really nice. we thought they sounded the best out of all st the store.

[HondaEXrider22]

Yea I have an El Camino and behind the seats there is a storage space under the bed, so there will be plenty of room. Second, I listen to Hard Rock/Rock/Metal/Punk Rock.
Third, I want loud bass but I dont want to sacrifice quality.
Sorry for the stupid questions but this is new to me. So the subs are the actual speakers on the doors? And what exactly is an amp and what does it do? And the bass comes from a another speaker right? Like on Pimp my ride or whatever, the have the bass in the trunk and the speakers in the doors/ consols/ whatever.

[derekhonda]

Originally posted by HondaEXrider22
Yea I have an El Camino and behind the seats there is a storage space under the bed, so there will be plenty of room. Second, I listen to Hard Rock/Rock/Metal/Punk Rock.
Third, I want loud bass but I dont want to sacrifice quality.
Sorry for the stupid questions but this is new to me. So the subs are the actual speakers on the doors? And what exactly is an amp and what does it do? And the bass comes from a another speaker right? Like on Pimp my ride or whatever, the have the bass in the trunk and the speakers in the doors/ consols/ whatever.

Oh geez....

Ok, speakers in the door = speakers. They are for your mids and highs (freequency wise)

Amp = think of it as the engine that powers the subs.

Subs = 8", 10", 12", or 15" that give you bass (low freequency)

For your type of music, you want to stick with probably a 10 or 12 inch sub. Faster hitting music needs a smaller sub to be able to keep up.

I have no idea how an elcamino is set up, but I think of it as a truck. You are probably going to have to squeeze your subs behind the bench seat, and that is really going to limit your options.

If I were you, I would take it to an ovation or just a high quality (and high dollar) car audio store. Ask them to give you some options....then come on the internet and try and find what they were trying to sell you a lot cheaper...lol.

[HondaEXrider22]

lol. In an El Camino, there is the bench seat, and the seats fold over. Behind them, there is a space of maybe 2 feet high x 4 feet wide x maybe 5 feet deep or even bigger, i havent actually measured. There is plently room. How big is an amp? And the bigger amp the better right? And I could always add speakers if i wanted too, right? Like a little box right?

Some audio stores that are avaiable o me are: Rex Audio, Best Buy(considered audio?), and Circuit City.

[LT250RMan]

if you listen to heavy metal/rock/punk ect, you want a sub that has a fast frequency responce, 10 inch or 12 inch is what you should go with, because 15 and 18 inch subs are good for rap and bass music and the 10's are a very responsive unlike a 15 or a 18 inch sub woofer. For a amplifier if you want go find the amp you want to buy and tell me the fuse rating and i will be able to help you out by telling you the RMS power the amp puts out, i install car audio and build boxes for lots of people and even charge them money because i'm very educated by installing car audio so if you need my help just PM me and i will help you out.

[red2004 TRX450R]

get a good head unit with a at-least 45X4 max or 22x4 rms like a Pioneer. $125-$400
run you front are rear full range speakers off of that and run with the bass filter on, you will get good sound out of them. (for the price) $80-$200 a pair

get what ever size full range speakers will fit, get a good name brand, and get at least co-axles.

what make modle and year and I will tell you a good set up.

Pioneer DEH-P3800MP $129.99
Pioneer DEH-P4800MP $149.00
good for the money

down by your feet or in doors
Alpine Type-S SPS171A
6-1/2"/6-3/4" 2-way Component System $199.99
Infinity Reference 6010cs
6-1/2"/6-3/4" 2-way Component System $199.99

both run good off head unit

in dash
other pair like 4*3 $75-$150

then get more money and get an amp and subs!!!

[LT250RMan]

Dont listen to people talking about MAX power because a amplifier will never put the max power out because max power is rated when the amplifier blows up, and RMS is the continous power the amplifier will produce at listening levels. So like i stated before just tell me the fuse rating on the amplifier you are looking at it and i will figure out the RMS rating of that amp.

OH YA you dont need name brand car audio, i have a car audio system in my friends truck that none of it is name brand and it hits 142 DB.

[sly400ex]

my best sounding system for low budget was as follows..

Sony CD head unit $200
Boston Acoustic 6x9 175-200
Boston Acoustic 3 1/2 100
1 JL Audio 10" woofer 150
Rockford Fosgate 200 watt amp pushing the sub 250


Around 900 bucks, it sounded sweet for alll types of music.

[Iliketogofast]

It's going to be a lot more expensive for your type of listening. You'll want a smaller sub, like one good 12 or a couple of 10's, a good amp, and you really need door speakers. If you don't get those, you're not going to like it... On the system I had, I didn't get door speakers and my screamo rock sounded terrible, so I always ended up just listening to rap (or Nine Inch Nails, which sounded great on that setup :D ).

[FasstMidnightZ]

Originally posted by sly400ex
my best sounding system for low budget was as follows..

Sony CD head unit $200
Boston Acoustic 6x9 175-200
Boston Acoustic 3 1/2 100
1 JL Audio 10" woofer 150
Rockford Fosgate 200 watt amp pushing the sub 250


Around 900 bucks, it sounded sweet for alll types of music.

You can get something ALOT better for the price of that Sony. They arn't very good. Same with the RF amp..much better stuff out there.
------------------------
• Pioneer 6800mp
• IDMax Sub (Image Dynamics)
• Pioneer D-Series or PRS-Series components
• Kenwood 8152D Amplifier

-Manufacturer Sites of the Products-
CD Player (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069880_291078777,00.html)
Subwoofer (http://www.imagedynamicsusa.com/products_page.php?id=idmax&type=sub)
Components (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/category/landing/0,,2076_310069671,00.html)
Amplifier (http://www.kenwoodusa.com/products/ListProduct.aspx?k1=2&k2=42&k3=155&pr=1820)

-Retailers-
Parts Express (http://www.partsexpress.com/)
Million Buy (http://millionbuy.com/)
Ike Sound (http://ikesound.com/)
Woofers Ect (http://www.woofersetc.com/)
Online Car Stereo (http://onlinecarstereo.com/)
Hi Fi Sound Connection (http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/Shop/Control/fp/SFV/30046)

Hope that helped some. ;)

[GooseZ400]

for subs 12" min
Good brands though-
Planet Audio, JL Audio, Kove

For amps
You can cheat the system here though. Your only gonna get the RMS amount of power. This usually is about 2/3 of the peak power.
You can go cheap but you get what you pay for
1: Autotek- imo makes the best amp out there the power supply coil is about the size of my fist and have the best cust service of any manufacturer out there
2: Memphis makes a damn good amp as well they to have the some of the highest RMS power out there
If you arent competing and just want good sound skimp a little

Qty: 2 12" Audiobahn subs
Qty: 1 800W Class d amp
Qty: 1 Any damn kind of head unit you want cause the sum ***** doesnt power the sub anyway
You need a four gage wiring kit
AS in 4 GA. Wire coming from the battery to the amp and 4 Ga. wire from the amp to the chassis ground.
You should run a minimum of 8 GA. wire from the amp to the speakers

Alot of people buy the best stuff out there and then skimp in the wiring not giving the beast the food that it needs. Would you build a race motor and not give it race fuel. .:confused: . I dont think so

I had two 12" autotek subs and a 1200w mean machine autotek amp W/ a factoryhead unit and pushed 153 db in a local competition in my extended cab extreme S10.

You can do impossible things with cheap s*** though

[PismoLocal]

If I had to make a good system off of $500-$600 I would get:

Amp: Kenwood KAC-9152D its the best/highest wattage amp for under $200. It is 1 ohm stable and puts out 950 watts x1 at 1 ohm and You can get it on amazon shipped to your door for around $195.

Head unit: Pioneer Deh-2800MP its about $106 on sounddomain. I would recommend a more technologically advanced deck but you probably don't have any use for a lot of the features. This deck is easy to use, very adjustable, and more importantly in your budget.

Sub: I would buy a power acoustic FUBR-12 $80-$100. It is a 2 ohm dual voice coil sub that has a 900 watt rms and an 1800 watt peak. These subs are BAD*****. they are more of an SPL sub which means they only hit low and slow to moderate beats. They are inespensive because they were discontinued a couple years back. You wire thes subs in series with that kenwood amp and it will vibrate things off your truck.

Speakers: Personally If I was in your shoes I would get some 2-way or 3-way speakers from pioneer. I just put some pioneer speakers in my girlfriends car and they soud awesome they were only $35 per pair too you won't be disappointed with pioneer TS
series speakers they are durable and priced right.


speakers (http://www.cardomain.com/item/PIOTSG1641R)
amp (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00080OFIK/ref=wl_it_dp/104-4493898-6155159?%5Fencoding=UTF8&colid=DJHMJ1LYR8Q8&coliid=I1SQA3H9NVUH7R&v=glance&n=172282)
sub (http://www.cardomain.com/item/POWFUBR12)
deck (http://www.cardomain.com/item/PIODEH2800MP)

[PismoLocal]

If you read the reviews of people on the subs and speakers you'll see that even though they are fairly inexpensive they are high quality.

[PismoLocal]

If I was you I would stick to building your own box too. You can buy a half sheet of 3/4" MDF for around $12, 2 tubes of liquid nails $5, screws for $2, and som carpet for around $10. It doesn't
take much skill to build a speaker box just some measuring I build my own everytime I switch systems.

[FasstMidnightZ]

Originally posted by PismoLocal
Sub: I would buy a power acoustic FUBR-12 $80-$100. It is a 2 ohm dual voice coil sub that has a 900 watt rms and an 1800 watt peak. These subs are BAD*****. they are more of an SPL sub which means they only hit low and slow to moderate beats. He doesn't need a spl subwoofer. It's pretty much worthless. Things sound way better when you get correct subwoofers for your needs. Not that the Fubar isn't a good subwoofer. It's just not for sql. That is why I recommended the IDMax. Great sql subwoofer.

[clutt225]

Right now I have an inexpensive fosgate head unit, no bells whistles or video games. a set of kicker 6" inthe doors for mid, with tweets on the dash. they are powered by a pheonix gold 280x under the drivers seat. the bass is handled by a cerwin vega amp pushing a matching vega maxx 10" sub in a 1.6 cubic foot centre console. Not a good set up for rap but offers screamin highs and clean mid with fast responsive thump.
This is installed in a 98 tacoma and I can still use the jump seats in the back if needed.

[PismoLocal]

Originally posted by bomb_squad
He doesn't need a spl subwoofer. It's pretty much worthless. Things sound way better when you get correct subwoofers for your needs. Not that the Fubar isn't a good subwoofer. It's just not for sql. That is why I recommended the IDMax. Great sql subwoofer.
I didnt read that post of his. Ya on second thought I would look into brands like infinity, eclipse, polk,etc. as far as subs go if your not looking for a loud deep sub.