Audiophiles: Is this a decent cheap/beginner system for my car?

[Red]

1997 Infiniti I30.

I had the stock Bose system installed (Four 6.5" Bose speakers with individual speaker amps, with an AM/FM/Tape/CD double din bose head unit) and I added a Sony 10-disc FM modulated MP3 changer. The sound quality really bugged me (FM modulation I guess) so I wanted to take a different route.

Stock Head unit sold on ebay for $110
Sony 10 disc mp3 changer sold on ebay for $100
Front speakers sold for $70
Rear speakers sold for $80

So.... I had $360 to replace my sound system... here is what I bought:

New Pioneer Premier 460MP MP3 Head unit $146 shipped
New Crystal 6.5" CPE60s component speakers for the front $83 shipped
New Eclipse 6.5" coaxials for the rear. $50, my brother had them sitting in the garage, I don't know what model number they are.

So I made about $80 but I had to buy a wiring harness and a mounting pocket to place beneath the radio because I'm replacing a double DIN with a single DIN.

I haven't hooked everything up yet, but will I have better sound while saving $$?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Yes. Factory installed Bose units are overrated POS'. You'll definitely want to add a sub for low end "oomph" though.

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Yes. Factory installed Bose units are overrated POS'. You'll definitely want to add a sub for low end "oomph" though.

Seconded. Get a sub and ditch the rears. I know plenty of people with competition setups that run separates in the front and subs in the rear, and don't need surrounds at all.

I myself run MBQuart separates in the front, and 2 JL 12W6s in the trunk, no surrounds.

 

[Red]

Which type of box / sub would provide the "oomph" but wouldn't take up a ton of room in the trunk? I already keep my golf clubs and some tools in the trunk so I don't wanna completely fill it up. Would a 10" sub do the job?

 

[RagingBITCH]

For trunk space, get a self enclosed sub w/ built in amp, like an Infinity Basslink. (That's what I currently have and use in my car) It's not ear shattering, rock the car next to you bass, but it rounds out the bass inside the car very nicely. (I couldn't be more happy with it)

 

[Capone]

I also only run a pair of components in the front, with no rear fill. I've heard the Crystals are pretty good for the money. I was gonna buy a pair, but sounddomain had DEI Vipers on sale for $150. You can go sealed with your sub box. There are plenty of subs that will do well in ~1 cu.ft. sealed. Also, I'd amp those comps, the HU isn't gonna give them the power they need.

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
For trunk space, get a self enclosed sub w/ built in amp, like an Infinity Basslink. (That's what I currently have and use in my car) It's not ear shattering, rock the car next to you bass, but it rounds out the bass inside the car very nicely. (I couldn't be more happy with it)

Looks like they go for about ~230 shipped on ebay. Ouch, kinda expensive. Might have to get that later on

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Red

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
For trunk space, get a self enclosed sub w/ built in amp, like an Infinity Basslink. (That's what I currently have and use in my car) It's not ear shattering, rock the car next to you bass, but it rounds out the bass inside the car very nicely. (I couldn't be more happy with it)

Looks like they go for about ~230 shipped on ebay. Ouch, kinda expensive. Might have to get that later on

I got mine for $185 shipped. The two big players on eBay that sell them are from Houston and North Carolina, so you won't have to pay sales tax. (I had to wait a few extra days to finally get one from NC at the $170 price. He was nice enough to only charge actual UPS cost to ship)

EDIT: you'll also need to buy a wiring kit of course, that's about $20 more or less