Buying a new to me car, looking for car audio info.

[coolred]

I very rarely use the term hella, but I felt that this sitiuation warranted the use of the word. Perhaps i was wrong

I have not yet picked an amp. I may not get an amp yet. I may just use the head unit to power the speakers. I am still figuring this all out. I want good clean sound(which I know the head unit may not be able to provide by itself), but I definately don't need the guy 8 cars back to be able to hear my music. I am pretty sure the HU puts out 19 watts per channel with a peak of 50 watts per channel, and most of the reviews that have mentioned it, said that above half way on the volume, got to be really loud andd yet still no distortio.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

In that case, read here.

- M4H

 

[coolred]

Forgive my stupidity, but how does that relate to me and my sitiuation?

I'm going to bed now, talk to you tomorrow, thanks for your help

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: coolred
Forgive my stupidity, but how does that relate to me and my sitiuation?

I'm going to bed now, talk to you tomorrow, thanks for your help

Because you're (a) buying car audio (b) on a budget and (c) not buying a separate amp.

- M4H

 

[EvilYoda]

In your case, I'd suggest getting a good HU and good component speakers. Forget about the subs, if you're not getting an amp. If you're trying to stay under $500, you might as well make most of the frequencies that you hear sound as good as possible, with the components, and just lose a little bit in the low end.

I don't know how the hell you made a system for $650 with all those different parts, and still thought it sounded good. Unless they were hot. Then I understand.

 

[Shockwave]

Ok ok, I'm here to save the day.

500 eh? We can do a complete system for around that, but your gonna have to do the install yourself to hit close to that budget.

Stock HU.
Front:
Infinity Kappa = $95
or
JL XR's = $199

Rear:
No rear fill (I hate rear fill, except TUNED midbass)

Sub:
Adire Shiva = $125

Amps:
US Acoustics USX2100 for up front = $122 (On sale)
US Acoustics USX600D for the sub = $157 (On sale)

Total using Infinity: $499
Total using JL Audio: $603

Note, that does NOT include wiring, install, dampening, fiberglass, plexiglass, boxes, neon, Type R stickers or other items you may want. Thats just the equipment. But, you said 500, I gotya a good system for 500 Also why theres no HU listed. If you were looking for a HU, I'd (personally) ONLY consider Eclipse. Its the only HU I've ever used, and its the only HU I ever will use. They have a model that plays MP3's as well, comes in around 250 or so I believe. Dunno the model number though, and as usual comes with the 1 year theft warrenty.

 

[coolred]

Well as for my old system. I got a great deal on an amp and subs. They were all rockford fosgate. Not too powerful, but like I said I don't want too much bass. I think it was a puch 150a. and a couple of 10" subs. After the sale and some rebates as well as my 10% off coupon. I ended up paying just slightly over 225.00. My sister gave me a 12 disc CD changer as a gift, but I wasn't including that, since this system will not have a changer. MY father and I built the boxes for the subs on are own, and while not being top of the line, no one complained about how they sounded and they cost next to nothing. Then I also bought a couple sets of pioneer speakers, 6x9's and I don't remember the other set. Again they were not high dollar speakers. I know total they cost less then 175.00. And my head unit was a sony which i also got on sale cost about 200.00. Then I figure 50.00 bucks or so for all the extra parts and harness' and what not. Did the install myself, so no install cost.

Now like I said, you couldn't hear this system from 6 blocks away, but it sounded good to me and even my friends who are more into car audio had no complaints. One even asked me to help him build his own boxes for his next install.

ABout that thread you linked to M4H, maybe i should have read it more closely, but I admit I only skimmed it, but it seemed to be talking about home audio. I read it slightly more closely and from what I understand it is basically saying not to use an amp rated up to 200 watts when your speakers can handle up to 800 watts? Can you give me the jist of what I am missing. Are you saying I will damage my speakers by not using an amp?


So how are JVC's head units? That one I spoke of got great reviews from everyone, but that may not tell the whole story if their decks are cheap. I will consider other options if you feel the JVC is a bad investment. But like I said it seemed to get good reviews, plays MP3s and its pretty cheaply priced.

 

[Operandi]

The JVC deck sounds pretty solid, there shouldnt be any problems with it.

I like Shockwave's recomendation for speakers and amps though I wouldnt spend $200 on a pair of coxials no matter how good they are.

 

[LS20]

make it simple

NEED:
---------
jvc mp3 head unit - 200$
infiniti kappa speakers all around - 120$
---------

later add:
---------
infiniti kappa subwoofer + box - 150$
2 channel us acoustics amplifier (run bridged) - 150$
---------

and/or:
--------
stereo (4 channel) us acoustics amplifier - 150$
--------


all the stuff is at etronics.com. the us acoustics amplifiers are at sounddomain.com. both are trusted etailers.

this takes no time to research. not the ultimate best bang for the buck but a hell of a lot better than stock. if i were to do my car from scratch this would be it.

 

[coolred]

Thanks, good advice all around.

I just stopped at Circuitcity(since it is only a couple minutes away) knowing they only carried the JVC KD-SX990, but I heard from a couple reviews that only the time and something else(can't remember what) were switched in place, and that was the only differance, can anyone confirm this for me? I know it wasn't my best bet for a good sounding setup, but like I said it was close. So I get in there and start looking. I was looking at an Alpine already playing, but it is a lot more expenisve, although very nice and probablly worth it. I then fire up the JVC KD-SX990 and get some nasty crackling with the slightest bit of music in it. I tried to fix it when a CSR came over and asked if I needed help(prolly mor eout of concern for the nasty noise coming from the speakers). I told him that head unit wasn't working. He said yeah it must be screwed up and then walked away. So I left without much of an experience. Definately won't be buying from circuit city, not that I would have before this.

 

[coolred]

Yeah those kappas look pretty sweet. I will have to find someplace local to test them out.Shouldn't be a problem though.

Is it just me or are ther absoluetly none of them on ebay? Plenty of the 5752's, but none of the 572.5's

Nevermind I found a few, it appears that a search of 572.5 isn't good enough, since they seem to be listed as 572.5cf.


Forgive my stupidty, but what exactly are the things behind the speakers in the pictures of them for instance here

IS it the crossover? Thats the only thing I can think of

 

[Operandi]

Forgive my stupidty, but what exactly are the things behind the speakers in the pictures of them for instance here

Yeah, that's the crossover.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Pioneer will give you the best bang for your buck. If you have a Car Toys in your area go there and asked. I got a quote, at my local shop for a MP3 capable Pioneer head unit, 4x6 fronts, 6x9 rears, a customer sub enclosure, and all the mounting stuff for them for $900. Of course, i will install the equipment, sans the headunit since they do that for free, but speaker install is easy cheasy and i will do that all myself.

I'm going with a little higher end speakers, MB quarts, but you could go to walmart and get a $200 pioneer deck, 2 sets of $50 pioneer speakers, $10 for wire adapter. and you'll be good for $300

 

[coolred]

What reason can you give me to consider the pioneer over the JVC head unit? Not that I have anything against pioneer. I love the look of their OEL displays, but those displays cost money and how often will you really be looking at your stereo? Are they noticablly better in sound quality? I've noticed no one recommended JVC initially, is there a reason for that?

Those kappas sound good, I may take LS20's advice, shockwaves too i guess. I think for now i will likely hold off on the low end, and will likely go with the kappas all around(assuming they sound good to me, which knowing infinity quality, they will) and the JVC head unit, unless given a reason not too. I will prolly install that and see how it sounds at the max volume I would listen to it at and if it distorts at all, or isn't loud enough(I doubt this will happen though) then I may add the amps for the kappas. And the work on the low end later on when i have more cash.

 

[coolred]

Well I've been doing some thinking, and the more I think about it, I will rarely have any passangers in my back seat, in fact my 2 year old son may be back there a lot, so I may avoid the rear fill. Would the kappas do good by themselves in the front doors? without buying a set for the rear I can prolly get an amp for them to give them the power they like. I am still gonna hold off on a sub for now. till gotta do some thinking about how I would want to work a sub into it. So I'm basically asking if just having the pair of infinity kappas 5x7's in my front doors would still sound okay. I have never been in a vehicle without speakers in the rear. In my current car I have the fade set even, and when i have to set it to the front when my son is in the car it doesn't sound right to me, but that is pobablly because the speakers aren't up to it. I have no idea whats in there, but I know its stock so its junk.

 

[coolred]

Shoot, I was just checking crutchfield and it doesn't even list the 572.5's fitting the front doors, it has them fitting the rear side panels. Are they too deep for the doors?

 

[Operandi]

Would the kappas do good by themselves in the front doors?

From a sound quality perspective you don't want rear fill period. Also even though the Kappa's are pretty efficient I wouldn?t even think of running them off the head unit if you can avoid it.

 

[coolred]

Yeah if i don't put speakers in the rear i will definately power the fronts with an amp. I know you can adjust the aim of the tweeter on the kappas, to raise the sound, but will it still sound okay since they are mounted kinda low in the door?

 

[Drakkon]

my kappa tweaters are almost on the kickplate in my car and they sound great...although that probobly is helped by the fact i have the kappas in the rear up pretty high

 

[coolred]

Thats kinda what I am wondering, I don't know much about imaging, heck I didn't even know rear fill was bad. But I have spots for 6 speakers in the car 5x7's in the doors and rear side panels, and according to crutchfield 6.5's in the rear deck(although it looked like the previous owner may have cut these to fit 6x9's or maybe 5x7's back there too. Just wondering if having some speakers in the rear deck would help raise the sound up more to my ears, or if it would be fine without them?

 

[Operandi]

Thats kinda what I am wondering, I don't know much about imaging, heck I didn't even know rear fill was bad. But I have spots for 6 speakers in the car 5x7's in the doors and rear side panels, and according to crutchfield 6.5's in the rear deck(although it looked like the previous owner may have cut these to fit 6x9's or maybe 5x7's back there too. Just wondering if having some speakers in the rear deck would help raise the sound up more to my ears, or if it would be fine without them?

When you?re dealing with coxails and depending on where your speaker openings are you might get a little high end extension from the rear but it prolly wouldn?t be much, if it were me I wouldn't bother just go with whatever fits in the doors. As far as rear fill being bad, the main idea is music is recorded in two channels not four. Having four different sources of out put tends to mess up the sounds stage due to differences in speakers and the car itself coolering the sound, an example... having speakers fire into your rear window from the rear deck isn't a very ideal situation and can mess things up if your going for high sound quality. It?s not like rear fill is terrible thing to have but technically it messes up your sound stage,

 

[coolred]

That makes sense, I guess I will have to try it and see what I like. But if I am gonna run an amp, then I think i want to look for a better deck, since the JVC only has 2 pair of 2V pre outs.

 

[coolred]

The more I think about it, I am slightly worried about theft too. I had my stuff stolen out of my Jeep while at work one night. Granted that parking lot was notorious for theft, and I no longer work there, but I do live in Columbus, OH. So its a big city with a lot of thieves in it. Detachable faces are great, but I can't take it with me into work, I suppose I could put it in the trunk, but someone could just as easily break the lock on the trunk and find it, plus I may get tired of having to always put it in the trunk. I have been looking at some of the theft detterrent head units out there, like the alpines that fold the face in, and the clear black panel sonys, I also think someone mentioned that alpine or eclipse(don't remember which one)has a one year theft warranty. Any other suggestions. I know i could put an alarm on the car, but do those really do any good. I mean most people ignore them.

ALso most other places I have been reading say Sonys are junk, is this the general concensus, or just a few upset people

 

[Shockwave]

I wouldnt say Sont is junk, but it sure as hell aint even close to good stuff.

Eclipse has 1 year theft warrenty. When mine was stolen I simply showed them a copy of the police report. Eclipse shipped out a new one and I had the replacement within a week or two if memory serves.
Also, I heard DEI is providing theft warrenty on there audio products *if* you buy a DEI alarm. You would have to go to a authorized shop and ask all the details, but thats a pretty sweet deal since it would cover amps and speakers, then Eclipse warrenty on the HU. And DEI owns some pretty good names in the audio business, so its a fairly nice deal.

 

[kmac1914]

Originally posted by: coolred
Any opinions on JVC, especially the JVC KD-SX980. I am readng reviews of it on epinions, and they all seem to rave about it, and its hella cheap, for being MP3 capable.

Yea, I agree that the JVC mp3 units are pretty good buys....my best friend just bought the JVC KD-SX990 (for only 150 shipped new on ebay, if you were considering that route) and he loves it. I have one of the earlier Kenwood mp3 units in my car, and i was thoroughly impressed with the JVC head unit.