Car audio upgrade suggestion for less than $200

[slackerinabox]

I want to upgrade something in my hyundai elantra but need some advice.. I have a pretty cheap JVC head unit and rockford fosgates up front and back.. I find that the music is really hard to listen to unless I really crank it.. I also would like more bass.. Since I can only spend 200 or so should I get an amp or new speakers? If I'm only really concerned about the sound for the front passengers, would a 2-ch. amp be fine or not? I'll eventually get a sub w/sub amp but want to save up a bit for a quality one.. So what's the best way of spending my $200 (I just got the HU so that's not an option.. Also, the $200 is including installation)

 

[Drakkon]

Infinity Kappa series speakers are fairly reasonable on ebay (look for ikesound auctions) and then a JBL80.4 or a 180.2 to power would be ideal...but you can find something like a Jensen to power em up....
Not sure about the size of your speaks so cant give you exact speks...but the infinities are defiantely a great balance of cost and SQ...

edit whoops didnt notice the including installation....so yeah...that means ur gunna buy locally then...so right there that screws ya...your down to pioneer/jensen stuff prettymuch...whcih probobly isnt much better than ur current setup

 

[isekii]

just save up the 200 bucks towards an upgrade later.

it would be a waste of money if considering installation would cost you like 60 bucks for speakers. ( which you can do easily with adapters )

 

[Deuce24]

skip the amp, that is for more hardcore audiphiles (especially if you don't know how to set one up yourself). For $200 including installation? hmm, I suggest you browse some sites and figure out how to hook speakers and amps up yourself, you'll save yourself hundreds of dollars in the future (and its a really great hobby).
It sounds like you need new speakers all around, and your JVC deck puts out decent wattage I'm sure (even 35x4 would suffice, although 40+ is much better) so it all comes down to what size speakers you have. Your fronts are probably 6.5" for 5.25"s if they're in the doors, and I'm not sure about your rears (either 5x7s or 6x9s). If you wanted more bass without upgrading to an amp and sub I highly reccomend getting some quality 6x9"s, they're great for bass. For a brand, I 100% always reccomend Eclipse...absolutely amazing equipment. You can probably get a pair of 6.5s or 5.25s for like $80 or less on eBay, and 6x9's will be right around $100 (plus or minus a few). If you can afford them, go with Eclipse. Remember to always try to stay with your car's stock size becuase if not, you're gonna pay hella installation fees for a custom job to resize your speaker holes.

My recs:
Eclipse if you can afford it, if not, buy Kicker (2nd best quality for the price, and also amazing sound)
Stay with stock speaker sizes (in your Elantra, prolly 5.25 and 6x9 it looks like)
6x9's provide great bass
Learn to setup speakes yourself, its really easy, especially when just removing the old speakers and hooking up the new wires.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me, I'd be glad to help ya out. Good luck!

 

[Soybomb]

What are the specs on the jvc head unit? I'm going to differ a bit and say stop buying a little crap at a time and buy good stuff once even if it means you have to save up longer. Good speakers with a poor head unit won't be all that stellar. I'm guessing though that head unit doesn't put out much power and you'd get more volume without distortion with more power. Save a little more money and buy a quality 4 channel amp like a RF.

 

[Falloutboy]

If you can install your self 200 bucks will get you an Infinity Basslink on ebay for about that and its the best way to add some bass if your on a budget.

If you want to upgrade your fronts a US Acoustics amp say a say a 85x2 or a 100x2 and if you got any money left over save it and up for a pair of components up front and or a sub.

some nice components for cheap are
Crystal

just some ideas. I started like you upgrading a part at a time and my current system is:

Sony MP70 HU 280 off ebay
Infinity Kappa Perfect 10.1 130 ebay
US Acousticks 150x2 bridged to 450 for sub 90 refurb from a guy I met off some car audio boards (will try to dig up his email he does this for a living and is a great guy)
Boston Rally 5x7's 100 pair dad got for me when I got my car but they were 100 a pair.
Us Acoustiks 65x4 for mains 45 refurb


so I got out for about 900ish for a very good system in my opinion. beats any of my friends systems by a long shot and I got about half the money into it. My next upgrade is prolly going to swap my front speaks for some Crystal 7" comps., then brdige my 65x4 to 150x2 and use it to drive the fronts, then drive the rears off the deck. But need to get my Hometheater up to snuff first
:evil: