Getting car stereo, need some advices

iLoveDivX

Banned
Apr 2, 2001
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I already got the headunit at best buy for 150 (a friend of mine picked it out for me). it's a sony w/ 52W model cdx-l550x. Now i wanna get some speakers and a sub. Can anyone tell me what are important features that i need to look for in speakers and subs? The dude that told me to get the headunit said the 2 front speakers would run about 100 and sub is about 75.
 

erub

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2000
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yeah, and he also forgot about the box, and the installation...

To get good base:
$80 for sub + $200 for amp + $75 for box + wiring + installation = ~$500
 

Calcio

Senior member
Sep 28, 2001
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What kind of car are you putting this into? What are thestock speaker sizes and locs?
 

jfall

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2000
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Humm.. you do know that your going to need an amp for the sub? and possibly an amp for your front speakers (although, you can get by with using your cd players power for those two speakers). I'd say that your looking at more money then you figure.. if your going to get a sub, your going to need an amp to push proper power to it, power wire, speaker wire, rca's and also a box for the sub. Also, $75 for a sub is a little low, the only sub that I would recommend for a good value would be an Adire Audio Shiva, which you could get for around $115 from adireaudio.com. Front speakers, i'm not sure if your looking at just getting two speakers or a component set, with the speakers, cross overs and tweeters.. which has a wide range in price. You could probably get a decent two way set of front speakers that will run off your deck for around $100. Check out some audio forums, and read before you buy.. that is really the only advice I can give, read read read. Try elitecaraudio.com, sounddomain.com, termpro.com, caraudioforum.com etc. I made a lot of mistakes when I first got into car audio, I wish I would have read more.. but I guess the same goes for every thing, eventually you will more then likely be unhappy with your choices and decide to redo it.. I have re-done my stereo 3 times now, and after three years and thousands of dollars, I finally have something that i'm completely happy with.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126


<< and sub is about 75. >>



Prepare to be amazed by your sub's crappiness.

For your sub, try gettin an adire shiva here. They look like crap but are reputable and are supposed to sound good, and will cost you like 130 shipped. Amp wise you're looking for a class D amp, ~300 watts. General rule is like ~70 cents/watt, more is better obviously ^_^. I'm not sure about the shiva but I think you need a 3-400 watt amp? Sorry forget

Then it's another 30 for wires 30 for a box, and 60 if you want to have somebody else install it for you.

My setup cost me ~600

JL12W3- 170
Kicker DX350- 280ish (me ferget)
Box/Wires- 60
 

erub

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2000
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$30 for the box seems very low, unless your going to build it yourself..
 

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
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Sounds about right.
The Shiva's a nice driver, but it does need a slightly big box (2cf would do it perfectly).
A 12inch Dayton DVC would only need 1cf, and it has a 5 year warranty, but it costs a tad more.

BTW: Either of these subs you can hit with 300-400watts RMS and they'll sound good, and they'll give you a ton of bass...as opposed to a RF which costs nearly twice as much but has less sound quality and less overall SPL.
 

iLoveDivX

Banned
Apr 2, 2001
656
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jeez, so expensive. only reason i'm getting subs is because i just want a nice thud in the car when i play my music. would i be able to get that with two front speakers ($100)?
 

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
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why not spend less on the fronts, and buy the better sub so you get better bass?

What size front speakers does your car take?
 

jfall

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2000
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I don't think he'd be able to spend too much less on the fronts. And your not going to get too much thump from 2 front speakers. You will get some mid-bass... but for the price of the speakers and the fact that they wouldn't be driven from an amp, there will not be much of it.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
you can get some 6x9's....but that's only marginally acceptable...