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YACT: car audio help, and advice from some Hawaii folks

Z

Zugzwang152

Lifer
looking to upgrade the sounds in my '96 civic lx. i have no idea about where to begin doing this. i want something affordable and nice, doesn't have to be a killer setup. other than that my only requirement is that i don't want to have to buy a bigger battery or alternator. i've been looking around and JVC and Jensen head units appear to have a lot of features and are affordable. What about speakers/subs? Where can I see what will fit into my car, and for any folks in Hawaii, any advice/recommendations on a shop to do the installation and/or sell the parts to me?
 
Check Crutchfield.com for fit/recommendations and then buy it elsewhere and install it yourself. If you're going to have a shop do the install for you you might as well buy it from Crutchfield - it'll end up being the same in the end
 
You need to have a pretty big system to have to buy a new alternator and/or a second battery, AFAIK.
 
Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Check Crutchfield.com for fit/recommendations and then buy it elsewhere and install it yourself. If you're going to have a shop do the install for you you might as well buy it from Crutchfield - it'll end up being the same in the end
Click to expand...

thanks, i'll check them out now as i'm waiting for more opinions!
 
Originally posted by: Zugzwang152
OMG I don't even know if it's a sedan or a coupe...WTF, I suck 🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁
Click to expand...

Sedan = 4 door, couple = 2 door
rolleye.gif
 
The Crutchfield suggestion is an excellent one.

At your "car audio skill level" you need to start w/the basics first.

Crutchfield makes it as easy as it gets (and the first time, it's still not "easy" no matter what!) by supplying you with the wiring harnesses/speaker adaptors.

Here's my suggestion:

1. Hi powered CD headunit (at least 20 watts x 4 channels RMS, make sure it plays MP3s and has RCA preouts)
2. Some nice coaxials for the front doors and rear deck. THe fronts are more important.
3. A premade sub box with the speaker installed.
4. A nice 200W RMS amp to power the sub.

You'll get the audio signal for the sub from the RCA preouts of the HU (head unit). Most probably, it has dedicated low-pass RCA outs for the sub. If not, your amp will have a low-pass crossover.

I can give you some advice if you get into trouble/have questions.

Some hints:

1. Any +12v power lead must have a fuse. PERIOD.
2. The power cable for the sub amp should be at least 8 gauge and go directly to the + terminal of the battery. Buy an "amp wiring kit" and you'll be better off in the long run.
3. Don't cheap out on anything. Car audio is expensive, period. If you want the stuff to last, don't be cheap.
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
The Crutchfield suggestion is an excellent one.

At your "car audio skill level" you need to start w/the basics first.

Crutchfield makes it as easy as it gets (and the first time, it's still not "easy" no matter what!) by supplying you with the wiring harnesses/speaker adaptors.

Here's my suggestion:

1. Hi powered CD headunit (at least 20 watts x 4 channels RMS, make sure it plays MP3s and has RCA preouts)
2. Some nice coaxials for the front doors and rear deck. THe fronts are more important.
3. A premade sub box with the speaker installed.
4. A nice 200W RMS amp to power the sub.

You'll get the audio signal for the sub from the RCA preouts of the HU (head unit). Most probably, it has dedicated low-pass RCA outs for the sub. If not, your amp will have a low-pass crossover.

I can give you some advice if you get into trouble/have questions.

Some hints:

1. Any +12v power lead must have a fuse. PERIOD.
2. The power cable for the sub amp should be at least 8 gauge and go directly to the + terminal of the battery. Buy an "amp wiring kit" and you'll be better off in the long run.
3. Don't cheap out on anything. Car audio is expensive, period. If you want the stuff to last, don't be cheap.
Click to expand...

thanks for the tips, i'm still pricing things out, to see just how much markup a local place will charge for installlation.

 
I didn't feel like messin w/ the mp3 player my wife bought me so I just took it the Circuit City at pearl ridge. Was very happy w/ the service.... they are helpful in going over options w/ you too w/o any pressure whatsoever. I think there's also a decent warranty on their installation. If you can't get what you want there, I think theres a bunch of shops in Kakaako you could check out..
 
Originally posted by: milagro
I didn't feel like messin w/ the mp3 player my wife bought me so I just took it the Circuit City at pearl ridge. Was very happy w/ the service.... they are helpful in going over options w/ you too w/o any pressure whatsoever. I think there's also a decent warranty on their installation. If you can't get what you want there, I think theres a bunch of shops in Kakaako you could check out..
Click to expand...

will CC do an install of components I buy at another place, or do they just install what they sell there? kakaako, yeah theres some places, theres a place right across from sports authority on ward ave, but i want to go to a place where they won't treat me like the noob/idiot i am.
 
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