Spend my $'s on a system

[CHARGED]

Want to replace my stock s*#%t system but know very little about what makes 1 better then another.
I have about $5-600.00's to spend and need everything, CD/radio unit, front & rear speakers, whatever else I need. Dosen't have to be elaborate just something that sounds good and dosen't break up when turned up loud. Be as specific as you can, ie model#'s
Thanks

 

[Sinful6]

$500-600? buy some use heads for your beast!

 

[David65]

Pioneer DEH-P8400MP. About $550 @ Crutchfield. A bit on the high side, but good IMO. 50W max X4, plays CD's, CD-RW's, MP3's. IR remote, XM ready. Plenty of power for when the T's are out, but has 3 sets of preouts for external amps. Leave the face closed and you don't have to look at the funky graphic display. They send it with the mounting plate and speaker connector adapters. Piece of cake to install. Power, ground, & ignition and your done. Put mine in and didn't have to cut a wire or drill a hole. 3.5's in the dash, 6x9's with adapter plates in the rear. I thought I would need a sub back there but I don't think I'll go that route. Plenty of bass to suit me for now.

David

 

[darkfa8]

You can use Crutchfield as a good refernce to decide what head unit you want. they list features very nicely. However, if you want to say $50-$100 or more on their price goto a car audio-only web retailer like www.thezeb.com (there are a few others, you can search through this board, or goto carsound.com and go into those forums and find other low-priced retailers. I've personally had very good dealings with The Zeb, on purchases and warranty.

Buy:

You want to put the most money into a good head unit.

if you want to retain the stock type system, then any of the Sony-Pioneer-Polk-JBL or other brand manufacturers will do

Go to several car audio shops and listen to the speakers, play with the head units.. find something you like.

I spent about $700-$800 on my system. I have a JVC KD-Sh99 Head unit (plays mp3's too ), MB Quart DKC-116 6.5" coaxial kick-pod speakers (i made the kick-pods), JL Audio 10w1 subs (2) in a sealed MDF box I built, Kicker ZR240 amp for the subs, and I have about $100 worth of wiring upgraded (Monster Cable magnetic main circuit breaker, lots of 4 gauge wire, 2 distribution blocks, Battery terminal distribution block, rca interconnect, more stuff..)

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

you don't need a pioneer 8400, its cool as hell but a 6400 will do fine for what you want and will cost alot less. if you go pioneer all the way around the car you'll get a good sound. they still make 4x10's that are decent and there 3.5's are good also. You could step up the 3.5's even more and get some Infinity kappa's. I got mine on ebay for $65 brand new. For 600 you should be able to get a nice headunit, speakers and CD changer if you use the ebay wholesalers.

 

[ttypenssrider]

pioneerDEHP47DH OR DEHP77DH

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-fmYXDkK4F7v/cgi-bin/prodsearch.asp?s=0&g=52500&est=&search=pioneer

these fit with no kit needed,might need a harness for the factory wiring. still saves you money.

 

[CHARGED]

Sinful6 , Champion Irons will be in by Spring

Thanks for the opinions and keep them comming, the head unit dosen't need to be a factory fit, I would like it to have a detachable face and play MP3's.

When playing it loud is it the quality of the speakers?, quality and power of the head unit? or both that keep the music from breaking up?
I have a decent Pioneer head unit ($180.00) and good Cerwin Vega 6x9's($150.) in my TType that sound pretty good but it breaks up when turned up pretty loud.
I've never had subs in a car, do they make a big difference? don't want to add that much weight to a already heavy car.

 

[darkfa8]

when you increase amplification, at some point the source output will distort.

Goto carsound.com and do a search in the forums about How To Set Gains, or email Tim Baille or Eddie Martin on the board and they will help you.

The other thing to keep in mind, is that the stock sized speakers (3.5 and 4x10) can only handle and reproduce so much. Usually the bass frequencies are what will kill a speaker, when the source material they are being fed with is more demanding that what the physical cpabilities are of the actual driver.

Any speaker will distort at a certain point regardless of type, brand of expense.

Selecting high quality components, and then having the gains properly set will give you the best reproduction characteristics in terms of aplification and balance throughout the system.

 

[AZ Vic]

CHECK EBAY!

A lot of dealers have a last years model for way cheap. Brand new and still comes with factory warranty!

ie a deck I paid 800 for Feb 2002 is on for 300 now :-( wish I'd known then what I know now....

You should get what you want for about 120-150. new.

HTH

Vic

 

[TType84]

no no no no no.

dont ever buy crutchfield.

GO HERE FIRST NO MATTER WHAT BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING

www.ikesound.com

see if you can find waht you want on there.

pioneer 7400 $229 on ikesound, its freakin $350 everywhere else.
the 8400 is $550? its like $359 on ikesound.com

ikesound.com is the best deal going right now, as long as they carry what you want.

 

[TType84]

Without Concert Sound: $428
With Concert Sound: $455

Head Unit:
Pioneer Premier DEH-P740MP - $235.00 shipped
http://www.ikesound.com/Prod_Details.asp?Prod_Id=674

Dash Speakers:
Infinity KAPPA32.5CF - $58.00 shipped
http://www.ikesound.com/Prod_Details.asp?Prod_Id=590

Rear Speakers:
Infinity Kappa 693.5I 6x9's - $135.00 shipped
http://www.ikesound.com/Prod_Details.asp?Prod_Id=595

for concert sound:
Dash Speakers:
remove them/unhook them

Door Speakers:
Infinity Kappa 52.5I - $85.00 shipped
http://www.ikesound.com/Prod_Details.asp?Prod_Id=592

--------

CSII: $374
no CSII: $377

Budget system:
Pioneer Premier DEH-P740MP - $235.00 shipped
http://www.ikesound.com/Prod_Details.asp?Prod_Id=674

Dash Speakers:
Infinity KAPPA32.5CF - $58.00 shipped
http://www.ikesound.com/Prod_Details.asp?Prod_Id=590

Door Speakers:
Infinity Reference 552i - $55.00 shipped
http://www.ikesound.com/Prod_Details.asp?Prod_Id=33

Rear Speakers:
Infinity Reference 6953i - $84.00 shipped
http://www.ikesound.com/Prod_Details.asp?Prod_Id=102



since you probably dont want to use amps, most likely this is about as good as youre gonna get. amps would make a world of difference, even putting two small 30x2 or 45x2 amps under your back seat would make the speakers about 2x as loud. the reason i say only use dash or door, not both, is because the head unit isnt going to like driving all of those speakers, the amp inside isnt very powerful anyway. most of them arent even as good as that one.

what you will need besides that is a Scosche $6.99 wiring kit at walmart to adapt the pioneer wiring harness to the GM one. you will have to solder or use those stupid crimp connectors though.

 

[AZ Vic]

Ikessound...

Done a bit of buisness with them. Good guys. Only ship UPS though.... UCH!