Audio newbie, need help

42395_skyline · Apr 10, 2013

I am planning on getting a sub, but I am considering the option of a speaker upgrade instead and getting the sub later on. Undecided as of now.

My Eclipse has the factory rear speakers and Pioneer TS-G1643R's in the front. Can anyone help me in finding a full system? I know already to get component system in the front and mount the tweeters in the dash. Just don't know what speakers will be the best bang for buck I can buy in my price range. I know the front is 6.5" and the rear is 6x9 but thats it.

I hope to spend less than $300 in the end, but I will consider any reasonably priced setup because I can probably find discounts on Amazon and end up saving a bunch. This pricing is for two front component, both 6x9 rears, and an amp to power it all. I am currently looking at a Sony DSX-S310BTX as my receiver. Only one that I found to allow Bluetooth Pandora, music playback, and hands free calling with my iPhone 5.

:thumb:

Thanks guys

spooln4fun · Apr 10, 2013

Id try crutchfield, and look in there scratch and dent section. If anything it will give you model numbers of speakers you like and then look on amazon for a better price. I have the kicker KS series components in my dash and front door. I'm not sure you'll be able to achieve the sound for the money is my only question. The amp will most likely cost 300 if your buying new. Remember you'll need a wiring kit for it also. I'm not saying these items couldn't be bought for under 300 but for a good brand and brand new I don't see it happening.

42395_skyline · Apr 10, 2013

spooln4fun said:
Id try crutchfield, and look in there scratch and dent section. If anything it will give you model numbers of speakers you like and then look on amazon for a better price. I have the kicker KS series components in my dash and front door. I'm not sure you'll be able to achieve the sound for the money is my only question. The amp will most likely cost 300 if your buying new. Remember you'll need a wiring kit for it also. I'm not saying these items couldn't be bought for under 300 but for a good brand and brand new I don't see it happening.

Really don't think $300 would be enough? Also, $300 for speakers and amp. I am not including wiring and other things like that. I figured $100 for the front set, $100 for back, and like $150 for amp. What kind of amp should I be looking at? I was thinking something like this would be what I needed. Guess not since it's only $150?

Turbo T · Apr 10, 2013

imo 6x9s sound terrible. if you plan to add a sub in the future id go with all matching 6.5s and a 4 channel amp. the sound will wrap around you more because all 4 speakers are the exact same. i could go on forever about car audio.

42395_skyline · Apr 10, 2013

Turbo T said:
imo 6x9s sound terrible. if you plan to add a sub in the future id go with all matching 6.5s and a 4 channel amp. the sound will wrap around you more because all 4 speakers are the exact same. i could go on forever about car audio.

I want it for the mid bass though

chiefvest · Apr 10, 2013

dude buy soundstream head unit and components
add order fron online car stereo

42395_skyline · Apr 11, 2013

chiefvest said:
dude buy soundstream head unit and components
add order fron online car stereo

Their head units don't meet my needs as the Sony does. How good are Soundstream speakers?

PXHero · Apr 11, 2013

Do your ears a favor, and save a little longer and buy decent speakers. A good pair of speakers will cost you easily $150 and up to the thousands of dollars range depending on what you want out of your system. A decent 4 channel amp to push them will cost you at least what you have budgeted for it. Don't forget the wiring. If the amp needs a fuse that's 60 Amps or less, you can use 8 gauge wiring, a true 8 ga wiring kit is going to run around $50-$75. If the amp needs more than 60 Amps of fusing (rare for a 4 channel) you're going to need a 4 ga wiring kit. That's going to run you $65-$90. These prices are only estimates, based loosely on the wiring kits we piece together at work. Some brands can be pretty pricey. Beware any wiring kit that's cheaper than these prices, usually the insulation is the same size as it's pricier competitor, but the wires are a gauge (if not more) smaller. A decent radio is going to be in the $90-$120 range depending on what options you want.

When it comes to audio, the wallet (not the sky) is the limit. The best bang for the buck that I've seen for a long time is Hybrid Audio Technologies (for speakers). They'll cost you more (I think the base prices start around the $150 range and they shouldn't be available online), but when compared to other speakers in the same price range, Hybrids will blow them out of the water.

Also, beware any speaker and radio bundles. In my experience, the speakers included are usually worse than the stock ones.

meiko24169 · Apr 11, 2013

I installed an alpine double din CD player with Bluetooth and iPod connection, Polk highs that came with a crossover in my buddy's lancer last week. He ordered it from crutchfield, they sent the dash kit, wire harness, speaker connectors and speaker baffles all for free. He spent 280 after tax and shipping. You can get a cheap 4 channel amp, 100 bucks or so. Your highs don't need a powerful amp. If you get a deck that pushes 50x4, usually that's plenty. Most factory decks don't push more than 15 watts, and that's all the speakers can handle. If you have a deck pushing 50 watts max, that's usually enough IMO.

danatkins · Apr 12, 2013

kenwood makes a nice head unit that has ipod and bluetooth hookups it also has android controls which is why i bought it

90gsxdakilla · Apr 14, 2013

Definitely save up and get some good equipment. I agree with the 4 channel and good component sets all around. With the 4 channel you can tune and adjust the sound just the way you like it. Also once you get a sub you can use the high pass filter to cut the bass out of your speakers and they will last forever. Most good brands of head units will have Bluetooth audio, Pandora, and many other options but they are not cheap. I would go with alpine I love alpine head units. Just do some research keep digging and build yourself a good system from the beginning.

95eclispe · Apr 16, 2013

what your looking for was my original set up just 6.5s in the front 6.9s in the back with a 1k amp pushing them but they didnt sound great even though they were decent speakers. I just tore apart the door panels and made custom brackets in the door panels for 2 audiopipe 8inch and tweeters. Same for the rear. if your handy you can build your own brackets with wood and they sound really great!.

Breezio69 · Apr 16, 2013

I'm running Rockford 3 ways front and rear with an mtx thunder xxxx? 12", 800 Watt Rockford mono block amp... crisp, clean, and can get so loud your nose hairs will tickle. Spend about, $1200... the amp was more than your budget, you can't get everything you want with $300. Unless you want to be the Roadmaster or Jensen Rep

For a decent head unit and sony quality speakers you'd still be looking at over $300. Last I checked a good set of 3 way 6.5" speakers were $70-90 and 6x9's were around $130-150. That leaves $50 for a deck and amp... not gonna happen... and that's middle of the road gear. My 4 cab speakers were $350 alone. $250 sub, $90 box, $250 head unit, $300 amp.

Not trying to be rude. But a $300 budget for sound wont get you far... and 6x9's in the factory location sound like dog shit. They distort before you hear much bass at all (but the treble 11" from your ear is enough to drive you mad).... Sometimes I shut my sub off and just running the 4 cab speakers is less than stellar on every aspect of sound quality.

Just an opinion

boarderlib · Apr 16, 2013

Save your money, and buy quality equipment. You and your wallet will appreciate it a lot more in the long run. You could get some equipment for 300, BUT you are not going to be happy with it. Then you're going to end up shelling out more money when you're not happy with the sound. Your mids and highs are crucial for a good sounding stereo.

I personally have about 900 wrapped up in just my mids, highs, and an amp to push them. That's with getting my amp at about a 40% discount.

viseversa101 · Apr 16, 2013

alipne 6.5s all around, 0 tweeters, all mids and a t7 12 inch sub ina ported box runnin 1ohm 1800 audio pipe amp....beautiful sound in the car.

zedulus · Apr 16, 2013

You can do all that. Match the speakers get high quality components and the like. In the end what do you want to do with it? Listen to music, or have everyone around you listen to your music?
I have a little 2 channel amp running to cheep 12's and factory speakers in my truck with a clarion head unit.
You don't have to get fancy or expensive if you want quality.
In my 90 eclipse I have a 1600 watt cheep cyclone that has run quality bass for 7 years with no major issues. Sony 6.5's in the door, factory in the dash, 6x9's in the rear. Two 12" depth charge Subs I received for fixing a friends car.
You could go with matching speakers all around but the sound waves reach your head at different intervals so doesn't make a huge difference.

viseversa101 · Apr 17, 2013

I paid 20bux a pair for the alpines xs 2 from abc warehouse paid 100 for the audiopipe amp off amazon.

42395_skyline · Apr 18, 2013

PXHero said:
Do your ears a favor, and save a little longer and buy decent speakers. A good pair of speakers will cost you easily $150 and up to the thousands of dollars range depending on what you want out of your system. A decent 4 channel amp to push them will cost you at least what you have budgeted for it. Don't forget the wiring. If the amp needs a fuse that's 60 Amps or less, you can use 8 gauge wiring, a true 8 ga wiring kit is going to run around $50-$75. If the amp needs more than 60 Amps of fusing (rare for a 4 channel) you're going to need a 4 ga wiring kit. That's going to run you $65-$90. These prices are only estimates, based loosely on the wiring kits we piece together at work. Some brands can be pretty pricey. Beware any wiring kit that's cheaper than these prices, usually the insulation is the same size as it's pricier competitor, but the wires are a gauge (if not more) smaller. A decent radio is going to be in the $90-$120 range depending on what options you want.

When it comes to audio, the wallet (not the sky) is the limit. The best bang for the buck that I've seen for a long time is Hybrid Audio Technologies (for speakers). They'll cost you more (I think the base prices start around the $150 range and they shouldn't be available online), but when compared to other speakers in the same price range, Hybrids will blow them out of the water.

Also, beware any speaker and radio bundles. In my experience, the speakers included are usually worse than the stock ones.

Wiring and head unit isn't included in what I wanted to spend, but thanks for the info for when I buy the kit.

meiko24169 said:
I installed an alpine double din CD player with Bluetooth and iPod connection, Polk highs that came with a crossover in my buddy's lancer last week. He ordered it from crutchfield, they sent the dash kit, wire harness, speaker connectors and speaker baffles all for free. He spent 280 after tax and shipping. You can get a cheap 4 channel amp, 100 bucks or so. Your highs don't need a powerful amp. If you get a deck that pushes 50x4, usually that's plenty. Most factory decks don't push more than 15 watts, and that's all the speakers can handle. If you have a deck pushing 50 watts max, that's usually enough IMO.

I ordered the Sony receiver in my original post. I couldn't find another one that had exactly what I wanted.

I think I could spend $150 on an amp without it hurting my Wallet. I know most wouldn't but I don't need all the power for just regular listening.

danatkins said:
kenwood makes a nice head unit that has ipod and bluetooth hookups it also has android controls which is why i bought it

Native pandora controls over Bluetooth is the biggest feature I needed and I couldn't find that in any receiver but Sony.

90gsxdakilla said:
Definitely save up and get some good equipment. I agree with the 4 channel and good component sets all around. With the 4 channel you can tune and adjust the sound just the way you like it. Also once you get a sub you can use the high pass filter to cut the bass out of your speakers and they will last forever. Most good brands of head units will have Bluetooth audio, Pandora, and many other options but they are not cheap. I would go with alpine I love alpine head units. Just do some research keep digging and build yourself a good system from the beginning.

I am going to buy everything in steps to make sure I can spend more than $300 but it wouldn't be more than $400.

95eclispe said:
what your looking for was my original set up just 6.5s in the front 6.9s in the back with a 1k amp pushing them but they didnt sound great even though they were decent speakers. I just tore apart the door panels and made custom brackets in the door panels for 2 audiopipe 8inch and tweeters. Same for the rear. if your handy you can build your own brackets with wood and they sound really great!.

I'm not handy at all

Breezio69 said:
I'm running Rockford 3 ways front and rear with an mtx thunder xxxx? 12", 800 Watt Rockford mono block amp... crisp, clean, and can get so loud your nose hairs will tickle. Spend about, $1200... the amp was more than your budget, you can't get everything you want with $300. Unless you want to be the Roadmaster or Jensen Rep

For a decent head unit and sony quality speakers you'd still be looking at over $300. Last I checked a good set of 3 way 6.5" speakers were $70-90 and 6x9's were around $130-150. That leaves $50 for a deck and amp... not gonna happen... and that's middle of the road gear. My 4 cab speakers were $350 alone. $250 sub, $90 box, $250 head unit, $300 amp.

Not trying to be rude. But a $300 budget for sound wont get you far... and 6x9's in the factory location sound like dog shit. They distort before you hear much bass at all (but the treble 11" from your ear is enough to drive you mad).... Sometimes I shut my sub off and just running the 4 cab speakers is less than stellar on every aspect of sound quality.

Just an opinion

$300 budget was just for speakers and amp, head unit is already ordered. I wouldn't spend $1200 on it though, thats only if your really into it.

boarderlib said:
Save your money, and buy quality equipment. You and your wallet will appreciate it a lot more in the long run. You could get some equipment for 300, BUT you are not going to be happy with it. Then you're going to end up shelling out more money when you're not happy with the sound. Your mids and highs are crucial for a good sounding stereo.

I personally have about 900 wrapped up in just my mids, highs, and an amp to push them. That's with getting my amp at about a 40% discount.

I wouldn't but more then $900 in an entire sound system LOL

viseversa101 said:
alipne 6.5s all around, 0 tweeters, all mids and a t7 12 inch sub ina ported box runnin 1ohm 1800 audio pipe amp....beautiful sound in the car.

0 tweeters?

zedulus said:
You can do all that. Match the speakers get high quality components and the like. In the end what do you want to do with it? Listen to music, or have everyone around you listen to your music?
I have a little 2 channel amp running to cheep 12's and factory speakers in my truck with a clarion head unit.
You don't have to get fancy or expensive if you want quality.
In my 90 eclipse I have a 1600 watt cheep cyclone that has run quality bass for 7 years with no major issues. Sony 6.5's in the door, factory in the dash, 6x9's in the rear. Two 12" depth charge Subs I received for fixing a friends car.
You could go with matching speakers all around but the sound waves reach your head at different intervals so doesn't make a huge difference.

I just want to hear music with good quality. Nothing great. I'm actually looking at Sony or Infinity for my 6x9's. Hiw much was your amp?

viseversa101 said:
I paid 20bux a pair for the alpines xs 2 from abc warehouse paid 100 for the audiopipe amp off amazon.

My speakers are $30 and not the best. I wouldn't go this cheap.. If it works for you though that's great.

My choice is between Infinity Reference X REF-9602ix or sony xs-gt6938f for my 6x9's. Yes, I know I should be getting online speakers that are better but I choose to buy from a local retail store. I'll be getting it from Best Buy and I got my receiver from Sony directly.

Is the Infinity that much better than the Sony?

isantop · Apr 18, 2013

42395_skyline said:
Is the Infinity that much better than the Sony?

Yes.

schalk35 · Apr 18, 2013

I personally like the Polk DB's great speaker for the price. IMHO they sound better than the rockford's. Just my .02

42395_skyline · Apr 18, 2013

isantop said:
Yes.

I have to go in blind with this one. I have heard it really is better from multiple people so I guess that would be my choice. $169.

schalk35 said:
I personally like the Polk DB's great speaker for the price. IMHO they sound better than the rockford's. Just my .02

I'll look at them for the 6.5" :thumb:

Thanks. I am going to get everything in steps so that I can make sure to get something that fits me great.

isantop · Apr 18, 2013

42395_skyline said:
I have to go in blind with this one. I have heard it really is better from multiple people so I guess that would be my choice. $169.

No problem. I'm spoiled since I bought my car with upgraded Boston Acoustics speakers OOB.

wmrcs · Apr 18, 2013

6.5" options not in any order: 1) CZ Series 6.5" 2 Way - Crescendo Audio | Online Store
2) DD Audio: Mobile Audio | Components | Coax | CS 6.5 | DD Audio
3) Alpine Type R component set

Just suggestions. Don't be afraid of those brands Crescendo and Digital Designs because you haven't heard of them. I have used both of those speakers and they're both really good. I've heard the Type R's and they sound nice too.

I recommend making new components and a new amp the priority and then replacing the 6x9's if you desire in the future. A good set of components and an amp will take care of you for the most part honestly.

For amps, don't buy a Sony, JVC, Kenwood, or Pioneer...you won't get their "rated" power and they're not even that affordable. I'd rather go with Hifonics or Audiopipe over those brands because they're MORE affordable and you won't be losing any noticeable quality between Sony, JVC, Kenwood, and Pioneer, you'll just notice the extra cash.

If you decide to spend a little more on components... http://store.crescendoaudio.com/mezzo-series-6-5-reference-2-way/

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/VXI65-Skar-Audio-Component-Loudspeaker/dp/B0089F3NE8[/ame]

http://www.emfcaraudio.com/sundown-audio-sa-6-5cs-component-speakers/

Those will all sound amazing.

poppasmerph · Apr 18, 2013

Check out this site Car Audio Stereo - Car Subwoofers - Car Amplifiers and Speakers

They sometimes sell last year's model for a better deal. Like most people are saying, $300 will be just the tip of the audio build, but I understand where you are coming from. I've built systems for $500 that sounded decent (it won't win any competitions, but it was good enough for me).

My last setup included this:
Head: Pioneer AVIC-X930BT (OK, I splurged on this one)
Fronts: Phoenix Gold RsD 6.5" component
Rear: NONE
Sub: JL 10" slim
Amp: Kenwood 4 channel

My recommendation: before you buy online, check it out at an audio store and take a listen. It won't sound exactly like it, but at least you get a sound check before putting it your car.

Silver99OZ · Apr 18, 2013

Why not buy a set of componets for up front, take your current pioneers from up front and put them in the rear. Then get your amp. This way you should still have good sound without going over your budget and then you can eventually swap out the pioneers with something else.

As I posted in your other thread I in the same market as you are. Looking for some decent sound but nothing over the top. Like you I was just going to get a sub but am now looking at doing everything.

Here is a list of what I may get.

Front: Alpine type-S 6.5 component speakers
Rear: Alpine type-S 6.5 coaxial speakers
Amp: Alpine MRX-V70 5-channel
Sub: Sundown Audio sd-2 8"

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Audio newbie, need help

42395_skyline

spooln4fun

42395_skyline

Turbo T

42395_skyline

chiefvest

42395_skyline

PXHero

meiko24169

danatkins

90gsxdakilla

95eclispe

Breezio69

boarderlib

viseversa101

zedulus

viseversa101

42395_skyline

isantop

schalk35

42395_skyline

isantop

wmrcs

poppasmerph

Silver99OZ

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