Audio System Upgrade

[Glliw]

Hey I'm looking to upgrade my sound system here in the near future. I dont want to spend too much and am looking for an affordable system upgrade. I am looking around 400-600 dollars to spend on it all. So far here is what I've gathered:

Kenwood KDC-MP2032
http://www.crutchfield.com./S-wsSNME8LhAJ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=113MP2032&wm=su


these:
Sony XS-V1642A
http://www.crutchfield.com./S-wsSNME8LhAJ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=52000&I=158XSV1642

or these:
Pioneer TS-A6981R
http://www.crutchfield.com./S-wsSNME8LhAJ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=52300&id=essential_info&i=130TSA6981#Tab

I still need a set of fronts and am aplifier right? This is my first system upgrade and am not too sure on whats needed when stepping past stock. What size are the front speakers? What are your guys' recommendations for a $400-600 system?

-Will-

 

[AndrewD5418]

I would try to steer away from Sony, but Pioneer and Kenwood are really good. By any chance did those 6x9 4-way's from Pioneer recently go down in price? I thought they were 300 bucks. An AMP wouldn't be necessairy unless you get a sub though is it?

 

[justin0469]

I would never ever EVER recommend Sony for any car audio, WAY over priced for low quality items! I always ended up with Pioneer in the end and never been unsatisfied. I havent ever used Kenwood though.

 

[Glliw]

Alright so Pioneers are pretty good bang for the buck eh? What speakers do you recommend to run up front?

 

[bkruahnndon]

just a heads up, the kenwood excelon head units...atleast last years model, arent the greatest. i have one and the 'eye' that reads cd's keeps crapping out....luckily its under a 2 year warranty and i havent had to pay for it yet, but twice i've had to replace it. The dealer and i are close friends and they say i'm one of the very few people who have this problem. i wouldn't recommend anything Kenwood from my experience. That's just my opinion and i will NEVER buy kenwood again. anything.

 

[Glliw]

Well with hearing that, and not to be swayed by just one person, I looked a bit more and found this one from Pioneer.


Pioneer DEH-2800MP
http://www.crutchfield.com./S-Dzx9ng2g8Ky/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=300&I=130DEH2800

 

[bkruahnndon]

well don't let just me sway you, apparently i'm a minute group of people that experience this problem. i'm glad its still under warranty and i dont have to pay anything, but it's ridiculous that i had to send it in TWICE. I'm personally just sour against Kenwood after this deal that i won't ever buy from them again. I'm definitely not saying that all of their products aren't good.

 

[Glliw]

No I'm not just basing it off of you. From what I've heard so far, Pioneer is pretty good so might as well use them all around if i can get it better at near same price.

 

[Glliw]

I have a question about the Pioneer TS-A6981R. They are listed for my car prior to checking out but when i go back thru to the shopping cart to check out it tells me that they won't fit. Is anyone running these or know if they really do fit or not?

 

[bkruahnndon]

if they are normal sized 6x9's, which they appear to be, they will fit with no problem.

 

[DGajre777]

I hope you are just shopping at crutchfield and not actually buying from them. They are one of the most expensive shops online.

For car audio, don't get Sony. They might be okay for home audio/video but not in cars. Pioneer makes the best receivers (in my opinion) for the price. The new series ending with *800 like 6800 will be better than the older models ending with *700 like 6700.

You don't need an amp for the 4 speakers, if you want bass you need a subwoofer and an amp for the sub. I would suggest buying good quality stuff over item instead of spending money in 1 month and getting low quality stuff.

 

[AndrewD5418]

If you really want a nice one, but a warning though. It's really really expensive.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6755718&type=product&id=1087342241819 .

GPS, DVD, MP3, all in the dash. I'm wondering if you could put MP3's on a DVD, thats basically my whole collection on two!

 

[DGajre777]

I'm wondering if you could put MP3's on a DVD, thats basically my whole collection on two!

If it reads DVD+R discs or DVD-R discs and you put MP3s on it, it will read it. I've done it with my home DVD player.

 

[-TunedDSM-]

As for kenwood decks, i have this one in my jeep : http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6982848&type=product&cmp=++&id=1099388622775 , I have never had any problems with it but with the little joystick for scanning tracks, it becomes rather loose after a while and can become a pain, definately go with a pioneer. Im not sure if you are interested but alpines are very nice. My friend has one in is camaro. NEVER go with a sony in car audio! You'd be better off going to the junkyard and seeing what you can find, itd be cheaper .

 

[Glliw]

What shops other than crutchfield do you recommend? I price checked them with bestbuy and bestbuy is aboue 15 bucks more.

 

[bkruahnndon]

2 of my favorite places are www.ikesound.com and www.sounddomain.com Sound Domain will beat any dealers price by like 5% so they're always my first option.

 

[Glliw]

Hey thanks for the links...found them really cheap on ikesound.com.

As for the front door speakers, what size are they?(97 gs-t)

 

[a_scobel]

Hey thanks for the links...found them really cheap on ikesound.com.

As for the front door speakers, what size are they?(97 gs-t)

Also check out www.etronics.com I've pretty much purchased all my car audio components from this site.

Front speakers are 6½".

I'd also suggest JBL & Alpine speakers. They sound great. Here's my setup:

Pioneer DEH-P7400MP headunit
Alpine Type S 2-Way 6x9's in the back
JBL 3-Way 6½'s in the front.
Stock amp
Infinity Basslink

Sounds clear & awesome. I love it. My roommate spent over 1k having his stereo system in his F350 totally redone, and I think mine still sounds a lot better.

 

[Glliw]

OK so so far here's what 'm looking at:


rear speakers
http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/2779

head unit
http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/2792

I was looking aruond on etronics.com and saw a company called pyramid. They are dirt cheap and question their integrity but for so cheap I'm nearly considering them.

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?icatid=358&stk_code=pyr6577

most likely a set of those up front in the doors.

 

[AndrewD5418]

If it reads DVD+R discs or DVD-R discs and you put MP3s on it, it will read it. I've done it with my home DVD player.

Home dvd players are different than a car one, you know. It may or may not support MP3 on DVD.

 

[a_scobel]

OK so so far here's what 'm looking at:


rear speakers
http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/2779

head unit
http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/2792

I was looking aruond on etronics.com and saw a company called pyramid. They are dirt cheap and question their integrity but for so cheap I'm nearly considering them.

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?icatid=358&stk_code=pyr6577

most likely a set of those up front in the doors.

Just letting you know, Etronics has the same headunit, & also free shipping & no tax, where Ikesound will charge about $17 just for shipping. I'm not sure if they have tax, but it's already cheaper at Etronics with shipping included..just something to pay attention to!

I haven't heard anything about Pyramid speakers..For $20 though, I dunno..With electronics, I try not to go the really cheap way. It's not like an intake pipe or exhaust, where a pipe is a pipe is a pipe. There's a lot more things on electronic equipment like this, that could be messed up by cheap parts. On Etronics' 6.5" speakers, I'd stay away from Pyle, Legacy, Lanzar, & Pyramid speakers. Pretty much any of the dirt cheap speakers. I'm guessing they'd be really easy to blow out. With car audio electronics, I really believe that you get what you pay for. There's a reason why Alpine headunits are so expensive.

 

[Glliw]

Does anyone have any real experience with this brand though? I'm not looking to blast them much at all...just want them to be more clear and sound better than stockers.

 

[DGajre777]

Home dvd players are different than a car one, you know. It may or may not support MP3 on DVD.

I don't see how it would be different. If a DVD Player at home or in car can read a DVD+R or DVD-R, it should read the disc regardless of what is on the disc. But then again, I don't have a car DVD Player to test it out. Anyone know?!?

 

[bkruahnndon]

i usually just use sounddomain to beat ikesounds price...it works unless your buying refurbished items. thats about the cheapest way i found to buy quality items with good customer service

 

[Listen2myBASS]

go to crutchfield. com and the WHat Fits My Car option, it will tell you your speaker sizer, i agree with everyone else who said stay away from sony, they are just a cheap counter part, sony sucks when it comes to car audio, an amplifier would be necessary only if your speakers rated Max Wattage is more than 200 watts, and especially if you have 6x9's...look on millionbuy.com, and i agree that pyle, lanzar, etc. don't get the job done, but pyramid amps rock, i can tell you that...