Audio System Upgrade

[Glliw]

200watts a speaker? hmmm gonna need a new amp then...I just ordered the 420 watt 6x9 pioneers that i showed earlier and I know I'm 99% sure I'll never step up past them. What amp would u recommend to use with these if i use say 220watts or around there in the doors? Also, I have ordered the JVC KD-G310 head unit which does 50wX4 rms. Does that effect amp choices?

 

[Glliw]

Well I went out on a limb on my own and contacted some help off of Crutchfield in choosing an Amp for those Pioneers. He recommended MTX Thunder282. Does anyone have an opinion on this amp? Any help would be much appreciated

 

[DSMBen]

a JL audio 12w7 or 13w7 with a 1000/1 JL amp would kill 'em in the sub department.

In my opinion JL is one of the best Car audio manufacturers, atleast for subs, and they make really nice amps. I don't know about their speakers much, but JL is quality, so they are probably good.

As for headunits, i think eclipse is nice, dont know alot about headunits though. for a headunit you really only have to buy the one that has everything you need, nothing more or nothing less. I know people who think that getting a 600$ headunit is going to be better then one they can get at bestbuy, when in reality the bestbuy one is best for them because it will fufill exactly what they need.

Don't go overboard, pickout what you want and shopa round for it.

 

[Talesin]

Whichever you go for, do NOT pick up a DEH-P3700MP. I've had mine for less than six months, and it ended up dying. Starts to play, but it looks like the EQ/amp has lifted traces now, as it will start to play the CD/MP3/tuner, but puts nothing to the speakers.
Then *boom*, randomly it'll start working. Whether or not I get bass is up to its whim. Here's hoping I still have the receipt, and the warranty holds good.

Even beforehand, it'd skip like crazy, have problems reading some discs, and would have more problems toward the end of a given CD, during normal driving.

Admittedly, it did finally die under some rather harsh conditions... heavy cornering and accelleration/deceleration. :b

 

[fr33b1rth]

Lets see here, how about $469.52 to your door (zip code 32401).

Alpine SPS-170A 6-3/4"
http://sonicelectronix.com/item_40.html

Alpine SPS-690A 6x9
http://sonicelectronix.com/item_43.html

Clarion DXZ555MP Head Unit:
http://sonicelectronix.com/item_3521.html

Audiobahn ATB12AT 12" Amplified Flat-Bottom Bass Cylinder:
http://sonicelectronix.com/item_122.html

That sub comes with everything you need to install it, and it doesn't sound too bad either. It will provide plenty of bass for a hatchback. Not anything extreme, but more than enough to make your car sound good inside. If you order from there you even get the stuff required to install your head unit. All this is far better than anything that crutchfield has to offer in your price range.

 

[LinuxWarDriver]

Its all about eBay man...I picked up a DVD, head unit, and flip out screen for about $175. I also picked up a sweet Pioneer head unit with with MP3 playback for about $75 bucks. You can strech you $ way farther than you can with crutchfield.

I've got many good deals there...keep you wits and don't get anything that is too good to be true. Used is usually ok, especially if you are not an audio guru.

Also, something that I have learned from years of car audio....Always run a thick power wire off the battery and and a thick ground wire grounded to a body bolt if you are going to use an aftermarket radio. You get much better sound that way.

my $.02

 

[AndrewD5418]

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?!?

Ever hear of Firmware? Bios?

I think I'd know this stuff. =/. It would be too much for it to cache up probably.

 

[knighteclipse1]

Try this link, I purchased this stereo and its awesome, All the shops that sell Alpine around here were all drowling...

http://cgi.ebay.com/From-Japan-ALPI...ewItemQQcategoryZ39750QQitemZ5869738360QQrdZ1

 

[Glliw]

OK so I'm slightly agitated now. The head unit I purchased (JVC KD-G310) says that it will not fit my vehicle on etronics.com. ??? It said it would fit just yesterday.

 

[DSMBen]

Has anybody heard good things about boston acoustic? They seem like quality speakers, whats the word on 'em.

 

[a_scobel]

Lets see here, how about $469.52 to your door (zip code 32401).

Alpine SPS-170A 6-3/4"
http://sonicelectronix.com/item_40.html

Alpine SPS-690A 6x9
http://sonicelectronix.com/item_43.html

Clarion DXZ555MP Head Unit:
http://sonicelectronix.com/item_3521.html

Audiobahn ATB12AT 12" Amplified Flat-Bottom Bass Cylinder:
http://sonicelectronix.com/item_122.html

That sub comes with everything you need to install it, and it doesn't sound too bad either. It will provide plenty of bass for a hatchback. Not anything extreme, but more than enough to make your car sound good inside. If you order from there you even get the stuff required to install your head unit. All this is far better than anything that crutchfield has to offer in your price range.

That's a good headunit, the Clarion one. Its pretty nice. Cheap, too..changes to a whole bunch of colors! A friend of mine has it..I always mess with him & leave the color on pink.

The Type-S Alpines are awesome too.

Has anybody heard good things about boston acoustic? They seem like quality speakers, whats the word on 'em.

Boston Acoustic is good. I'd recommend their speakers.

OK so I'm slightly agitated now. The head unit I purchased (JVC KD-G310) says that it will not fit my vehicle on etronics.com. ??? It said it would fit just yesterday.

Um it's a headunit..it'll pretty much fit into any car. Don't worry about it.

 

[Glliw]

Thanks for the reassurance a_scobel

 

[clipse-T]

i would recommend some infinity components, they sound the best IMO. I am running an Alpine 7995 head unit w/ 2 2-way 6.5" infinity references and a sony xplod480W amp and it sounds nice..i heard pioneers speakers are the suck.

 

[DGajre777]

Ever hear of Firmware? Bios?

I think I'd know this stuff. =/. It would be too much for it to cache up probably.

Heard of Firmware, I have the most current one on my DVD burner. BIOS is basic input output system used to setup the boot selection priority and other settings prior to installing an operating system.

A home dvd player doesn't have firmware or bios, so I don't see why it would be any different on a car DVD player.

It has nothing to do with the thread, so if you want to discuss it, PM me and I'd be glad to discuss this. I think we need to find someone with a DVD player in a car and have him/her burn MP3s on a DVD+R or DVD-R disc and try it. Let us keep it out of this so a moderator doesn't get mad and lock this.

 

[DGajre777]

I have Alpine Type S 6x9s and Type S 6 1/2 components. I like them. Costed me $200 total from Ebay.

 

[fr33b1rth]

remember, get the same brand and series speakers for both the front and rear. it will help it sound balanced.

oh, and i have a feeling that you will regret the cd player that you got. the display is horrible, especially with mp3's. it's hard to make letters with the display setup that JVC chose.

 

[jesspr1997]

When doing this if you want to try to save some money, find out the exact set up you want to use then go to like yahoo or google put the speaker you want to use in and find it at quite a few different stores possibly cheaper than whever you have previously found it then you will go to www.sounddomain.com and use there price match garuntee and then in a couple days you will know if they accept it or not. By doing this you can save money and get a warranty from someone who will for sure stand behind it. I used this when i bought my sub and amp. Got a Kick l7 10 for 150 dollars with sounddomains full warranty.
Just a though
good luck with it
Jesse

 

[snyper1982]

Never look at the Max wattage. It is a completely useless number. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS look at the RMS. Your 6x9's will work off deck power, but I am sure they can handle more than that. Depending on they're efficency, your fronts might over power them. Kenwood makes decent decks, had some problems with mine. Eclipse, Alpine, and Pioneer all make awesome decks. Especialy the 8xxx series for eclipse. Stay away from anything pyramid, pyle, legacy. They are flea-market brands. Jl makes great subs, so does Image Dynamics as well as Adire audio. They are all way out of your budget though. Eclipse also makes good subs.

Just as a side note, car DVD players, as well as cd players most certainly DO have firmwares.

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

STAY AWAY FROM PYRAMIDS, stay away from Sony.

Alpine or Eclipse decks depending on which one have 5-8 volt pre-outs which you will want later down the line. Also they are quality decks and will not break on you.

For speakers I would not suggest Alpine Type-S unless your amping them, I would suggest the pioneer 6x9s. If you are amping, then go alpine. Eclipse makes good subs also, their tianium series is good too.

400-600 system

Eclipse CD3000 deck
Pioneer 6x9
Pioneer 6.5

Youll have a very decent sounding system.... If you wanna go higher quality SPL and more bass without subs

Eclipse CD5000 deck
Alpine Type-S 6x9
Alpine Type R 6.5 components
Small MTX 4-channel amp

Remember if your running an amp go with highquality twisted RCAs and also go with at least 4-gauge power and ground wire, wiring does a lot more than people think it does...

 

[snyper1982]

Yeah it certainly does, it takes a huge hit out of your wallet if you buy the expensive stuff... that is about the only difference I can think of. Snake oil at its finest.

 

[DGajre777]

For speakers I would not suggest Alpine Type-S unless your amping them, I would suggest the pioneer 6x9s. If you are amping, then go alpine. Eclipse makes good subs also, their tianium series is good too.

Why? Alpine Type S are one of the few speakers with high sensitivity. I think you are talking about Type R, not Type S.

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

Why? Alpine Type S are one of the few speakers with high sensitivity. I think you are talking about Type R, not Type S.

PErsonally I have both used the alpine Type-S and the Pioneer 6x9s and on the same deck without amping them and the alpines just do not hit as hard, although not as good quality sound as the alpines. I have Alpine Type-S in the rear now as 6x9s amped along with type-R components in the front amped, and they hit hard as shit for speakers.

I did this from personal experience, I have learned working in an install bay for Circuit City that specs REALLY DO NOT MATTER. Companies do it at different voltage readings, different testing facilities....shit like that. I only go by what I hear and personally experience. And ive installed plenty of shittyt systems with sony and JEnsen and removed pyramid systems. Then ive installed JBL, Alpine, Pioneers, eclipse, infinity Kappa (those are pretty decent too, but way expesnive)...and this list goes on.

 

[a_scobel]

PErsonally I have both used the alpine Type-S and the Pioneer 6x9s and on the same deck without amping them and the alpines just do not hit as hard, although not as good quality sound as the alpines. I have Alpine Type-S in the rear now as 6x9s amped along with type-R components in the front amped, and they hit hard as shit for speakers.

I did this from personal experience, I have learned working in an install bay for Circuit City that specs REALLY DO NOT MATTER. Companies do it at different voltage readings, different testing facilities....shit like that. I only go by what I hear and personally experience. And ive installed plenty of shittyt systems with sony and JEnsen and removed pyramid systems. Then ive installed JBL, Alpine, Pioneers, eclipse, infinity Kappa (those are pretty decent too, but way expesnive)...and this list goes on.

Ok so you're talking about the speakers hitting hard? It's all about preference. I'd rather have a good quality sound coming out of the speaker over volume or 'hitting hard' any day. My Type-S's are hooked up to my stock Infinity amp & the quality is very nice.

 

[sk8shorty01]

but you can also have quality and hit hard... my friend has a 2000 s10 which has airbags and placed at many shows around the state, he has 2 zenith 12's and he beats out just about everyone in the SPL contests... he hit a 154.4db... for just 2 12's thats good.. he also has the audiobahn flame series amp, think its the 2400 watt... what ever the big one is

 

[DGajre777]

Ok so you're talking about the speakers hitting hard? It's all about preference. I'd rather have a good quality sound coming out of the speaker over volume or 'hitting hard' any day. My Type-S's are hooked up to my stock Infinity amp & the quality is very nice.

I agree. I have Type S speakers for mids and highs with high pass crossovers. I have subs for the hard hitting bass.