Inexpensive Stereo Setup ~1500

[Templisk]

It's coming down to the last few months, on my 18th birthday I'll have the credit already established to get an auto loan for a 2g AWD, and I'll have around $4,000 to drop right away on quick things like a car alarm and stereo system so I'm trying to plan in advance.

I've looked around, and it seems that Alpine is the best bang for the buck being inexpensive, so I just want to get some ideas.

I don't want to weigh the car down with a thousand subs, I want it to be stock weight (give or take a couple pounds) or less and I don't really want to modify the dash to fit 20 inch speakers in it, for $1500ish or less. Includes the headunit(something basic, cd, am/fm, mp3), speakers, amplifiers(?), I don't plan on upgrading the stereo again ever as I'll want my money to go for suspension and engine goodies.

Don't care much for bumping, or blaring my system, just going to want something a step up from stock.

So if you had $1,500 to blow what would you get, and is that a practical figure for everything or will I need a few more dollars?

Thanks guys, if I missed something I needed to be more specific on please let me know.

 

[h3o]

k this is my opinion

eclipse deck 250
alpine type R 5 1/4 components 200
alpnie type R 6x9 200
alpine v12 500w mono block amp 350
alpine type R 12" in slotted box 300

and all the wires about 80

so thats 1380 bucks and that is a really good sounding system

and later down the line id buy a 4 channel v12 amp to power the mids and highs the deck has a awesome built in eq and i doubt you would have a need for an eq

might want to invest in a crossover later for the mono block amp

and thats just with alpine stuff ( i just really love the sq of the eclipse decks)

 

[Anubis_4_99]

here's my setup

pioneer DEH-7700mp $225

MTX 500W rms amp $100 (300 retail)

2 10 inch JL audio subs $100 ea

ported box : free from a friend

infinity speakers all around 120ish

wireing $35-50

and i have nice bass, crisp sound, and i love it if wanted i can feel the bass in my chest

 

[fr33b1rth]

Audiobahn AW1006T 10" Subwoofer: $109.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=AW1006T

Audiobahn A8000T Mono Intake Series Amplifier 800W RMS: $179.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=A8000T

Single 10" Slot-ported enclosure: $29.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=H110V

Legacy 3 Farad Cap w/ install kit: $69.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=LCAKT30DBL

Audiopipe 4AWG Install Kit: $29.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=PK2100

Pioneer DEHP7700MP CD-MP3 player: $209.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=DEHP7700MP

Pheonix Gold Octane Component Set (5.25): $69.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=R50COMP

Phoenix Gold Octane 6x9 Speaker Set: $69.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=R690COAX

Audiobahn A4004T 4-Channel Amplifier: $129.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=A4004T

Audiopipe 8AWG Amplifier Installation Kit: $14.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=PK1500

Audiopipe 17' Shielded RCA Cables: $9.98 (4.99x2)
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=AMRD17

TOTAL: $927.98

Shipping shouldn't be too much, they are a real good store, prolly $125

That will give u a system that will sound good, play all your music, and be loud if/when u want it to be. Most people forget to get a cap if they are pulling over 20A, but it's a real good idea. Clean power to an amp means a clean signal. Clean signal means a great sound, plus your lights wont dim at all.

Yes, buying from this place u will not get the warrenty from the man. you'll get a 1yr from them. Yes i have used this site, and yes i have even used the warrenty. I have had 0 problems from cardiscountstereos.com and i would reccomend them to anyone in the US.

 

[HellsSephiroth]

i prefer MTX myself... i use 2-12" thunder 8500 in a sledhammer box. A thunder 9500 15" in a sledghammer, 4 rockford amps 1500 watts a piece, and a JVC Exad head unit. Ive broken 2 windshields already in my old eclipse. im kinda chicken to put them in my new one...

 

[fr33b1rth]

Ive broken 2 windshields already in my old eclipse. im kinda chicken to put them in my new one...

He didn't say that he wanted it to be loud, he said that he wanted increased low-end bass response that was clean, along with a full sounding mid and high range with a cd/mp3 player as a headunit.

That's not exactly what he said, but that's what he meant...

 

[fr33b1rth]

might want to invest in a crossover later for the mono block amp

Why when the V12 mono block amps have all the buitin filters any normal person will ever need? Subsonic, low pass, bass boost at 24db/octive. It's got all anyone not competing will need.

 

[HellsSephiroth]

oops sorry i thought he was just wonderin what to buy for a loud one

 

[LeftyRuggiero]

Audiobahn AW1006T 10" Subwoofer: $109.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=AW1006T

Audiobahn A8000T Mono Intake Series Amplifier 800W RMS: $179.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=A8000T

Single 10" Slot-ported enclosure: $29.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=H110V

Legacy 3 Farad Cap w/ install kit: $69.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=LCAKT30DBL

Audiopipe 4AWG Install Kit: $29.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=PK2100

Pioneer DEHP7700MP CD-MP3 player: $209.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=DEHP7700MP

Pheonix Gold Octane Component Set (5.25): $69.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=R50COMP

Phoenix Gold Octane 6x9 Speaker Set: $69.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=R690COAX

Audiobahn A4004T 4-Channel Amplifier: $129.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=A4004T

Audiopipe 8AWG Amplifier Installation Kit: $14.99
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=PK1500

Audiopipe 17' Shielded RCA Cables: $9.98 (4.99x2)
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=AMRD17

TOTAL: $927.98

Shipping shouldn't be too much, they are a real good store, prolly $125

That will give u a system that will sound good, play all your music, and be loud if/when u want it to be. Most people forget to get a cap if they are pulling over 20A, but it's a real good idea. Clean power to an amp means a clean signal. Clean signal means a great sound, plus your lights wont dim at all.

Yes, buying from this place u will not get the warrenty from the man. you'll get a 1yr from them. Yes i have used this site, and yes i have even used the warrenty. I have had 0 problems from cardiscountstereos.com and i would reccomend them to anyone in the US.

that seems like a lot of good info there...if i can piggyback on this post a little...ive always been interested in those audiobahn subsm but for some reason ive been leaning towards some solo barics, how good are those audiobahns? and hows that 800 watt amp?


thanks

 

[fr33b1rth]

I've used the AW1006Q in a friends car, actully a pair, and they were quite loud, hit very low, and had a decent frequency response. At a high power level they seemed a bit slow in the responce area, but if i turned down the amp it sounded a lot better.

As for the mono amp, i've only played with it at circuit city and a pawn shop. It completly pounded the hell out of an ultra excursion at circuit city, and made a AW1006T (same sub 1 year newer) sing like you wouldn't believe.

The AW1006T is a dual 4-ohm voice coil sub, so if u wire them together in paralell you will have a single 2-ohm load, which is what the amplifier is stable to.

As far as sound quality goes, those speakers are very full sounding and have a pretty good midbass responce, especially for what you pay. I have never heared that 4 channel amp, but from my experiences, they wouldn't release an amp that that is of poor quality. As long as you use good speaker wire (which i forgot to put on there) you should be fine. I'de use a twisted pair wire to reduce interference, unless you can get good shielded.

Here is the speaker wire that is pretty decent, especially for the price/ft:
http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KAR12BLS

And actully, after looking around a bit more, i'de use this amp:
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog page.asp?Product+#=DUB800D

 

[91s-10]

www.reaudio.com

 

[h3o]

Why when the V12 mono block amps have all the buitin filters any normal person will ever need? Subsonic, low pass, bass boost at 24db/octive. It's got all anyone not competing will need.

thats why i said later i have that setup i explained and i finally bought a crossover cause i couldnt control the octave levels to well with that amp, you can control a certain amount but nothing you cant compare there built in crossover to a audio control unit

 

[dsmnate]

Go Alpine!! I got all Alpine stuff for my car the other year for around $1000 not including a headunit.

The following links are to where I got my stuff... they were very easy to deal with and even replaced my components when there was a problem with no questions asked.

Online Car Stereo
Hooked on Tronics

Hope this helps,
Nate

 

[maxim240sx]

To keep things simple I'd go with a good 5 channel amp like PPI. Somewhere around 50x4 and 200x1.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4950&item=5768508366&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Also I listed this amp because you aren't gonna want to run some nice speakers off the HU, some mb quart's won't sing with 20watts of power
If your looking for some sound quality over bling go with either an eclipse HU or nakamichi. I have been through 12 HU's over the last 8yrs and I've tried every good name brand. Alpine is more of a name and status symbol now then it used to be, I think they are over rated now, IMO.
This nak will have better SQ then some $500+ alpine
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3293&item=5768080236&rd=1
This eclipse is equally nice. I have tried both and love em
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18798&item=7509726813&rd=1
Next you will want some nice components up front and some 2 ways in the back
I've had great luck with my ebay mbquart's.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32819&item=5767275965&rd=1
You could just get 2 sets for about the $240.
ANd last you need a sub. For that hatchback you could go w/ one 10" sub and be satisfied. Can't go wrong with jl audio, build your own small sealed box off thier website dimensions.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39771&item=5768695131&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
So basically you could get some really nice high end car audio for less than $1000 and still have money for window tint,alarm and some dynamat. Hope this helped.

 

[Attack Eagle]

here's a crazy idea...

take that money and use it as part of your downpayment, and get teh car first...
you want to pay as mucgh as you can (saving money ofr basic maintenance and for 2 months payments) up front as the interest will really eat at you adn prevent you from having any money for upgrades until it is paid off.

then once you have it, tell us what is already in it and we will tell you where to go from there after you have done all the basic maintenance and saved up again.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

stock infinity sound system.

if i really feel like a Bach freak, i'll actually go ahead and get some MB quart components and a 4 channel.

IMHO retarded loud bass [ however clear and hard it hits ] is unecessary.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

IMHO retarded loud bass [ however clear and hard it hits ] is unecessary.

there are some people that should not be allowed to own audio products that produce bass, but a decent amount makes the music sound alot better then without.. i can unplug/turn off my subs and practicly groan because the music sounds empty.. bass is one of those thing's that's a to each his own kind of thing

 

[n2orbit]

leave everything alone buy a orion hcca 225 hook it up to 2 dvc 10's... the car comes with a decent audio system stock if the talons get the infinity also.. i had this set up in my car right after i got it and liked it.. it hit hard but the music sounded good too....wasnt over bearing... get a 6 cd changer that'll play mp3's and your set.. but once you go in to changing stuff around u endup putting more and more in..

now i have 4 power rf dvc 10's power 1000 pushing them.. 400.4pushing mb quart q series up front and mb 6x9's in the rear and a pioneer N2 headunit..

i'm going to be gettin rid of this for one 13 w7..


just keep in mind you may ony want to spend that then a year later you wanna put your whole savings.. when i got my car i said a exhaust and a intake... yea ok