car audio advice, Q you still around?

[FreakBaller12]

I finally got my car as you can see in my other thread. I am now looking for a good sounding cheap sound system. I have a 2002 eclipse. The car's head unit is good enough for now because it is made by infinity. I was looking at this:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=121893&catOid=-13093&c=1&cm_re=sub%20marquee-_-Bazooka%20150W%20amp%20and%20dual%2010

Any other websites/advice/concerns?

I am looking at spending around 300-500 for an amp and some subs/speakers.

[-Tab]

I spent $300 on a 2 ten inch Rockford Fosgate sub and amp combo with enclosed box. The quality to price ratio is amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better sounding system for that price.

[Army]

If you want "boom", you'll need more than 150 watts.

Go to Crutchfield.com, and do a search on what fits YOUR car. Don't settle for anything less than 400 watts.

4ohm subs, with at least 400 watt capable. When you crossover and bridge the amp, you'll get nearly all the amp power to the boxes.

I only suggest Crutchfield, because the site lets you set up for your car, and gives you good ideas on componants. Although, I have had great service and purchases from the Crutch, it's more up to your wallet.

[Miscue]

I finally got my car as you can see in my other thread. I am now looking for a good sounding cheap sound system. I have a 2002 eclipse. The car's head unit is good enough for now because it is made by infinity. I was looking at this:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=121893&catOid=-13093&c=1&cm_re=sub%20marquee-_-Bazooka%20150W%20amp%20and%20dual%2010

Any other websites/advice/concerns?

I am looking at spending around 300-500 for an amp and some subs/speakers.

It's crap.

Well, your idea of cheap might be different from mine. I spent $300 just on sound dampening. $200+ on power distribution...

With that kind of budget, you'll probably want to go with getting a powered enclosed single sub... but don't expect much. I personally think it's retarded to buy a sub before updating your stock fronts w/amp... Also, get the idea of "dual subs" out of your head.

An Infinity HU? Hurm.

My suggestion is: Spend a few weeks learning car audio well... before you buy anything. Otherwise you're going to waste money and/or end up with a pile of crap.

[FreakBaller12]

Yea I was thinking I was going to learn everything and go from there, much like I did when I built my computer and that turned out well.
Are there any forums that would help propel my learning?

[oneworld]

i had 2 15' rockford fosgate subs. with a 650 watt mtx amp. (i think it was 650 :S)


but it was amazing! it would bump your seat forward.. but it isnt a cheap set up.

[FreakBaller12]

Much like I did with my computer, I' want to show you a list and then hope to recieve some feedback
edit: durr I just noticed sub box and subs won't fit, I'll change that

[Miscue]

Sony amps suck. Don't get dual subs unless you're going to dump over a grand on your amps/subs... otherwise you're just getting it for show. A single competition sub will destroy a mediocre dual sub setup.

I personally would not even bother with a sub before putting about $500+ or so into your front stage. Most of your music does NOT come from your subs! So why start there?

[nippinout]

Most of your music does NOT come from your subs! So why start here?

Because bumping the beats is where it's at!

Peronally, I'm all about 'Pop Goes the Weasel' blasting from my car during the summer.

[FreakBaller12]

Sony amps suck. Don't get dual subs unless you're going to dump over a grand on your amps/subs... otherwise you're just getting it for show. A single competition sub will destroy a mediocre dual sub setup.

I personally would not even bother with a sub before putting about $500+ or so into your front stage. Most of your music does NOT come from your subs! So why start there?

so you're saying replacing the stock speakers before adding subs. I think I have 2 door speakers and 2 back seat ones. I'll just change them with midrange speakers.

edit:Those kickers look alright then?

amp:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-GLmdyOT...20&I=037A8002T

[FreakBaller12]

here's my updated list, no subs, I'll get them later I think
As far as installation goes, Is it feasable to do this by myself or with some help from my dad?
Here's what I have picked out:
Profile AP700M 220w X1 amp-130
Sony CDX GT200 Hu-130
Visonik VBP10 Single 10" bandpass woofer-90
1 Kenwood KFC 6959ie 6X9 2 way speakers(rear)-80
1 Kicker 05KS60 6-1/2' 2 way speakers(front)-60
Totalled at 460 right now
Look better?

[Miscue]

here's my updated list, no subs, I'll get them later I think
As far as installation goes, Is it feasable to do this by myself or with some help from my dad?
Here's what I have picked out:
Profile AP700M 220w X1 amp-130
Sony CDX GT200 Hu-130
Visonik VBP10 Single 10" bandpass woofer-90
1 Kenwood KFC 6959ie 6X9 2 way speakers(rear)-80
1 Kicker 05KS60 6-1/2' 2 way speakers(front)-60
Totalled at 460 right now
Look better?

Don't get a Sony HU. Pioneer Premiere or Alpine would be good... as well as some others Don't get their low-end ones... and make sure it has 3-preouts.

Focus on these things: Power/speaker cabling. good 2 or 4 channel amp, 6.5" components, HU. Cabling will be about $70-120. Your amp... $200+. Components... $250+. HU $200+. Misc... $50. I personally consider this a budget system...

What's good? Well, for starters... if you can find it at Best Buy or Circuit City... it's probably not very good. The better brands are probably stuff you have never heard of before.

Don't worry about your rears, sub, or mono amp for the sub until you get some more money. I would not get a sub until you have about $100 for your stiffening cap, $150 for an enclosure, $250-350+ for your sub, and $200-350+ for your mono class-D amp... plus the additional power cabling and stuff.

How hard is it? Well... the tough part is the cabling. You need to run a cable from your battery, through the firewall, to your amp. Also need to run speaker wires to your doors. You have to figure out how and where you'll mount your tweeters, ideally close to your mid-range drivers. My might have to drill holes and/or cut things.

Head units are not 'too' difficult... probably one of the easier things to install. Just have to follow a wiring diagram and maybe some soldering for your wiring harness, depending on what you want to do.

I actually might not be a very good person to talk to about car audio... I can think of a lot of ways to spend money that you might not have come up with otherwise.

[FreakBaller12]

One last post from me about this and then I'll be done.
I joined over at CAF and this one g uy helped me a ton and here's what we picked out, curious to see what you think Q.
Buy this comp kit:

http://www.cadencestore.com/ProductCart/pc/caraudio_detail.asp?idcategory=70&idproduct=194

this to power the comp kit:

http://ikesound.com/product-product_id/2448

this sub:

http://ikesound.com/product-product_id/3158

this amp for the sub

http://ikesound.com/product-product_id/2119

I'll be researching more and building my own sub enclosure.
buy a HU at circuit city or best buy, with 2 preouts for $100 or less
amp kit:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MASSIVE-2000-WAT...QQcmdZViewItem

That's my budget now, 550 shipped.

[Miscue]

One last post from me about this and then I'll be done.
I joined over at CAF and this one g uy helped me a ton and here's what we picked out, curious to see what you think Q.
Buy this comp kit:

http://www.cadencestore.com/ProductCart/pc/caraudio_detail.asp?idcategory=70&idproduct=194

this to power the comp kit:

http://ikesound.com/product-product_id/2448

this sub:

http://ikesound.com/product-product_id/3158

this amp for the sub

http://ikesound.com/product-product_id/2119

I'll be researching more and building my own sub enclosure.
buy a HU at circuit city or best buy, with 2 preouts for $100 or less
amp kit:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MASSIVE-2000-WAT...QQcmdZViewItem

That's my budget now, 550 shipped.

MUCH better. However... research car audio equipment to death for a couple more weeks at least before you buy anything... and add a couple more weeks on top of that to learn EXACTLY how to do installs so that there are no surprises and no money wasted. Believe me... if you do this, the stuff you want to buy now may be completely different from what you want to get 2+ weeks from now after you do quite a bit of research.

Be patient. Do it right the first time.

Build your own enclosure? It's deceptively simple. In fact, you probably will not be able to do it correctly yourself. It's not just a matter of putting together a wooden box... and if you don't have the right cutting tools...

Get a good, pre-fabricated enclosure.

Eh... get 3-preouts.

[FreakBaller12]

MUCH better. However... research car audio equipment to death for a couple more weeks at least before you buy anything... and add a couple more weeks on top of that to learn EXACTLY how to do installs so that there are no surprises and no money wasted. Believe me... if you do this, the stuff you want to buy now may be completely different from what you want to get 2+ weeks from now after you do quite a bit of research.

Be patient. Do it right the first time.

Build your own enclosure? It's deceptively simple. In fact, you probably will not be able to do it correctly yourself. It's not just a matter of putting together a wooden box... and if you don't have the right cutting tools...

Get a good, pre-fabricated enclosure.

Eh... get 3-preouts.

3 preouts just for fun? Trust me I'll be reading up on everything non stop, Not gonna buy the kit until the end of january, I got tons of reading ahead of me