Car Audio

[Rastaman]

I don't know anything about this, but I know the sound system in my car blows. I want some bass, not a lot though. Isn't there something easier than subwoofers and an amplifier, like a sub and an amp combined in one thing?

I don't want my car to bother other people or shake or anything. I just want some solid sound. Any suggestions?

[Moist Happenings]

Just get some decent mid-level bose speakers. They'll do what you need.

[Rastaman]

If I get that on ebay will I be able to install it? Take into consideration I'm a moron.

I don't want to have to pay some bestbuy crook to put the stuff in.

[peam]

Just check the back of your car and see what size speakers you have in there.

It should be easy enough to take those out and install the others. It's basically hooking up two wires and two screws.

[Moist Happenings]

Eh..I managed it myself. but i've done minor electrical work before.

[LazyBard]

depending on what type of speakers you buy and the quality of them even mid range and high end speakers may require a seprate amp. price range you can go as low as $30 for a set of co-axels and another $30 for a set of 6x9's for the rear which is probally what your car is running currently. Course your stock speakers are will have about the same sound output as those. You can go all the way up to something like MB Quart Pro Series 5 1/4 mids and 1 in. dome tweets but they run about $525 a set. for something middle of the road I would say go with either Pioneer 6 1/2 coaxels or three ways for your doors and Pioneer 6x9's for the rear. Depending on the output of your head unit (most now are somewhere around either 40 or 50 watts by 4 channel) you should get decent sound from them without having to run a amp. If you have a head unit that has a sub woofer channel keep your stock speakers adjust your EQ to run only mid and highs through your front end speekers and buy either 2 Pioneer IMPP 10" or JL Audio w0 10" both are good low watt speekers with decent response time that you can run off of a 50 or 100 watt amp and you can pick up speekers and box (at least around here) for about $100 to $150. amp wise with either one of those I would say pick up either Pioneer GM-X372 which runs about $120 (like $90 if you order it direct from Pioneer) or a JL Audio e1200 which runs about $150. You can do just rear end of your car for about $300 installed or do front and rear for about $600 installed (not including head unit) if you buy it from a store.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by LazyBard
::insert alot of technical crap here::

I'd suggest going to Crutchfield.com to find out what size speakers you have in your car. It will tell you the size and number of speakers for your exact Make/Model/Year. Then take that info to the closest Best Buy and maybe do some of the stuff Lazybard talked about.

I've hooked cars up before, but it was mainly just amp, subs, & head unit. Not too familiar with replacing factory speakers.

[LazyBard]

Originally posted by Wezas

Originally posted by LazyBard
::insert alot of technical crap here::

I'd suggest going to Crutchfield.com to find out what size speakers you have in your car. It will tell you the size and number of speakers for your exact Make/Model/Year. Then take that info to the closest Best Buy and maybe do some of the stuff Lazybard talked about.

I've hooked cars up before, but it was mainly just amp, subs, & head unit. Not too familiar with replacing factory speakers.


We had fun with my friend Mikes car. Ended up putting 2 Diamond 12" subs 2 Infinity Cappa Series 6 1/2" mids and 3 in. Tweets 3 Alpine V12 amps Pioneer 101 disk CD changer Pioneer 6 disk DVD changer and Kenwood in dash 4in Screen all into a Benz SLK 230 AMG

[Edited on 12-12-2003 by LazyBard]

[Souzy]

AMG?!?!!!!!!!! *faints* I'll marry him for his car, LOL. :D

Edited to stay on topic, JL's are pretty nice.

[Edited on 12-12-2003 by Lalana]

[Tsa`ah]

If your system is stock, you'll need a new receiver that comes with pre-amp outputs (RCA jacks), or suffer from even crappier sound because you'll need to sacrifice front or rear speakers for a line converter module.

You can get a fairly decent Pioneer or Kenwood CD unit for around 100 bucks. After market head units pretty much come standard with pre-amp out-puts.

It doesn't matter if don't want a separate amp or not. You will still need to run the RCA wires, power and ground to the amp. If you keep the stock receiver, you won't have to run RCA wires. Just cut the wires that run to the rear speakers and plug those into the line converter (thus killing the rear speakers).

Self-powered subs are all over. The easiest to install are tubes. In this case I recommend Southern Audio systems ... the Bazooka. For a little bass, get the 6.5" self powered. It's not a ground shaker but the sound is clean.

Honestly, go to Wal-mart and get the Pioneer boxed set for 100 bucks. It comes with the CD Head unit and the cheaper paper dual cone 6x9 and a 6.5. Provided either of those will fit your car. A crutchfield search would be best.

If you get a new head unit, installation is easy. Get a wiring adapter that is made for your car and an installation kit, get out the tools and read the instructions.

Pioneer in a box - $100
Installation components - $25
Powered 6.5 Bazooka - $90
Power distribution block, power and ground wires (you'll want no less than 12 gauge wire) - $20

$240 bucks gives you a complete system that you can easily install yourself. Throw in 30 more bucks and get the front speakers replaces (if the 6.5 won't fit in the doors).

System on a budget by Tsa`ah

[Edit]

If you replace the head unit.... DO NOT CUT THE WIRING HARNESS. That's what the wiring adaptor is for. If you cut it, you'll have a headache trying to figure out how to wire the unit in and have functioning tail lights.

[Edited on 12-12-2003 by Tsa`ah]