Building my first ever car audio system. Needs help and advice

[jarkz]

hey guys would really appreciate any tips and pointers in the right direction for a sound system... im looking at spending 2-3k including instalation and wiring. I don't know much about the technical side of requirements as in amps and so forth but am really keen on my music and having a nice system that will perform better then average. I'll post what components i have had in mind soon after i get some feedback... thanks

[Crossy_014]

waiting for holdenboy......

[VZ-Rob]

while we are waitin' for HB's input .......
you can get started on the non-technical stuff .....
Dynamat??

[2LOUD2OLD]

first off it will help if you provide some further info

what do you want out of your system, quality or loud? this will greatly affect the choice of gear
next are you planning on installing yourself or paying for it?

as a basic guide for a sound quality system i would break your budget up as such:

HU - $500
front splits - $800
2channel amp for speakers - $500
sub - $300
monoblock for sub - $400
install - $500
Total = $3000

dont even think about rear speakers they are a waste of money, you want to spend the most amount of money on your front speakers as that is what has the greatest effect on the sound
get a single good 12" sub in the right box
the sub stage is th eleast important as it plays the least amount of the audio spectrum, generally 20 - 80Hz

my breakdown would certainly be different however if you were going for an SPL (loud) system, with most of the budget going to the sub stage.
Get as much power ain your amps as you can, so long as the amps are of good quality
dont be afradi to buy 2nd hand you can often get much better gear for your money so long as you know what you are looking for

and as mentioned sound deadening is a must, but also be sure to seal the service holes in your doors. this is an easy DIY job, I would never pay someone to deaden and seal more doors, it is dead simple

cheers

[jarkz]

thanks 2loud2old.. well i hadnt chosen to go with either quality over loud or vise versa because of the music i listen to, which includes hardstlyes i need a system that will give clarity as well as a decent noise so i guess i'd be going half way if that makes sense...
I had planned to get it installed proffessionally to get the max potential of the system...
i have recently been offered type x alpine splits plus a 4 channel amp for just over 1100 still tossing and turning over whether or not i want to get these down from queensland to melb...
as for the headhunit i would never had looked at spending 500 on it, many of my mates advised that the headunit is not very important at all. i was looking at around a type r alpine system, or something on parr, if it came within budget...

sub - type R; within ported box i was looking at $500
headunit - was thinking $200 about?
monoblock amp - had been advised to look up jaycar electronics for their "award winning" amps $300-500
Splits - Type R or type x alpine, type r which is a level below type x would set me back around 300-500 or the type x's which situate around $900
4 channel amp - 800
or the 4 chanel amp and type x splits from ql for $1100 saving around $500
installation - $500

i havent fine tuned costs for components yet thought i'd see what you guys had to say as i really want to make the most of the money i spend...
as for deadnening and sealing yer i helped a friend recently do his and its very straight forward. thanks heaps mate

[2LOUD2OLD]

a good source is very important, plus when you get into the $500 bracket you can start getting HU with more tuning features such as time alignment, parametric eq, active crossovers, etc.
personally i would steer clear of alpine splits and amps, there is much better value for money out there
there are more car audio brands than just alpine, pioneer, kenwood and sony

for HU look into alpine, eclipse, clarion
for speakers look into DLS, Crescendo, Rainbow, Focal, Hertz, Diamond Audio, Morel, Boston.... to name a few
amps look into DLS, Audiosystem, Digital Design, SPL dynamics, Diamond Audio.....

i could go on and on, but at the end of the day what sounds good might not quite suit your tastes. i do however suggest that you listen to a range of different brands to find what suits you best, and to certainly listen outside of the mainstream brands

cheers

[Joe Bellissimo]

2-3k? I could put together an AMAZING sounding system for that amount of money.

Check out my site: Shopping Secure - Car Audio Specialists

If you want to get the most value for your money then I'm definitely the person to speak to. I deal with European audio gear which is a massive step up in quality and value when compared to most of the mainstream products which come out of Asia.

I'm going to send you a PM as well mate.

[dynoryder]

hay joe can you get me a amp that has about 5000wrms x1 mono at 1ohm and if you can how much

[Joe Bellissimo]

I'll send you a PM, do you have MSN?

[dynoryder]

dynoryder@live.com.au

[holdenboy]

waiting for holdenboy......

LOL, i think 2LOUD2OLD has it covered here

Although $500 for install? i assume including wiring and a box for the sub? man im charging too much

[shiftySLE]

that and no rears??, its going to be a bassy trip for whoever is in the back seat.

[sweefu]

bah passengers dont matter

[holdenboy]

Exactly, the stock rears running off the head-unit is more than enough....most systems i do are the same, then i fade the h/u to the front to see what it sounds like and most customers leave it like that

[Joe Bellissimo]

My passengers can hear my fronts... and I haven't even installed the loud ones yet...

[jarkz]

haha im not "legally" allowed to have rear seat passengers (more then 1 passenger for red p's) so yer :P... thanks for your help guys!

[Joe Bellissimo]

LOL I remember when I was on my red plates I put on green plates during double demerits and drove to the city with a car full of people. This was after my mate got busted by the cops and lost his licence on the SAME NIGHT.

Thank god I'm smarter now :P

[2LOUD2OLD]

LOL, i think 2LOUD2OLD has it covered here

Although $500 for install? i assume including wiring and a box for the sub? man im charging too much

ha ha maybe $500 isnt enough, i havent paid for an install in a long time

[holdenboy]

True, i would think including a box and wiring probably $700 is a good "ballpark" figure anyway.

[Tasmaniak]

Hey Jarkz, the guys have made some good recommendations, I'm going to throw some more "conventional" set-ups to you. It's a basic list of of some recent installs that spring to mind

VY SS

Car CD player with Bluetooth® wireless technology and dual USB - DEH-P8100BT :: Pioneer Australia

5 Channel amp Polk Audio
Polk Audio - PA Series Amplifiers Overview & Models

Infiniti splits in the front and 2ways in the rear doors.
Infinity - Car Audio
Infinity - Car Audio

Clarion SW1251 12" Subwoofers. One Pair.
Clarion Australia | SW1251

All up, fitted with a custom sealed enclosure, 2ga powercable some sound deadening the final price was $3,000

03 Mitsubishi Evolution - Customer was pretty set on a one name system, she chose Kenwood. She understood that going with one brand does not mean it will sound better....

Double Din headunit...
Kenwood - DDX5034

Front splits and rear co-axials
Kenwood - KFC-S702P
Kenwood - KFC-S1682

Amplifiers
Kenwood - KAC-8104D
Kenwood - KAC-8404

Subwoofers a pair.
Kenwood - KFC-W3012

This was fitted for around 2600 from memory.

A low cost Clarion system... into a VT wagon

Headunit - Clarions new mechless deck
Clarion Australia | FZ409A

Splits front co-axials rear
Clarion Australia | SRP1620M
Clarion Australia | SRQ1630R

Amplifiers
Clarion Australia | APX1301
Clarion Australia | APX4241

Subwoofer with a 2ohm coil
Clarion Australia | SRW1251

$2100 fitted

Plenty of other options out there bro.