looking for advice on setting up a sound system..

[xCalliba]

hey all.. just wanting to setup a nice sound system for my VT (wont be using any existing stuff, speakers etc)
basically what im after..
i like a bit of bass but not so much as it will blow my boot lid off, just enough to make the music sound sweet. i make a lot of long drives during the weekend by myself, usually got the window down.. so id like a system good enough to be able to crank it up and hear over the wind rushing by, and still have that 'crisp' sound (basically so much that it can make my ears bleed lol). as im sure most of u are aware with the VT, i have provisions for 4 door speakers (i THINK they are 6"), and 2 parcel shelf speakers (which have never existed).

2 questions, because im not after huge bass, can i get good enough speakers to supply nice bass without the sub? saving my boot space from an invading sub will be good.. and should i make use of the 4 door speakers, or just use the front 2?

any ideas on good brands would help also. ive had kenwood (which i didnt like so much) and pioneer (which seemed pretty good)

hoping to set a budget of under $1,500. though if i have to go over, i guess ill just 'forget' to tell the missus lol

cheers guys!

[Grantcore]

If your going for a nice system you can go

splits front (300-400)
good quality 6x9's (250-350)
a 4 Chanel amp (500)
will give decent bass from 6x9's but you won't get booming sub drops
and just get a decent 2rca head unit,
if you spending 2k go for a sub with standard 6" rears, or none at all if it's just you, but you will need a mono for the sub

[holdenboy]

This thread should answer alot of your questions:
Planning A System On A Budget

You *could* get away with not running a sub, and use 6x9s in the parcel shelf. Then use a decent 4ch. amp to power front splits and the 6x9s. Although i dont think you'll be happy with that. So my suggestion is to go with a subwoofer. The subwoofer enclosures available on eBay that are moulded into the rear quarter panel would be ideal for you:
HOLDEN COMMODORE VT CUSTOM SUBWOOFER BOXES - eBay Subwoofers, Audio, Video, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 05-May-10 14:37:23 AEST)

[xCalliba]

ah cool thanks... call me a noob, but when you say a 'mono' for the sub what do u actually mean?

[sweefu]

A mono amp is a 1 channel amp that is used to power a sub or subs. Usually they will have a lower resistance compared to your 4 channel amps..

[HCVP]

$1500 dosen't go very far when your trying to replace every component, and still maintain some level of quality, and consistency throughout.

I'd start by replcaing your source. An upgraded source will offer an improvement even without amplification and using stock speakers.

Next i would look at adding a single decent quality sub, in a well designed enclosure, with a suitable mono block amp.

I would be leaving the stock speakers in place for the time being (or until you can afford to upgrage) and run them on a high pass filter from your new source.

That would offer a significant improvement, your speakers will be relieved of having to try and reproduce low fq's, will therefore be able to play louder and clearer, and the sub will give you that bass authority that's been missing the whole time.

Shopping Secure - Car Audio Specialists - SPL Dynamics XTR-250D2 Very good sub for the money, offers a mix of sound quality with good output.

Shopping Secure - Car Audio Specialists - Option Audio OAX801 To run the sub, 820rms@1 ohm, gives you some headroom, and Option Audio amps in my opinion are very good value for the money.

VT is double DIN Ryda Car Audio - JVC KW-XR616 Car MP3 CD USB Tuner($244.85) Front+sub pre-out's, seperate sub control,basically does everything you need at a bargain price, plus it light's up pink so your missus will like it.

Your left with $500 from your original budget, to put towards instalation, sub enclosure, wiring ect.

[VesperZ]

Hey mate I reckon to fit in your budget you should get the following:

Nice set of 6 or 6.5" splits for the front doors
Nice set of 6 or 6.5" coaxials for the rear doors
A Subwoofer with enclosure
A 5 channel amp to drive your 4 speakers and 1 sub
Head unit that you like
Wiring kit

I'm not going to name brands because everyone has their own opinion of what kind of sound they are after. What I suggest you do is head into JB-Hifi and have a listen to all their selection of speakers, it will give you somewhat of an idea of what kinda sound your after. Then just get them to put a package together for you and try and negotiate it down to your budget. The more you buy from them the more of a discount you can generally get.

Good Luck!

[HCVP]

Hey mate I reckon to fit in your budget you should get the following:

Nice set of 6 or 6.5" splits for the front doors
Nice set of 6 or 6.5" coaxials for the rear doors
A Subwoofer with enclosure
A 5 channel amp to drive your 4 speakers and 1 sub
Head unit that you like
Wiring kit

I'm not going to name brands because everyone has their own opinion of what kind of sound they are after. What I suggest you do is head into JB-Hifi and have a listen to all their selection of speakers, it will give you somewhat of an idea of what kinda sound your after. Then just get them to put a package together for you and try and negotiate it down to your budget. The more you buy from them the more of a discount you can generally get.

Good Luck!

Why would you want to amplify front and rear speakers, and be left with a measely amount of power to drive a sub? 5 channel amps are expensive, and are rarely used as there is little or no need to amplify rear speakers in most cases, including this one.

JB HI FI don't stock 5 channel amps either, not that i've seen anyway.

I don't reccomend going into a store like JB HI FI unless, you have already researched the components you are after, and they happen to have what you need, at the lowest price. Nearly ever case we have seen on the forum here, people have wound up with the wrong selection of components due to an inexperienced staff member.

[xCalliba]

$1500 dosen't go very far when your trying to replace every component, and still maintain some level of quality, and consistency throughout.
VT is double DIN Ryda Car Audio - JVC KW-XR616 Car MP3 CD USB Tuner($244.85) Front+sub pre-out's, seperate sub control,basically does everything you need at a bargain price, plus it light's up pink so your missus will like it.

nice head unit... too bad it lights up pink tho. plus my missus aint a girly girl so she wud hate it lol.. but sod here its my car lol

so it seems general consensus i should get a sub, powered by a mono channel amp. oh and i should have clarified the reason i wont be using my speakers, they are trucked. 2 of them rattle, 1 has a hole in the cone, and one just doesn't work. thanks for the options tho! gives my research some direction

[VesperZ]

Why would you want to amplify front and rear speakers, and be left with a measely amount of power to drive a sub? 5 channel amps are expensive, and are rarely used as there is little or no need to amplify rear speakers in most cases, including this one.

JB HI FI don't stock 5 channel amps either, not that i've seen anyway.

I don't reccomend going into a store like JB HI FI unless, you have already researched the components you are after, and they happen to have what you need, at the lowest price. Nearly ever case we have seen on the forum here, people have wound up with the wrong selection of components due to an inexperienced staff member.

Why wouldn't you want to amplify all your speakers. If you power speakers from your head unit your not getting the full potential out of the speaker, so why bother buying a good set of speakers if your not going to use it to it's full potential? The speakers are only as good as the source. If you read what the OP posted then you don't need massive amounts of sub power. 5 channel amp will put out more than adequate amount of power. Why did I suggest a 5 channel amp? Well 2 reasons mainly, one being it's much easier to install than 2 amps and you only need a wiring kit for 1 amp. Last time I checked JB does stock 5 channel amps, however that could vary from area to area. I'm simply posting my opinion to the OP, doesn't necessarily have to follow it. I also agree you have to research, hence why there is a selection of speakers on a wall at JB to listen to.

[HCVP]

Hold3n-

You are right, without an amp, you won't get the full potential out of a good set of speakers. So, i didn't reccomend he upgrade them, instead to keep them stock

But in saying that, if you want to get the most out of any upgrade, then you have to look at things a little more closely. An aftermarket head unit, would allow you to get the most out of your current stock speakers, whilst a low ouput 5 channel amp, would only provide a small amount of increase to a higher quality set of speakers.

Giving a single amp the sole task of powering both front and rear speakers and a sub, is a big task. Yes it will do it, but in most cases, not cleanly, nor effeciently, and this comes down mainly to the size of the vehivle. The size of the vehicle plays a huge part in what components will work better than others when fitted. Due to it being such a large car, getting clean and clear bass response, can be a difficult task. Fitting a cheaper , and lower powered sub, could almost be seen as not so much as a waste of money, but a poor choice in component selection as far as value for your money is concerned.

With my above suggestion (this was before the new info about his current stock speakers) he is only a front amp and speaker addition away, from a complete quality setup, as aposed to a full blown re-fit out of all components, at a later date, long after his initilal budget of $1500 has been spent.

BTW, i'm not having a go at you, so please don't get the wrong idea. I've myself learnt the hard way by replacing component, after component, because they were either inadequete, or unsuitable, for my listening needs or preferences. I just like to try and help people in the right direction, so they don't make the same mistakes themselves.I'm sure many will agree.