Noob audio questions

[Gaming Warrior]

I plan to get a Alpine IDA-X200 head deck some time in the next few weeks to replace my stock VX head deck but want to make sure i'm not going to have any major issue

1. This is a single din unit wheile the VX is double din is there some kind of space filler i can pick up from super cheap(or like store)?

2. This unit has "3 PreOut(one for sub)" is this good, bad or in different(will i need any major rewiring to suit this)?

3. This unit has a usb port at the back and comes with a usb extension cable, would it be hard to feed the wire into the glove box?

4. Is installing a head deck basic or should i look at forking out the cash to have someone else install it(I'll talk to a mate that may be able to help me in this area)?

5. Is there any reason why this head deck may not be the best choice(keep in mind that all my music is on my ipod and at this point have no need for a cd player, thou if in the future i do i can always go for a cd stacker)?

[StoneX]

1. Yes, you can buy a single DIN pocket from Autobarn and most places like that. Because single SIN is a standard, you can pretty much buy a pocket from and brand of car too... I've heard of many people buying a Mazda pocket because it looks better than the others.

2. 3 preouts means it has 3 sets of RCA's. A set is a pair, so left and right. It will have front, rear and sub pairs to allow you to connect amplifiers. But you don't need to use them if youre not using external amps.

3. Nope, easy to feed the wire into the glove box. Just look for the instructions on how to dismantle the dash and the glove box area is the first area it explains how to pull apart.

4. If you've never installed before, it might be best to pay a pro or ask a friend who has done it before, SUCCESSFULLY! Don't ask a friend who thinks he knows what he's doing because that usually ends up in a blown head unit.

5. Can't comment on head unit choice

[Gaming Warrior]

Thanks for the help.

[Gaming Warrior]

Don't see the point of starting a new thread as title is still appropriate so i'll just ask a couple of more questions here.

I went over to a car audio place today to find out a little more info and have come back to you with a question.

As stated before the original head deck I'm looking at as 3 preouts, i have now come a across a very similar head deck(model below) which is a lot cheaper and the only main difference is that it only has 1 preout. The guy at the audio place basically said that if i plan to get an amp and subs then I'm better off with the more expensive one, but if i only plan to change the head deck and speakers the cheaper one will do the job fine. can you guys please elaborate on this a little more.

[StoneX]

I'm not sure how much detail you want, so i'll give some basics.
The preouts are RCA outputs (like your home DVD player would have) which are used to connect RCA leads from the head unit to any external amplifiers you might have.
Do you plan to run amplifiers? For the speakers? For a sub?

[Gaming Warrior]

I may get a sub in the future, but i really couldn't care much for a sub for my speakers.
Basically what I'm after is what will only having 1 preout limit me to(or add extra cost to) if i wish to upgrade at some point in time.

[the_duke]

Just keep in mind that the IXA head units are solely for ipods (or alike) and radio function. No cd player. A cd changer will have to be bought separately.

And like StoneX said,

Lets get some more information out of you.

Head unit: What you looking at models please?
Front speakers: What you looking at? or stock
Rear speakers: What you looking at? or stock once again

Okay a budget? and any brands you don't like for what ever reasons.

If you are on a tight budget, get the IDA, X200 or equivalent models. (try not to got for a head unit with less than 3 Pre outs, even if your not planning on up grading your system keep your options open.) Get a nice set of 2 way splits (component speakers) I would recommend alpine type R 6.5 inch splits. As being one of the best great bang for your buck splits available.

You want to always be able to upgrade your system, Eg installing amps, subs and more speakers. To do this it all begins with how many pre outs are available on the head unit!

You should get a head unit with 3 pre outs, the 3 pre outs are.

• Fronts: to run rca cables in Left and Right channels to an amp to run your front speaker
• Rears: Same as above but for rears
• Sub: To run a mono channel designated for subs.

Once again if you can give us your budget and what you are planning on installing we can give you a much better response?

as for installing your self, Whats state and where are you located?

Thanks mate

[Gaming Warrior]

Ok, i have a very tight budget which is why i am now looking at the x300(only 1 preout) over the x200 which has the 3. As for speakers it really depends, at the moment I'm not really that happy with the sound quality i get past a curtain volume. if this is the same deal after i get the new head deck(which I'm guessing it will be) i will then look at getting new speakers. Just to clear my budget I'm still at school and only work one day a week(~$85/w) this is why I'm only able to upgrade one thing at a time.

This is my plan at this point of time.
1st goes in the new head deck(IDA-X300 at this point)
2nd new speakers if i feel they are needed
3rd I will likely put in a cd stacker if i start to miss having a cd player.
After this I'm unsure where i will go, i may be happy at this point and stop now or i may choose to add a sub for the extra base.

So i guess the main question here is can i run a Sub of a head deck with only 1 preout?

[the_duke]

yes but its not prefured.

I would recommend at this stage for going with something like CDE-9882Ri It has 3 preouts, 50Watt X 4 (unlike the IDA 200 & 300) and has got cd player (added bonus). Its RRP is 349 off the website. I would say that is a done deal.

First of all
get headunit,then front speakers. (dont gear rears, waste of money.) install a 4 channel amp that you can run your fronts off and a sub (with channel 3 + 4 bridged
for sub) an amp like Alpines MRV-f545. an oldie but an Awesome amp. Check regularly on ebay.

As they pop up regularly, i got mine from Cash converters. be looking at around 350 for a used MRV-F545

Thanks

[Gaming Warrior]

ok duke you have convinced me to hold out two weeks and get the CDE-9882Ri, now i just need to find a mate to fit it for me
Thanks for the help guys

[the_duke]

what suburb are you in mate. im happy to do it if in vic.

Thanks

[Gaming Warrior]

I'm in ACT, but thanks for offering.

[Gaming Warrior]

Just thought i would update this with my results
Took some time but i got the CDE-9882Ri, my mate is good friends with the guy that runs an audio place here and got me a small discount on the head deck and the install done for a six pack
Very happy so far, I'm noticing better sound quality from just replacing the head deck, can't wait to build up the piggy bank so i can get a sub

[mcnmn]

hi,
ive got a head unit with only one pre out, and ive just bought a 4chanel amp which i plan to run a sub and my front 2 speakers off with the back speakers running off the head unit.
any ideas how to set this up???

[joshtaylor87]

Would have been a lot better if you had a h/u with 3 preouts but since you only have one the best way would be to get a RCA Y Splitter (which plugs into you single set of preouts and splits them into 2 preouts) you can now use these 1 of the 2 preouts to feed the signal to the 1st 2 channels on the amp for the front speakers and the 2nd set of preouts to feed the signal to the 3rd and 4th channels of the amp to run the sub. (you would bridge these 2 channels to give you a single channel for the sub) Then you can just run the rear speakers off the rear speaker level outputs from the h/u.

[Byte]

I assume the USB is 2.0 - correct?

I thnk I have just changed my mind as well - from the ida-200 to the CDE-9882Ri.

Thank you for the thread guys.

Byte

[Vg-ute-mad]

hi,
ive got a head unit with only one pre out, and ive just bought a 4chanel amp which i plan to run a sub and my front 2 speakers off with the back speakers running off the head unit.
any ideas how to set this up???

I would run the speakers off of the head unit, and the sub off of the pre-out to use the LPF for better bass.

[StoneX]

You're 11 months late there, VG Ute

Byte bumped an old thread.

[Vg-ute-mad]

You're 11 months late there, VG Ute

Byte bumped an old thread.

I've been had. LOL

Nah, late night and not enough coffee.