[HELP] Nice sounding System on a Budget

[Juztin]

Hey guys I general look over the forums but I rarely post, but doesn't mean you should ignore me hahaha

Anyways

Just got a Holden VT for Birthday and I have a bit of cash left to spend on Mods, First off I thought a Sound system as it seems to be what most people do in this day and age.
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Just say my budget was roughly $1,000 - $1,500 even less if possible I know the quality depends on the price range but if it can sound good and cost less Bonus

Am I correct in saying I'd need

A Head Unit
A Woofer
An Amp
*Front and Back Speakers

*But with the speakers I'm lost on as my mate has back speakers and thats it.

But browsing through the forums I found that front ones should have priority or something along those lines
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Best brand names?
Pioneer
Xplode
JVC

Any possible direction on what ones to get?
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And if anyone could maybe put up what they got for around my price range would be sweet as.

Cheers guys

Expect to see me around a bit more

[Ozzie]

why 2 threads? :S

[Ozzie]

shop arround for the best deals.

strathfield car sound are good to bargain with.

I got my sub, box n amp (600w 4ch rockstarfosqate amp, 1000w 12" xplod sub and the smallest box that would fit it..)
for 149.00 all up from strathfield.

my head unit, rear 380w panasonic 6x9's and frount 6" clarions were bought from autobarn on sale. cost me 130 for the unit (worth 239) and 60 for the speakers.

[holdenboy]

For that sort of budget you would be looking at:

Headunit - $200 (Kenwood, Pioneer, Alpine etc)
Front Speakers - $300 (Alpine Type Rs, Maybe Boston / MB Quart)
Rear Speakers - $50 (Whatever, dosent matter really)
Subwoofer + Box - $200 (Any number of well known brands)
Amplifier - $300 (4ch. front outputs to front speakers, rear bridged to subwoofer, something like the Response AA-0426 will suit you nicely)

Thats around $1000 not including installation or wiring, which im sure if you bought all the components from the same store you would get a good deal on installation and wiring.

You'll probably notice ive put more $$$ into the front stage and amplifier, this is because the fronts are what you'll be hearing, and your front seat passenger. Also the amplifier which is basically the lifeblood of your system (more so in this case) so you dont wanna skimp on that. Basically the headunit dosent have to be that flash, something with sub preouts and level control would be ideal, unless you have any special requirements (ipod / usb etc). Rears you could leave as stock if you wanted to, but an upgrade to a set of half-decent 2 way 6"s would be the furthest i would go there.

Either way, thses days $1000-$1500 will get you a very good system, and i wouldnt be going with brands that arent well known and respected.

[Juztin]

why 2 threads? :S

Computer lagged up at that moment lol

Cheers Holdenboy much appreciated

[bezz]

Id go with holden boy's break down except leave the rears stock and spend the extra 50 on the fronts, or on wiring if you havent factored that in.

Also, I'd recommend looking for a second hand amp or head unit, even if you get last year's models you can save heaps. Plenty of Jaycar 4x100s pop up all the time around $150.

[Juztin]

Yeah cheers mate.

[holdenboy]

Yep the only reason why i suggest brand new gear is warranty....if you had only $600 or so to spend i would say go second hand to get the best brands for your dollar, but you do take a risk with that.

Yeah if you can pick up last years model of whatever component you need thats ideal.

[Juztin]

Yeah thanks for that mate.

I'll put up another post when I narrow the parts down and see what ya's think about it.

[holdenboy]

yeah thats a good idea....and put up the prices too

[50LTRv8]

On that sort of budget jaycar is a good option. I spent roughly that amount on mine and it came up sweet

4 * 100W RMS amp 300 (this is a good value amp)
6.5inch Response splits 150

I would get a head unit and sub from somewhere like JB Hi-fi as well as a wiring kit (I didn't like the fuses from jaycar)

Good Luck

[Juztin]

The JB HIFI nere me is actually doing free wiring atm so bit more incentive for me to get em.

I been browsing the forums so I'm getting a pretty general idea on the way ima go.

Money issue so have to postpone =/

gotta hate that lol

[666vt]

let us know how you go mate cos im in the same boat as you... ive already got a head unit, but only looking to spend another 500 or so...

cheers in advance

[Juztin]

Yeah no worries mate will do.

[ucwepn]

Double check jb's install work i had a mate whose sub fell out of the box LOL i know not all jb's are the same but......


The Jaycar stuff is really good for the price especially their amps/subs

[Juztin]

Thanks man.

The sub fell outta the box, tsk tsk, he took it back and got it fixed yeah? =P

[666vt]

theres a jvc sub + amp combo at supercheap auto for like 300.. anyone know if they are good? sorry but i dunno any more details about it...

sub is not in a box either.

[holdenboy]

For $350 you could get a 500wrms Jaycar amp (AA-0424) and a Venom 12" subwoofer (CS-2358). Unless the JVC combo has an amp thats over 300wrms and the sub is 12" i would go that way for that sort of money.

Anyways yeah when you get the dough and then get prices get back to us, that free wiring special at JB sounds good to me, must be a catch tho....like you wouldnt get a free wiring kit with a $80 el cheapo amp i dont think...lol.

[Juztin]

Haha well

JB have a sale on headunits atm

JB Hi-Fi - Car Mp3 CD Tuners

The top one seems reasonable

Worth getting to start off my sound system?

[holdenboy]

Yeah that one seems good, but i would go into JB and have a bit of a play with it (if they'll let you) just to see if the controls / feel of it suits you.

[Juztin]

Yeah I'll probably go down tomorrow check it out, they have a set up with Subs,amps,speakers etc see what they suggest / deals etc.

Just another quick Q.

If given the question: Why spend so much money on a sound system what would your answer be.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Don't be pressured by the 'sale' at JB's. Theres always a sale on headunits at JB and if not you can talk them down to that price anyway.

[Juztin]

Yeah don't worry I'll still try and get it down some more even though tis on sale haha

No harm in trying =P

[holdenboy]

Why spend so much on a sound system?

As i spend alot of time in my car and i love quality sound, not $5 speakers running off a tape deck

Just dont buy unknown brands from JB, stick with the well-known ones (Kenwood, Pioneer, Alpine etc).

[sxc_sound]

Kenwood 6" splits
MTX 6x9"
2 X 12" subs
2 x 4ch amps
Wiring
Installed myself

All for about $700 (got everything brand new on sale)

So there are some good deals around if you look in the right places