Replacing Stock Stereo

[MikeCuzzy]

Hey guys,

Stereo in my car has just about had it, and I have already put new speakers (150W) in the front because the old original ones died.

So I am thinking it may be time to upgrade the head unit and rear speakers.

Not looking for anything fancy, just want nice clear music, also no need for a subby or such because there is only so much bass in Bon Jovi and Van Halen- there will never be doof doof playing

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[acarmody]

If you only want good clear music, get a decent H/U, a good 2-channel amp, and a very good set of front door speakers. Forget rear door speakers.

How much would you be looking at spending?

[MikeCuzzy]

Oh look not too much, maybe < $200 and the fronts are decent already, any recommendations on good H/U's? Also why do you say not the back?

[PeterVX2]

Just got rid of my original head unit from a VX2 equipe, CD palyer went bezerk. Had a JVC U346 head unit installed with the original 6 speakers and the difference in sound quality is staggering.

The CD's sound is now full range, I can hear sounds that I have never heard before. Even the radio now sound good on AM. The 4 X 20 watts RMS output is more than adequate. There is really no need for an amp. Try a new head unit bt itself, if its not enough horsepower for you, then put in an amp.

It appears to me that there has been big improvements to class D amps in head units in recent years. There is far less distortion.

But if you do go for an AMP, a class AB probably still has lower distortion at listenable power levels.

[lufkin]

Also why do you say not the back?

where do you sit when driving? its called setting up a good front stage

[acarmody]

I can guarantee you won't get much for $200. A decent H/U is about $150 and most places will charge about $80 to install it. An amp will cost you about $200 plus $40 for a wiring kit, and then about $80 to install that.

Maybe go a H/U now and put an amp in later, will work fine.

[Philthy]

All you'll get for $200 is a basic headunit. The rest can wait

[MikeCuzzy]

Well there's no need for Dolby 5.1 straight away, might just start off with the H/U, see how we go.

[Mayte123]

Mate get some Alpine S type 6x9's and put them in your rear parcel shelf (if you have a sedan). they will fill you car with plenty off bass when you need it and are under 200 including the covers if you go to the right place. Then just cut the wires from your rear speaker and run cable from there to the parcel shelf (under the seat through the back) The only hard thing to do is cutting the top of the parcel shelf with a knife. That way if you get a new head unit and no amp you can just keep all the wiring to the head the same and its just plug and play and no messing around with amps. hope that helps. Took me about an hour or so to do.

[MikeCuzzy]

Alright have been looking around, what do we think about this one:

Pioneer DEH1250MPG (CT 6) MP3/WMA Car CD Tuner | Car Sound, Car CD Tuner : JB HI-FI

Ignore the whole "JB HIFI" thing, if they can't figure out the resolution of computer monitors I won't trust them with stereos. Just curious if this is a) a good h/u or b) a good price for said.

Mike.

[acarmody]

Don't rule out JB Hi-Fi so quickly, I got a lot of my gear from them. Just buy the gear and get a pro to install them. They are good for some really cheap prices, just go in and haggle they have a fair bit of leeway on prices. Also because I got real friendly with the guy at my local JB, I managed to get 4 amps at $400 each down from $800rrp, as they were a discontinued line, and also got two S12L7s for $200 ex-display.

[berad]

forget about the rubbish brands from JB and Strathfield.

If its clarity and quality you want, im running MB Quart splits and 6x9's, i was and still are VERY impressed.!



edit: Just had a look, turns out they do stock MBQ, still... i bet the idiots would sell Kenwood/Sony speakers over those, they are fairly clueless

[acarmody]

Mate the OP is looking for a H/U, Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer, have fairly good H/Us depending on the model. I myself have a Kenwood KDC-X9006U H/U and its very good.

[berad]

if its just the HU hes after, then most will do the same thing imo. personally i have a nice $230 Alpine unit, doesnt display much for song titles and artists etc, but it does have a USB port.

[acarmody]

I like most of the Alpine range of H/Us, very nice looking and quite functional. To the OP, go into as many stores as you can and find one that you like, don't leave out any place, then when you find a model you like, go back around to all the shops and see who can offer the best price.

[berad]

^ words of wisdom

[MikeCuzzy]

Thanks guys, I'll be sure to look around, and yeah I'm not going for anything super fancy I just was a decent little stereo and was hoping to get opinions from people who had already done all this.

I was thinking along the lines of Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood and Alpine so it's good to hear positive feedback.

Thanks for all the advice guys, if you can think of anything else, please add it in- looking to learn as much as possible.

[acarmody]

If you end up getting it installed at the shop you buy it, make sure the person doing the install actually works for the place and isn't a contractor. Example, JB Hi-Fi hires contractors, whereas WOW Sight and Sound have staff on the payroll, and while this is a generalization I find that the contractors don't give a shit about the quality of the work and just want the money, whereas the staff member has to represent the company name. Remember every shop is different and I know of one JB that had a very good and reputable installer.

[sxc_sound]

forget about the rubbish brands from JB and Strathfield.

If its clarity and quality you want, im running MB Quart splits and 6x9's, i was and still are VERY impressed.!



edit: Just had a look, turns out they do stock MBQ, still... i bet the idiots would sell Kenwood/Sony speakers over those, they are fairly clueless

JB only sell MB Quart now. Which is FAKE. My mate bought a set of MB Quart 12" subs, i got him to return them straight away. They are asian knock offs. MB Quarts with an S is the legit stuff

[10WVN]

H/U go the new pioneer, looks and performs and has front usb and sd card slots . . just a lil over $200 as well . . be looking at one of them soon or a decent alpine unit

[berad]

@ sxc sound

####n dead set? See that's dodgy shit, as if you would trust em.

I bought all my mbq speakers at the same place where I bought the rest of my gear, so I know it's legit.


Nice find on the rip offs though m8.

[MikeCuzzy]

Well I have always been a fan of Pioneer, maybe they are the go.

[berad]

Pioneer is fine for basic stereo componants.

[MikeCuzzy]

Pioneer is fine for basic stereo componants.

Which is all I want, just nice simple stereo.

I don't want to be like my mate, who has a subwoofer which takes up his entire boot save about 4 inches at the edge, and it's a VT. Seems a bit excessive

[berad]

depends what your passion is, car performance, car looks, or car sound.

I have 3 subs and 2 amps, i can still fit a shit load in my boot, and i have FULL access to my spare tyre. I for one am a keen music lover hence why i spent what i did on my stereo, each to their own though. Good luck with your purchass + install