Hey all. I just got my license, and have a 92 Chevy Cavalier. I want to get a good, but simple car system. I have a few questions I hope someone could answer for me. 1.I'm only willing to spend up to $350-400, and really just want a system for the Bass. So what do i need to have just a basic system? And if I buy a CD player, a subwoofer, and an amp, will I also have to buy speakers? Or will my stock speakers work? Im pretty dumb when it comes to all this. Thanks for taking your time to read this.
Peace
Replies (4)
ryan on 07/11/2003 00:03:53
You dont have to buy speakers but later on u will prolly want to its all up to what u want. So do you want mostly SPL or a mixture of SPL and SQ? For a mixture a pair of 12" Jl Audio WO's would be good with a 450watt amp or around there. If you go to a local dealer can get each for about $125 it would be alot cheaper to get them online. For amps might want to get an alpine or kenwood. Alpine MRD-M500 $499.99 or MRP-M350 $199.99, and Kenwood KAC-8151D $299.99 these would be good to power the WO's. For headunits look at pioneer, alpine, and kenwood. Pioneer DEH-P4500MP $199.99, Kenwood KDC-MP222 $219.99, and Alpine CDA-9805/9807 $199/$279. If you want to take a look at any of these go to www.crutchfield.com thats where i got all the info. and of course you can find these cheaper on othere sites. To check out the subwoofers go to www.jlaudio.com.
Swez on 07/11/2003 08:24:13
It's good to start slow and get your feet wet. Then... if the sound bug bites and you want to add more toys later, you have time to plan ahead and budget accordingly.
Also, you will find the best deal online and not at the big chain stores. The online stores can offer prices and products you'd never see at BB or CC etc.
Now, how much bass do you want to have in your Cav? The louder the system, the higher the cost as amps get more expensive and so do the subs.
Here's a setup that is within your budget and will get loud if you so wish, but will sound very clean too.
AMP: http://www.thezeb.com/caraudio/us_acoustics.html
USX 800 D:
Amplifier - 600x1 @ 2ohm (watts RMS)
(with subsonic filter, 50 amp fuse rating!)
SALE! $237.00 Call for stock check
Subs: www.just woofer.com
Infinity Reference Series 1220w 2 x 12" subs
2INF-1220W TWO INFINITY 1220W
SALE! $119.99
The rest is a wire kit using #4 gage power and ground and an enclosure. If you have some basic tools and a little help from a friend, can install this yourself and save some cash.
As for the box, sealed enclosure is best for over all car audio and won't take up your whole trunk either. These subs work best in a 1.0-1.2 (internal dimensions) cubic foot box per sub. Can buy a decent box off ebay for under $70.00 (dual sub box) or make your own for ~$50.00-60.00. If you are handy with wood and have a few basic tools, a few hours of work and buddy to help out... all the better.
Yes, can use your factory installed speakers and HU (radio) for now. But will be bass heavy and your mids and highs will be less than they could be... but these can easily be upgraded later. The speakers are the most important part of the sound system. They are the soul of your system while the HU is the brain and the amps are the muscle.
There is more to know about the install aspects of a system, but first, get a picture of what you want and build from there. We can help you get through all phases of the install and tweaking, when you are ready to go.
WARNING!!! Stay away from the big chain stores unless you just want to look and listen. If you do go into one of them... LEAVE YOUR WALLET IN THE CAR OR YOU'LL GET FLEESED FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY BAHHHH !!!
High overheads, they sell so-so gear at high profit prices and install fees are high and often shoddy as well. If you want it done right the first time, do it yourself and have an experienced buddy help out.
How does this proposed system sound to you so far?
Swez
PS: Don't be fooled by the low prices here... all quality products at low prices, are my favorite game and challenge .
Relax_The_Mind on 07/11/2003 15:07:03
Not bashing or anything. But for a beginner I really dont think anyone who is only trying to spend $350-$400 on a system should be looking at mainstream usually overpriced brand names such as JL Audio, Alpine, or Kenwood. The amp and amp kit alone would start pushing at the $400 limit.
As I tell everyone I have installed car audio for who wanted to buy the most expensive brand names and everything. "Dont buy logos" Its like you say its for sound and not really for show so if your not really showing it to people it shouldnt matter right?
OK... www.thezeb.com is a place I have had experience with and is a good respectable company that has quite nice prices.
In my opinion in a recent install I have done. (which was about 3 tmes louder than his previous $600 MTX sup/amp setup)
AMP: Lanzar 248 (~450W x 2) = $139.99
SUBS: 2-12" Audiobahn AWC12Q (500rms) = $59.99 x 2 = $119.98
AMP kits on ebay run you about $25
Total = $284.97 for the Sub and amp includes FREE shipping.
Now all you need is a box. Saying you have about $115 left with a $400 budget. However if you can find a good deal or decide to build it yourself I can help you on both aspects. Local shops will probably charge around $100 for a simple sealed box.
RTM
PS. Couple people may debate that setup but then again most people never even used these brands before. I can challenge any of them to beat the price/performance ratio. Beyond specs on paper...Its a real world comparison I am talking about.
Swez on 07/13/2003 12:50:46
RTM makes a good point! We don't have to spend big bucks on big brand names to get good sound and performance.
If we are not pushing our system too hard all the time, lesser known brands of gear will do much better than stock and cost much less the big name brands.
The budget will dictate the stuff we buy, our egos will dictate what gear we think we have to use... but 80%+ of a good system is in the install, not the brand name products per-se.
Swez
Peace
Replies (4)
ryan on 07/11/2003 00:03:53
You dont have to buy speakers but later on u will prolly want to its all up to what u want. So do you want mostly SPL or a mixture of SPL and SQ? For a mixture a pair of 12" Jl Audio WO's would be good with a 450watt amp or around there. If you go to a local dealer can get each for about $125 it would be alot cheaper to get them online. For amps might want to get an alpine or kenwood. Alpine MRD-M500 $499.99 or MRP-M350 $199.99, and Kenwood KAC-8151D $299.99 these would be good to power the WO's. For headunits look at pioneer, alpine, and kenwood. Pioneer DEH-P4500MP $199.99, Kenwood KDC-MP222 $219.99, and Alpine CDA-9805/9807 $199/$279. If you want to take a look at any of these go to www.crutchfield.com thats where i got all the info. and of course you can find these cheaper on othere sites. To check out the subwoofers go to www.jlaudio.com.
Swez on 07/11/2003 08:24:13
It's good to start slow and get your feet wet. Then... if the sound bug bites and you want to add more toys later, you have time to plan ahead and budget accordingly.
Also, you will find the best deal online and not at the big chain stores. The online stores can offer prices and products you'd never see at BB or CC etc.
Now, how much bass do you want to have in your Cav? The louder the system, the higher the cost as amps get more expensive and so do the subs.
Here's a setup that is within your budget and will get loud if you so wish, but will sound very clean too.
AMP: http://www.thezeb.com/caraudio/us_acoustics.html
USX 800 D:
Amplifier - 600x1 @ 2ohm (watts RMS)
(with subsonic filter, 50 amp fuse rating!)
SALE! $237.00 Call for stock check
Subs: www.just woofer.com
Infinity Reference Series 1220w 2 x 12" subs
2INF-1220W TWO INFINITY 1220W
SALE! $119.99
The rest is a wire kit using #4 gage power and ground and an enclosure. If you have some basic tools and a little help from a friend, can install this yourself and save some cash.
As for the box, sealed enclosure is best for over all car audio and won't take up your whole trunk either. These subs work best in a 1.0-1.2 (internal dimensions) cubic foot box per sub. Can buy a decent box off ebay for under $70.00 (dual sub box) or make your own for ~$50.00-60.00. If you are handy with wood and have a few basic tools, a few hours of work and buddy to help out... all the better.
Yes, can use your factory installed speakers and HU (radio) for now. But will be bass heavy and your mids and highs will be less than they could be... but these can easily be upgraded later. The speakers are the most important part of the sound system. They are the soul of your system while the HU is the brain and the amps are the muscle.
There is more to know about the install aspects of a system, but first, get a picture of what you want and build from there. We can help you get through all phases of the install and tweaking, when you are ready to go.
WARNING!!! Stay away from the big chain stores unless you just want to look and listen. If you do go into one of them... LEAVE YOUR WALLET IN THE CAR OR YOU'LL GET FLEESED FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY BAHHHH !!!
High overheads, they sell so-so gear at high profit prices and install fees are high and often shoddy as well. If you want it done right the first time, do it yourself and have an experienced buddy help out.
How does this proposed system sound to you so far?
Swez
PS: Don't be fooled by the low prices here... all quality products at low prices, are my favorite game and challenge .
Relax_The_Mind on 07/11/2003 15:07:03
Not bashing or anything. But for a beginner I really dont think anyone who is only trying to spend $350-$400 on a system should be looking at mainstream usually overpriced brand names such as JL Audio, Alpine, or Kenwood. The amp and amp kit alone would start pushing at the $400 limit.
As I tell everyone I have installed car audio for who wanted to buy the most expensive brand names and everything. "Dont buy logos" Its like you say its for sound and not really for show so if your not really showing it to people it shouldnt matter right?
OK... www.thezeb.com is a place I have had experience with and is a good respectable company that has quite nice prices.
In my opinion in a recent install I have done. (which was about 3 tmes louder than his previous $600 MTX sup/amp setup)
AMP: Lanzar 248 (~450W x 2) = $139.99
SUBS: 2-12" Audiobahn AWC12Q (500rms) = $59.99 x 2 = $119.98
AMP kits on ebay run you about $25
Total = $284.97 for the Sub and amp includes FREE shipping.
Now all you need is a box. Saying you have about $115 left with a $400 budget. However if you can find a good deal or decide to build it yourself I can help you on both aspects. Local shops will probably charge around $100 for a simple sealed box.
RTM
PS. Couple people may debate that setup but then again most people never even used these brands before. I can challenge any of them to beat the price/performance ratio. Beyond specs on paper...Its a real world comparison I am talking about.
Swez on 07/13/2003 12:50:46
RTM makes a good point! We don't have to spend big bucks on big brand names to get good sound and performance.
If we are not pushing our system too hard all the time, lesser known brands of gear will do much better than stock and cost much less the big name brands.
The budget will dictate the stuff we buy, our egos will dictate what gear we think we have to use... but 80%+ of a good system is in the install, not the brand name products per-se.
Swez
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