Nooby Wants A Nice Tune

[ryanthefizz]

so i have a CAI and some struts/springs otw... figure next thing i will do is work on getting a clean sounding speaker system. I dont want subs. my car comes stock with 2 rear 6x9's, 2 front 4x6's, and 2 front 1" super tweeters. I have the stock cd player. i want to get new speakers and a half decent cd player. i dont want to have to custom cut anything to make the speakers fit. i dont need something that will shatter windows. i just want a clean sound i can enjoy with the windows down going 90. i dont know where to start. i cant buy everything at once. will take all summer to get speakers and cd player. should i start with speakers or cd player, can only do 1. if i started with speakers i should probably invest in a nice set of 4 way 6x9's on ebay or overstock.com or something like that, correct?

I would replace your front speakers first with a nice set of 5.25" or if you can find something that fits a set of 6.5" components (I hear the Infinity 6000cs is a nice fit and is something Im considering adding).

You're gonna want an amp with these, so save yourself some $$ and space and get a 4ch so you can run all your speakers.

I would opt for the 6x9 over the HU next, because that is going to give you a more noticable improvement.

What I mean is that you will hear much better sound with aftermarket speakers and a factory HU (they are going to be amped anyways) than you would from an aftermarket HU and factory speakers.

If an amp is out of your price range, don't get components unless you have an aftermarket HU, which is still on the low side for power but far better than just using the stock HU on components. I would seriously consider getting the amp and componets first though, they really are the best option for building a front stage which to many people is the most important part of the sound.

If you give me a budget I can find you a decent setup, and I'm sure many people here would be able to give you a much better idea too.

Let me know why you don't want a sub too, I'm curious. I just put a 10" Infinity into my Alero and I'm still using the stock HU and stock 4x6's but it sounds awsome IMO. I don't like crazy bass but I got it sounding nice right now. It barely takes up room too...

[BLK03GXS]

Decide how much you want to spend, then we can tell ya what you want to do... or what our opions are...

PERSONALLY

1: Get a new HU Similar to the one i have now, or at least one with 3 sets of preouts.. and run rca's to the trunk. The advantage of a deck in the similar price/quality range of mine is that you can run deacent/good aftermarket speakers off it with no issues, and with power to spare.

2: Get new speakers, if i was to redo my system without subs, or if i was going to redo my system period i would get Componants up front and some deacent 6x9's in the back.

3: Get a Good quality 4 chanel amp, amp the speakers

(this is where you want to stop....)

Then if i was you i would allso get one 10 inch or 12 inch and about 350-500wrms to power it.

That setup would prolly sound AWSOME to you.

[ryanthefizz]

i have an amp at my house. y bro got it from a police auction a while ago, its crazy old and i dont know how many channels it is but its friggan huge compared to how big new amps are. will get some pictures. and why 6.5" or 5.25" speakers up front, arnt my mounts for 4x6"s? i am saying no sub just because i dropped all my $ on struts, springs and CAI. i am paying for this system like 1 month at a time, paycheck to paycheck so i cant give much of an estimate. can probably work up 300$ over the summer.

I would look into what kind of amp and the specs on it before you hook it to or buy anything for it...

Yes the mounts are for 4x6's but other speakers will fit and 4x6's kinda suck. I'm probably going to say go for 5.25" as there will be more variety that will fit in that size than the 6.5", but definitely check those Infinity 6000cs out.

I still stand that the HU should be your last purchase because of the reasons I outlined in my first post.

$300 is a tight budget for speakers and a HU. Figure spending $150 - $200 on a solid HU, another $75 - $120 on components, $50 - $100 on 6x9's, and possibly an amp ($100).

Find out the specs on that amp and post them so we know how usable it is in your system.

I would ditch the 6x9's in favor of a sub, it will cost about the same because you will already have an amp for the components (assuming you get a 4ch and run them off the same amp). You will be much happier with a sub than 6x9's I think.

I can't remember if I said it already but when I put in my sub I disconnected the rear speakers anyways, so I'm only running the sub and the 4x6's. It sounds pretty good to me and I know it will sound even better once I get some components up front. This is all off the stock HU.

[ryanthefizz]

$300.00 was a low estimate. dont plan on spending more than 125 for a HU though

I'll just recomend the setup I'm planning for myself then.

Sub - Infinity 1030w - $60
Box (DIY) - $30
Amp - Profile 1030w - $115
Amp Kit - Lightening Audio $20
Components - Infinity 6000cs/5000cs - $125/$115

I'm keeping the factory HU, but for you:
HU - $125

Grand Total = $475, but you might not need the amp, which would drop the cost right back to your price range. You could also check out some cheaper component speakers, but thats a good price on the Infinity's.

See how the sub will cost about the same as the 6x9's? Also, with what I outlined above I would add them in that order too, sub then components then HU.

Another option without an amp is just using the aftermarket HU to power the components adn some 6x9's, because the HU won't feed a sub enough power. A aftermarket HU will put out 20-25watts RMS while that amp I mentioned puts out 80w x 4 or 225w x 2.

Okay, I spent a little more than you are looking to spend, but I have done everthing in small steps as well. Truth it got a little irritating because the sound quality was not there until I spent the money for all the speakers.

HU - try to get the best that you can afford, look for clearance sales and such, cleaner power means better sound quality.

Front speakers, go with 5.25 components, real ones not witha hole drilled down the middle. I tried to mount a couple of different 6" and they wouldn't fir without a little custom work. I have PG 5.25 octane 5.0 r comp good clear sound

Rear speakers are Infinity Reference 6x9 I have had to replace a set as they started to rattle, if I could go back and start over I would have put 6x9 components in instead.

End point is the same, I wan't looking for loud bass or to make my car sound like a high-school students weekend shop class (sorry if any one is offended) but I was looking for clear sound at almost every volume level.
Good luck

On a side note all this stuff is much cheaper in the States than it is in Canada, each pair of speakers cost me 200$ even with friends discounts. issed:

i paid 129 for my HU. its not bad at all. its a DUAL. cd/mp3 player. 52x4 2 sets of pre-outs. detatchable face and all that jazz. it sounds great and at only 129 bucks, you cant really stick a shake at it. that was brand new by the way from best buy like 8 months ago. you can probably get something similar there now for about the same.

[ryanthefizz]

thansk guys, i will peck away at it as i get money, will post questions and updates as they happen. thanks again

[ImSoBored]

stick a shake at it?
you mean shake a stick at it?

this is how mine broke down.
HU-$150
4x6-$100
6x9's-$100
2-12" subs-$160
4x444watt sony amp-$100

nah i always say stick a shake at it. most people dont even realize it

[BLK03GXS]

k well you will want to spend more then 125 for a HU, your not gunna get anything to "shake a stick at " for 125$. You might want to look used, here where i live there is a large car community where people buy and sell used audio stuff, most ppl are deacent, and the buy and sell forums are pritty well policed... you can usually get a deck thats 1-2 years old for 1/4 of the new price or less.