Renier

So I bought a 2x250 "Street Machine" amplifier today, German brand named Autotek (surprisingly enough it does have a Dodge Charger depicted on the box), kind of an impulse buy as it was being discounted by coincidence but I figured as the old amplifier gave up the ghost probably even before I owned it (that thing was at least 100 years old anyways) and that meaning that the wires and everything are already there... it shouldn't be such a bad thing to put a decent amplifier back where the old one used to be. Now I am just wondering, as I probably still have the original speakers (will check first) they'll be likely to blow up if I hook them up, so instead I'm wondering which I could use. Would you guys say I'd do good to get Autotek speakers (they're designed to go together, you'd think)? Or are there any others you'd recommend? What about Boss, they seem rather affordable? While I don't want to put too much money into Audio as I can think of better ways to spend it, I do want to do this only once and hence have done it right the first time around.

jwfirebird

iTrader: (2)

you need to get some decent full range 6x9's(alpine,rockford fosgate, polk) that are 100-125w rms for the back of the camaro.good name brand speakers will last a lifetime and sound way better. and hook the amp to those, the 4x6 speakers in the front dont really need power if you have a decent head unit. what do you have for a radio? and what type of music do you listen to?

Renier

The head unit is some JVC thing, plays MP3's though, but I think of replacing it with my Samsung Galaxy Tab GT-P1000. Thanks for bringing this to my attention though as I hadn't even thought of the option, could be a pretty nice solution for having sound all around of the interior. I listen to all kinds of music, club beat and dance but also lots of rock and sometimes just 80's pop, so it varies a lot. Are Boss speakers like 'ok'? Like I said I'd rather not put too much money in sound alone, they seem to be of the inexpensive kind, might be a waste of money though I wouldn't know.. my Boss (ironically enough) seems to have them in his highly customized Licoln Continental.

Renier

The headunit seems to be a JVC KD-G322, 4x50 watts.

jwfirebird

iTrader: (2)

i would never buy anything cheaper than kenwood, pioneer, sony, i have no idea what boss sounds like but the Chinese stuff doesnt last so in my opinion its a waste of money. sonic electronics has a ton of name brand 100w from 40-60 bucks, even the entry level alpine and rockford fosgate.

Renier

Got some American speakers now, Hifonics Atlas AS-693, same American/German company that is being of Autotek. High output stuff basically. Paid 150 euro for them, which is kinda much, and I don't know if I am all that impressed (they're good, but I expected more).. think I could've gotten similar quality a lot cheaper to be honest. But then again only one of the speakers is working so I don't have a proper idea right now, the other one just made one weird noise for a few periods of time ocassionaly, so I am going back to the store when I can.

Edit: Using a cheap around $40 AEG headunit with it though, maybe that has some impact on the quality as well? Replacing the JVC with it due to it having an AUX socket and SD card slot, want to use it with my tablet integrated in the radio space and just with my phone for now.

jwfirebird

iTrader: (2)

a decent HU makes a big difference. if speakers or amp get junk signal they play junk signal.

Renier

Yeah, I'm fairly sure now that it's the headunit that's sending only static over one of the RCA outputs, which is causing one side to only play static. My hands are somewhat tied however, I want to use a tablet as carputer and hooking it up to a short radio which could be placed where the ashtray is through aux or bluetooth would seem ideal, especially bluetooth. Since that way I can still listen to radio without needing to use internet if I want to (while I prefer internet radio, much clearer, internet is not always available and my data per month is limited), and I have a nice volume control button. This is why I'm not so hard on the AEG, it seems to fulfil that role as it's compact, has an aux input and I have one lying around (they're cheap new too). The only problem with it is the fact that one of the line outputs seems to be broken, which is unacceptable, and the signal it does send could possibly still be better. But like I said, my hands are tied, money is really a problem, maybe when I get a few extra bucks I can start looking for a secondhand head unit that fulfills my wishes. Or I could possibly get an audio jack to RCA adapter, could be a cheap temporary solution, only it will send no signal to the front speakers and no nice volume control or analog radio. But thanks for keeping track of my topic by the way, jwfirebird!

Renier

You're right, Jeff, those Russian girls can probably help out with my problem! Why didn't I think of that! However they don't really seem properly equiped at the moment though..

ShMaCk2004

Don't feel bad, he crapped on like 30 threads here already

jwfirebird

iTrader: (2)

if you come across some funds that you want to spend, i would look for something like these. i have had all three of these brands and they sound pretty good for the price and you get alot of features and quality for the money.
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...VH-X560BT.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...X-N5000BT.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...ion-CZ302.html

visitor

AT LEAST 2 out of three of those brands are made in china.
You seem confused. Autotek, and hifonics (along with mb quart and others) are owned by maxxonics and are most assuredly NOT us made. That's not to say they're bad, or worse than us made, they just aren't American. That's ok though. What are you hoping to get from the speakers, are you running a subwoofer?

Renier

Just something that blows people away at least a tad, and gets me thinking "damn, I've got nice sound" occasionally while I'm driving. Not running a subwoofer, just the two speakers which are attached to the amp and then the two front ones which kind of play along but don't really have enough power to be noticed anymore over the ones in the back (I've got a switch to turn the ones in the back on and off, and like when I have them off I can hear the ones in the front normally but when I turn them off it seems to only be going on in the back due to the high output I suppose, the front speakers are extremely basic). Next up will be new head unit, I suppose, unfortunately.. but then like you guys said it's pretty important.

jwfirebird

iTrader: (2)

most everything is made in china. but i was referring to cheap Chinese and better quality Chinese. hard to tell whats what sometimes. i used to work for a place that made electronic test equipment and the stuff going to china had alot stricter tolerances than the stuff sold in US

Renier

Alright, thanks again for keeping up with my thread, good to know you've got experience with these kind of things too. So what would you say about Maxxonics? Seeing as being made in China doesn't have to put it down, as pretty much all things are now, would you say it's good-grade China stuff or what'd you say about it? Does it really stand out from the cheaper stuff in any way? One guy once told me it's like this: everything is made in China nowadays, they too have different grades of quality at different prices, you (I'd say usually) get what you pay for anywhere including from China.

visitor

I believe that.

Maxxonics rides a fine line between upper-lower end and lower-middle end (if that makes sense). Basically, the amp will do what it says it will, and be fairly reliable, so no worries there! The areas in which it falters will have very little impact on what you want (things like noise floor, dampening, etc). Well, ill be upfront. I have very little experience with getting impressive sound out of a stereo without a sub, and a more indepth install than what you're after. That said, I have heard many stereos with no sub, and have found many (non stereo) people happy with pioneer 6x9s in terms of bass output and overall sound. Is look that way, if I were in your shoes. Hope that helps!

visitor

Ideally, I'd recommend going to an audio shop and listening to a few different setups. This can't indicate in car performance, but it can help you decide what you like. Things like if you prefer a silk dome or a metal tweeter, etc.

jwfirebird

iTrader: (2)

i would second that, see what sounds good to you but dont let them talk you into buying anything, its usually alot more at the shops than you can get it for online

Renier

So basically what you're saying is that Maxxonics isn't really any better than let's say Pioneer? Pioneer would've been about half the price, did I fall solely for marketing then? And I might still look for a small subwoofer as you say it makes all of the difference, could use the Autotek amp for it and put both where the spare tire originally was, then use another 4 way amp for the speakers in the back and in the front. Or keep my current setup, if it does turn out to please me properly, and then use an integrated subwoofer in the back. Or not add anything, if it actually turns out to already satisfy me enough not to.

jwfirebird

iTrader: (2)

its tough to get a 6x9 to put out lows anywhere near what a sub can do, and if you listen to dance and stuff like that you would very much like a sub. one of those integrated bass tubes with the amp in it is pretty easy. the enclosure is very important on subs, in determining how they sound. the tube makes it sound alot better than just throwing it in the spare tire well. i think if i were going to suggest a budget system for that it would be one of the HU's above, lower power 6x9's, 4x6's, no amp for the interior speakers if you want to save money. plus they dont need to be as powerful if you have a good sub to fill in.

devestator_x

iTrader: (1)

I totally agree with what JW said, but let me expand on that a little bit. This new 2x250 amp, can you bridge it? If so, you can use that to run a subwoofer off of once you replace the headunit. Here is my current setup...
Alpine CDE-HD147BT head unit.
MB Quart PVL612 component speakers in the rear sail panels
Panasonic 4x6s in the dash (came with the car)
JL Audio JX250/1 mono amp
JL Audio WX12v2 subs x2 in a ported box

This setup gets pretty loud and people are amazed that its only 250watts. It's probably too much for the average guy. I would recommend

A good aftermarket head unit (Alpine, Clarion, even Pioneer if you are on a tight budget)
Pioneer 6x9s in the sail panels, out of all the 6x9s I have owned, Pioneer typically are the best sounding
Whatever you feel in the dash
A decent brand sub that can handle your amp in a bass tube like JW suggested

Unless your sub stage (the sound form the subwoofer) is overpowering your mid stage (coming from your 6x9s and 4x6s) then there isnt really any reason to amplify the mid range. In my system, I had to turn down my mid range speakers (using the adjustments in the head unit) so they would stop overpowering my sub woofers. Even then, at full tilt my ears will ring after 20 minutes of listening, which is bad obviously.

padak

iTrader: (10)

You asked about Boss Audio, I run some small Boss amps and they are fine. Never ran their speakers. I am running 2 Pioneer 220 watt 6X9's on a Boss 500 watt 2 channel amp. Sounds great coming from the back of the car. Up front I would recommend getting really good 4x6 because these will be your highs