Since most everyone talks about high-end $20k systems for their cars (hopefully it is all talk), I think a thread on low-end car audio is well called for.

My favorite low-end brands:

Kraco
Audiovox
Rockwood
Kenford
Pyramid

and my personal fave - Alfine

What is your favorite low-end equipment?

 

My first system consisted of
Used Blaupunkt tape deck (which wouldn't play a lick over around 12khz)
Some flea market 4x6 coaxes
Ultimate 6x9s (Later replaced by XS Force 8" subs, which were also bought at a flea market)
Profile "400 watt" amp
Boss "400 watt" amp
Pyramid high-pass filter & corresponding ground loop isolator to help keep the whine from driving me crazy
and... 4 12" urban audio subs.

Wiring consisted of a single piece of 12 or 14 AWG wire from the battery to the back of the car, piggybacked to both amps.

I used to think all those kids with Rockford and Zapco stuff were morons for paying the same for their 40 watt amps as I did for my 400 watt amps.



Just remember this... when you guys give me a hard time for criticizing that cheap junk, please remember that at one time... I WAS THAT GUY

 

Not a bad lookin' install there though, Jim.

 

Thanks. I was all proud of it. It was my first vinal job. Plus, you could lift the panel up to access all the wiring underneath.

My understanding of box design and isolating the rear sound wave were about as well advanced as my understanding of cheap audio equipment.

I still managed to squeeze out 126dB from that setup, but then again so did my buddy with a single 10" tube.

 

I bought my 1st cd player from K-Mart for $100. Bad move. You know how on "normal" face plates there is a electrontic contection between the face plate and the main unit. Not on this. When you pressed a button, there was a small pin that poked throught the face plate and contacted another button on the main unil. MAin that thing was cheap. But I was all that with a cd player.

 

I haven't seen anyone mention a high-end $20k system around here- who are you talking about?

I don't think I could ever have a favorite low-end brand...

 

My first blaupunkt was the same way. I forgot all about that deck. I wanted to change the color of the display, so I put scotch tape over it and colored it in with a red marker. :sillylol:

 

lol, I would've never guessed.

I can tell you've changed a LOT since those days, heh...

 

Oh man, I almost forgot about Profile & Boss, two big names...

Jim, your system looks very nice, install is pretty damn good, even if it isn't the best equipment - still has to sound respectable.

Tom, I don't think that anyone here has a $20k system, but when I start seeing $2k in-dash video head units and hear talk about JL and other expensive brands, my mouse starts spinning my wheels (in my brain).

I guess you could add Jensen & Sanyo to the list too.

 

i'm sure jim would like to see volfenhags added to the list too

 

It sounded like a fart caught in a tin can.

 

I like Jensen. :rockon:

AAMOF..... my wife's car has mostly cheap STUFF.

Jensen HU w/ MP3 capability - $135 from Crutchfield

Roadmaster 8" subwoofer encloser w/ subs and red neon rings AND covered in vinyl - $50 @ Walmart

Replaced subs with "better" Roadmaster subs (that look like Volfenhags) - $14 ($7/ea, clearance at Walmart )

JBL 5"x7" in the front doors - Came with car

Alpine 35 x 4 amp - I've had that amp since 1990



Then there's my truck

RoadGear (actually owned by Jensen) CD player - $55 @ Walmart

White Westinghouse 4" speakers - $10 @ Kmart

Road Gear amp 80 x2 bridged to the sub (don't know the real power) - $45 @ Walmart

1 Pyramid 8" sub - $10 for 2 of them at the local swap meet. The other one got left in an old car.

As you see... I'm rather frugal when it comes to other vehicles besides my car.

 

White Westinghouse, that wat my K-mart cd player was:sillylol: man that thing was bad (meaning bad, not good).

 

my first deck was a blaupunct. had an audiovox amp that i bought from parts america for $40. had a pyramid amp. and to think, my old mtx 75w amp blew my "240w" pyramid out of the water. yeah, i've learned a lot since then....

 

But they make good toasters.

 

Ya that thing did get hot and toast my cd's, oh wait you ment toasters

 

I forgot all about urban audio. When I was in high school a buddy of mine had two 12" urban audio subs. My 8" kicker impulse hit harder than those 12s.

I have bought some cheap stuff but nerver any of the rockwood and kenford type stuff. the lowest I would go would be jenson. I mostly bought stuff that was most likely stolen, it was cheap though

Brian