So I know enough about car audio to make me less than dangerous. I’ve also been around long enough to know how to get just about every useful thread out of the search function that is possible. My problem lies in the fact that I’m not too sure what it is exactly I’m looking for so I’m hoping some of the audiophiles here could help out.

Car Specs
1988 Camaro Convertible
4th gen dash – 2002 Camaro
4th gen door panels – 2002 Camaro

This is a ground up resto so I’m going to be putting down Raamat BXT II from firewall to trunk and Ensolite in those places recommended. Trying to help out as much as possible since road noise is a big problem with the ‘Verts.

4thgen door panels accommodate 6.5s speakers, thirdgen door doesn’t but it can be made too But because it is a thirdgen I can run in the kick panels as well. I’m losing the dash speakers in this swap. From what I remember and what I’ve read I’m not really “losing” anything, by no longer having those. I also modified my sail panels in the back alooooooooong time ago to accept 6x9’s and still look good.

What I want in my Audio (in no particular order):
1. Navigation/GPS
2. IPOD hookup – Prefer to have something I can have semi permanently installed.
3. Satellite Radio (though not absolutely necessary)
4. I want it to work with 4th gen steering wheel controls. (Link)
5. Bluetooth – im in California it really is a necessity.

AMP
I’m sure I need one – suggestions?

Speakers
I know everything can be broken up into components, but completely unsure on placement or brand. I’m pretty sure I don’t want a huge sub, if any at all, taking up the VERY little trunk space that a convertible has. Also with the top down sound from the trunk would be completely cut off from the cabin.

Here are a few bands that will be played often to give you an idea of what I listen to:

Killswitch Engage
In Flames
Soilwork
Hammerfall

Though I also listen to classical on a fairly regular basis. NO Rap, so I’m not looking for a ton of bass.

Budget:
$1,500 give or take.

 

hey bro nice whip ok to begin lets start with the head unit thats the brains of the operation if your not super fancy go with JVC or Pioneer now if your technical go with alpine they give u so many choices you will lose your mind now the route i will take you is going with a 200 watt 2 channel amp anything on ebay will work i say 200 cause this is gonna run all your highs in your car your 6x9's and watever you put up front next i would get a distributor and add another amp around 600-1000 watts to run your sub and run a nice bass tube or enclosed 10" subwoofer nothing bigger

if you do this setup heres your prices and its way below 1500 especially in cali

headunit - flip up 7" 250
speakers - 6.5 60 bucks 6x9 around 80 - 100 bucks for nice ones alpine if u can
amps - jensen 200 watt 2 channel less than 50 bucks and any 600 - 1000 watt mono block or 2 channel maybe 150 bucks
subwoofer - kicker, jbl or alpine 10" with box less than 200 bucks
got wiring kit and distrubutor off ebay 50 bucks

add it up and your around a grand if u need any help or more specifics let me know car audio is my ISH!!!!!!!!!

 

No disrespect but you figure are way off
first off headunit 250 where at i want one for thet cheap
speaker for the front your dead on
amp jensen is not the way to go
600-1000 for 150 again where at i need one for that price
subwoofer kicker or jbl would run more the 200 with the box your loking close to 350 plus
i think his figure of 1500 would put in in the right range for some sound
alpine is the best imo a good alpine unit would run you about 280 to 320 and thats with the works from mp3,satilite radio,pandora control fromyour phone and bluetooth .
i would rock the two ten maybe alpine or some soundstream i got some from the shop for 400 with the box to fit my convert trunk in my 92 trans am
you dont really need an amp for you speakers up from or the 6x9 i good two channel 800 watts amp will do for the subs something like that would run another 400 plus the amp kit 50 and your set

 

hey bro no disrespect taken at all however im talkin from experience not just say so all my cars have systems and im a bargin shopper sooooooo
headunit - u can do ebay, craigslist and shop around i got a 7" double din JVC headunit for 250 from best buy and its perfect and does everything bluetooth, dvd, sd card usb nav blah blah
jensens not the way to go??????? umm y not if your using it to run your interior speakers???? and yes if your running subs YOU SHOULD ALWAYS amp your interior speakers gives you a better clarity and crisper sound than any ANY factory deck period
i got my 880 watt soundstream amp off eby for 150 my jbl 300 rms 1100 peak subs were 99.00 bucks a piece on ebay got 2 15"s off craigslist kicker comps in a box for 220 see wat im sayin shop around its easy to do

for example my 89 camaro has a single din JVC cd aux ($60 craigslist) thats it NO SPEAKERS ARE RUNNING OFF THE DECK i have 2 5.25"s ($30 craigslist) in the dash 6x9 alpine type r's ($40 craigslist) in the side pillars and 2 12"s JBL my amps are one jensen 200 watt 2 channel i got for (25 bucks off craigslist) and a jbl 700 rms 1400 peak 2 channel amp for the subs for 150 on ebay JBL subs 99 bucks ebay all that and im BARELY touchin 600 hahahaha O an i got my box off ebay 60 bucks

i would be glad to post a video to show u how to do it u just gotta be a hunter and know wat your doing

 

No disrespect to either of you but I think you two should go look for some punctuation together...

Jstcrzyengh:

The HU you're looking for with NAV, Bluetooth, iPod etc. is probably going to set you back $800-$1200 from any of the reputable brands. That doesn't include the steering wheel controls which is probably another $100-$150.

Also, the majority of those HU are going to be double DIN units. Your 4th gen dash (and 3rd gens for that matter) are 1.5 DIN. That said, it can be done. My guess is that if you're capable of swapping in a 4th gen interior, you can handle a double DIN installation.

As far as speakers go, if it were mine, I think I'd do both kicks and door speakers. Get a nice set of two ways for the doors and get some beefy 6.5in "subs" for the kicks. The 6x9's are really only there for fill...especially in a vert.

Of course, all of this deserves an amp. A decent 4 channel amp will start around $200. I'm guessing that I generated a few questions...ask away. I was an installer for several years before I became a systems admin.

 

YOU KNOW.....i didnt wanna give away my secret but wat u can do is wat i did.....gessshh ok.... buy you a Headunit of your liking WHATEVER brand then u buy a android seven inch tablet you know that space right above the heater controls and the dash pad how its just empty and void well i built a bracket that flips down and holds my tablet from there i ran a usb cable to a hidden hardrive that holds 500gb of music/movies/pics etc next i hooked it up via aux NOW if u really wanna get sexy u make ur phone a wireless hotspot and BAM navigation the internet and everything at your finger tips

at the end of the day its your setup we are jus givin u advice from wat we did you can look me up on facebook and see my setup its http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=715835773 just check out the videos ill post more if u want

 

Ugh gmail didn’t let me know I had replies. I actually came on here to see why

Thanks guys for replying.

Here are my follow ups:
Would it be better to get a dedicated head unit and leave the Nav to something like a removable Tom Tom?

Saying that’s the way to go any recommendations there? Alpine is actually what I had before. Any specific models?

Also –srs- you mentioned the speakers you would run. Any specifics? Specifically for the doors and kicks. At least to point me in the right direction.

Biglinton – I definitely plan on using all of those resources to get the best price, but I want to find the right combination, not just the least expensive. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to go for the deal

How important is it too make sure that all of the speakers are from the same manufacturer or can you mix and match without getting different levels due to changes in manufacturing and tolerances of the different pieces?

Last question, is it still the way to go to run monster cable to everything? The car is being completely rewired so I want to make sure I run what’s going to give the best performance.

Thanks

 

i would not worry to much about mixing and matching i have a set of 12 soundstream and stock speakers in the car and it hits plus in my T/A i have two 10 JL w0 and aplines in the from and 6x9 alpine too and that knocks with a very weak amp i got from the flea market for 80 buckz you just have to get what you have tested and like just make sure everything is nicely set up

 

STAY AWAY FROM MONSTER WIRES hahahaha its a rip off i say just do 14-16 ga wire from your AMP to all your speakers in your car get the alpine head unit i will say that since our radios are so low that NAV sucks cause u have to look low then up then down and up so a tom tom is better in MY EYES. Mix and Match all you want just read and understand the difference between rms and Watts these are for Mids and Highs ONLY.

 

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