Alright i'm about to replace my stock system in my car and i was looking for some options. I want to get a head unit, 4x6, 9x9 speakers, a amp, and if i have the money subs, but i have no idea where to start. I want to get quality stuff but not burn a huge hole in my pocket, anyone have any suggestions and previous feedback from the current combinations they are using, please help me out thanks.

 

my sig has my page with my stereo section that tells you what i used and all. And also, you mean 6x9's, not 9x9's ... the 9x9's would be hard to fit in the sail panel ..
if you have to ability to do everything at once (speakers and headunit) if not go with the head unit first, and get the stock one out of there, then do the speakers next.

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1991 Firebird (GT40)
-LO3 305 TBI
-5 speed
-Open Element Air Filter
-Edelbrock Tower Strut Brace
-Kenwood Excelon Headunit w/ 10 Disc Changer
-Alpine MRP-F256 Amp
-Polk EX 4x6's, DX 6x9's, and EX Tweeters
-Kicker ZR240 amp (bridged)
-Dual JL W0 12" Subs

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My page with pics and stuff, and car stereo help.
http://members.aol.com/deadtrend1/index.html

 

My suggestion.. **which may not mean $#!+ to some people...**

Get a good priced head unit on sale at Circuit City or Best Buy for around $150-$200 **get the warranty... so later u can take it back and bring some extra $$ and buy a better head unit haha**

Get a good set of $100 6x9's for the rear.

That's the cheapest way I can think of. BUT... if I were you.

Get the head unit as said above.

Order DJSexay's Kick panels.
Get a 5¼" or 6½" Component Set.
Get an amp for the component set.

Then later down the line at a sub or two with a good amp and your all done.

DJSEXAY'S KICK PANELS ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY AND MORE!

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'91 Camaro RS 3.1L V6
4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player, DJ Sexay's Kicks Panels with a Polk Audio 6½" Comp Set, 2 RF Punch 12's, RF Punch Amp 100.2, Coustic 360W Amp.
Soon to come, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.


http://www.geocities.com/adidaspredator21/index.html
**Got the new door on... gettin car painted in about a month or two...**


[This message has been edited by CD MaroMan 91 (edited December 09, 2001).]

 

////ALPINE all the way man, they are one of the best headunit manufacturerers, and they are affordable, they make really good sounding speakers, and amps, but i wouldnt touch there subs, i hear that they are more spl than sound quality, that came from a shop, and a profesional installer with nationally recognized vehicles

 

The way I see it speakers are more important than any thing else, they play more of your music than the subs and will make a greater impact in the quality of your sound than a head unit. Next, don't cheap out on anything. Being forced to upgrade later is something no one wants to do.

Here's my theroy on subs. If you do have enough money for subs get one and run your speakers off the headunit and buy an amp that will later power you speakers but will power the amp for now, 50 or 75x2 @ 4 ohms will do fine. Then put the sub in an isobaric enclosure. Then later when you have more money buy another sub same as the last and an amp to power both subs, 250x1,500x1, however crazy you want to get.

Next theory, who needs rear speakers. Instead buy DJ's kicks and put a solid components set in there. Run these off the HU until you move the 50/75x2 amp to them when you get the second sub.

To sum it up,
1. speakers/kicks
2. HU
3. Sub/small amp/box
4. second sub/large amp

This is how I help people choose, many will agree, some won't.

-Matt

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POWER AT THE COST OF BODY WORK...
1984 Camaro Z28 - Black w/ Grey int.
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-Comming Soon:
3.73's, MAC Cat-Back, hollowed cat., B&M Megashifter, & Paint: Navy Blue Metallic w/ Silver strips
Pics & more at: http://members.fbody.com/flashz28/

 

haha yeah i meant 6x9 wasn't thinking straight. Yeah i really want to get everything done at once, my friend just changed his entire system, he got the sony xploid head unit it was like 54x4 watts and kenwood speakers, but i really didn't like the clarity of the speakers. I mean it was LOUD but you could hear static once u started to crank it. What speakers do you recommend or is it the head unit? thanks for all the info.

 

Distortion at high volumes was probably due to the head unit. Also you cannot run an isobaric setup with a single sub; you need an even number of drivers. Just go sealed, there are numerous benifits.

- Mike

 

Isobaric, sorry i don't know what that means can someone please explain? and one more thing, so i'm hearing good things about these DJSexays component speakers, anybody know of a good site? thanks.

 

DJSexay makes the kick panels... u have to buy your own speakers... but trust me they are worth the money.

www.djsexay.com go there and check out the pics and read up on them

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'91 Camaro RS 3.1L V6
4th Gen Seats, Sony Xplod CD Player, DJ Sexay's Kicks Panels with a Polk Audio 6½" Comp Set, 2 RF Punch 12's, RF Punch Amp 100.2, Coustic 360W Amp.
Soon to come, New Rims, New Rear Tires, Paint Job, Interior Color Change.


http://www.geocities.com/adidaspredator21/index.html
**Got the new door on... gettin car painted in about a month or two...**

 

yes HEAD-UNIT MATTERS!!!!! most definately....alpine is one of the best out there!!! i have an alpine and i have stock 4x6 and 6x9 in the rear and they make it sound like i have subs....

 

So i'm guessing alpine is hands down the best for the bucks? wait i'm a bit confused are us saying that by getting the panels and the component system i wouldn't have to replace my 4x6 and 6x9? like they are just useless?

 

I'm going to disagree with everyone and suggest a head unit from Pioneer's Premier line. They are good, solid units that provide a lot of features for the money. I would suggest the DEH6300 unit. I have the 6000 from a couple years ago, and it has served me well. Great sound quality and in two years it has skipped once. Both times were because I hit WICKED bumps at around 70 mph. For the money, I don't think you can beat the 6300. I believe they run about $200-$250 at Best Buy. It's important to get the best head unit you can afford, because if your signal isn't clean it doesn't matter how good your speakers are. Crap in = crap out. Not saying alpine is crap, because it isn't. They are also very good units, and if you like the price and features go for one.

For the speakers, go listen to various speakers at the different stores and shops and find some that YOU think sound good. Brands to run away froma s if your life dependd on it: Pyramid, RockWOOD, KenFORD, Pyle, Jensen and any other product that offers 1000 watts for $50. Good brands include: Rockford Fosgate, Infinity, KenWOOD, Eclipse, and if you have a lot of money my personal favorite Boston Acoustics.

The cheaper route is to just get speakers that will plug into the stock locations. Simple install, and you'll have much improved sound. If you have some more money, buy a quality amp to drive them.

Getting kick panels and components is a bit more complicated. In this case, the kick panels hold you component speakers in, of all places, the kick panels of your car. You would not use the 4x6s in this situation. You could still use 6x9s for rear fill or playing as loud as you want. Depends on your preferences. With kick panels, you need component speakers. These are speaker systems that consist of a separate woofer and tweeter and a crossover to sort out the signals. In 99% of cases, they will need an amp to drive them to reach their full potential. Why would you want kickpanels? They help with imaging (the appearance to your ears that tells you where the sound is coming from). In general component systems are better quality and can handle more power. If you decide to go this route, I suggest Boston Acoustics Rally or Pro series speakers. They are utterly amazing.

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Feel free to donate to the Matt Needs An Engine That Runs fund
82 Camaroead 350
TH350 tranny with 2500 stall, Eibach Pro Kit, SLP 1 3/4" headers with 3" Flowmaster exhaust

 

In a sence yes. When I get my system DJ's kicks, CDT 6" classic components, Memphis amps, one 88100 Eclipse sub all the stock speaker locations will be usless and maybe a good spot to hide crossovers. When you go to kickpanels you can upgrade to larger drivers and the sound will feel as if it's comming more torwards you (like a concert) which is the goal for any SQ system.

I like Alpine too. Very little distortion and great features. Go for it!

-Matt

 

I"m convinced component speakers and djsexy's kickpanels! What compoment speakers do everyone recommend, i've heard Boston Acoustics Rally or Pro series speakers, any others, and what kind of a amp to you guys recommend? Thanks alot.

 

For the money Pioneer speakers are hard to beat. Don't know about their subs but their 6x9's are good. Do the two or three way speaker. Have a pair in my pickup for four years now and have never had any problems.

 

what sites/companies could i find boston aocustic? i can't seem to find them on crutchfield, or 800.com, or any of the sites like that. thanks.

 

I know that this site has Boston Acoustic components: http://www.usacaraudio.com/car_audio_index.htm

BUT... I've never bought anything from there so I suggest you just use it as a guideline to help figure out what you want and what you'll have to pay for it.

 

See if there's a dealer that carries boston products. I believe you can se if there is a dealer near you at their site http://www.bostonacoustics.com/ It has suggested prices listed for their products. Also check out the FS series. If you can't spring for the Rally series, these are good speakers. I like the way they sound a lot, but there is a big jump in sound quality fom them to the Rally series.

 

I just want to throw my 2 cents in here. with speakers, it's always very listener subjective. You can't really go by price.

Many people have no idea how bad something sounds, until they've heard better. So it depends on what you're used to and what level of sound quality your trying to achieve.


mike

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custom 3rd gen kickpanels at
http://www.djsexay.com

 

cool, yeah i found some dealers and i'll probably have to go listen for myself. Now i'll probably need an amp to get the full pontential out of the component set, what would be a good amp, that's not too expensive? Or would the pioneer DEH-P7300 http://www.thecameraclub.com/cgi-loc.../web_store.cgi provide enough power? thanks.

[This message has been edited by Camaro90RS43 (edited December 11, 2001).]

 

Good amps to look at are Kicker, Rockford Fosgate, Soundstream, PPI, Eclipse, Phoenix Gold, USAmps, and others. You'll need an amp to get everything out of components. A head unit, IMO, does not provide enough power to make them perform to their full potential. As for the head unit, I actually prefer the Pioner DEH 6300 to the 7300. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but last time I checked the 6300 has 3 preamp outputs that are 4 volts and a few other features the 7300 doesn't have. The 7300 has 2 preamp outputs that are like 1.5 volts or someting around there. The 7300 has the screensavers though, if that's what you want. The 6300 provides more options for flexibility in your system design. Both are very good units though.

 

ok amps, 2 channel, mono, multi channel, i'm guessing multi channel is the best and the one that would fit my purpose? Gives more options? thanks.