Car Audio Advice

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nick R

Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
11,196
Location
NY Capital District
Well, we got our late Quarterly Bonus, my store was 110% to NOP, which is the best in our district. Anyway, as a part timer I got a hefty $900 bonus from that. I'm putting some in savings, some towards my car payment, and the rest is going to be for play. I want to spend about $300 and upgrade the stock audio system in the Cruze. I couldn't find one with the Pioneer System. I think I want to go with these. (Keep in mind I get a pretty decent discount on most of this stuff, about 50% on car audio (Yes I know mark-up is crazy, I find it just as outrageous as you do). I'm going to have our guys install it because I don't want to risk messing it up.

Anyway, this is what I'm thinking. Keep the stock deck, and go with....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Alpine+-+6-1/2%22+2-Way+Coaxial+Car+Speakers+with+Poly-Mica+Cones+(Pair)/1807279.p?skuId=1807279&productCategoryId=pcmcat223000050011&id=1218297519264

for now, and in a few more months invest in one of these
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Alpine+-+200...d=1199494646190

Does anyone have any advice on this?
 
Ive found that if the car is set up with a full (4 + speakers, one at each corner) audio setup, rarely do bestbuy-type speakers make it sound better. One can spend a lot, and really not get a lot, especially if your ears tend to be critical and look for detail that you would hear at home.

The H/K hifi system in my BMW is the one exception.

The other exception is when the front speakers are at the kickpanels or some other location where the sound stage doesnt set up right up front. Usually dash-mounted speakers will reflect off the windshield well enough. The issue is that the solution is components in the front, and this is a tough balance from getting too bright.

With amps, remember, garbage in = garbage out. Be careful.

Honestly, Id try to get the components from the pioneer system out of a wrecked car and install them first as reference before doing other stuff. It can be hit or miss.

That said, you get a best buy discount Im sure, and so Ill bet youll have a deal and not much money into it.

That said also, if you have a car payment and are paying interest on it, Id put the full amount towards principal and get the car paid for. That is the most responsible thing to do.
 
Go with a nice HU first, other wise you'll never even hear the quality in your highs and mids, than spkr than 4 ch amp..
with these steps you'll appreciate your equipment and SQ more and more w each step.

depends on how much SQ means to ya,on a budget just do 3-ways up front 2-way rear,
If ya want better sound than do componets up front and comp. in the rear, with this you'll need to amp them upon installing them
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: wsar10
Go with a nice HU first, other wise you'll never even hear the quality in your highs and mids, than spkr than 4 ch amp..
with these steps you'll appreciate your equipment and SQ more and more w each step.

depends on how much SQ means to ya,on a budget just do 3-ways up front 2-way rear,
If ya want better sound than do componets up front and comp. in the rear, with this you'll need to amp them upon installing them


The problem is that most aftermarket HUs are just butt-ugly, and too gawdy to have any place in anything but the most ricey of cars.

And most aftermarket stereo equipment is made for the sole purpose of extending bass to get good sensitivity and SPL, so all you get is rattling of the vehicle, not good fidelity for music.

And then we have to get into properly wiring and grounding the system...
 
Alpine makes a good speaker. I use Alpine Type R 6 1/2" separate components in my front doors and a pair of Type S 6 1/2" coaxials in the rear side panels of my truck. They are going on 7 years old now and still sound great, just as good as the day I bought them. JL Audio makes some very good sounding speakers too.

Best thing is to go to Best Buy or a good independent car audio shop and let your ears test each speaker for you. Take a CD or thumb drive with your own preferred music on it so you can hear how it sounds. Adding the amp is a good idea as well, it will make the speakers sound much better and provide more volume. Then later on you can add a good subwoofer. Back when I was in the car audio business I always told my customers to buy the speaker that sounded best to them but was priced within their budget.
 
I would go JL they last and the logo is always the same you can grow over years with JL.
1st front compenents then a sub all the rear does is fill in a little sound you want front stage sound.
 
Most stock car radio's are not that bad. Its the horrid cone speakers they use that ruin the sound. have you considered simply putting your money into decent speakers?

The aftermarket units all look awful and are hard to operate compared to factory radios.

I am thankful my new to me vehicle has a wonderful sound system.
 
If I had a $20k car nugget I'd put that $900 plus another $100 on top of my regular payment and get rid of a 20th of the loan.

Modern sound systems are pretty good, no need to upgrade unless your going to spend a lot. My friend put a $5k+ system into his Silverado and got a lot, but it cost him.
 
I'd just get the speakers and leave it at that. My Cruze's stereo sounds okay to me. I might upgrade the speakers if anything. I also don't want to lose the Bluetooth functions built into the stock radio, as having a call seamlessly override the music is really nice! (It's also complying with NY's hands-free cellphone laws.)
 
Originally Posted By: rjundi
Most stock car radio's are not that bad. Its the horrid cone speakers they use that ruin the sound. have you considered simply putting your money into decent speakers?

The aftermarket units all look awful and are hard to operate compared to factory radios.

I am thankful my new to me vehicle has a wonderful sound system.


This.

I'm partial to Infinity speakers myself. I'd leave the head unit alone until after warranty.
 
http://www.caraudiotalk.com/audio-forum/showthread.php?6359-who-makes-a-good-free-air(infinite-baffle)-sub/page3


look at the photo just for the rough set up. I think 2 10's would be perfect in this set up.
 
I recently redid my 2011 forester's sound system.
The stock HU was max at volume 40.. max without noticeable distortion 35... at 35 it was fine if the car wasnt moving with the windows up.

With the windows and sunroof open at max volume you literally couldnt hear it at 45mph.
It was literally the worst radio I've ever seen in a modern car (newer than 1990)
My dad's BASE cd player in a 7 year old ford ranger sounded WAY better.

The FM sounded like 1980 AM radio. Literally.

I ended up with a pioneer double din HU.. also retained the steering wheel controls.
The stock speakers were a joke with magnets smaller than a quarter. They are also mounted really low and aimed at your foot.
So I put components in front with the tweeter mounted in the door sail panel(triangle by front of front window). Rears got regular 2way's

The doors then rattled like tin cans from the upgraded speakers So I dynamat'ed the front doors this fixed 95% of the problem so I didnt do the back doors.

Overall I spent too much but after spending my budget I ended up spending 100$ more to finish it out right.

I actually liked the factory radio buttons much better but I am getting used to the pioneer HU.

Its menus are annoying kinda like listening to voice menus on phone press 1 for this 2 for that 3 for this and having to go 3-4 menus deep to change what you want.

If the factory HU had decent FM and wasnt total POOP I would have just used a 4 channel amp but it was reallly poor quality.. And this was the upgraded factory radio with usb ipod etc.


In comparison my stock 2009 hyundai touring radio wasnt overpowering but I never upgraded it because it was adequate and sounded good. Just wasnt very loud at 75 with the windows/sunroof open.

The forester's was just THAT BAD.
 
Last edited:
2003 Buick came with components up front even though it had the stock radio. Same speakers as the "concert sound" version.

My solution as I wanted it done on the cheap was to keep the front components, replace the rears with Infinity (IIRC) and put in an Alpine head unit.

Works great for my needs. Plenty of base response, in part to the factory components up front.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The problem is that most aftermarket HUs are just butt-ugly, and too gawdy to have any place in anything but the most ricey of cars.


Absolutely. I had a bear of a time finding a new head unit to replace the dead factory unit in my Audi, without having something look totally garish and out of place. I settled for an Alpine; closest looking/functioning current model is the CDE-126BT. I don't need a pile of animations or a head unit that's as bright as a spotlight. Sheesh.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: wsar10
Go with a nice HU first, other wise you'll never even hear the quality in your highs and mids, than spkr than 4 ch amp..
with these steps you'll appreciate your equipment and SQ more and more w each step.

depends on how much SQ means to ya,on a budget just do 3-ways up front 2-way rear,
If ya want better sound than do componets up front and comp. in the rear, with this you'll need to amp them upon installing them


The problem is that most aftermarket HUs are just butt-ugly, and too gawdy to have any place in anything but the most ricey of cars.

And most aftermarket stereo equipment is made for the sole purpose of extending bass to get good sensitivity and SPL, so all you get is rattling of the vehicle, not good fidelity for music.

And then we have to get into properly wiring and grounding the system...

um,
your post is about anything but true, and if this your case than your shopping in the wrong place and getting advice from the wrong ppl !
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
Anyone ever change oil in rental car?
4 5 6
Replies
105
Views
4K
Revving2Redline
C
First car for son: 3800 Buick vs Crown Vic vs Camry 2.2L....need advice
4 5 6
Replies
114
Views
5K
50yr Street Mech
rstcso
Small SUV needed; advice?
5 6 7
Replies
124
Views
3K
HemiBenny
G
Attached to older car
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
4K
slug_bug
sloinker
Wife is making grumblings about new vehicle....
5 6 7
Replies
132
Views
8K
Dinoburner
Back
Top Bottom