[BadlandsGhost]

Looking for ideas at this point, I'm not a huge audiophile, but lately I've been thinking my systems getting kind of tired. (stock 6 speaker w/ pioneer head, no underseat amp)

Heres what I would want featurewise, what would you guys suggest?
am/fm/cd/mp3, solid mfr(same for all, no pyramid stuff, lol), dont need sat radio, lcds, dont own an ipod, but would consider usb connectivity, and preferably a green display to kind of blend with the other instruments (dumb as it sounds, after 4-5 years the pioneers red/blue scheme has started to bug me)
Kinda leery of a changer, unless it can hold every cd we own, seems easier to choose on the fly.
amp? dunno, loud, clear, but don't need to make the neighbors wet the bed when I come home at night. I'm already running a 130 amp alt, and am comfortable with doing wiring, short of nuclear reactors.
Speakers: Well, I've got 16 year old stockers, anything would be an improvment, but stock location and less flash is always good.

So, if you were me what would you do?

Thanks,
J

[gunz4me]

Budget?

I'll start with your head unit. Pioneer and Clarion make some fairly decent head units that have a USB input on them. The USB input comes in handy for dropping your MP3s on a flash drive and just plugging it into the usb port to rock and roll.

As for amps, you could go with an all in one solution, like the Polk Audio Pa 1100.5, Alpine PDX-5, Rockford Fosgate 25 to Life Power 1000, or the Memphis Belle, and use it to run the whole system. The only downside is if one channel goes out on the amp, you have limited tunes to listen to while it is getting repaired/replaced. Another option would be to go with two amps. One for the door speakers and one for the subwoofers while leaving your "rear fill" speakers to play off of the head unit's power.

As for decent factory replacement speakers, it depends on your budget and what sound goals you are after. I have grown to hate the Infinity Kappa series and will NEVER use them for my mids or highs again. Other brands worth checking out would be Polk Audio, Boston Acoustics, Pioneer PRS series, and even Alpine Type Rs. The Phoenix Gold RSd series is a great performer for the money if you are looking for component speakers versus coaxials. Regardless, I would recommend getting quality door speakers since those are the ones you will hear the most while spending a little less money on your rear speakers.

As for subwoofers, since you don't want to wake the dead, I would suggest looking for a pair of 8s, a single 10, or a single 12. Unfortunately, there is a whole slew of manufacturers out there to choose from depending on your budget and what you want to accomplish. The Sundown E8 series subwoofers sound GREAT sealed and I considered running 4 myself in the daily driver. I've also had better luck with JL Audio W3 series ported as well as the W6 series sealed. I also wouldn't mind running a pair of Image Dynamics IDMAX 12s in my Mustang. The Alpine Type R subwoofer is also a solid performer that balances out the equation between sounding good and playing fairly loud.

Like I said, way too many variables without knowing your goals and your intended budget. Also, keep in mind that the name brands I mentioned are not a means to an end but rather a beginning of your insanity to start researching products

[BadlandsGhost]

Thanks for the info, mate.

Originally Posted by gunz4me

Budget?

Trying to keep it on the lighter side, this is just a sort of side project for this year, shooting for some long wanted suspension mods. I dont even want to guesstimate costs on speakers, amps etc, but if it gives some frame of reference, I was thinking about a head under $200, preferable in the 1-150 range, and doing it a bit at a time would be a likely scenario.

Originally Posted by gunz4me

I'll start with your head unit. Pioneer and Clarion make some fairly decent head units that have a USB input on them. The USB input comes in handy for dropping your MP3s on a flash drive and just plugging it into the usb port to rock and roll.

Thats exactly why I was considering it, but its by no means a dealbreaker. I've gotten along this far without it, but if I can find one comprable to a more basic model...

Originally Posted by gunz4me

As for amps, you could go with an all in one solution, like the Polk Audio Pa 1100.5, Alpine PDX-5, Rockford Fosgate 25 to Life Power 1000, or the Memphis Belle, and use it to run the whole system. The only downside is if one channel goes out on the amp, you have limited tunes to listen to while it is getting repaired/replaced. Another option would be to go with two amps. One for the door speakers and one for the subwoofers while leaving your "rear fill" speakers to play off of the head unit's power.

Well, I'm a fan of the simple is better approach, especially in what could be considered non critical systems, but are there really that many partial failures out there? Plus it'd keep costs down.

Originally Posted by gunz4me

As for decent factory replacement speakers, it depends on your budget and what sound goals you are after. I have grown to hate the Infinity Kappa series and will NEVER use them for my mids or highs again. Other brands worth checking out would be Polk Audio, Boston Acoustics, Pioneer PRS series, and even Alpine Type Rs. The Phoenix Gold RSd series is a great performer for the money if you are looking for component speakers versus coaxials. Regardless, I would recommend getting quality door speakers since those are the ones you will hear the most while spending a little less money on your rear speakers.

Well, I guess the best way I could sum it up would be: tired stock system = about a 4, and the replacement setup being about a mid-high 6. I'm not looking for the best, just solid.

Originally Posted by gunz4me

As for subwoofers, since you don't want to wake the dead, I would suggest looking for a pair of 8s, a single 10, or a single 12. Unfortunately, there is a whole slew of manufacturers out there to choose from depending on your budget and what you want to accomplish. The Sundown E8 series subwoofers sound GREAT sealed and I considered running 4 myself in the daily driver. I've also had better luck with JL Audio W3 series ported as well as the W6 series sealed. I also wouldn't mind running a pair of Image Dynamics IDMAX 12s in my Mustang. The Alpine Type R subwoofer is also a solid performer that balances out the equation between sounding good and playing fairly loud.

I'm thinking a single speaker might be better, mainly because I want to conserve as much space as possible

Originally Posted by gunz4me

Like I said, way too many variables without knowing your goals and your intended budget. Also, keep in mind that the name brands I mentioned are not a means to an end but rather a beginning of your insanity to start researching products

Well, if I had to pick a number for the budget, I'd say mid 400s, if I do it all at once, or more if I stretch the project out. (not sure if thats realistic, but we'll see.

Thanks, J

[gunz4me]

It would be tough to do EVERYTHING for $400. I did the initial system in my daily driver Civic for $700, but everything except my head unit and door speakers was purchased used. My door speakers were actually part of another project that I scrapped for my 2006 Mustang GT.

HU - $250 (Alpine CDA-9885)
Sub Amp - $90 (Rockford Fosgate P5002)
Sub $125 (Digital Designs dd1010)
Wiring $60 (e2 1/0 wiring kit)
Door speakers - $90 (CDT tweeters with Type R 6.5s)
Door speaker amp - $90 (Rockford Fosgate Power 351s)

Sadly, the JL Audio Stealthbox in my 2006 Mustang cost WAY more than my "budget" sound system in the Civic.

[BadlandsGhost]

OK, food for thought. I'll have to do some pricing, and try to figure out which way to jump. On a side note was that the price just for the sub, or the sub/box?
Are there mfrs making custom boxes for that body (well, I'd guess so, but are there any recommendations?)

Thanks
J