buy a new sound system - newbie

[IoannisT]

Hello all!

I have an old nissan almera on which i want to put a new sound system. The problem is i know almost nothing about it!

I was thinking to buy HERTZ ESK 165 2 WAY SEPARATE (including the tweeters) and a dragster subwoofer. These were proposed by a local shop. By the way, i have a pioneer DEH-140UB (MOSFET 50W x 4).

1) Could someone post the basics for car audio (what's db, Watt, RMS values and what are good values of them)?

2) Is the prosposed sound system appropriate for my car? I don't want something superb, but a medium (and cheap) style. I just want to listen to music 2 or 3 times better than the current (car has manufacturer's speakers - 4 of them).

3) Any other suggestions (what to buy) would be appreciated.

Many thanks!

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[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

Hertz makes quality equipment so that set will sound pretty good but to really get the most from them you are going to need to put them on an external amp. That HU will do a good 15watts rms per channel and you really need a good 50-75rms+ per channel. I have no idea about the sub and really cant recommend anything cause I am not sure what you can get in your country.

To answer your first question Google is your friend.

 

[cablguy184 10+ year member]

1) Could someone post the basics for car audio (what's db, Watt, RMS values and what are good values of them)?

This looks like a great starting place to me ...

Check it out ...

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/general-discussion/61853-car-audio-terms-defined.html

 

[IoannisT]

Thank you both.

I went ot another local dealer today and he said to me to buy just woofers + amp.

He proposed some Caliber stuff, but i think it's not so good.

He also said i could just buy a pair of Kenwood KFC 7962 speakers and it will do the job.

What's your opinion?

a) The first one went with a complemented solution (Hertz speaker+tweeters and a pair of Dragster woofer without an amp.)

b) The other said i cannot play the woofer without an amp and he proposed the above-described system.

c) ???

 

[treesive 10+ year member]

I like the idea of the hertz speakers on an external amp with like a JBL sub (I think you can more than likely buy them in greece). The second dealer is correct about the woofers and the need for another amp if they are subwoofers. It could be that they are just a couple of speaker woofers but they wouldn't be much for bass. Amp wise, you should look into either a four channel that will do similar rms to your speakers per channel and then will bridge two channels together close to the same rms as your sub. OR you can buy a small 2-channel amp for the speakers and a mono for the sub. This will be easier for matching rms but takes up more room and requires more installation time. Hope this helps as I rambled some and just don't know what type of equipment is available to you.

 

[IoannisT]

Thanks treesive. It's true i cannot find much of equipment here in Greece, moreover i live in a city far away from capital (Athens) where i could find more stuff.

Anyway, my main problem is that i have four different combinations of equipment, for every local dealer i have seen:

1) HERTZ ESK 165 2 WAY SEPARATE (including the tweeters) and a dragster subwoofer without external amp.

2) a) 1X CA 1500E RACING MONO AMPLIFIER 700W/4Ω + SUBWOOFER 200W

2) b) Just speakers - Kenwood KFC 7962

3) woofer + speakers - SONY XS-F6926SE + SONY 1727 OR some equivalent Labracxs

4) Soundstream LS-50C 100W SEPARATE (including the tweeters)

Prices (from euros to dollars)

1) $178 + $138 + $28 = $344 (hertz + dragster + work)

2) a) $191 + $96 = $287 (amp-woofer + work)

2) b) $109 + $20 = $129 (kenwood KFC 7962 + work)

3) $123 + $90 + $27 = $240 (SONY XS-F6926SE + SONY 1727 OR equivalent Labracxs + work)

4) $248

i) What's the best solution?

ii) What's the best value for money?

 

[treesive 10+ year member]

Best solution... Hertz speakers without a subwoofer unless you buy an amplifier suitable for it.

Best value... The kenwood is a decent product for the price.

Stay away from sony in car audio. They ****. I don't have any experience with soundstream so maybe someone else might be able to help you about them. I did a little research and found that ca 1500 whatever amp and sub. He told you 700 watts at 4ohm but it is actually 150 rms. It appears that it is a like system in a box type thing which includes the sub, amp, and wedge box. There wasn't near enough info that I could find to make me feel it was worth it. Same thing with the dragster sub. I would buy a jbl, pioneer, alpine, etc before buying one of them. From what I could tell though, it would definitely require a amplifier to run. Hope this rambling helps but there are a lot of people on this site that are more versed in this so I'm sure they will chime in if they don't agree or have more info for you. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[IoannisT]

treesive, i can tell that you say i should buy a woofer only if i buy an external amp, too?

So, without an amp it's not worth it?

Because i was thinking to go the other way: buy just woofers (and maybe tweeters - something like soundstream option). //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

 

[IoannisT]

Another question in order to understand better:

Which one should i buy Hertz

a) Energy ESK 165, 2 way, 100W

b) Energy ESK 570, 2 way, 100W, 5" x 7"

c) Energy ESK 163L, 3 way, 125W

buy a or b (about 30 dollars a cheaper than b)? Oval (b) is better than round (a) shape?

if i buy c should i get an amp or otherwise it would be useless?

if i have to buy an amp i can buy onle the cheapest one ($?).

 

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

Go with the esk165's and the drag sub. Then Buy a 4 channel amp use 2 channels to power the esk's and bridge the last 2 channels to the sub.. Cheapest and best way.