First ever build, need help

[Merciless 10+ year member]

Hey, my name is Ben and I am 15. I just bought a 1995 Chevy C1500 extended cab. It has two blown stock speakers, and I want to put a system in it.

Requirements:

1) Cheap (looking at spending ~200 on HU and speakers and ~100 on a sub and amp)

2) gotta sound decent

So I found this deal on crutchfield, and want your guys' opinion. I also know next to nothing about speakers, but I like rap and rock and would like to play music off my phone.

Also, I am planning on buying the sub/amp/enclosure used later down the road because I cant afford decent, new stuff.

Head Unit:

JVC KD-HDR20 CD receiver at Crutchfield.com

It is 100 bucks, and comes with free 150 dollar speakers...

Is this a good head unit?

Are the JVC 6x9's that come with it good?

Is JVC a decent brand?

All in all, is the HU and 6x9's worth 100 bucks?

BTW, I know my truck has 4x6's in the C-Pillars, but my dad and me are going to mod it. I think it is an attempt by my parents to satisfy my bass needs, so that I dont get a sub and get some tickets //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif I hope it fails //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fro.gif.c695f1f814b01c4ad99fe7f8cccadd29.gif

I am pretty sure that it is a good deal, however, I am not so sure on 6.5's in the doors.

I am looking at

Polk Audio db651s 6-1/2" 2-way shallow-mount car speakers at Crutchfield.com

Alpine SPS-600 Type-S 6-3/4" 2-way car speakers — fits in 6-1/2" or 6-3/4" openings at Crutchfield.com

Boston Acoustics S65RC 6-1/2" 2-way car speakers at Crutchfield.com

I am leaning towards the polks.

I like the Alpines because they RMS the same as the 6x9's (80), whereas the polks hit 55, and the BA's only hit 35.

The polks have higher sensitivity and hit the lowest.

Which would you recommend?

I also have some more generic questions:

1) I can mix and match brands front and rear, even if they have different RMS's right? I just have to watch it if I amp them?

2) Is the jump from 2-way to 3-way in the 6.5's worth the price. All the 6.5's in the ~100 dollar range (from decent brands) are 2-way. Only Sony and other no names make 3-4 ways. Although, my 6x9's are 5-way //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

3) Stock speaker wiring is fine, right?

Thanks for all the help!!!

Ben

Click to read more...

 

[xoutofmyheadx 10+ year member]

oh boy where to start with you..... so lemme get this right, you only have 300 to spend on a system right now? so you'll pickup and hu and 1 set of speakers, you plan on just powering the speakers with the hu? you can't get subs and amp for 100. weather a speaker is 2-way, 3way, 4way or more doesn't make the speaker any better. RMS is NOT how loud your speaker will output, it's how much power your speaker can handle. you only feed a 100rms speaker 20watts you're only getting 20watts. most hu's output is around 20rms. NEVER pay attention to any MAX power stats it's just a selling point that companies use to make themselves sound better. crutchfield is only really good for buying hu's do not buy sub's and amps from them prices are outragous. JVC does make decent hu's so that part is ok. we'll help you pick out better options for you tho just give it a few to look things up.

 

[xoutofmyheadx 10+ year member]

welcome to an expensive hobby. 6x9's are mostly only good for back decks (cars that have trunks) they need the trunk space to get the performance out of them. otherwise 6.5's are plenty big enough. this is why nobody puts them in custom builds that they mount in pillars. so if you're going to mod the back pillars, i would stick to 6.5's with that being said this would be a better choice for you. JVC KD-HDR60 Car Stereo w/HD Radio + FREE Pair of JVC Speakers

JL Audio TR650-CSi (tr650csi) - 6-1/2" Component Speakers System - Sonic Electronix

this will get you a start. next i would work on picking up and amp to power these speakers. keep in mind you'll need an amp wirng kit with rca's. which you can find for 80bux or so.

 

[Johnny Law.Lulz 5,000+ posts]

I suggest save your money. Invest in a good cd player right off the bat. That is the brain of your system, why cut corners. Then start saving for the rest of your system. Dont rush it all at once, do it right the first time.

 

[KMS 10+ year member]

I bought used stuff here and there. I have a low budget and bought some fairly decent equipment. $200 for a set of component speakers, sub, and coaxials for the rear.

$180 on a headunit.

$30 on wires out of a box from a guy who had some laying around.

You just have to look around. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Merciless 10+ year member]

@ xoutofmyheadx

I was planning on powering my speakers with the HU. I know that peak power is BS, but I thought that 80 watts (20 per speaker) of RMS through the HU is good enough.

So you can't power speakers with the HU?

The more RMS wattage you apply means more volume correct?

I want to be able to turn up the volume, but do I really need all 80 watts of RMS each speaker can provide?

Also there are quite a few sub/amp/enclosure combinations for around $100 through craigslist in my local area.

I want to get all my stuff at the same place, so should I use

crutchfield

ebay

or sonic?

Can you put 6.5's in a 4x6 slot?

How big of a performance hit am I taking with the 6x9's in the C-Pillars over what they would be above a trunk?

The JVC's HU and 6.5's you suggest are running 40 watts rms? Is that enough?

And the JL's are component, and I want to stick with coaxial so I don't have to cut stuff up. Can you attach the tweeter to the woofer with these? And they are only 50 watts RMS.

I see new speakers on ebay for 40-50 bucks less than other retailers, are these ok?

Thanks for all the help so far!!!

Ben

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

You can build an adapter plate to fit over the 4x6 dash slot and run 6.5's ...

 

[xoutofmyheadx 10+ year member]

ideally you want to piece together a system over time to get the best stuff possible the 1st time, but i don't think you'll be patient enough todo that. you've got 300 and wanna get everything right now. most advice on here would be something like, 2-300 for hu,150 for comps for the front, 100 for coax for the back, 150-200 for subs, build your own box, 200 for sub amp, 200 for front amps, 100 for wiring (yes you can find cheaper) but just to give a better idea on what you should be looking for. when it comes to comp sets, you don't need to drill anything. you can mount the tweets with double sided tape if you want to. no it's not the best install but you can make it look not that bad.........if you ever heard a 6x9 in a deck, you'd know that they're able to shake the mirrors a little bit with only hu power. put them in the pillars and there won't hardly be any of that at all. they'll just sound like 6.5's they need the air space that a trunk provides to get the (dare i say it) bass out of them. you're going to take a 4x6 and try to stuff it with a 6x9, like crx said here, it's easier to stuff it with a 6.5. .......... you're not understanding the rms totally yes that's how it works but like i said it doesn't matter if the speaker is 20rms or 120rms if you're only pushing 20rms through it, that's all your getting. so it doesn't matter if you've got a speaker that can only handle 40rms or 50rms if you're only using the hu to power them. why do you need to get a 100rms speaker if you're only putting 20rms to it? ............. i don't think ANYBODY buys things from just 1 place. sonix and crutchfield are great for hu's cause they also send install parts for free, other than that, shop around unless you don't care on how much money you spend. if that's the case, then spend double the money at crutchfield.

now, all of this is going from the point that you want subs in that truck. if you want subs, i'm assuming you want to be chest poundng loud. you get a sub in the truck that does that, it'll drown out the speakers this is why you'll want to power them. you need to figure 1 thing, 1- what do you want from your system. and build from there. if you want to do it the right way then i suggest not to get the set-up that i put out earlier.

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

kids dont listen these days... Spend spend spend on cherap shitty shit

 

[Wingsfreak9 10+ year member]

i say save some money...but a decent headunit first and then start to piece together your system...get a nice set of components for the front and rear of your truck. eventually buy a nice 4 channel to power them and then eventually buy a decent sub/amp. you dont want to buy that cheap prefab stuff u will realize ur overpaying and its not worth it. stick around here awhile and you will learn

 

[Merciless 10+ year member]

Well, honestly, this really isn't worth more than 300 bucks to me.

I need to buy a helmet/jacket/gloves for my motorcycle. I need to pay for car and motorcycle insurance. I need a new phone. I need money for gas and some for dates with my gf.

I am not after sound quality. I just want decent sound quality. To me, I think stockers are half-way decent, but could use some more high-end and loudness.

I want (priority #)

1- BASS //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/nerd.gif.c6fa51ddf7ff75f1c0371fbc648f70ae.gif

2- Loud (not get a ticket loud, but you know....... loud...)

3- Sound quality/clarity

I was considering some Sony xplods //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/blush.gif.99bc659ee2012b7d826165e26fb5eebe.gif

So no offense to anyone, but I don't spend alot of time in my car, and this is only worth ~300 bucks to me. I don't mean to waste your time or anything //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/blush.gif.99bc659ee2012b7d826165e26fb5eebe.gif

Also, I forgot to mention that I was planning on buying a 4-Channel later down the road (3-6 monthes) after I got my sub.

@outofmyhead

It is not a matter of patience, but of cash //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

I realize that your are only getting the RMS your amp (or HU in my case) is putting out, but would like to get a 4-channel amp down the road.

Lastly,

is Ebay ok? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

Thanks so much everyone (especially outofmyhead) for all the help so far!

Ben

 

[xoutofmyheadx 10+ year member]

ebay is fine. i knew you were gonna say sony xplodes. you want loud = to somebody who's never heard a system. well, you're 15 so not even driving yet. you'll be spending more and more time in your truck. we're just tellin you to if you do it your way, you'll be trowing all these things out in a year or less to get something better. we're just tryin to save you the trouble, cause we've all been there done that. you can always take these things out and put them in a diff car later on.

so if nothing really matters why are you asking any questions? if you think a stock system sounds decent then it doesn't matter what you buy and you don't really belong on this site. we on this site think stock speakers **** nutz. that's the 1st thing i change on any car i've ever had.

 

[UMWDawg92 10+ year member]

this HU KENWOOD EXCELON KDC-X494 INDASH CD//MP3/WMA NEW 2010 - eBay (item 280569413138 end time Oct-08-10 10:35:18 PDT)

these speakers PHOENIX GOLD RSD65CS 6.5" Component Speakers RSD 65CS - eBay (item 110576200806 end time Oct-19-10 18:16:34 PDT)

this 2 channel NEW Phoenix Gold RSd250.2 Car 2-Channel Amplifier Amp - eBay (item 360306268486 end time Oct-31-10 21:47:36 PDT)

get this and then save up to get a decent sub and amp to match

 

[Deeper_shades 10+ year member]

I suggest save your money. Invest in a good cd player right off the bat. That is the brain of your system, why cut corners. Then start saving for the rest of your system. Dont rush it all at once, do it right the first time.

great advice.

the polk db series are very good for the price.

 

[Merciless 10+ year member]

I am sorry. I was zoning out. My mom's Avalanche has Bose, and my dad's GTP is also running some "high end" factory stuff. In my opinion that stuff sounds pretty good. I think my truck sounds bad, but because of the distortion. I really can't judge sound quality as they just distort all the time.

I would really love to have 1100 bucks laying around to get a pretty kick a$$ system.

1. Would you recommend 4x6's or 6.5's in the rear?

2. What would you buy on a 200-250 dollar budget? This is for front and rear speakers, Head Unit, and possibly an amp for the 4 speakers.

Thank you for all the help so far! It really means alot to me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/veryhappy.gif.fec4fed33b4a1279cf10bdd45a039dae.gif

Ben