Getting ready for first system

[ekaiser 10+ year member]

Heya..

I'm getting ready to buy my first system, and i know very little about what i'm doing beyond the random review's i've read over the last few weeks. I've gone to a few shops to get estimates and stuff before i decide what to buy, and most places want a little more than double the price you can get the shit online for.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/droo2000/CIMG2936.jpg

The car is a 2005 sebring, and i don't want a standard box. The back seats fold down and i'm a snowboarder so i need to be able to use the sides of the trunk for whatever i'm going to do.

Here's the setup the guys @ my local shop wanted to sell me for 1,200 (with install and custom inclosure for the sides)

HU:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-ldEIAKjWnOc/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=158GT300

(although i've heard lots of terrible things about sony's head units)

(140$)

Amp:

Massive 1000.1

http://massivemulti-media.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2&zenid=36c57f0b17271f4a33050f7ac4912468

(359$)

Subs:

(2) Massive RW12's

http://massivemulti-media.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=30

(150x2 = 300$)

so that comes out to 800$, so the last 400 would be for the box, install, wires ect..

My questions are...

-Is this a decent equiptment for my budget

-Will the placement of the box / subs be alright

-Would it be smarter to buy all this stuff myself, bring it all to a shop and just have them install it / make me a box

Thanks for any input..

-Andrew

Click to read more...

 

[MBrock4u 10+ year member]

Hi and welcome to the forum! So this is your first huh?? Let see if we can't help you out a little shall we Fist of all I would get a better head unit. Your head unit is the most important piece of the puzzle. It can take you a long way for getting the sound you desre. Looking at your budget, Try to get a mid grade Pioneer, Alpine or Kenwood Excelon. Any of those wiil put you in the right direction. Price 200.00-250.00 Next I would go for the front stage. If you can try to be patient and do some homework on the type of speakers that fit your needs. A few good brands to to look at are polk audio, Rainbow, CDT, and Diamonds. Coaxles will probably fit your budget better than componants. 100-200.00 As far as your subs not a bad choice , but look at some alpine type E's or audio assasines. They will pound and are about 70 bucks apiece. Then you have the rest for the sub amp or you could get a 4 channel amp and power everything from that. Wire and ect..Just a few thoughts. Try to do your homwork and reserch this stuff. Listenwith your own ears if you can, and read this forum.. There'salotf people on here that can help you. Have sure helped me. Good Luck! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Steven206Seattl 10+ year member]

I just bult my system last week. First one too. One thing I learned was most people on this forum will help you more than audio shops. Order everything online!! And wiring everything yourself is easy. I just got into subs in june and wired mine. I would suggest not to get the sony but it's also your system. Alpines are my favorite. One of the most important thing you have to know is to not get some cheap amp either. Don't get hifonocs. Don't know much about massives though. I've heard of amps that were told to put out 600 watts and were tested and only did around 180! That's why it is sometimes better to spend a little more and get a brand that has a rep already and has beem out there for a while. Those subs look good though. If that company has subs like that the amp should be good too. Wire it yourself though. Learn how to do it so you can do it again and not spend money everytime you get a new system. Once you do it once it's really easy. If you have room make or get a vented enclosure. If it's limited space get a sealed. I like vented a lot and sacrificed my space in my el camino. I have the passenger seat slid all the way forward lol. I hope this is kinda helpful. Good luck.

Steven

 

[Steven206Seattl 10+ year member]

Oh yeah. If you do a ported box be carful with em because some can sound like crap. Sealed may be better unless you wanna make a few ported boxes until one works good.

 

[ekaiser 10+ year member]

Thanks for all the quick input //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif ...

After doing a lot of reading i think i know a little bit more about what i want...

As far as the HU goes, is this a better choice?

http://acaraudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_29&products_id=1803

Then for front / rear speakers i'm between these..

http://acaraudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_41&products_id=440

and

http://acaraudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_41&products_id=1611

If i were to start out with just replacing the HU and front/rear speakers with these would i be on the right track to adding some subs / a nice amp later on?

 

[BigEM 10+ year member]

that one should be better, go ahead and do a search of stuff on ebay you should be able to get all your stuff cheaper there, if its available there, also you should go ahead and do your own install and build your own box, you could get plans from someone in here, trust me itll save you a whole bunch of money for something else.

later, em

 

[ekaiser 10+ year member]

I'm sure i'll end up buying my stuff on ebay to save some money, and doing most of the install myself now that i understand what i'm doing a little more. As far as the box('s) go i want a really nice custom look. Is it uncommon to go to a shop that does custom work, bring your own gear and ask them to do it for you? (ie build a sealed box that would fit what i need perfectly) Do they get offended or whatever when you are bringing in stuff you get offline instead of buying it from them?

 

[Certified_Audio 10+ year member]

Thanks for all the quick input //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif ...
After doing a lot of reading i think i know a little bit more about what i want...

As far as the HU goes, is this a better choice?

http://acaraudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_29&products_id=1803

Then for front / rear speakers i'm between these..

http://acaraudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_41&products_id=440

and

http://acaraudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_41&products_id=1611

If i were to start out with just replacing the HU and front/rear speakers with these would i be on the right track to adding some subs / a nice amp later on?

The Diamonds are gonna be much better in SQ. You can find those Diamonds cheaper at soniceletronix.com. The Head Unit is a good pic, much better then Sony crap.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

If you want to find all your stuff, look at sonicelectronix.com they have a wide selection of all brands, and sell at the same as ebay prices and sometimes cheaper.

 

[Steven206Seattl 10+ year member]

That alpine's tight. You'll be a lot happier with that than the sony. Both those speakers look good too. If you bring your stuff you bought online and take it to a audio shop they'll charge more money than normal. You could do it yourself or if you don't want to do it buying your stuff on ebay will make up for the fees of installation. On ebay there may be some refurbed stuff but sometimes refurbed can be better because they have the manufacturers go through everything and do tests so you know that everythings working good when you get a refurbed.

 

[Trixter 10+ year member]

i will be doing an install on the same car with a 12" RL-p and an US Amps MD22. the sub will be on one side and the amp on the other. both will be housed in painted fiberglass enclosures. (the amp will be under plexi with a vent fan) ((luckly my wife has the same car also so i can use it for a mold.)) just telling you this for ideas. the sides of that trunk are good for using like that...if you can.

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

I'm sure i'll end up buying my stuff on ebay to save some money, and doing most of the install myself now that i understand what i'm doing a little more. As far as the box('s) go i want a really nice custom look. Is it uncommon to go to a shop that does custom work, bring your own gear and ask them to do it for you? (ie build a sealed box that would fit what i need perfectly) Do they get offended or whatever when you are bringing in stuff you get offline instead of buying it from them?

if they are a decent shop, no.

money is money. And most dont charge much for the basic installation, custom is when it starts racking up