If your goal is just a great-sounding amp and speaker set, you should be more than well off for under (I think) the $400 mark. You have a really valuable asset in that, if you can get up towards Lancaster (past where the 405 and 5 merge),
@Vertex Audio ; does some great deals on new/used gear. Unless his stock has changed a ton, you should be able to snatch up either a Boston Acoustics GT2125 or GT275 which are PHENOMENAL A/B amps for a front stage. They're very transparent and deliver some great, clean sound; plus, they're rated for a distortion of 0.03%, so clean power can still be had at much higher than the rated values. I took one of those GT2125s, bridged it to 2 ohms, and got 1300W out of it before hitting the 1% distortion mark.
As for front stages, best thing I can suggest is start going from shop to shop and listen to what's out there. The real focus to get the most out of your speakers is in installation, really, so I would focus more of my time and attention to learning proper deadening techniques. A properly-treated door can make a WORLD of difference (and is probably why I get such a great sound out of my sub-$100 Incriminator Audio coaxials).
Here's a few sets that have really wowed me over the past few years:
PHD FB Kit 6.1 (
www.phd.it)
Incriminator Audio I65C (Can be had from
@denim ; or
@Vertex Audio ; )
JBL P660C or JBL MS-62C (Talk to
@trumpet ; . I would suggest the P660C if you want something that punches a little harder or the MS-62C if you want a more laid-back, analogue kind of sound)
Rainbow SLC 265.25 NG (Made only the way Germans can make speakers...have a quality unique to themselves. Tough as nails to find, though, unless you can find an authorized shop or a used set somewhere like
DIYMA.
Rainbow Audio USA)
And you've always got
SonicElectronix. Kind of the bane of any small outfit's existence, but they buy in bulk, so prices are normally pretty dang low:
Pioneer TS-D1720C (tsd1720c) 6.75" (Oversized 6.5") 2-Way D- (about the only Pioneer set I'd recommend unless you move up to the PRS line)
RE Audio XXX6.5C 6.5" 2-Way XXX Component Car Speakers (XXX65C)
Image Dynamics CXS64 v.2 6-1/2" Chameleon Component Speakers System
Kicker QS65.2 (09QS65.2) 6.5" QS-Series Component Car Speakers (reincarnation of Kicker's SS line. Have NOT heard these personally, though, so I recommend a demo)
That should get you started on the right foot. Just see who has these in stock
