Help the new girl

[icequeen 10+ year member]

Hi all, I am new to this so I am hoping to benefit from the vast amounts of experience everyone seems to have.

I just got my very first car and although the sound system is ok for the factory installed it pretty much sucks and I wanna beef it up. I just got a 2005 Ford Focus 4-door Sedan (ZX4, SES). I know it's not the coolest car, but I hope with some slow, not ultra expensive work I can make it my own.

Since, I'm, asking for help, any suggestions on something nice for a 2000 Chevy Impala, we just got it a few months ago but it still has all the factory installeds.

I am looking for something not ultra expensive, maybe $200-$400 dollars that won't take up my whole trunk space (from what I've been reading I think 10" may be my best option there for the ford?) Can you guys suggest a set-up or a website that will let me put in the car models and play with some things. Or maybe someone can suggest a place in Philly where I can go and get good stuff, while not getting ripped off.

If I need to leave more info, let me know any help will be great.

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[icequeen 10+ year member]

Also, mostly listen to Hip hop and r&b, although I throw in an occasional rock and jazz

 

[Corsica 5,000+ posts]

Hi all, I am new to this so I am hoping to benefit from the vast amounts of experience everyone seems to have.
I just got my very first car and although the sound system is ok for the factory installed it pretty much sucks and I wanna beef it up. I just got a 2005 Ford Focus 4-door Sedan (ZX4, SES). I know it's not the coolest car, but I hope with some slow, not ultra expensive work I can make it my own.

Since, I'm, asking for help, any suggestions on something nice for a 2000 Chevy Impala, we just got it a few months ago but it still has all the factory installeds.

I am looking for something not ultra expensive, maybe $200-$400 dollars that won't take up my whole trunk space (from what I've been reading I think 10" may be my best option there for the ford?) Can you guys suggest a set-up or a website that will let me put in the car models and play with some things. Or maybe someone can suggest a place in Philly where I can go and get good stuff, while not getting ripped off.

If I need to leave more info, let me know any help will be great.

Welcome to the board!!!

Okay first off are we talking 200-400 for everything, or just a subwoofer or what

??? Plus are we going for more a SPL (basically loud hard hitting bass not necissarily clean) or SQ (crystal clear tight accurate bass)?? is this budget for both vehicles or each???

Okay with your specified music i am gonna say a SQL or Sound Quality Loud system.......Some artists could be a lil more help with tuning too....

With this information I and others might be able to help you alot.

J

 

[CHeYeNNe 10+ year member]

Depending on what your looking to do???

New Headunit? Alpine,Pioneer,Kenwood etc.

Add some Bass? yes a nice single 10" or 12" will do.

New Front? Nice set of componets will do

Amps for power? you can go with a nice 5 channel amp to run everything and take up less room and easy to install. (recommend a Soundstream VGA800.5)

What exactly are you looking to do? a complete system or just add a little bass?

 

[g30ffr3y 10+ year member]

my friend has a 4 door focus... the trunk isnt too small...

you may be happier with a single 12 than a 10 especially

since youre going to be listening to rap and hip hop... it will

do a little better with the lower frequecies that are predominant

in that type of music... there are plenty of 12"s that dont need

a ton of box space and wont take up your whole trunk...

you can keep the space issue limited with a sealed box... but

again for your type of music a ported box would probably do

better but take up about twice as much space depending...

some nice 12"s that arent too pricey are the

resonant engineering RE series ~80bucks

resonant engineering SE series ~165 bucks

adire audio tempests those are around a hundred i think

alpine type R online you can get them around a hundred

incriminator audio lethal inforcers or 187's might do well...

if you want to keep the price down that low i wouldnt

recommend getting the stuff at a local shop since they

typically have inflated prices... you can buy a lot of

stuff online directly from the company or from the online

stores on the caraudio.com homepage...

also expect to spend some money on wiring the box the install

unless you have someone to build you a box and do the install...

anyways... welcome to car audio dot com... i know they

helped me a lot...

 

[icequeen 10+ year member]

Hopefully I'll hit most of the stuff I missed here........First, the budget is $200-$400 per car, not total

For the Focus---it has a 6 disc in dash, so don't think I need a head unit, here I was thinking an amp and subwoofer---I was looking at some enclosed subwoofers that included an amp, but I think I'll have better options if I buy spearately, right?

The Impala only has a single CD player, a head unit would be nice, but would prefer to get a nicer amp and subwoofer than trying to fit a head unit into the budget, unless it's possible to do while still having a pretty nice system.

Music---a lot of snoop (new & old) & biggie, jay z, nas, the lox, dmx, Alicia Keys, erykah badu, mos def---------I think the SQL is probably the better option

 

[swimfreak26 10+ year member]

First off, welcome to the board.

I was looking at some enclosed subwoofers that included an amp, but I think I'll have better options if I buy spearately, right?

You are correct.

As far as what to get, I would second the idea of the RE subs, but a Shiva might suit you well as they perform nicely in a sealed enclosure which will take up less space. They can be found at http://www.adireaudio.com and are $125. For an amp, look around for something that puts out 400watts at 4 ohms (shivas are dual 8 ohm coils I believe although I could be wrong).

 

[skeptikal Premium Member]

Welcome!!!!!

do you want to replace the door speakers too? or are you just wanting to go with the Sub/amp combo?

 

[icequeen 10+ year member]

Welcome!!!!!
do you want to replace the door speakers too? or are you just wanting to go with the Sub/amp combo?

A friend of mine told me that I should only replace my speakers if I blow them out and if I get an amp I don't need new speakers, becuase of that I haven't been looking for too much information on them.

Is that sound logic?

 

[swimfreak26 10+ year member]

New speakers are a must in older cars especially when you add a sub, but in the newer cars you can usually get away with not replacing them for a while as long as you don't add TOO much bass. If you go with a single 12 sealed, you'll most likely be okay IMO.

 

[slAVeGiRL 10+ year member]

Well, for one, welcome to the board. And for two, my cousin built himself a not too bad system on a small budget. He hasn't changed out his mids and highs, but he did add a Fosgate P2002 and one 12" W0 which he bought at Good Guys. It sounds pretty good (not loud enough for my taste though) considering he only spent about $500 total (I think) including wiring and installation. Can you handle upping your budget? Do you have someone to do the install? If you do, then you could save some funding in that area, and throw more towards the equipment.

 

[g30ffr3y 10+ year member]

500$ for a setup with a JL W0 is what happens

when you buy retail stuff...

there are a lot better subs that can be had for

less $$$ or slightly more which will be SH1TLOADS

better than a W0...

the shiva is definately one choice...

 

[slAVeGiRL 10+ year member]

Like I said, installation and wiring was included in the $500. That price wasn't just for the equipment which is why I asked if she had someone to hook her up on the install. Plus, I really don't think she should go for too much bass because she's looking to stick with the fac mids.

 

[g30ffr3y 10+ year member]

i have factory mids... a lot of people do... that doesnt

mean you cant have killer bass... regardless... one

12" or 10" in that pricerange wont be overkill...

anyways... im just trying to save her some $$$ and

suggest some pretty darn good equipment... well much

better equipment than JL stuff... sorry i am a JL hater...

but i had some W3's and once i tried the resonant engineering

subs i realized what overpriced crap the W3's were...

everyone will do whatever they want... i only hope to

shine some light on the subject...

 

[TIGERFOR2 10+ year member]

Image dynamic Ctsx6 and ctxs5 www. Audionmore.com $169

Two RE8's http://www.respl.com $100

Viper 450.5 amp $149 audionmore.com

ported box $?

what do you all think?