TouchMyTweeter
CarAudio.com Newbie
Greetings everyone. I am an old man now. My car stereo building days were 25 years ago- putting a Pioneer CD deck in a crown vic, and then trading some Subway Sandwiches (I was a Sandwich Artist) for a couple of questionable 12" subs and an amp. So I didn't know much then. Imagine how little I know now.
Anyhow, I have been browsing various forums looking for ideas on how to get my car stereo up and running. Goals are having a deck with android auto, putting a backup cam on there to keep my wife happy, replacing the rotted factory 2004 speakers, and getting an amp for them and a sub. The car is a 2004 Honda Element. I will also note that I am looking for the install to be stealth.
Here is where I am at:
Subwoofer: The Honda Element was available with a factory sub in the front under the dash. Great location, as it leaves the cargo area open. I really don't want to put a box in the back, as I use the car somewhat often to transport bikes/dogs/bodies. This leads me to an option to replace the factory sub with a JL Audio Stealthbox. SEE HERE. From what I can tell, the SUB should be $250 on its own, so its a pretty steep price for an enclosure, BUT I don't know any other way to keep my cargo area open, and at least a 10" sub would be a huge upgrade from where I am at now. People who have gotten these seem happy.
AMP: I plan to mount the AMP under one of the back seats. The back seats fold up against the sides of the car, and on Honda Element forums (yes they have those!), there are guys who have gone with this mounting location. The seats can still be folded against the side when needed and the amp goes right up with them, leaving my cargo area flat and open. As for the amp itself, I want to keep it simple with 1 5-channel amp. Pricing wise I hope to get something in the $500 range?
Speakers: Fronts are 6.5 components from factory, so I'd just replace them with good ones. The tweeters are up high already. Rears are 6.5 coax, which again I think I'd just replace with good non-rotted ones. Pricing wise I figure $250 for front and $200 for rear?
Deck: Double DIN Android Auto. Open to suggestions. From what I've seen Kenwoods have the best screen res, but that's about all I know. Hope to be able to get something $500 or less.
If I do something like I've described above, will I be rocking out? I understand I won't be winning those competitions where the sound pressures at 50 feet make you get boners or whatever, but will it be badass to drive to work in, listening to good music and forgetting the depressing reality of being 40 years old and working 5 days a week, knowing this will continue until I die or reach the age of 70?
What do you guys like for amp and speakers? I've been reading up on brands like Sundown, which I'd love to try as getting US made stuff would be cool especially if its also awesome. Am I wasting my time if I also don't strip out my entire interior and cover it with dynamat and flashing LEDs?
Please take this opportunity to tell me what to do.
Regards-
Anyhow, I have been browsing various forums looking for ideas on how to get my car stereo up and running. Goals are having a deck with android auto, putting a backup cam on there to keep my wife happy, replacing the rotted factory 2004 speakers, and getting an amp for them and a sub. The car is a 2004 Honda Element. I will also note that I am looking for the install to be stealth.
Here is where I am at:
Subwoofer: The Honda Element was available with a factory sub in the front under the dash. Great location, as it leaves the cargo area open. I really don't want to put a box in the back, as I use the car somewhat often to transport bikes/dogs/bodies. This leads me to an option to replace the factory sub with a JL Audio Stealthbox. SEE HERE. From what I can tell, the SUB should be $250 on its own, so its a pretty steep price for an enclosure, BUT I don't know any other way to keep my cargo area open, and at least a 10" sub would be a huge upgrade from where I am at now. People who have gotten these seem happy.
AMP: I plan to mount the AMP under one of the back seats. The back seats fold up against the sides of the car, and on Honda Element forums (yes they have those!), there are guys who have gone with this mounting location. The seats can still be folded against the side when needed and the amp goes right up with them, leaving my cargo area flat and open. As for the amp itself, I want to keep it simple with 1 5-channel amp. Pricing wise I hope to get something in the $500 range?
Speakers: Fronts are 6.5 components from factory, so I'd just replace them with good ones. The tweeters are up high already. Rears are 6.5 coax, which again I think I'd just replace with good non-rotted ones. Pricing wise I figure $250 for front and $200 for rear?
Deck: Double DIN Android Auto. Open to suggestions. From what I've seen Kenwoods have the best screen res, but that's about all I know. Hope to be able to get something $500 or less.
If I do something like I've described above, will I be rocking out? I understand I won't be winning those competitions where the sound pressures at 50 feet make you get boners or whatever, but will it be badass to drive to work in, listening to good music and forgetting the depressing reality of being 40 years old and working 5 days a week, knowing this will continue until I die or reach the age of 70?
What do you guys like for amp and speakers? I've been reading up on brands like Sundown, which I'd love to try as getting US made stuff would be cool especially if its also awesome. Am I wasting my time if I also don't strip out my entire interior and cover it with dynamat and flashing LEDs?
Please take this opportunity to tell me what to do.
Regards-