I'm new. Need help

[Tsmith 10+ year member]

Hello i'm new to the forum...Just looked for a good website to talk about systems.

I have a Envoy & i'm fixing it up for the summer! Getting all the windows tinted 2moro. And new rims/tires. Looking @ 20" or 22". As far as systems go i am new and know very little. I went to best buy and looked at there cd players/amps/speakers. I need it all..it is a little costly since i have a envoy the bracket for the cd player and whatever they have to do because my ride has on star....

Ok sorry for the story there....Whats pretty good stuff to get for a system...cd player...amp..speaker..like whats a good brand...all that...I'm not really looking to "beat the block up"

But something that sounds good..i have a suv so i dunno what would sound good and what kind of box to get....and the cd player i want one that slides down..looks cool...has a spot to plug my itouch in the front..

Thanks any help is appreciated...I will get better with my questions as i go i will learn from you guys.

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[kr15 5,000+ posts]

best buy isnt the greatest place to go. you have a local shop?

 

[Tsmith 10+ year member]

I live in greenwood indiana...I havent been able to find any local shops...I have went to some flea markets...Only reason i went to best buy is because i feel like i could trust the products and if they messed up i could take them back...My envoy is new and even tho i cant spend a whole lot of money i want the best i can get...and i want it to be name brand and installed properly...

I'm going to do some searches for local shops...I found some real good local shops for rims and tires..No luck on local audio places yet..Any suggestions or ideas for what i can get if i find one?

And like i was saying...I'm new...I need a rundown on everything needed to get. Thanks

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

well, whats your budget? for everything, that means amps, speakers, wires, headunit, labor..etc

 

[Tsmith 10+ year member]

Well when i talked to the guy at best buy he said to purchase this cd player i was looking at Pioneer - MOSFET 50W x 4 Apple iPod/Satellite Radio-Ready In-Dash CD Deck - DEH-P5100UB (this one didnt slide down but looked cool...i am looking for one that slides down..and has ipod hook up in the front...they had a kenwood one that did that but i couldnt find it on there website..) the braket..wiring...whatever they have to have for the onstar...and install it would be right at 500 dollars..

They had a rockford fosgate amp hooked to some kenwood 12s which sounded good in the store...the amp was like 300..forget how much the speakers were....So i'm looking to spend around 1000 or a little over....or if i had to go alot over i would just buy it piece by piece....Thats just the ideas i had...Probably not good ones...Thats why i never purchased anything yet...

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

well, thats not a bad deck. you are essentially paying 300$ for the install on it. Fosgate makes good amps, the thing is that for 300$ you can find better. I already know the Kenwood subs you are looking at. The KFC whatever. 400w rms im sure. Those are marginal. You are also going to need an amp kit. you are going to be well over a 1000$, and that doesnt include upgrading your mids and highs and amplification for them.

I suggest shopping around. because you are going to be paying that much for a marginal system.

 

[Tsmith 10+ year member]

Thanks.....yeah i kind of felt like i would be spending alot on a normal system....I was going to take it step by step...Like pay the 5 and get the cd player installed then go from there...Since the bracket costs so much and i have onstar which makes it that much more...i was just going to do that and have everything ready to go when i find the speakers and amp i want...i know rockford fosgate is a decent name...the flea market guy had audiodrift and boss amps...i never heard of either really...I'm looking for names i know...What would be the size speakers and kind of box and name of speakers you would suggest for a envoy.since its more of a open space....and what kind of amp to go with them...since its not going to be in a trunk..i figure it would be different?

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

since you arent looking for nothing crazy, 2 nice 10s or 12s in a sealed box would do just fine. Do you prefer a nice sound, or just loud bass?

 

[Tsmith 10+ year member]

Nice sound.. i want to hear the words...and the bass to be decent.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

well, best buy might not do it, but i know that local shops will usually allow you top bring your own components for install. you still gotta pay for labor and wiring and stuff, but it will save you alot of money.

For instance, online you could get a MBQuart 1000.1 for your subs and an MBQuart 4125 for your mids/highs for about 300$, the same price as the just the fosgate amp, and MBQ will outperform RF in its price class. For Subs you can get 2 12inch Polk DB series for about 130 or 140, or the price of 1 of those kenwoods you looked at, and the Polks will sound much better

 

[Tsmith 10+ year member]

Yeah i think best buy will only install if you buy from them...Far as the mbquart and mids/highs...I dunno what that is...What in all do you need for a system...All i know is cd player..bracket for cd player..some piece since i have onstar.....speakers...amp..wiring...what else is needed...And does it take away alot from your car battery? Should i buy a newer battery..Or a certain kind?

Like i said...I'm new to the game...Thanks for all the info your giving me tho...I'm writing it down.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

MbQuart is a company, i was referring to their amps. Mids and highs would be like tweeters and mid range speakers if you have heard those terms before. Component setups sound better for mid/highs, but can be more costly. An alternative would be replacing your factory door and dash speakers with aftermarket (i.e kenwood, pioneer) speakers.....all in all, you need a deck, subs, subbox, amp(s) and some type of mid/highs (either components or 6x9, 5x7 etc.) and you need all the install accessories, wire, bracket etc.

 

[Tsmith 10+ year member]

Ok i get it...So mids and highs are whats in the car already...But its better to get some aftermarket ones also.

They had a sign that said if you buy speakers...mids/highs and get the installation they give you a 100 dollars off...I might look into that.

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

1-Headunit (whatever floats your boat. USB input and time alignment are nice to have)

2- front speakers; components (i do not like or have rear speakers, takes away from imaging. I recommend Image Dynamics and CDT for brands. Or Alpine, Hertz for more local shops)

3-Sub (i recommend DC Soundlabs, Fi Audio for internet brands. For "mainstream" stuff JL, Alpine, Kicker CAN BE ok.)

4- Amp for sub (monoblocks are most efficient and Cadence makes some decent amps for not alot of cost.)

5- Amp for front speakers (MB Quart makes a pretty reliable product. So does Soundstream, Arc Audio, etc)

6- Wiring, and accessories (run the thickest wire you can to minimize resistance and to prevent having to run new wire if/WHEN you choose to upgrade to more power)

Try to stay below 1200 or so watts rms if you plan on not adding batteries, a high output alt or other electrical (costly) upgrades.

woofersetc dot com will be your best friend for familiarizing yourself to alot of companies.

Feel free to pm me with any and all questions.

Best of luck.

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

Also, most installation can be done yourself. Especially the making of a subwoofer box/enclosure. Simple as pie and will only cost ~20 in materials instead of 100's elsewhere. Plus then you can have it to correct specifications of the subwoofer.

A good start could be:

H/U- up to you

Front components- Image Dynamics CTX's

Sub- DC Level 3

Sub Amp- Anything close to 700rms (maybe an alpine, or kicker for big brand names)

Speaker Amp- MQ Quart DSC 2-Channel

Wiring and Accessories- 1/0 gauge or 4/0 gauge knukonceptz wiring kit. Dashkit to fit H/U, on-star stuff.

Very possible to remain under 1000 if you shop aorund and ask alot before buying.