[quote name='peterletran']It would appear a lot of the professional guys are making this experience a little too complicated.
I was once in your shoes, too. I had an Accord, Civic, Integra and multiple other vehicles of that generation with stock systems. I hated them all.
In my experience, you don't NEED an amplifier for your door and rear speakers unless you're trying to pierce your ears with high frequencies.
Currently, I have a 2008 Scion xB and before that I had a 2004 Scion xB and even before that I had a 94 Toyota 4runner.
Even with speakers that have disintegrated, my head unit with a 200hz high pass filter and 5 band parametric equalizer cleaned all that up.
Same with my friends' and families' car. All this was achieved with an Alpine CDA-9886 head unit. which costs somewhere around $250.
Yes, this head unit is VERY outdated, so don't go out and buy that. I don't even think they sell it anymore.
With a decent subwoofer and amplifier in a pre-fab box, you don't have to spend more than $750.
Pre-fab 12" boxes shouldn't cost more than
$75, but for rock, I recommend 10" subs for faster response times.
I'm currently running an Alpine ICS-x7HD which is much too expensive for your budget, but
the Alpine UTE-52BT is listed at
$140 which has a
9 band parametric equalizer plus
high and low pass cross-overs.
Hell, I used to run FOUR 8" Qpower silver series on a Planet Audio Big Bang 1000watt version1.
The speakers I got for
$25 a piece and the planet audio I got for
$120.
In my experience, flea markets are where you want to shop for cheap but decent car audio products.
These guys on this forum are heavy hitters. They're always looking for quality and precision.
I've never had more than a couple hundred bucks to buy anything fancy, so I always bought whatever works.
Don't buy speakers that cost more than a hundred bucks and don't buy amps that cost more than $500.
For decent subwoofers, I always aim for around 1000 watts RMS amps and speakers.
I've always loved Memphis, but they're over-priced and hard to find cheap.
I'm currently running DB Drive K912d4s which I got for $250 a piece, but they "rattle people's homes".
And my amp is DB Drive a7.2500.1 which isn't very strong and over-priced.
Back in the day, I got a Memphis 16-PRD1000.1 for $150 and I think you'd be happy with that if you can find it's equivalent.
Definitely stay away from big brand box stores or whatever you call bestbuy walmart or whatnot. They only sell junk that is overpriced.
Oh ... and get your hands on a set of $10-$20 tweeters. You don't need to spend $100 on a set of components. Its just not necessary.
Alpines head-units do run a little weak, so if its still not loud enough, get a cheap 50x4 amplifier, but make sure it is truly 50watts RMS.
A lot of companies tend to botch their numbers just so people will unknowingly buy their products.
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This is exactly why people should come to forums for advice, because they get this kind of stuff from their cousin or next door neighbor. Nothing a flea market sells is appealing to anyone with taste.
@peterletran, no disrespect, but you're only saying this because I am positive you have no experience with something that actually sounds good. Yes, I can throw some pyle speakers on a sony HU. It'll make sound, may even sound better than a TV. If that's the best you've ever heard, you will probably go on a forum and tell everyone that's the way to go. That's why if someone is on a conservative budget, they should probably use all of it. Time and time again it has been shown that cheaping out on stuff costs more in the long run. If he goes to a flea market and buys whatever the hell you're telling him to buy, then has a listen to something that's actually good, he'll want to scrap what he already has. I've played that game, I've had boss, power acoustik, and whatever else nonsense there is out there. My recommendation to you, sir, is to link up with someone from here with quality equipment and have yourself a listen. If the op goes to a flea market and his sh$t blows in 2 months, are you paying him back for it? Doubt it. I don't care if you retracted your statement, this advice has no place here.
