Looking for thoughts on my audio purchase

[bamaster 10+ year member]

Hey all, new guy here. It's been a while since I've been on the car audio scene... back in the day it was PPI and MB Quarts and now I'm reading all about brands that I've never heard of. But last night I splurged and bought some equipment.

I drive a Mustang, so I was looking for drop-ins, or something as close as possible. I had a budget of $2k so that was a problem. But here's what I got. Just looking for thoughts about it.

• Alpine CDA-9886 - CD Receiver with iPod and USB connectors
  
• JL Audio VR650-CSi - 6-3/4" Components for front doors
  
• JL Audio VR525-CSi - 5-1/4" Components for rear deck
  
• JL Audio G4500 - 80x4 Amplifier
  
• Rockford Fosgate 12" Subwoofer - Trunk enclosure w/ amplifier

It all came to $1,370. (The only thing I actually bought from Crutchfield was the Alpine) I figure at least $700 for install, which would put me at my $2k budget.

Thanks in advance!

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[Buck 5,000+ posts]

I don't know where you got everything, but I bet you could of gotten it for a lot cheaper.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

That's a pretty weak system for $2,000, honestly.

If you buy stuff other than JL and install it yourself, $2k will buy you a great system.

 

[bamaster 10+ year member]

I don't know where you got everything, but I bet you could of gotten it for a lot cheaper.

• The Alpine from Crutchfield for $244
  
• JL Audio G4500 from SonicElectronix for $250
  
• JL Audio VR650-CSi from SonicElectronix for $190
  
• JL Audio VR525-CSi from SonicElectronix for $180
  
• Fosgate sub enclosure from Stage3Motorsports for $475
  

I thought they were pretty good prices. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

A little for shipping. But all in all, it was $1370.

 

[silver07 10+ year member]

Well the thing about JL is they aren't the best for the money is what everyone is going to say.

 

[bamaster 10+ year member]

That's a pretty weak system for $2,000, honestly.
If you buy stuff other than JL and install it yourself, $2k will buy you a great system.

Well, it only cost $1370. And honestly, I don't have the patience to install it myself. I would if I had someone help me, but I've never done it before so I know I'd jack it up. I was just figuring $500-$700 for install. I haven't priced that out yet.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

If I were you, I'da gotten one nice pair of components for your front speakers, and a powerful amp for them (100-150x2) and then just gotten some coaxials for the rears and run them off the head unit.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Hey all, new guy here. It's been a while since I've been on the car audio scene... back in the day it was PPI and MB Quarts and now I'm reading all about brands that I've never heard of. But last night I splurged and bought some equipment.
I drive a Mustang, so I was looking for drop-ins, or something as close as possible. I had a budget of $2k so that was a problem. But here's what I got. Just looking for thoughts about it.

• Alpine CDA-9886 - CD Receiver with iPod and USB connectors
  
• JL Audio VR650-CSi - 6-3/4" Components for front doors
  
• JL Audio VR525-CSi - 5-1/4" Components for rear deck
  
• JL Audio G4500 - 80x4 Amplifier
  
• Rockford Fosgate 12" Subwoofer - Trunk enclosure w/ amplifier

It all came to $1,370. (The only thing I actually bought from Crutchfield was the Alpine) I figure at least $700 for install, which would put me at my $2k budget.

Thanks in advance!

A million people are gonna say you got *****, but the bottom line is when it's all installed how you feel about it. Maybe your goal was to not be the loudest, or have the cleanest sound. Maybe you just wanted something louder than stock

Since you are asking about our thoughts, I'll give you mine. I would not have paid that much for what you got. 250 for that JL amp is not a good deal. It is not even the best 4 channel JL has. I have never heard those speakers so I can't comment on them. But being that they are JL and you went to SE, you paid too much. I am assuming you wanted a sub/amp combo that still gave you ample trunk space. Otherwise, I would not have paid 500 for that.

The bottom line is you paid for it, it's coming you are gonna get it installed. Do it up and let us know how it is.

 

[bamaster 10+ year member]

Well the thing about JL is they aren't the best for the money is what everyone is going to say.

Really? Like I said, it's been a while. Isn't JL Audio Jeff Clark (or whatever his name is)?

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

JL Audio is very nice equipment, no doubt, however their performance to price ratio sucks. You pay a lot of money for performance that can be achieved by other brands for half the price. You're really paying for the name.

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

That's a pretty weak system for $2,000, honestly.If you buy stuff other than JL and install it yourself, $2k will buy you a great system.

x2, not to be a jerk or anything. But that was money not well spent. You should of made a thread and let us help you. That JL stuff probally cost you an arm and a leg. Shot for 1000 alone I could get a system better than that. Still good products you chose none the less.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

JL isn't what it once was like so many other yesterday brands of today...Mustangs are straight forward cars...and make simple installs..even for a novice......I have owned several models of Mustangs....all have had big systems...Crutchfield will send you a sheet if you get the deck from them showing you everything you need to do...no sense in paying a shop $80 an hour that most likely has some kid working for min wage that don't give a damn about what he breaks in your car....

 

[Lil Poot 5,000+ posts]

poor guy... i'd return that stuff if you still can, and read up on here a little bit.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

poor guy... i'd return that stuff if you still can, and read up on here a little bit.

i hope he hasn't bought yet....

 

[bamaster 10+ year member]

If I were you, I'da gotten one nice pair of components for your front speakers, and a powerful amp for them (100-150x2) and then just gotten some coaxials for the rears and run them off the head unit.

Oh man, that's genius. Ok, I canceled the JL Audio amp and components. I was lucky it hadn't shipped already. Want to make a recommendation?

A million people are gonna say you got *****, but the bottom line is when it's all installed how you feel about it. Maybe your goal was to not be the loudest, or have the cleanest sound. Maybe you just wanted something louder than stock
Since you are asking about our thoughts, I'll give you mine. I would not have paid that much for what you got. 250 for that JL amp is not a good deal. It is not even the best 4 channel JL has. I have never heard those speakers so I can't comment on them. But being that they are JL and you went to SE, you paid too much. I am assuming you wanted a sub/amp combo that still gave you ample trunk space. Otherwise, I would not have paid 500 for that.

The bottom line is you paid for it, it's coming you are gonna get it installed. Do it up and let us know how it is.

Fantastic reply. I have the Shaker 500 system in my Mustang. It's just not what I would call great sound. And pretty much anything is better than that. But I do listen to music loud, mainly rock and hip hop, so it needs the full audio range, right?

I like the sub enclosure, it fits perfectly and looks stock. I'm confident that it'll give me plenty of bass. As I mentioned above, I canceled the JL Audio stuff so I'll buy something else for the 4ch amp and speakers. Looking now...