Need advice - audio system upgrade, Honda CRV

[OakIris 10+ year member]

I would like to upgrade my CRV's audio system. It is a 2002 Honda CRV with stock audio components.

I don't have the $$ to buy top of the line equipment, but wonder if I can get something decent for around $500-600. I am not a bass head, mostly listen to classical rock, classical, jazz, blues and world music, so don't feel the need to install subwoofers that rattle the windows on the houses I drive by. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

For the head unit, I would like one that has an HD receiver, if possible, as well as a decent CD player. Is Alpine a good choice? For speakers, I don't know. I believe they have to be 6.5s to fit; I figure the stock speakers must be pretty cheap so I think most after-market brands should be an improvement!

Sorry to be such a newbie, //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/redface.gif.62fdbfe1a101588a808c4cff71bcb942.gif , but any advice would be welcome.

Holly

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[OakIris 10+ year member]

Nobody here is willing to help? Could someone perhaps link me to another web site that has a forum for know-nothing beginners?

Thanks,

Holly

 

[billabongcr 5,000+ posts]

buy all JL.

 

[kross 10+ year member]

To paraphrase The Color of Money:

"You walk into a JL store with $600, you come out with one speaker!"

 

[kross 10+ year member]

The only relatively inexpensive HU with HD radio that I know of, is the JVC KD-HDR1, which can be bought online for about $180.

For speakers, do you want coaxials or components? Components will sound better, but are a little more difficult to install, because you need to cut a hole for the tweeter, and find someplace to mount the crossovers. But if you don't mind doing that, it's worth the effort.

Also, most people will say you should just get a good set of components for the front, and forget rear speakers altogether, except for a subwoofer. You'll get better stereo staging and imaging. Also, good quality speakers and an amp will get more than loud enough to fill your car with sound.

For component speakers, you can get the Phoenix Gold RSd65cs set for about $129/pair.

If you really want to stay with coaxial speakers, the best ones for the money are the Pioneer REV series.

You will need an amp. All aftermarket speakers will need an amp, otherwise they'll sound no better than the stock speakers. Profile makes some pretty good quality low cost amps.

Also, you will need a subwoofer. No speaker can reproduce the entire audio spectrum. Let the components handle the higher frequencies, and let the subwoofer handle the lows. A single 10" in a stealth box as really all you need, to bring back the low bass that the other speakers will be missing.

Hope this helps!

-- Kevin

 

[OakIris 10+ year member]

Thank you all for the advice. I was afraid that my budget was rather low, but I don't know if I can throw in any more $$. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif I'll have to see.

I will probably need to budget for someone to do the install, too, as I really don't want to screw up the electrical system in my vehicle. I can build a computer, but that's easy compared to installing a car audio system, from what I can see!

My current system already has tweeters so maybe it won't be too difficult to replace them with those in a component speaker set.

So, should I just buy the best HU and amp I can afford and buy speakers later? Or will a decent HU and a budget amp with budget speakers still be an improvement over the stock system I have now?

Holly

 

[kross 10+ year member]

Well let's see...

JVC KD-HDR1 $140 shipped (new): http://cgi.ebay.com/JVC-KD-HDR1-CD-MP3-CAR-PLAYER-HD-STEREO-REMOTE-BONUS_W0QQitemZ300152675993QQihZ020QQcategoryZ50559QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Phoenix Gold RSd65cs components, $87 shipped (new): http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PHOENIX-GOLD-6-5-240w-COMPONENT-CAR-SPEAKERS-RSD65CS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38646QQihZ017QQitemZ270169114779QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Kicker zx700.5 amp, $225 shipped (factory refurbished, 90 day warranty): http://cgi.ebay.com/KICKER-ZX700-5-CAR-STEREO-760-WATT-5CH-AMP-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ140158958562QQihZ004QQcategoryZ39739QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That amp will power your components (165w per channel x 2 channels bridged), and a subwoofer (420w).

Wiring kit, $26 + shipping: http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KLM-K4

You'll need to get an extra RCA cable, and some extra speaker wire from knukonceptz at the same time. The kit only comes with one RCA cable, you'll need a second one for a subwoofer.

That comes to roughly $480, but does not include an actual subwoofer. I suggest installing this system, and save up for a subwoofer and box, and add it later. You'll already have the amp and wiring in place, all you'll need to do is drop the box in the back of the CRV, and hook it up to the amp.

 

[OakIris 10+ year member]

Thank you, everyone. This is what I ended up getting:

JVC KD-HDR1 HD radio/CD player

MTX 2-channel Road Thunder Pro amp

Polk DB651 Coaxial speakers all around

Kicker KKR 05KS13 tweeters for the front

It will be installed on Sunday; with the cost of install and necessary parts it cost me more than I wanted to spend, but I am hoping the sound will be decent. I didn't have money for a sub and sub amp at this time, but that will be a future upgrade.

I know this system isn't up to the standards of most of the folks here, but I am pretty excited about it. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Holly

 

[kross 10+ year member]

I'm guessing you went into a local audio shop and that's what they talked you into getting?

I'm a little confused about your choices. You're getting four coaxials, but only a 2-channel amp. Are you going to run the rear speakers off of headunit power? Or run the speakers parallel, meaning wiring the front left and rear left to the left channel of the amp, and repeating for the right side? This will work, but you won't have any ability to fade front/back.

If you like the sound of the Polk DB651 coaxials, great. But why are you adding seperate tweeters? Coaxials plus add-on tweeters does not equal components. I have no idea how that will end up sounding. Hopefully you listened to that particular combo in the store before buying.

Anyway, I'm sorry if I'm sounding critical. If the end result sounds good to your ears, that really is the only thing that matters. Be sure to give us a review after Sunday when you get it installed!

-- Kevin

 

[OakIris 10+ year member]

I'm guessing you went into a local audio shop and that's what they talked you into getting?
I'm a little confused about your choices. You're getting four coaxials, but only a 2-channel amp. Are you going to run the rear speakers off of headunit power? Or run the speakers parallel, meaning wiring the front left and rear left to the left channel of the amp, and repeating for the right side? This will work, but you won't have any ability to fade front/back.

If you like the sound of the Polk DB651 coaxials, great. But why are you adding seperate tweeters? Coaxials plus add-on tweeters does not equal components. I have no idea how that will end up sounding. Hopefully you listened to that particular combo in the store before buying.

Anyway, I'm sorry if I'm sounding critical. If the end result sounds good to your ears, that really is the only thing that matters. Be sure to give us a review after Sunday when you get it installed!

-- Kevin

Hi Kevin - you are absolutely right. It would seem that I was trying to prove to everyone that I was an absolute know-nothing newbie, as I originally asserted! After reading your post, I thought over my buying decisions and decided I needed to make some changes. Coaxial speakers with an added tweeter really doesn't make much sense, does it? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/redface.gif.62fdbfe1a101588a808c4cff71bcb942.gif As you assumed, I was planning to run the front speakers off of the MTX amp and the rear speakers off of the head unit, but I re-thought this as well.

So, I went back to the shop this morning and returned one pair of the coaxial speakers and the Kicker tweeters. This is what I ended up with:

JVC KD-HDR1 head unit

Polk DB6501 component speakers for the front

Polk DB651 coaxial speakers for the rear

Eclipse EA4100 4-channel amp to power the speakers

MTX T45004 10" subwoofer + sealed enclosure (hoping for SQ as opposed to SPL)

MTX RTP202 Road Thunder Pro amp to power the sub (bridged configuration)

So, thanks to you Kevin, (j/k) I spent a whole lot more money than I wanted to or should have. Really though, thank you for pointing out that what I originally purchased wasn't quite the thing. I think my upgraded system will make me very happy. Guess I'll find out on Sunday and beyond!

Holly

 

[kross 10+ year member]

I understand the impulse buy thing, and immediate gratification. We all do it. Let us know how it sounds Sunday! Your new system may need some tweaking of the low-pass and high-pass filter settings on your main speakers and subwoofer to get the best sound. Don't assume the audio shop will tune it optimally.

 

[OakIris 10+ year member]

They are supposed to show me how to tune the system; we'll see. I'm sure I'll be back asking questions if I get lost in space. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Holly