Need recommendations for small budget

[SuperJETT 10+ year member]

I've been out of car audio for over 10 years and am amazed at the changes that have happened since the early 90's.

Anyway, the last 2 vehicles I've had I kept completely stock (last was Honda Element, decent stock system with 6.5" sub) but I just picked up a used 2000 Accord----yuck on the stock system.

It has a Pioneer lowend head unit, not impressed except for the tuner which they've always been good at. Plus it has buttons for everything, gotta have a knob.

I replaced the front 6.5's with Polk 2-ways already but am trying to decide which way to go for the rest of it.

6x9's fit in the rear deck, but I'm tempted to take them out and stick a small sub in the trunk, like an 8" then get a small 4x40 amp, bridge 2 for the sub and run the fronts off the other 2.

My budget is $300+- for:

head unit - cd/mp3, would love front aux input but rear rca input is fine

speakers - either 6x9's that I'll disconnect the tweeters on and run all 4 corners off the head unit or an 8"/10" sub that I'll build a small sealed box for and pickup a small 4 channel amp to run the fronts/sub.

Recommendations?

(used to run Alpine head units, Fosgate amps, and Kicker subs with JBL speakers, things have changed)

Thanks.

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[Raven 10+ year member]

Thing have definitely changed. $300 probably won't get you everything that you need.

Anyway.

For a subwoofer, I recommend an Incriminator Audio 187 or Decware DHM108B. Both the 10" version. Frankly, 6x9s went downhill and stayed that way if they were decent in the past. I really feel you're better off with a small sub. The two I picked run about $100 each. I ran IA 187s in the past and loved them. So much so I upgraded to their Lethal Injection subwoofers.

I'm not up with the lingo on head units or multichannel amplifiers, so I can't offer anything in those areas. Just be warned that power is a lot cheaper now. $200 can get you well over a kilowatt of power if you know where to look, so finding an amplifier to do what you need shouldn't be all that hard.

 

[SuperJETT 10+ year member]

I'm with you, that's why I'm thinking a small sub would give me more of the sound I'm looking for.

My last 'system' was in my Saturn coupe, 4 6.5's in the doors/deck, a center channel 3.5/Infinity tweets, and 2 Kicker 10's in recessed sealed enclosures in the trunk, all powered by maybe 400w. It was great sounding, very clear with a nice clean bass. Center channel, heh.

Anyone on the head unit/amp?

 

[Raven 10+ year member]

Well, if you're going with Alpine, wait until their 2006 line is unveiled. The 2005 line is not doing too well from what I hear. Apart from that, Eclipse, Clarion, JVC, and even Blaupunkt make decent head units. Check out the head units for and do a search.

All I could think of for an amp is a Power Acoustik LT 720.4 or OV4-800. They ain't pretty, but they aren't too expensive and I personally had no trouble at all with my OV2-1200 when I owned it.

 

[SuperJETT 10+ year member]

Raven,

Thanks for your advice (surprised nobody else wanted to share an opinion though).

I think I'm gonna go for an Alpine 9845 and a small 40x4 amp, run the fronts off 2 channels and do a small sub for the back with the other 2 channels.

That will use up my $300 or so for now, so I'll add the sub later, but I'm trying to decide which way to go. I want to save my trunk space (3 kids) so I was thinking a shallow box across the back of the rear seat with 2 8's in it (probably 10's would be fine too depending on enclosure size) but I've read about the Deathbox and am interested in it. You had/have one, would you recommend it for a low watt setup like mine will be?

 

[imaspaceguy90 10+ year member]

You can get a decent amps and a few OK subs for that price.

 

[bimma85 5,000+ posts]

so you need a deck, sub, and amp for $300? I recommend a bigger budget //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif.

You willing to buy used?

 

[audiomatic1986 10+ year member]

well for the head unit i have always found that pioneers are the best. the in dash tv maybe pretty but u get quality pruduct when the regular radio is bought. im not a fan of mixing and matching i would get rid of the polk and put 6.5 pioneers in and 6x9 in the rear deck. you could also could also get the tweeter components and put them in the door up by the mirrior . for the subs u want somthing simple u can get two tens or 12s and because u urself wont even haer the 8s and with a 800w amp from pioneer ud be str8

 

[SuperJETT 10+ year member]

Read my last post, gonna do an Alpine 9845 plus small 40x4 amp for now, the sub/box will come later.

 

[SuperJETT 10+ year member]

Ok, updated plan, tell me what you guys think.

keep the new Polk 2-ways in the doors

replace my Pioneer DEH-1600 with Alpine 9843

power the fronts from the deck and temporarily the stock rear 6x9's too

when money allows buy a small 2-channel amp and 10" sub and build a Deathbox for the trunk and take the rear 6x9's out.

That will put me around $350 or so total.

 

[psych0ticnemes1 5,000+ posts]

buy a mono amp... can get a 500rms amp/sub for about 150 or so...

inifnity referance subs are great budget subs, only 60 bucks for a 12

 

[SuperJETT 10+ year member]

buy a mono amp... can get a 500rms amp/sub for about 150 or so...

That would be overkill for the rest of my system plus my type of music I think. I used to run 2 10's in sealed enclosures with 80w each and that was great with 40w each on my fronts so I'm shooting for something close to that.

inifnity referance subs are great budget subs, only 60 bucks for a 12

I'll take a look, hadn't really considered Inifinity for subs, thanks.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Are they great? Nope. Are they rock-solid reliable (in my experience having owned several in the past) Yep! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

For cheap amplification have a look >>here

I had that exact model amp that I bought new some years ago....never gave me a moment's trouble. The guy I sold it to is still running it in his van today.

Not a bad deal for $47 + shipping.

And psychotic's suggestion on Infinity References was a good one, I'd say. Crutchfield has the single voice coil versions on a Buy One Get One sale currently ($90 for a PAIR of 10s or $100 for a PAIR of 12s.....get a pair then you'll have a spare if something happens to the first one!)

 

[SuperJETT 10+ year member]

Thanks, that's the kind of info I was looking for, thanks again.

 

[SuperJETT 10+ year member]

So are you guys ok with me wanting to do the Deathbox route? I need something that is easily removed but sounds good.