New High Quality System

[Excelsius 10+ year member]

Ok, this is my first car (Honda Civic LX Coupe 2007) and my first audio system. The car originally has 6 speakers and an radio with mp3-CD capability (plus an AUX-in jack to connect mp3 players).

I don’t like the power or the clarity of the system. I previously had a Camry 1996 and after replacing the CD player with Panasonic I really liked how the speakers sounded. For my Civic I have already visited 3 shops, one of which was circuit city. I’m trying to get THE BEST possible sound out of my system. I do not care about the boom at all because I’m listening mostly to classical music and some other non-hip hop music with occasional techno. If all you listen to is rap, please refrain from giving me advice because I don’t want it. You have a long way to go before you approach quality music.

Now, my question is what should I do? I was thinking I should replace all my six speakers (2 of them are tweeters), add a 300-400 W amp, and a subwoofer. I realize that I probably should replace the factory CD player as well, but I don’t like what the market can offer me right now. They only have few types of car audio that are compatible with IPod only. I use Creative mp3 player and the audio jack suffices for now.

Today I was at circuit city and the total price came out to be almost $1000. That’s too much because I’m not planning living in my car! I already have a professional system at home. Here is the break up I got:

Polk DB6500 - $200 (300W front speakers including separate tweeters)

Polk DB650 - $100 (rear speakers)

MTX T551004 - $130 (subwoofer)

MTX TC3001 - $230 (amp)

Labor - $100

RCA Cables - $70

Installation Kit - $49

Total $879

I think that’s too much. Is the Polk really considered to be the best in terms of quality playback? I think that any quality speaker has enough base power so I don’t think I should need a sub. I don’t like the extra weight and the space that it will take in the car.

Do these prices seem ok? What other set up would you recommend? I would really like to spend around $600. I think that $219 for labor and some cables is just too much. Maybe I could pay someone in private to do it for me for 30% of the price.

Any classical listeners out there I would definitely love to hear your input!

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[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

I would go with a nice 3-way setup (tweet, mid, woofer) in the front, and no rear fill. than a sealed 10 or 12 sub. I am using a CD7000 and it has full compatiblity. with the Ipod, although buying it from CC would cost $700 if u can get ur hands on it.

I say spend $400-500 on a decent/good 3-way

another $200-300 for a good amp.

$100-200 for sub

$100-200 for amp for sub.

But personaly if u want to sound really good I think ur gonna go over $600, specially if ur paying retail and need to have everything isntalled.

So maybe think about just sticking to stock system?

I listen to a little classical, and I think a nice 10" or maybe even 8" sub would help alot, it really helps the music come alive.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Might check into some of the cheaper MB quart componet sets. I have the refrence line and love them. Paid 100 bucks for the set and I actually like them as much as my Q's, which were a lot more money. Then check into Fi audio as the have some kick *** subs for the money. The x series might do you justice. I seen some good reviews on those. 110 bucks for each. Also nice car!

 

[Excelsius 10+ year member]

Thanks Phyph. Your insight about the sub for tha classical was really helpful so I will definitely get a sub and rock it with Beethoven's fifth. From what you recommended it seems to me that my current set up is already fine. I wouldn't want to replace all the speakers and retain the rear ones. It would create differences in the quality output.

I would stick with stock if the speaker's were as good as the ones in my 96 camry. But they seem to be crap (I know that it might be the cd player as well, but I was told that I need new speakers and not a cd player).

So MTX and Polk are ok? They said it's the best. Someone else on another forum said that Seas is the best. Confusing.

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

Seas is more of high end speakers, MTX and Polk are some ofthe best u can find at a local Circuit City, or Best Buy. If ur really looking to get ur money's worth shop around online. I would do alot more research before buying anything, I would only go with CC because they have good warrenty's but they dont offer what ur probably looking for, but like I said earlier ur probably looking to spend more than $1,000 for a great sounding system.

http://www.madisound.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

that site carry's Seas if ur looking for it also other good brands (scanspeak,peerless, morel, etc) , but like I said, they're high end and might cost u more than ur looking for. As I stated ealier, research alot before u buy, nothing's worse than spending a bunch of money on what u think will be a good system, just to be disappointed.

 

[Excelsius 10+ year member]

Phyph, I was recommended http://cgi.ebay.com/DIAMOND-AUDIO-D3400-4-4-CHANNEL-700W-AMP-D3-NEW-05-HOT_W0QQitemZ250036097082QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4950QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

in another forum. Several people told me it's fine. What do you think?

I think I'll forego Seas. If I had the time, I'd read all about audio systems, but unfortunately, I work at two places and am full time at college. That's why I rely on intelligent people in sound forums to recommend me somethig for me to buy. I know it's not the best way to go, but at least it's way better than just buying blindly from a guy at CC who doesn't know a thing about quality (or maybe a little).

Someone else in another forum is selling his old system, including the Diamond D3 amp. I might just buy it from him. Do you know anyone (or yourself) who might sell me used quality parts?

 

[leonsv 10+ year member]

Ok, this is my first car (Honda Civic LX Coupe 2007) and my first audio system. The car originally has 6 speakers and an radio with mp3-CD capability (plus an AUX-in jack to connect mp3 players).
I don’t like the power or the clarity of the system. I previously had a Camry 1996 and after replacing the CD player with Panasonic I really liked how the speakers sounded. For my Civic I have already visited 3 shops, one of which was circuit city. I’m trying to get THE BEST possible sound out of my system. I do not care about the boom at all because I’m listening mostly to classical music and some other non-hip hop music with occasional techno. If all you listen to is rap, please refrain from giving me advice because I don’t want it. You have a long way to go before you approach quality music.

Now, my question is what should I do? I was thinking I should replace all my six speakers (2 of them are tweeters), add a 300-400 W amp, and a subwoofer. I realize that I probably should replace the factory CD player as well, but I don’t like what the market can offer me right now. They only have few types of car audio that are compatible with IPod only. I use Creative mp3 player and the audio jack suffices for now.

Today I was at circuit city and the total price came out to be almost $1000. That’s too much because I’m not planning living in my car! I already have a professional system at home. Here is the break up I got:

Polk DB6500 - $200 (300W front speakers including separate tweeters)

Polk DB650 - $100 (rear speakers)

MTX T551004 - $130 (subwoofer)

MTX TC3001 - $230 (amp)

Labor - $100

RCA Cables - $70

Installation Kit - $49

Total $879

I think that’s too much. Is the Polk really considered to be the best in terms of quality playback? I think that any quality speaker has enough base power so I don’t think I should need a sub. I don’t like the extra weight and the space that it will take in the car.

Do these prices seem ok? What other set up would you recommend? I would really like to spend around $600. I think that $219 for labor and some cables is just too much. Maybe I could pay someone in private to do it for me for 30% of the price.

Any classical listeners out there I would definitely love to hear your input!

ok, a couple of things i caught on your pricings, $100 for install is a bit optimistic unless you do it yourself or have a friend that can do it for you.

$70 for rca's are a complete waste, all you need is a properly shielded rca with oxygen free copper. Car audio is very different from home audio, for example at home my speakers sounded so much better when i replaced my $30 rca's with $500 rca's (well...i got them for free from ym cousin who runs a shop...lol) but in a car there are so many greater factors that affects the sound besides the rca. i couldn't tell the difference between $100 monster cables from my $15 knukonceptz.... $20 is the highest i'll go for car audio rca's.

Also rear speakers are pretty much useless, they should be playing at about 5 - 10% of the volume of the fronts and at that volume, you can't tell the difference between highend speakers and your stock.... so don't waste money, run the stock rears off of the headunit...if you really want it....

finally, you forgot to include a line out converter, the stock hu does not have any extra connections for aftermarket amps, you need a loc to get those connections.

and for your civic, all you need is to replace the front 4 speakers, and disconnect the rears or run it off of the hu, whatever you choose to do.

Also i don't think many people will appreciate you "dissing rap" lol

personally i listen to everything except country and techno (no offense but never quite got it...)

i really like the works of Prokofiev (neo classical russian composer) and personally i feel that subs reinforce and richen the sound for classicals. I have a die hard classical music friend who has about 1000 classicals on his ipod and he too thinks that subs are a vital part in classical music.

now heres what i suggest...

speakers: rainbow audio slc 265 $240 shipped to your door

loc: Dave Navone $30

amp: jbl px300.4 $222 (4 channel amp, bridge rear channels to power the amp)

http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-PX300-4-CAR-AUDIO-AMPLIFIER-4-CHANNEL-770W-NEW-2006_W0QQitemZ300034575404QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4950QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

subwoofer: Tang Bang 8" or ascendant audio assassin 8" $50

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=264-854

http://ascendantaudio.com/assassin8specs.html

this comes to a total of $542, spend the rest on installation and wiring

you may go over $600 but not by that much...

good luck

 

[Excelsius 10+ year member]

Leon, that's it, I'm forgetting the rear speakers. So many people told me to dump them. I'll just connect them as they are (the stock ones). I assume that if I leave the fader at the center, they will get their 10% and not more.

Sorry about rap, I didn't mean to offend. I just don't want some chollo who has no idea about the minutiae of classical music recommending me things. I have had a similar experience online before and I have a powerful misadvice-ophobia.

I’ll buy shielded rca with oxygen free copper from somewhere else (Radioshack?).

This is the first time I’m hearing about HU or loc. Maybe that’s the “Installation kit”?

I agree about the sub. Will get a good one.

What do you think about the Diamond D3 amp? Not good enough?

I like your Rainbow suggestion. You’re the second person with that advice, PLUS it’s German! Could you tell me where can I order it in US? I think I must get 6.25 inch for my car, right?

I’m going through your links right now.

 

[Excelsius 10+ year member]

I'll go with assassin 8 for the sub. But I'm still trying to compare Diamond D3 to your JBL pX300.

I also looked for Dave Navone. They have a lot of stuff, but I don't know what I'm looking for because they don't have something called "loc."

If I could resolve all these issues, and get find the rainbows, I'll be set to go. I hope you both come back soon with some more insightful advice.

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

This is the first time I’m hearing about HU or loc. Maybe that’s the “Installation kit”?

A HU (Head Unit) is what you would call a cd player

 

[Excelsius 10+ year member]

OK so LOC is a line output converter. Is this what I should get http://www.davidnavone.com/detail.aspx?ID=155 ?

 

[leonsv 10+ year member]

Leon, that's it, I'm forgetting the rear speakers. So many people told me to dump them. I'll just connect them as they are (the stock ones). I assume that if I leave the fader at the center, they will get their 10% and not more.Sorry about rap, I didn't mean to offend. I just don't want some chollo who has no idea about the minutiae of classical music recommending me things. I have had a similar experience online before and I have a powerful misadvice-ophobia.

I’ll buy shielded rca with oxygen free copper from somewhere else (Radioshack?).

This is the first time I’m hearing about HU or loc. Maybe that’s the “Installation kit”?

I agree about the sub. Will get a good one.

What do you think about the Diamond D3 amp? Not good enough?

I like your Rainbow suggestion. You’re the second person with that advice, PLUS it’s German! Could you tell me where can I order it in US? I think I must get 6.25 inch for my car, right?

I’m going through your links right now.

my wife has a 06 civic si and they have 6.5" in the front, but i don't know about the standard civics... but probably 6.5" to make sure go to crutchfield.com and use their fit my car tool.

and and hu or a loc is not in the installation kit, the loc is a device that connects to the stock hu and lets you connect an amp to it....

go to davidnavone.com for one (they are the best hands down when it comes to loc's)

"FOUR CHANNEL OEM TO AFTERMARKET STEREO ADAPTER

NE-774V Introductory $34.95 (regularly $59.00)"

and the subs i suggested are good, they are perfect for what you are after, and cheap too i prefer the assassins

also the diamond amps are decent, but for that price i would look into phoenix gold xenon series amps, great, great amps....

and the jbl i suggested is made by crown audio, a maker of great home audio amps so the jbl's are great amps

and you can go to audiojunkies.com for rainbow speakers or pm 6spdcoupe on this forum

 

[Excelsius 10+ year member]

Ok. So the link that I provided for Dave Navone above was correct (NE-774V)

I checked, the front speakers (door) are 6.5. I guess tweeters' sizes don't matter much?

Now for the amp, gold xenon 4 channel still costs over $220

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PHOENIX-GOLD-X100-4-4-CHANNEL-XENON-CAR-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ270034158305QQihZ017QQcategoryZ79824QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So which one then, JBL or that? JBL is almost twice as powerful.

Rainbow: http://audiojunkies.com/product_detail.php?cid=151&product_id=278

This is out of stock. There is another SLC 265, but it's 100 more expensive: http://audiojunkies.com/product_detail.php?cid=151&product_id=277

So these are 6.5 and will fit, including the tweeters right?

 

[leonsv 10+ year member]

Ok. So the link that I provided for Dave Navone above was correct (NE-774V)
I checked, the front speakers (door) are 6.5. I guess tweeters' sizes don't matter much?

Now for the amp, gold xenon 4 channel still costs over $220

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PHOENIX-GOLD-X100-4-4-CHANNEL-XENON-CAR-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ270034158305QQihZ017QQcategoryZ79824QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So which one then, JBL or that? JBL is almost twice as powerful.

Rainbow: http://audiojunkies.com/product_detail.php?cid=151&product_id=278

This is out of stock. There is another SLC 265, but it's 100 more expensive: http://audiojunkies.com/product_detail.php?cid=151&product_id=277

So these are 6.5 and will fit, including the tweeters right?

first i would get the jbl, i just think they look better...

also the navone you posted is good...

third the $260 ones are the ones you should get, i'm sure lukas at audiojunkies will give you a bit more discount when they come in stock , email him or call him up for date of delivery, also pm 6spdcoupe and see what he offers you.

lastly, the 6.5 will fit they are pretty shallow, and for the tweeter, you can put it in the stock location or flush mount it in the door

 

[Savstyle 10+ year member]

Ok, this is my first car (Honda Civic LX Coupe 2007) and my first audio system. The car originally has 6 speakers and an radio with mp3-CD capability (plus an AUX-in jack to connect mp3 players).
I don’t like the power or the clarity of the system. I previously had a Camry 1996 and after replacing the CD player with Panasonic I really liked how the speakers sounded. For my Civic I have already visited 3 shops, one of which was circuit city. I’m trying to get THE BEST possible sound out of my system. I do not care about the boom at all because I’m listening mostly to classical music and some other non-hip hop music with occasional techno. If all you listen to is rap, please refrain from giving me advice because I don’t want it. You have a long way to go before you approach quality music.

Now, my question is what should I do? I was thinking I should replace all my six speakers (2 of them are tweeters), add a 300-400 W amp, and a subwoofer. I realize that I probably should replace the factory CD player as well, but I don’t like what the market can offer me right now. They only have few types of car audio that are compatible with IPod only. I use Creative mp3 player and the audio jack suffices for now.

Today I was at circuit city and the total price came out to be almost $1000. That’s too much because I’m not planning living in my car! I already have a professional system at home. Here is the break up I got:

Polk DB6500 - $200 (300W front speakers including separate tweeters)

Polk DB650 - $100 (rear speakers)

MTX T551004 - $130 (subwoofer)

MTX TC3001 - $230 (amp)

Labor - $100

RCA Cables - $70

Installation Kit - $49

Total $879

I think that’s too much. Is the Polk really considered to be the best in terms of quality playback? I think that any quality speaker has enough base power so I don’t think I should need a sub. I don’t like the extra weight and the space that it will take in the car.

Do these prices seem ok? What other set up would you recommend? I would really like to spend around $600. I think that $219 for labor and some cables is just too much. Maybe I could pay someone in private to do it for me for 30% of the price.

Any classical listeners out there I would definitely love to hear your input!

The rap thing wasnt very nice:blackeye:

But anywho i listen to classical and rap, and you will want a sub trust me:up2somet:

Somone said go for a 3-way it would be very nice buts its a hell of alot of work to install a 3-way and get it to image properly espicaly if u dont have alot of time or know how.

Like leon said go with rainbow SLC 265 they sound **** nice i own a set and classical sound very nice on them

a nice 2 channell amp putting out 120rms perchannell would b about perfect. I would suggest buying a headunit unless your sprung on the stock one, if so buy the converter that leon suggested as for sub and amp it depends on price