New System - Older Car

[absolut11]

Hey there, probably starting out like anybody else's first post already. Well i've been browsing car audio forums as much as i can for a month or two now and it's about time I made some decisions on my car! Before anything else though, I do have to say im impressed with the results, quantity of people on this forum, sheer material, and quality compared to others i've been reading so I guess its why I chose this site! To start out, YES! i have used the search feature button extensively and browsed the internet tryin to absorb as much info as I could on the neverending topic of car audio. Trust me when i say ive had my fair share of beers while researching!

To start off, I guess I really just have a couple questions and then some ideas for my new system.

Basics

Car: 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera (Probably one of the most painstakingly annoying cars to install audio equipment in, but hell its mah car!)

Current system: Almost 30 year old STOCK audio deck, front 3.5", and rear 6x9's. It's basically horrible but its actually newer than my old car so it sounds relatively good! Can't wait to hear what 2007 technology sounds like in it! I actually had a newer Pioneer deck installed by Circuit City (installation was rediculously expensive and not worth it) but it was stolen about a year ago. I had the Ipod adapter which was incredibly horrible and slow so I think i will run aux cables to my center console to plug it in directly and use the ipods controls.

Budget: $600 or so

Type: Id like SQ as much as possible, nevertheless i dont have millions to spend so I would like a good amount of loudness, I dont need to let the neighborhood know im around though.

Music Preference: 90% Metal and Rock....tiny bit punk and pop/hiphop/rap

Possible Setup

Sub - JL 12W3 ~ $150

Sub Enclosure - I'd love to build my own, probably carpet covered, and not sure on ported or sealed. After measuring my trunk, I have about 15" height, 37" length being the limits to work with. Maybe wedge shape would work the best?

Speakers - I'd like to do components in front with rear fill (2 front tweeters, 2 front mids, and then 2 rear fill woofers correct?) but Im not sure if the budget will allow for this kind of quality setup. Kicker/Infinity for brands possibly?

Amp - I really need to do more research on this area, but somehting with decent quality that'l do for now.

Head Unit - Pretty set on the Alpine CDE-9881 unless someone gives me reasons not to. Def. not going back to Pioneer though.

Cables - KnuKoncepts, I always hear mixed suggestions on gauge size though.

Sound Deadening - Again, still researching this area but due to my car being so old I think it would definately pay off spending some quality time with the metal in my car to stop vibrations once i get a sub in as well as better sound quality and lless road noise.

Cap- No ty //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

-I will also probably do the Big 3 upgrade as i looked at the battery today and its kind of corroded and ive noticed when i use my blinkers, at least with the stereo at a decent volume, the voltage battery gauge plays some serious see-saw!

Questions:

1. If I have the 6 speakers in the car (tweeters, mids, rear fills) plus the sub in the trunk, will I need to have 2 amps or would this work with a 4 channel amp?

2. In the back of my car, the ledge by the rear window has this ~8x4" useless compartment. It would be kidna cool to incorporate a sub port there somehow, or would that be pointless? Im still not totally sure of the best way to put the sub in the trunk.

I know i had more questions, im sure ill ask some more later!

Thanks in advance for helpful replies! I appreciate any helpful responses as im just looking to get a couple gaps filled in and hopefully be on my way to the way music was meant to be heard. NOT from an Itripped Ipod over a broken head unit with 30 year old speakers! Ill definately take lots of pics and maybe do some sort of worklog on not only the install but other crap that will be fixed in the car (new headliner/carpet, maybe some underdash lights, center console fix up). I've honestly never really seen a worklog of an older car like this (if you have throw me some links so i can grab more info!) so it will be interesting to see how this all turns out! Thanks again so much, rock on.

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[expo5.0 10+ year member]

On the type of budget you seem to be trying to do everything on i would run a 5 or 6 channel amplifier.

Maybe a jbl 755.6 or similar

i know i just bought a planet audio p500 on here for really cheap that would have been an awesome choice for you

I would definitely recommend jbl/infinity speakers as well. Why the w3? i think you can do better for the money (bt if you are set on it- i have a couple used ones in great shape) I might recommend the jbl power series 12" in it's place (or whatever the equivalent infinity is called these days).

As far as wiring goes- most of the better brands will all work great. I personally use mobile spec for everything.

that hu is a perfect choice- but you could maybe save a little $ by going with a clarion without losing any quality sound wise.

with your budget and goals for the car i would like go the menards route for your sound deadening. They have aluminum tape and "peal and seal" insulation there that will be plenty good for your needs and cheap.

You will likely just want to build a box and experiement with it in your trunk- and no you rpobably don't want to incorporate the port into anything.

hope that helps

-drew

sorry for recommending all that jbl stuff, but i don't know the infinity part numbers (they are essentially the exact same product) and i like to have everything one brand usually when possible. I should be selling you on mtx stuff since i have so much laying around....

 

[Boulderguy 10+ year member]

That's a beautiful post - you've obviously done some research, narrowed down your expectations realistically & know what you're looking for. Bonus points across the board.

If this were my system here's what I'd do. Stick with your HU choice, two amps, a 4 channel for mains & a sub amp. Custom fiberglass sub box for simple space reasons. Coax's in the rear, 3-ways in the front.

The key to this system, for SQ, will be the front speaker setup. This is where I'd spend the most $$. Start with some excellent components, it'll be worth it iin so many ways. Focal, DLS, plenty of others. I'd do three ways so I could build some small, non-intrusive kicks for the mid & tweeter, then put the mid-bass in the doors. Quality speakers in kicks will absolutely make the system for image, stage presence & musicality. I'd feed them around 100wpc.

Rear coax's - something OK, they're just fill so don't break the bank here. They'll only need 50wpc or so.

Drive all those with a 4 ch amp, as long as it's decent quality it doesn't matter too much.

Sub - a single 10" or 12" in the trunk corner, sealed box. This will keep the trunk usable. I wouldn't do a ported box for any number of reasons. Building some kind of pass-thru will help tremendously with SQ & bass quantity. I'd use a good 400w just to keep the thing dynamic & underworked. That JL sub will work fine.

Dynamat the hell out of the front doors & the trunk and deck. This has a big impact on SQ too.

Wiring - meh, get a good deal on the right gauge stuff, not real important.

Good luck, hope that helps. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif:greedy:

 

[absolut11]

thanks guys! any other opinions/suggestions?

 

[Boulderguy 10+ year member]

Oh, didn't see your budget there. That kinda limits things. I'd do it in pieces. Buy quality as you can, starting with the deck & front speakers. Then amp, then sub & rear amp.

A single 4g run to the trunk is fine, then 16g to the speakers.

If you try to do it all on $600 you'll end up with a whole lotta compromises. It's not worth it.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

I have a nice 5 ch Crossfire Amp and a nice 6 ch US Acoustics Amp for sale ...Either could drive your whole system and should be withing budget...If interested PM me....

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I got the same car. It isn't that bad.

1) The biggest box you can fit is 17 * 15 * 38 externally.

If you want, I can sell you some 3.5s for the front and 5.25s for the rear. they are infinity kappas. They are two-ohm so you kinda need a small 4 channel amp. (I reccomend the diamond audio 3 400.4, can be had ~$150) They are coaxial and I'll let them go at a pretty good price. They won't sound as good as componets but it will give you something good to listen to. I don't reccomend building door pods to house the componets as people tend to kick the shit out of them.

I also have a chassis service manual for that car if you are interested. I just bought a truck so I am selling some of the stuff.