New to the Site with Lots of Questions

[Shinigami23]

Hello, I'm new to the site and I had some questions regarding a audio visual build for my car. I own a 2002 Ford Mustang GT and I am looking at doing a custom build for the audio/visual for car shows. My budget is around $3,500 to start with. My car currently has the stock Mach 1000 system that came with the car from the factory. I plan on adding things as I go as I can't afford to go all out at first.

1) So what should I buy first to get started.

2) Where should I buy from.

3) What are some of the best brands for each part i.e. Best head unit, best subwoofer, etc.(I know this can be a bit of a personal choice but I mostly want to avoid bad brands)

I know barely anything about audio/visual as I'm more into the performance side of car builds.

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[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

are you going to outsource alot of the fabrication? i ask because that alone is going to cost you anywhere rom 500- 2500 depending on how much/what you want done..

for example custom door panels will cost you between 250 and 500. custom sub box and amp panel can cost between 500-800 even more if its really detailed and in depth.

components alone for something "show worthy" are going to cost you about 400 for raw drivers. a nice amp to push them will run you another 300-700 a good head unit as in touch screen 400-1000 for something that sounds good and a unit that has network crossovers..

just for example if i where to do a build to show and sound good.

X-65 - Image Dynamics 6.5" High Definition Mid-Bass Drivers with Composite Rohacell Cone

DRT-26S - CDT Audio 1" Silk Tweeters

Z-150.6 - Zapco 6-Channel Class A/B Sound Q Amplifier

AVH-X5800BHS - Pioneer 2-DIN In-Dash 7" Touchscreen LCD Display DVD/CD Stereo Receiver with Spotify and Pandora Control, Camera Input and Built-in HD Radio

IDQ12 V.4 D4 - Image Dynamics 12" Dual 4-Ohm IDQ V.4 Series Subwoofer

 

[Shinigami23]

The only custom part I think I would do is the trunk. I'm more concerned with the look of the car and the performance of the car. So I would like the trunk area to look the best. I just don't know what's good and what's not. I have done a little research. I was looking at the Pioneer AVH-4200NEX for a receiver/head unit, up in the air if I want to go with a couple of 10" or 12" subwoofers(I was looking at JL Audio), not sure on amp(s), etc. I know there is a lot more involved though, which is why I'm asking people that know. I'm not trying to win any competitions with my audio/visual, I just want it to look good enough to show the rest of the car off at a car show. Right now I'm rocking 14 year old factory Ford tech so....

 

[Shinigami23]

By the way thanks for the links I will check them out!

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

You want strictly sound quatitly? Or output?

 

[Shinigami23]

Quality

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

Jl subs are a decent choice but imo they are overpriced.

Tge image dynamics Idq drivers are the price of the w3 and on par if not better than the w6.

A list of good components

Image dynamics

Focal

Rainbow

Dynaudio

Cdt

Morel

Hybrid audio

Helix

I like Home page

As far amps.

Zapco

Focal

Cdt

Image dynamics

Arc

 

[Shinigami23]

Excellent I will do some research on all these components. You have got me started in the right direction thank you. If I have any other questions I'll let you know.

Thanks again