Noob help.

[88xj]

Hey guys, I'll be honest, I don't understand car stereo systems much! I'm looking to upgrade my setup in my mid sized SUV though.

Currently I have 4, 5 1/4" Sony Xplodes. And a Alpine CDE-102 head unit. (18 watts RMS CEA-2006/45 peak x 4 channels)

I have no idea what that last bit means, but I figured it'd useful to post it lol. I have 2 speakers in my front doors, and 2 in my rear hatch. Currently I can turn my stereo up about 80% of the way on the head unit before the sound gets distorted, so I think I need better speakers?

I don't bump bass or anything..actually I have my settings on my head unit right now as +1 bass, and like +4 treble and balanced sound +1 to the front. If that helps understand the sound I'm after...I like a crisp clean sound, with mild bass. I listen to rap, country & rock and like to listen to it mildly loud, but again prefer a really clean crisp sound vs a loud bumping system.

I do not want to run a sub. At this time I would like to upgrade my 4 speakers to something better. Maybe bigger speakers? The jeep had blown 6x5's in the doors when I first bought it..The system would never be upgraded again!

Idk what to do though, midbass, coaxials, compents? Size & brand?

I like my head unit currently..looks & performance wise, not sure how good it is sound wise though lol. But I may upgrade to a Jensen flip out DvD VM9312..not sure how good this is? Any reviews? I'd be getting it for $125 from a buddy.

If I said I have 150-200 to spend what would you recommend? 4 speakers and iperferably NO amp, because I offroad my jeep, and have flooded it more than once lol? Again once this is done and setup, it would never change again!

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[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Not sure what kind of SUV you have, but there are times where you can actually fit a 6.5 in place of a 5.25, in which to me sounds so much better.Id take a look at some of Infinity/MB quart/JBL/Polk Audio for the $200 range.Components to me sound much better than 2/3way speakers also.Yet, everyone has a different opinion.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[88xj]

Hmm, ya I've been told go listen to this or that in person and decide. And I have done this, just trying to get an idea of what usually works better..

I guess what I like it mild bass..MILD. And good sounding mids & high tones? I always turn the treble as far up as possible, and usually leave bass at 0 or +1. And I balance the speakers to the front slightly..

6x5's WILL fit in my doors, and should fit in my hatch without a problem!

I'd perfer to not get an Amp, becase I offroad my jeep..water crossings do happen and I have flooded my jeep more than once..its a 1988 jeep Cherokee.

So say 150 for 4 speakers. And up to 200 if theres something thats that much better for 200.

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

Hmm, ya I've been told go listen to this or that in person and decide. And I have done this, just trying to get an idea of what usually works better..
I guess what I like it mild bass..MILD. And good sounding mids & high tones? I always turn the treble as far up as possible, and usually leave bass at 0 or +1. And I balance the speakers to the front slightly..

6x5's WILL fit in my doors, and should fit in my hatch without a problem!

I'd perfer to not get an Amp, becase I offroad my jeep..water crossings do happen and I have flooded my jeep more than once..its a 1988 jeep Cherokee.

So say 150 for 4 speakers. And up to 200 if theres something thats that much better for 200.

you are not going to get what you want without amping your highs , if water is the concern go for a marine amp the speakers you have now would sound a LOT better on an amp. Just adding bigger better speakers is going to make it worse! Unless you find very low wattage speakers like 15 w rms

 

[88xj]

you are not going to get what you want without amping your highs , if water is the concern go for a marine amp the speakers you have now would sound a LOT better on an amp. Just adding bigger better speakers is going to make it worse! Unless you find very low wattage speakers like 15 w rms

Ok any advice on a amp? Lets just go with a normal amp, and I can see about mounting it either on the back of the rear seat, or on my rear deck..it wouldn't get wet there.

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

I have a cheap 4 channel BNIB you may like OP

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

Ok any advice on a amp? Lets just go with a normal amp, and I can see about mounting it either on the back of the rear seat, or on my rear deck..it wouldn't get wet there.

I gave a buddy an old us amps active 4ch for his ski boat and it holds up well to the moisture, so I would think mounted up high inside would be good and look on ebay grab a decent name brand not boss or pyramid maybe look for an alpine, and keep your alpine HU that jensen will not sound better it's a wal-mart HU and they where cheap at that.

 

[88xj]

Price?

And honestly I have no idea what I'm looking for here lol?

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

I have a cheap 4 channel BNIB you may like OP

he!! there you go cheap and new if it gets wet no big loss throw another in!

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

I have a cheap 4 channel BNIB you may like OP

he!! there you go cheap and new if it gets wet no big loss throw another in!

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

Yep it will work for him... He can amp some front comps and some rear fill

 

[88xj]

Yep it will work for him... He can amp some front comps and some rear fill

I have no idea what that means?

And why is the Jensen unit bad? It around 400 new but I know price doesn't mean quality..I was going to get it because it was a 7" flip out dvd which would be nice to have lol.

Better n reverse how much are you trying to get?

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Id mount that amp on the ceiling,what the He ll doesnt sound like you care where it goes or looks like?Buy a cheap 50x4 POS on Ebay????You could find a cheap old school Optimus 4ch for prob $50?

 

---------- Post added at 02:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:00 AM ----------

 

Pyle makes some cheap marine speakers also????????

 

---------- Post added at 02:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:01 AM ----------

 

Pyle makes some cheap marine speakers also????????

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

I have no idea what that means?
And why is the Jensen unit bad? It around 400 new but I know price doesn't mean quality..I was going to get it because it was a 7" flip out dvd which would be nice to have lol.

Better n reverse how much are you trying to get?

It means run components in the front and some other speakers in the rear... Jensens are probably the worst deck you can buy... I have worked on 4-5 of those and they all have broke a couple times...

 

[88xj]

It means run components in the front and some other speakers in the rear... Jensens are probably the worst deck you can buy... I have worked on 4-5 of those and they all have broke a couple times...

Ok thanks for the honesty guess!

Any advice on brand or models? Size? Should I go 6x9? 6x5? Stay with 5 1/4s?