Please Help Me Design a System

[RSeb]

I'm hoping you guys can help me design a good sound system. I know next to nothing about car audio and I'm feeling pretty intimidated looking at the walls of head units, etc at Best Buy and Circuit City.

All I really know for sure is that I want to play MP3 encoded CD's. And I want it to sound good loud across the whole spectrum (not just bass). I really like the Alpine CDA-7897 - mostly because it can display a lot of text (for MP3 tags) and the controls seems easy to master, but I'm willing to go with pretty much anything.

I am completely clueless about amps and speakers.

I have a 2003 Honda CR-V EX - with the stock sound system. I believe the stock HU is a double din (or at least a din + 1/2), we can fill up that space or not, I don't care.

I am willing to spend up to $1000 for the whole setup (HU, amp, speakers, ??). Could you guys give me your recomendations?? I really need some expert advice here. What is the best combination of HU (MP3), amp, and speakers for $1000 or less?

Thanks!

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[Randy Savage 5,000+ posts]

Ok, you want a sub and sub amp too, or just speakers all around and an amp for them?

for now, I'll give you what I think would be good for a grand, without subs and sub amps..

Alpine 7897(I have it, absolutely love it)- $438

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=alpcda7897

Or

Pioneer Premier P840- $369

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=piodehp840mp

Or

Alpine 7995- $364

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=alpcda7995

As for speakers, I recommend the Infinity Kappa's,

For rear, get a set of speakers, the Kappa 2-way 6.5" speakers are $85 on http://www.ikesound.com

For the front stage, I'd get the Kappa comps, 6.5" are $160 on the same site.

For an amp for these, I'd look into US Acoustics, or Soundstream amps, somewhere around 75-85 watts x4 @4 ohms.

Here is a US Acoustics USX4085 4 channel amp, 85x4 @ 4 ohms-$173

http://www.thezeb.com/caraudio/us_acoustics.html

 

[rsflores 5,000+ posts]

id have to agree with snova031 cuz they are good choices plus i like that lil lady

on his avatar!!!

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[eengrms 10+ year member]

My advice- stay away from Best Buy and Circuit City. Buy the stuff online, you'll get better deals.

 

[RSeb]

Thanks for the quick responses! That sounds like a great system. Now let's talk about installation.

Installing a HU, amp, and speakers is way beyond what I am willing to tackle myself. Could I buy these components online and take them to Best Buy to have them installed? Would it be better to find a small independent shop to do the installation? What would an install like this typically cost?

I would think that the quality of the installation would be about as important as the components themselves.

Again, thanks a ton. I really appreciate your advice.

 

[Randy Savage 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by RSeb Thanks for the quick responses! That sounds like a great system. Now let's talk about installation.

 

Installing a HU, amp, and speakers is way beyond what I am willing to tackle myself. Could I buy these components online and take them to Best Buy to have them installed? Would it be better to find a small independent shop to do the installation? What would an install like this typically cost?

 

I would think that the quality of the installation would be about as important as the components themselves.

 

Again, thanks a ton. I really appreciate your advice.

Well, I say the best thing to do is take it to a local shop. They might charge a little more, but local shops tend to know a lot more than Circuit City or best buy.
In my area(NY), shops generally charge around $30-40 for h/u's, $75-150 for amps, and $50 for speakers. This includes all parts needed.

If I were you, I would purchase everything online, and go to a few local shops, tell them what you have and ask how much they will charge for installation. Also ask a few questions, see what they have to say and what they know. By asking a few questions, you might find out that they really don't know their car audio, and you don't want them installing your stuff.

The things I suggested should leave you with a good amount of $$$ to get it all installed.

 

[RSeb]

Ok, I went to see a local shop that does custom installations. It turns out I went to high school with the owner. Anyway, he is recommending a Clarion DXZ835MP HU. He said that the Alpine is a good unit, but he thought the Clarion was better. He was saying something about Alpine not being as good now that they are made in Singapore (or something like that).

His recommendation is to get the Clarion HU, high end JB 3 ways speakers in front, leave rear speakers stock, and let him make a small custom box for a sub. he wants to install all that, then decide if a amp is necessary.

What do you guys think?

 

[Tek 10+ year member]

well, id definitely say if you have $1000 to spend, dont buy 3-ways for the front, get components. And don't leave rear speakers stock. Lots of people remove there rear speakers completely when they get subs and then use just components in the front.

"His recommendation is to get the Clarion HU, high end JB 3 ways speakers in front, leave rear speakers stock, and let him make a small custom box for a sub. he wants to install all that, then decide if a amp is necessary."

If you're going to get a sub, you need an amp, you don't need to decide if its necessary. Also, I know the higher end Alpine head units don't have internal amps so you'll need one for your speakers also.

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

Originally posted by RSeb Ok, I went to see a local shop that does custom installations. It turns out I went to high school with the owner. Anyway, he is recommending a Clarion DXZ835MP HU. He said that the Alpine is a good unit, but he thought the Clarion was better. He was saying something about Alpine not being as good now that they are made in Singapore (or something like that).

 

His recommendation is to get the Clarion HU, high end JB 3 ways speakers in front, leave rear speakers stock, and let him make a small custom box for a sub. he wants to install all that, then decide if a amp is necessary.

 

What do you guys think?

There is an alpine/clarion dealer a couple of hours from here. In his experience, the Clarions are more reliable and sound better. Now, that may be of some help to you or maybe not. The Clarion 835mp is a nice looking deck(visually and specs/features wise) and is reasonably priced. Good luck with whatever you buy.

 

[A.C.Sanchez]

Originally posted by snova031 Ok, you want a sub and sub amp too, or just speakers all around and an amp for them?

 

for now, I'll give you what I think would be good for a grand, without subs and sub amps..

 

Alpine 7897(I have it, absolutely love it)- $438

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=alpcda7897

Or

Pioneer Premier P840- $369

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=piodehp840mp

Or

Alpine 7995- $364

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=alpcda7995

 

As for speakers, I recommend the Infinity Kappa's,

For rear, get a set of speakers, the Kappa 2-way 6.5" speakers are $85 on http://www.ikesound.com

For the front stage, I'd get the Kappa comps, 6.5" are $160 on the same site.

 

For an amp for these, I'd look into US Acoustics, or Soundstream amps, somewhere around 75-85 watts x4 @4 ohms.

 

Here is a US Acoustics USX4085 4 channel amp, 85x4 @ 4 ohms-$173

http://www.thezeb.com/caraudio/us_acoustics.html

I ordered that exact setup about 2 hours ago!! we think alike.

alpine CDA-7897

Infinity Kappa 60.5CS

Infinity Kappa 63.5I's

That's funny shit.

 

[andy00018 10+ year member]

Brought back from the dead, ****it

 

[Randy Savage 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by A.C.Sanchez I ordered that exact setup about 2 hours ago!! we think alike.

 

alpine CDA-7897

Infinity Kappa 60.5CS

Infinity Kappa 63.5I's

 

That's funny shit.

You have some nice stuff there...you won't be disappointed...

You gonna amp those speakers, or run em off the H/U?

 

[A.C.Sanchez]

Originally posted by snova031 You have some nice stuff there...you won't be disappointed...

 

You gonna amp those speakers, or run em off the H/U?

i've got a 5 channel Sony amp that I got last year. I'm going to bridge that thing for the components, run the 63.5I's off the HU, and throw the 2 10" subs i have in the trunk. I can't wait to get it all in there.

Hopefully this saturday.