Suggestions for affordable sound quality

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

Well I'm running a CarPC which I completely love, but now that I have all the software in the world available for me to tune and equalize with, I realize how shitty my sound actually is.

I have stock components in the front and sony xplod 6x9s in the rear cause I had them laying around, all powered by the cheapest 4-channel amplifier that wal-mart has to offer. I also have a Cadence ZRS-9 (awesome amp) powering a 12'' Audiobhan Eternal (meh) 1000W@2Ohm in a ported box that I'm guessing is probably close to the smallest size it should be. Due to the PC, it sounds OK, but I'm really starting to get into this sound quality thing and I want better. I get terrible rattling, and just not great sound in general.

For somebody who is on a tight budget what would you recommend I do? If anybody has some suggestions for some new components for up front that won't break the bank let me know. Also is it really necessary to upgrade the amp? Does that effect sound quality very much, or just volume? I think it puts out either 65x4 or 50x4. I thought about sound deadening, and I definitely want to do it, but with stock speakers in the front there isn't much point other than reducing a bit of road noise.

Basically...lets say I have a $300-400 budget, what, out of anything, should I do to get the best possible sound quality?

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[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Get a Profile 400SX amp (100W x 2) $45

Get a pair of Pioneer Rev components $150

Build a new box $40

Get as much Peel n Seal as you can get from Home Depot

 

[60ndown 10+ year member]

find someone local who knows how to do car audio and have them help you before you spend any money

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

I know how to do car audio, I'm quite good at it. I just haven't done it in my car. I built a computer and hooked it up to what I already had. I just don't have the money to do what I want to do.

If money were no object right now I'd go buy an awesome rainbow component set, an Alpine PXA-H701, a new 4-channel amp, a new sub probably a fi-q and put it in a sealed box. I'd rip everything out of the car, rewire everything to eliminate as much rattles and make sure I have good quality cable, and deaden the crap out of everything. I'd get a new soundcard for the PC so I could run bit-perfect to the alpine eq...but that would cost a ton of money.

So basically I know I need a new front stage and a new amp. After that as much sound deadening as I can afford. I'm already planning on building a sealed box for the sub once it warms up a bit.

I know what I need to do, I'm just looking for suggestions about what order I should do them in, what makes the most impact, and maybe some specific suggestions for components. I'm not looking for sound quality to win awards, just something that makes my carpc more worthwhile.