Total 21 year old noob, have $1200 for sound system, please help!

[hoosierxhoosier 10+ year member]

I am building a whole new system. My dad is buying me a sound system for completing college (im poor lol). I want a system that will be good to me for many years //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I will only be playing music through my iPod. I have ripped all of my Cd's using Apple Lossless. So they are the same bit rate as Cd.

I am taking out my rears, as I don't want any. I just 2 want high quality speakers for the front and a sub in the trunk. So please help me! I have no clue what to buy for my needs!

I need:

-a head unit that works well with ipod and supports Apple Lossless

-an amp

-2 high quality speakers for the fronts (both 6.5 speakers)

-a sub.

I listen to mostly rock/metal. I don't want crappy bass. I love that tight sounding double drum kick pedal from a sub.

Please build me the best set within $1200 that meets my needs. Thank you so much!

Click to read more...

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

are we talking a balanced system, or with the bass being more on the heavy side? how much space are you willing to take up for a sub? are you willing to buy used?

if you buy used you prob could build a really nice system with like $600. tbh most of us on here that sell used equipment are selling stuff that's barely even been used, and you can get some really nice prices.

 

[hoosierxhoosier 10+ year member]

are we talking a balanced system, or with the bass being more on the heavy side? how much space are you willing to take up for a sub? are you willing to buy used?
if you buy used you prob could build a really nice system with like $600. tbh most of us on here that sell used equipment are selling stuff that's barely even been used, and you can get some really nice prices.

Its kinda hard for me to answer this, I want a system that does these bands justice.

AC/DC

Aerosmith

Led Zeppelin

Black Sabbath

Metallica

Megadeth

Pantera

Elvis Presley

Bob Seger

Eric Clapton

GnR

Ozzy

MJ

Queen

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Van Halen

and some country.

So I want a setup that can do all of these justice. I listen to all genres. But I just want to make sure the sub has that "tight: double bass pedal kick to it.

Oh, I also can't go used. I am very paranoid about buying items from stangers...don't know how they treated them for sure.

What is a good setup for me please?

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

a pair of dcon 10s sealed. with an aq750 powering them a pair of exodus anarchy mids, and crescendo CTS-2 tweets, powered by any solid 2 chan that puts out a clean 90rms. and the necessary crossovers to run the comp set.

and a good knu wiring kit to keep them happy electrical wise.

as far as what deck, youll have to ask someone else. thats not my game.

 

[kev28 10+ year member]

two sundown 12s sa in ported box 4 oxygen audio 6.5 4 tweeters same brand 0 guage wire kit 100 sq ft sound dampening kenwood or alpine high volt radio

sundown sax 100.4 amp sundown 3500d amp tell dad to give you 3 bills more and your done

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

Why the he'll would he need a 3500 for two sa12s I hope u meant to put 1500

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

^^^ someone likes to spend money.

and im thinking he doesnt want a world beater. and i have a feeling you missed the part where he said he wanted to pull the rears

 

[hoosierxhoosier 10+ year member]

a pair of dcon 10s sealed. with an aq750 powering them a pair of exodus anarchy mids, and crescendo CTS-2 tweets, powered by any solid 2 chan that puts out a clean 90rms. and the necessary crossovers to run the comp set.
and a good knu wiring kit to keep them happy electrical wise.

as far as what deck, youll have to ask someone else. thats not my game.

Alpine Electronics of America, Inc.

Would this be a good head unit for the car? I am seeing it for around $300 new.

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

i think you would be happy with it. i had the x-200 a while back and loved it.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

I agree with the DCONs over the SA's in this application...and im a sundown hugger

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

dcons's

SSA Shop- SSA Dcon 10D4 Sub woofer300watt rms

2 10's sealed

i would spend more of your money on the mids and highs sinc eu like more rock.

CADENCE F700-1 1600 WATT CLASS AB MONO-BLOCK AMPLIFIER | eBay

amp for ur subs

CADENCE F600-4 1400 WATT 4-CHANNEL CAR AMPLIFIER NEW | eBay

matching 4 channel amp

i wouldnt buy that player, it cant play cd's and you dont want to be stuck without that option

and when u can get a great player like this

KENWOOD DDX318 2DIN AM/FM/DVD/CD/MP

CTX65CS IMAGE DYNAMICS NEW 6.5" PRO COMPONENT SPEAKERS | eBay

components up front

and your well below your limits

i dont know what type car you have but in my rear i would add some midbass drivers to help with that rock music

(2) CADENCE CVL-68MB 6.5" 400w MID-BASS CAR SPEAKERS | eBay

(2) CADENCE XM694 500w 6x9 4-OHM MID-BASS CAR SPEAKERS | eBay

 

[hoosierxhoosier 10+ year member]

dcons's SSA Shop- SSA Dcon 10D4 Sub woofer300watt rms

2 10's sealed

i would spend more of your money on the mids and highs sinc eu like more rock.

CADENCE F700-1 1600 WATT CLASS AB MONO-BLOCK AMPLIFIER | eBay

amp for ur subs

CADENCE F600-4 1400 WATT 4-CHANNEL CAR AMPLIFIER NEW | eBay

matching 4 channel amp

i wouldnt buy that player, it cant play cd's and you dont want to be stuck without that option

and when u can get a great player like this

KENWOOD DDX318 2DIN AM/FM/DVD/CD/MP

CTX65CS IMAGE DYNAMICS NEW 6.5" PRO COMPONENT SPEAKERS | eBay

components up front

and your well below your limits

i dont know what type car you have but in my rear i would add some midbass drivers to help with that rock music

(2) CADENCE CVL-68MB 6.5" 400w MID-BASS CAR SPEAKERS | eBay

(2) CADENCE XM694 500w 6x9 4-OHM MID-BASS CAR SPEAKERS | eBay

Sadly I can't buy from Ebay, because manufacturer warrantys will not be honored if purchased from there. I am writing down everything you listed though to see if they are being sold on a different site.

I think the ida is best because it is made for ipod. The special thing about the Alpine is that it bypasses the iPod's DAC, so AlPine uses its internal DAC to improve the sound quality. The Kenwood cannot do this. I will be stuck having to use the iPod's internal DAC which isn't as good.

This whole setup is complicated. I have a 98 Civic EX. Would any head unit fit in my dash, or will I have to do something complicated??? Also will those subs fit where my sub is?

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

The Dcon and the SA subs are both decent choices, the enclosure will make a huge impact as well. So figuring out the available space you have will help us help you with possible sub options. As for mids/highs, depending on your preferences you will more then likely be able to get just about anything and have a decent sound compared to stock at least.

Do you have a sub already, or are you trying to change a factory sub? Regardless really you will need to have(or build it yourself) a custom enclosure built to the sub(s) you purchase. Other wise you will be wasting funds on product that will not perform as they could.

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

you will just need a dash kit for the deck.

and your best bet for the sub stage will just be a simple box firing into the trunk against the back seats.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Sadly I can't buy from Ebay, because manufacturer warrantys will not be honored if purchased from there. I am writing down everything you listed though to see if they are being sold on a different site.
I think the ida is best because it is made for ipod. The special thing about the Alpine is that it bypasses the iPod's DAC, so AlPine uses its internal DAC to improve the sound quality. The Kenwood cannot do this. I will be stuck having to use the iPod's internal DAC which isn't as good.

This whole setup is complicated. I have a 98 Civic EX. Would any head unit fit in my dash, or will I have to do something complicated??? Also will those subs fit where my sub is?

Some if not most Ebay stores are autherized dealers.