What do i need to know when buying a system?

[switchFooTexas]

Basically, this will be my first car and i want to get a system installed. It's going to be an 09 Mitsubishi Lancer ES. I'm not sure what i need, how much i should be expecting to spend or anything whatso ever.

I'm hoping to only have to drop a little over 1000 or less for all the parts. I have no idea how much installation would be, but i'm just worried about parts right now. I want to put some speakers in the doors for sure, and then probably some in the back seats. I'm not going for bass that will give me a massage, just some very good quality with a little bit of bass that bumps.

I just need to know what to ask for when i goto buy all of this and get it installed. Any thing else i would need to know to get this done would help alot

Thanks in advance,

-Joe

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[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

a lot

 

[Andrew_as 10+ year member]

dont buy from best buy! go to an audio shop!

 

[Calikid 5,000+ posts]

its get's expensive after a while //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[switchFooTexas]

How much should i be expecting to spend for a couple on the doors, and some in the backseats, and a nice headunit and installation

 

[switchFooTexas]

Also, do i need to bring the parts to most shops, or will they normally have what i want in there?

 

[macq32 10+ year member]

6 speakers + amp + HU = about (ebay ftw)

sub/amp - varies, im looking at about a 1k

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

Do not buy anything from an unauthorized dealer. Buying local is usually going to **** you, so try to find what you want online, and then have a car audio shop install it.

 

[mepratt1234@cha 10+ year member]

Buy online. Do the head unit yourself. Normally speakers are like $70-100 at shops.

 

[speedfreak28 10+ year member]

if your looking for something basic, save yor moeny and get the factory fosgate setup, my buddy has that in his new lancer and it sounds good, sounds about wat your looking for.

 

[king ranch 5,000+ posts]

buy online or here if you want used stuff for a good price

and most of it you can do yourself or get someone on here that is close to you to help you with it, and pay them a lil bit of cash will be cheaper and better work than a shop does, and get a box built by someone on here

 

[528hz 10+ year member]

Used stuff is where it's at especially when it comes to resale. Buy from the right people and you can be assured the equipment wasn't abused. That's my thinking now 'a days.

 

[switchFooTexas]

Ok, anyone want to help me pick everything or give me some suggestions? I'm unfortuanately going to have to get it installed by someone local or one of my dads friends who happens to be a mechanic, or maybe one of the mechanics friends who does that kind of stuff hah. But yeah, if you guys could help me pick out what would fit and stuff that would help alot. I know i want some in the door handles, and then a couple in the back seat

 

[qkassidyw 10+ year member]

Ok, anyone want to help me pick everything or give me some suggestions? I'm unfortuanately going to have to get it installed by someone local or one of my dads friends who happens to be a mechanic, or maybe one of the mechanics friends who does that kind of stuff hah. But yeah, if you guys could help me pick out what would fit and stuff that would help alot. I know i want some in the door handles, and then a couple in the back seat

Apparently on this forum every one loves the Image Dynamic components (CTX65s I think?) Those are 180 on woofers etc.

For the rears go with the matching 6.5" (CTX 6) for the rear. Those are 140.

Get a good headunit (Alpine CDA-9884, 9886, Pioneer 4000/5000, Eclispe, etc) That will run you around 200-300.

Install at a shop will be around 60-90 for the fronts, 40-70 for the rears, and 50 + 40 in parts for the deck. So with just this setup (which will sound really good you are at 670-830 Installed. The deck is really easy and you could do it yourself and if you get the deck off of crutchfield you will save yourself 90 bucks.

Buy a used sub/amp/box that have been treated well, get the wiring from knu, cheap prefabbed box and you should be at a little over a grand total.

Another option is to do the components up front, get REALLY 6.5 subs and put them in place of your rears so that way you wouldn't have to get an actual 10" or 12" since it sounds like you don't want really loud bass. And that will put you under a grand as well.

In short:

Setup 1:

Fronts: 180

Rears: 130 (could find cheaper ones)

Deck: 200

Install + Parts:200

Total: 710 (Add 300-400 for amp/sub/box)

Setup 2:

Fronts : 180

Rear Subs: 300

Amp: 200

Deck:200

Install+Parts:200

Total: 1080

 

[qkassidyw 10+ year member]

Oh, and do not let a mechanic install your stuff, from my experience mechanics don't know crap about wiring a car and always mess stuff up. Go to a shop and have it done, and watch them while they are doing it. Ask to speak to the shops lead installer and make sure they are certified.

What are are you in and maybe I can find a good place for you to go to.