Your Super low budget build opinions.

[d77543020 10+ year member]

It can be done if you catch deals my system is a alpine CDA 147 60.00 tidal audio 1500 100.00 Phoenix Gold 650.2 90.00 powerbass 3xl component set 60.00 all wireing 50.00 custom box found on cl 60.00 3 15inch powerbass es sub's 250

 

[sharky]

I guess im raising my budget limit to more...Im thinking all sound ordnance speakers and amps. Component speakers front and rear, sub/box,4channel amp for the main speakers and amp for the subs with a kenwood head unit...I cant find anything to beat a 3yr warranty parts and labor or better quality for the money/budget range new...If I cant get good sound quality out of this stuff then ill be very surprised and will have learned a lesson but im confident it will do what im looking for for sound.

 

[tc300 10+ year member]

Not worth the time or effort for $500... Save up and buy some decent quality that will last for awhile. The resale value on your "budget" will be VERY MINIMAL!!!

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

You should really consider getting a proper amp and sound quality oriented head unit first with active capabilities and digital time alignment. That kenwood head unit you chose is just a run of the mill head unit to have basic features, but it does not have high quality 24 bit Digital audio converters which is crucial for good sound compare your kenwood headunit with the clarion cz702 or alpine 147BT, for 40 more, you get leaps and bounds of sound quality and tuning futures all setup for any future upgrades, builds you can think of. Your investing in your future, AKA a headunit where you'll always keep and have a use for, not just a unit where you use and toss/sell to upgrade and waste money by doing so.

Also your amp choices are sub optimal too. You an amp that has ample power and headroom for your subs and speakers and you also want to save on wiring but yet you buy two amps which requires two wire kits or a distribution block which is extra money you need to put out for the install.

Save some money man, below is a great and proven amp that has everything you need packed into one for the same price and you only need one run of power wire. You can run two subs in the future with the single sub channel on that 5 channel amp easily, its all a matter of knowing how to wiring your subs to your amp correctly. Dont get tricked into buying crutchfield's inhouse crap that has no resale value when you feel like upgrading later.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_38339_Precision-Power-PPI-P900.5.html

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I repeat again, you'll be amazed how much a good head unit, amp and sound deadening/door treatment will make your stock speakers sound. You can always upgrade that later when you have a real budget, if you rush into this all gung ho bent on buying the cheapest stuff that you think would be good meanwhile disregarding advice from most of these veterans, your just gonna get burned by yourself and its money down the drain. Save yourself the financial lesson and do it right the first time.

 

[pickup1 5,000+ posts]

Don't skimp on a head unit,it starts the signal....good clean head unit....good clean sound.

Crappy head unit...crappy sound.

 

[murph 10+ year member]

You could just set up a decent subtage with that 500. Asumming you build your own box and already have an aftermarket head unit.

 

[sharky]

Don't skimp on a head unit,it starts the signal....good clean head unit....good clean sound.Crappy head unit...crappy sound.

The Kenwood Excelon KDC- X597 isn't a decent head unit?????..I looked at the radios from $50.00 all the way up to over 200 just to see what you can get for the money.

Found a pioneer and a kenwood with 3 sets of pre outs @4v for 130 or less...the rest were 2v 2.5v and didn't have 3 sets of pre outs for less..The higher priced units had the same 4v and 3 sets of pre outs...figured I got the best I could find for the budget... $129.99 for the kenwood..$104 for the pioneer...Always been a kenwood fan and it puts out more power (22RMS per ch.x4) My thoughts were to use the radio to power dash speakers with 44RMS per side...a 4 channel to power the front and rear mains and an amp for the sub.

And some sound deadening for the doors/trunk/roof/some of the floor.

Did this with Microsoft paint as quick schematic of whats planned.

http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q793/Utherverse2014/proposedstereosystem_zpsdb3a70ad.png

 

[pickup1 5,000+ posts]

Kenwood is not bad.....Just didn't want you to buy Pyle or boss....

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

The Kenwood Excelon KDC- X597 isn't a decent head unit?????..I looked at the radios from $50.00 all the way up to over 200 just to see what you can get for the money.
Found a pioneer and a kenwood with 3 sets of pre outs @4v for 130 or less...the rest were 2v 2.5v and didn't have 3 sets of pre outs for less..The higher priced units had the same 4v and 3 sets of pre outs...figured I got the best I could find for the budget... $129.99 for the kenwood..$104 for the pioneer...Always been a kenwood fan and it puts out more power (22RMS per ch.x4) My thoughts were to use the radio to power dash speakers with 44RMS per side...a 4 channel to power the front and rear mains and an amp for the sub.

And some sound deadening for the doors/trunk/roof/some of the floor.

Did this with Microsoft paint as quick schematic of whats planned.

http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q793/Utherverse2014/proposedstereosystem_zpsdb3a70ad.png

Its fine if you dont want full sound quality features and just want a working head unit with modern features and enough pre-outs. The tuning capabilities of that kenwood unit is very very LIMITED, 3 band eq leaves MUCH to be desired, the lack of time alignment and active capabilities dont help its case either, you never know when you might want to try an active setup in the future. Doesn't seem like it has good internal sound processors either, just mediocre.

Dont buy headunits based on what RMS they put out, makes no difference most of the times anyways. Dont base it on your fanboy instincts either. Go for pure performance and Sound.

sounds like you might not know what time alignment or going active means or even heard a car with an active setup done correctly before.

 

[OzNath 10+ year member]

I got a Pioneer headunit for $200 brand new, powering a mono amp for the sub and a 4 channel amp for the door speakers with only 2 2 volt preouts,only option i can't use is fade because im running 4 speakers of the front channels on the Hu. Sacraficed 3 4 volt preouts for bluetooth and a better equalizer, sounds half decent.