Basic setup questions

Lindsey Rauch

CarAudio.com Newbie
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Hi everyone, I'm looking to upgrade my setup for the first time and have some questions. 

I'm not an audiophile (maybe yet, haha) but I do love music and want it to sound reasonably good, considering price. But I wanna start with something basic and go from there. My plan is to buy the parts and get a local shop to install everything. Hoping to keep it around $500 (I'm Canadian but using USD to presumably make it easier for people here) all in if possible. 

I have a 1997 Honda Civic CX. There's an aftermarket Kenwood deck in it but its old and I'll be replacing it. Beyond that there's 2 stock speakers in the back, and none in the front, just the plastic things that look like speakers, which I found kinda odd. 

So onto the questions. How many speakers do I actually need? Can I just get a new deck, 2 speakers, and a powered sub and call it a day? Or do I need 4 speakers? The first scenario seems more convenient, because if I understand correctly (correct me if not), I can only plug in 4 things to the average lower-end deck. 4 speakers plus a sub would require me to get an amp, yes? Prefer to not go down that road if possible for budget reasons. Can I get 2 new speakers and keep the existing rear ones? Would that sound bad?

Examples of components I'm looking at:

Heads:

https://www.crutchfield.ca/p_105KDX360B/JVC-KD-X360BTS.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DS5120B/Pioneer-DEH-S5120BT.html

Speakers:

https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-TS-F1634R-200W-2-Way-Speakers/dp/B0081SRIFS/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=car+speakers&qid=1560738414&s=gateway&sr=8-5

https://www.amazon.ca/Kicker-43DSC6504-Coaxial-Speakers-DSC6504/dp/B01BLVEVNS/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=car+speakers&qid=1560738414&s=gateway&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.ca/Rockford-Fosgate-R165X3-6-5-Inch-Full-Range/dp/B00BF6HWCM/ref=pd_sbs_107_10?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00BF6HWCM&pd_rd_r=fd3d6628-913e-11e9-a19e-076b366cd722&pd_rd_w=kgvev&pd_rd_wg=T8GM0&pf_rd_p=5dcda75b-8643-4da3-9bb1-5c0233790500&pf_rd_r=VZNPG9H461JQCD2FM8N0&psc=1&refRID=VZNPG9H461JQCD2FM8N0

Subwoofer:

https://www.amazon.ca/Rockville-RW10CA-Profile-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B019Z3R582/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=subwoofer+car&qid=1560738464&s=gateway&sr=8-3 (looks like it just sold out)

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_777B8P/Sound-Ordnance-B-8P.html

Will appreciate any help. Thanks!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
a lot of people only run front speakers and a sub.  rear speakers usually just screw up the sound quality.  $500 would be a good deck and front speakers.  $500 for a full setup, would be a tad better than Walmart stuff.  id start with a nice deck and front speakers, then add sub and amp/s over time

 
Thanks for the reply. That might be a good way to go. Would you mind sharing an example of what a good deck and speakers would be? There's soo many different ones it's really hard to tell the difference for someone like me. 

 
I'd get the pioneer over that alpine. I've first hand experiences with both. The pioneer wins by a mile hands down. 

If you cant get image dynamics for cheap after import costs, JBL works fine too.

https://www.amazon.ca/JBL-2-Inch-2-Way-Component-Speakers-Pair-Black/dp/B00ANI3LAK/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?keywords=6.5+component&qid=1560943136&s=gateway&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1

I'd look for local classifieds for a dirt cheap low powered sub with box setup until you  you save for something better later on.

Power the fronts with channel 1 and 2, bridge the rear 3 and 4 for subs for now, run active networks later when you upgrade the sub.

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-GM-D8704-4-Channel-Bridgeable-Amplifier/dp/B07N8HPTMC

 
Not only do they sound pretty similar out the box and get the same level of clean output RCA voltage wise, the pioneer has network mode and a 31 band EQ with smart sync app. The SQ potential is much higher if you really want to get deep into tuning.  Alpine will leave you with no active network mode options and costs 3x more while it ridiculously under performs for its price point. 

 
Thanks for the advice. I'm a bit wary of getting component speakers for my first time though. Would they cost more to install?

You think its pretty important to get an amp to power the speakers even if I'm getting a powered sub to start with? 

 
link to Pioneer thats 1/3 the cost, and out performs Alpine?
op listed it in the opening post.  SQ out the box is on par, preout voltage is on par, both get just as loud, however alpine has no network mode and even if its a parametric EQ, its only 9 bands, the pioneer has a full blown 31 bands with the smart sync app so after tuning the pioneer sounds much better. Client wanted to try active for cheap without blowing cash on an 80 prs on his beater and move the alpine 149bt in it to a new car so it was a direct comparison.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DS5120B/Pioneer-DEH-S5120BT.html?source=pjn&subid=43737

 
damn, thats a lot of bang for the buck.  how does this work? ... 

  • Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR) for improved sound quality from compressed music files
 
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