Car Audio

[OriginalName52]

You guys want to give me a quick education on car audio? I was very knowledgable about home/touring audio a while back, but I don't know much when it comes to hooking up your car. The way I see it, I'll want to end up with a really quality MP3/Radio receiver, and a couple mono block amps, one for each channel. But i don't know brands... Suggestions?


-O

[importhonda]

That is such a broad question... Go to a stereo shop and have a sales person help you out... Don't buy anything.... Then come back and tell us what they recomended...


Rule #1 Stick with major brands... you pay for what you get.

headunits: Nakamichi, Kenwood, Clarion, Alpine, Sony, Panasonic

Amps: Pheonix Gold, Rockford, Kenwood, Sony


THose are just some examples. I feel that nakamchi makes the best headunits and pheonix gold makes the best amps.


AS far as Subs I would go with JL

[nbj1485]

sup?

hey import honda, id have to disagree with u on that one. there a lot of companies that compete with mainstream at a low cost. Sony really sucks...

nak makes good head units but i think alpine is better just because it has more features at a good price.

oh yea and sony sucks...

here is a pretty good budget system:

Head Unit: Alpine or Pioneer
Speakers: Infinity Kappa
Amps: JBL or US Acoustics
Subs: Elemental Designs K Series, Adire Audio Shiva, JL Audio W3s are ok too

if u want high end stuff:
Head Unit: Alpine or Pioneer Premiere
Speakers: MB Quart, Focal
Amps: Precision Power, Zapco, Phoenix Gold
Subs: Elemental Designs A Series, Resonant Engineering XXX, Adire Audio Brahma, JL Audio W7s are ok too

[importhonda]

I would have to agree and disagree with you...


I can't stress enough about the "Sony Sucks" comment, I just tossed it in there since most people find them visually appealing and that is the most important for many people, Why I'm not sure :(

Nakamichi have very few options, they are simple, look classy and I feel no other headunit can match its sound quality. I have seen some problems with reliability with them though, so get those warranties

Alpine and pioneer I would place just above sony :( I just don't think they are that great looking and I dislike the way they function. But I do know many people that love alpine.

Infinity speakers are great, forgot to mention them. Kappas and Perfects both sound awsome.


JBL or US Acoustics i feel are very cheap... they just don't sound that great IMO

Everything else you said I feel is right on

and if you didn't read it in both of our posts


Sony does suck
:D

[IceD out N CALI]

But i don't know brands... Suggestions?

I would suggest JL audio for sub setup. thats what I have. I like MB Quartz and infinity speakers for highs and mids. A good monoblock amp to get is the JL audio line (if you want to shell out the extra cash. I did and i'm glad) but u can also get cheap power like the JBL 1200.1 amp, U can find it at www.ikesound.com for $275. I'm sure when you were shopping for your home audio stuff you let your ears do the deciding. Same with car audio i suggest you check out a few shops and listen to the speakers yourself. THen when you're ready, you can find most of that stuff on ebay or brand new online much cheaper than at the big stores. good luck:)

[nbj1485]

i am glad we have come to an understanding importhonda. i hope this forum gets more involved with audio as its my fav part of a car. :D speed comes 2nd haha

[jaydub]

How's it going.

Alright, I currently have an Alpine CDA-7897 which is MP3 capable. It's really a nice head unit, but there is one thing about MP3 players: The gap between songs. There is inherently a 1-2 second gap between songs, so if you're playing a live show or a techno/dance mix, you'll hear the gaps. I can overlook that easily, as the convenience of having 9 CD's on one single CDR is a great plus.

As far as components and subs, it's really subjective. I've read some good and bad on the new JL W7 subs, thing is, they're massive, and I don't know if you're like me, but I am not willing to sacrifice a large part of my trunk for a sub. There are plenty of subs which only require small enclosures. Image Dynamics makes some exceptional subwoofers. If you're going for sound quality, there are some brands which will excel, such as Image Dynamics and Focal. I personally have two very different subwoofers, Focal 5WS 5-3/8" subwoofers. Most subs are at least 8", but these are very small, and I plan to replace the rear 6-1/2" stock speakers with these, provided I can make some enclosures... but that's all details. :)

Some people like to stick with the bigger brands because they're easier to find through local vendors and such, but I'm a fan of what works. I've found that planning your system in advance will not only save you tons of time and effort, but it will also allow you to learn about it. A lot of times, a system will sound awful simply because it hasn't been tuned properly. Last but not least, don't buy anything unless you've had a chance to listen to it. It doesn't matter if Focal Utopias are $600 for a set, they may sound worse to your ears than a $200 set of Alpine Type R components. It's all about preference.

Hope this helps.

[Glix2]

If you're on a budget Infinity reference series is a good bang for the buck speaker.

[jaydub]

Originally posted by Glix2
If your on a budget Infinity reference series is a good bang for the buck speaker.

Agreed, as are the Alpine Type R components.

[importhonda]

I will leave any comments on Alpine to nbj1485 :p, but as for me, The W7's are very massive subs and I feel will weigh down your car. Best bang for the buck? I would go for the JL w1 or w0 series. they take very little power yet sound crystal clear in a sealed box. They can also be had for a mear 100-120 each... Just a thought

[importhonda]

Oh and I agree that we should keep up the car audio posts, because i feel that it is a very important aspect of a car, especially living in an area facing heavy trafic congestion. What good is all you engine mods, if your stuck in the traffic, sit back, crank your stereo and enjoy the bliss of music :)

[I_VTEC]

I'm trying to get a Pioneer sponsorship, just because the system i'm building is mostly Pioneer already. I have a Premier 740 HU, a Pioneer 760w 2-Channel, a Pioneer 300w 4-Channel, and a set of REV-Series 6x8's. All of which are VERY HIGH quality. I would highly recommend them. I get everything for about 50% of retail from a Pioneer-Authorized Dealer, whom I am friends with. My system cost only about $550. Yeah, and SONY SUCKS!

[Jpax]

The new nak 400 will be very nice, it has 96khz/24bit DAC. 4 color lumination, has 4v preout. and is starting around 499.
they are making a series of decks, 400, 500, and so on. they should be shipping near x mas

Eclipse has made a series od cd/monitors with the Lcd screen and cd player only, with aux video inputs so you can hook up an x box or ps2 to it, but they do make a lcd and screen as well starting at a whooping 2,600.!!

:D

[pocketrocket]

Personally, I like JL Audio. I have 2 JL w0's in a sealed box, on a 250watt Monoblock JL Amp. As far as amps go, get a class D amp, you won't regret it. I've got a Clarion Pro-Audio headunit, I love the sound, but it's impossible to see during the day at the angle it is in our EP's. I'm still contemplating my components up front, and what to put in the rear. I was thinking only mids in the rear, and not going with a 2way. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

-PR

[IceD out N CALI]

Originally posted by importhonda
Oh and I agree that we should keep up the car audio posts, because i feel that it is a very important aspect of a car, especially living in an area facing heavy trafic congestion. What good is all you engine mods, if your stuck in the traffic, sit back, crank your stereo and enjoy the bliss of music :)

same here, in southern cali traffic good sounds (or cell phone hehe) is a must:)