Car stereo systems -- what to get?

[UnsungHeroine]

Billyman has a thread on D&D, Accessorizing 101, with truck pics.

Now, what I'd like to have is info on interior accessorizing of the audio variety. My stereo sucks. What shall I get instead? My budget is not large, and I am no connoiseuse, but I am aware that my car's factory-installed stereo is lousy.

I want to be able to play radio, tapes and CDs. I want very clear sound, and I want a bit of boom. All this would have to be contained in a little car.

[SatansLeftHand]

instead of using your limited budget to obtain a stereo for your car, you should buy me a matrox parhelia. after all, my birthday is soon........

[UnsungHeroine]

Your old video card is plenty good, Twerp.

btw, it's Mothers Day. Ahem.

[Koliedrus]

To speed things along, an MP does shit like this:

[UnsungHeroine]

Well, I guess I couldn't do that with a stereo.

[Mudflap]

You'll want a new reciever/cassette player and a cd changer. If the in dash receivers come in models that offer both cassette players and cd players in the same unit, that would work, but I haven't seen 'em. Then again, I haven't looked for 'em. Besides, I'd opt for a disc changer that can be controlled from your in-dash reciever so you don't have to worry about changing discs while driving.

That will let you play the media you want to play. You also mentioned you wanted clear sound and a bit of boom. Depending on the quality of your factory installed/current speakers, you might have to replace them. I reccomend 2 way 5 x 6 or 6 x 9 speakers for the rear pair and 6 inch 3 way coaxials for the front door panels. Depending on what your car is set up for with speaker mounts front and rear will dictate whether or not you can go along with these sizes. If not, get what fits your existing mounts. Stick with 2 ways in the rear for adequate bass and 3 ways in the front for good range and depth of sound. There are tons of aftermarket car speakers that have excellent quality and fair prices.

Finally, you will want to boost the output to your speakers. This means an amplifier. Possibly two. They make four way amps that can push 4 speakers from one unit, but I've found two smaller amps only pushing 2 speakers each produce a cleaner sound. When listening to demo models in stores, keep in mind your music will be competing with engine noise and road/traffic noise. Be very critical of the quality of sound your desired components will produce as well as the range and volume.

Now the kicker. No, not a subwoofer or bass tube. Your budget. The old addage, "You get what you pay for" holds very true when buying audio accessories. Especially for automotive applications. You'll be happier spending a tad more for extra/quality components rather than skimping and going with the cheapest alternatives.

There are lots of quality brands on the market that make excellent components for reasonable prices. My favorite happens to be Kenwood. Some other noteworthy brands include (but aren't limited to) Sony, JVC, AWIA, Pioneer, and even Sanyo. Jensen products were never a favorite of mine, but many people I know have been quite happy with theirs. Avoid GE products like the plague. Shop around and figure out what you like. Don't be intimidated by the plethora of various controls on most in dash recievers. You will learn to work them easily with a bit of patience and a few glances at your owner's manual.

If you do decide to buy multiple components, do your best to buy the same brand of reciever and cd changer. Most companies make units that "match up" so you can control your cd changer from your in dash receiver and avoid having a separate control pad for the cd player. You have more flexibilty with amplifiers and speakers as far as mix matching brands goes.

Installation is cheapest when you do it yourself. If you don't have the know how, your best bet is a friend with experience installing all the components you purchase. Or a friend of a friend. Be warned, don't let someone who hasn't done this repeatedly fuck with your shit. You'd be better off paying a professional installer to put in your stuff. They can be expensive, but at least they usually guarantee their work and give you some protection for your components should the wrong hot wire touch another one or short itself out or what have you. In line fuses don't protect your babies from everything that could go wrong.

One last note: Do your homework. Sale reps in many car audio shops are akin to used car salesmen. Like sharks, they can smell weak, injured prey from miles away. Don't let any of these goofs talk you into something you don't want or need and don't believe everything they tell you. Talk to several different reps and ask a lot of questions. You'll get a good feel for which ones are telling you the gospel and which ones are feeding you a load of shit.

Oh yeah. Come back here and ask more questions. I ain't got nothing better to do lately. ;)

I'm sure Billyman will be able to chime in with some excellent advice as well. Maybe ea, but he's a shifty little fucker. You've been warned.

Good luck.

[Billyman]

Oh just forget the installation stuff, replacement stuff, wiring this and that. Just set one of these in your back seat or trunk. :D:D:D:D:D

http://www.audioallies.com/images/JVC/HXZ10.jpg

[Mudflap]

Originally posted by Mudflap


I'm sure Billyman will be able to chime in with some excellent advice as well.

Or maybe he'll just be a wiseass douchebag. :D

[Escape Artist]

Get the stuff installed in such a manner that you're not advertising what you own, remove the faceplate/head unit from the car when parked, if it has the option, and while you're doing the automotive improvement stuff, get a kill switch. Use it. Remember that your investment isn't hard to steal...that car isn't secure, and definitely inform the insurance company that j00 have a kill switch. They like that stuffs, and will give you a discount on your policy. :p

Tripp mostly said all there is to say about the car audio section, make sure that you're listening to what you want to in the store, as they're known to keep every speaker in there on to kinda pad the audio and make a sale.

[Billyman]

Originally posted by Mudflap
Or maybe he'll just be a wiseass douchebag. :D

Hehe. :D

Actually, Mudflap laid it down plain and simple. I had little to add. However they do make CD/Cassette/AM-FM recievers (head units). None of which are cheap and the less expensive ones are in fact "cheap" not economically priced. Even a Jenson (cheap shit) head unit that does all that runs around $240.00.

As Mud suggestion, I would go with a decent cassette deck/AM-FM head unit, a seperate CD changer and go from there. Most decent units now put out pretty good power without the need of an amplifier.

I don't think she's trying to go *BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM* to show up the kids on the block.

Keep it simple, keep it real and YOU can enjoy your music. Your neighbors don't wanna hear it. ;)

[UnsungHeroine]

Hey, thanks, guys. Yeah, I don't want to share my music with my neighbors -- they'd laugh their asses off. Mozart with boom. Tchaikovsky I can see, but not Mozart. Actually, I hardly ever listen to good stuff in my car because the stero sounds so bad. I play oldies and sing along so loud I can't hear the music. Road noise is a factor in my little low-to-the-ground car, too, so I appreciate you addressing that.

Ummm, ea? What's a kill switch? If they tryta rip off my stereo it automatically kills em??? That's probably excessive. I do have a burglar alarm, but it's not a whoop whoop type, nor one that says, "You have the right to remain silent," but it's just connected to my horn, which is a wieny little mewing thing. That is the other thing I want to get: a big, impressive horn.

[Billyman]

Hmm, a loud horn.

A little advice and a trick I learned many a moon ago.

Go to a parts store (may take several now-a-days) or you may have to get them to order for you but purchase a 6-VOLT horn or horn(s). See, your cars system is a 12 volt system, if you buy a 6 volt horn rated at say 85db (or whatever) then push 12 volts to it, it's like really, really loud. It doesn't necessarily double the db's because of some distortion but it's still as loud as all get out.

[UnsungHeroine]

LOL Like "ow-OOO-gah," but with the emphasis on the "ow?"

I love it.

[Billyman]

http://www.wolo-mfg.com/spec.htm

Try that.

[SatansLeftHand]

Originally posted by UnsungHeroine
Your old video card is plenty good, Twerp.i don't have an old video card. i have limited access to someone else's computer. the matrox is for building into a new computer for meself.