So I'll just go ahead and say it, Im a complete noob when it comes to stereos and I have no idea what an amp does or which speakers go where. Im getting about $500-$600 back on my tax returns and so Ive decided to get a new sound system for my car because the stock one sucks *****.
I want some bass but not just pure car rattling bass, I just want it to bump and keep up with the music and not get distorted. I also want really good and clear speakers because as any vert owner knows, once you get on the highway the sound gets kinda drowned out so I want something loud that will have no problem with letting me hear Iron Man clear across my neighborhood.

So Ive been looking at Best Buy and Circuit City and from what Ive seen they seem to cater more to the kids with the civics who just want subs rather than the people who just want a badass stereo. So now Im looking at sonicelectronix.com and they seem to have a broad selection and cheap prices which is great and all but I have no idea what I want or need!

So now my question is, what should I get? Whats a good sub to get that wont over power and drown out the music and what brands should I stick to and what should I avoid. From what Ive gathered from my friends Ive noticed that anything made by Alpine thats a type R is good but Im thinking that its just the ricers choice in car audio because its a type r.

Id be grateful for any help yall could give me!

 

It looks like you have done some research before your visit to the site. Most of the more knowledgeable memberof this section of the forum would agree with you on your assesment of best buy, circuit city, and the alpine type R.

For $500-600 you can build a really nice stereo, but I have a couple questions.

How much trunk space are you willing to give up?

Will you build your own sub box?

What type of music do you listen too?

Do you already have an aftermarket Headunit?

After you answer these questions I can make a recommendation.

 

To branch off of some of the things P mentioned, I thought i would offer a bit of insight into the world of car stereo in a CONVERTIBLE.

Trunk space is limited in a vert. If you don't care about trunk space, go with a ported box. 99% of the time ported will allow for greater output which you will be struggling with when the top is down. I have two ten's sealed in a cubic foot box and the bass is just audible over the wind, road, and my full bassani exhaust (which is damn loud). The box maximizes the space in my trunk by being slanted and sealed since sealed subwoofer enclosures require less space (relative to the woofers you purchase). I also removed the back interior molding that hides the top which gave me a little more room and allowed for a bit more sound to carry through. When i get a second vehicle i plan to do a rear seat delete with grill cloth to open up the trunk to the seats. I can take pics later if you would like. I have a 2003 and am not sure if they changed the trunk layout through the years.

Definitely build your own box if you can. The integrity of the box will be a lot better and you will learn a lot in doing it yourself. It is not as difficult as it seems (unless you get fancy with it, and then it is just usually taking your time)

What type of music do you listen to? (I have nothing for that one...)

If you already have an aftermarket head unit, it will make things MUCH easier to install, and improve the quality of your stereo.

Hope this helps (and hope i didn't muddy anything!)

 

if you go to worst lie or city then do so only to listen to the product. Take your own music in if you can and then just tell the sales people you do not want to buy an extended warrenty nor any product from them and to leave you alone[:@]!!! Just tell them that you moved around some of the products on the accesory wall and it is no-longer set up to meet the plano-gram and they will probably take off concerned[:-](this also might allow you to meet their superior security team[:-])...

Do you have a mach system in the car?

 

Thank you for all of your feedback, to answer some of your questions I dont really use the trunk except as a place to throw my backpack in or whatever valuables I have in the car when I dont want to put the top up so I dont think Ill need too much trunk space.

I really didnt plan on building one because I dont know what kind of wood to use or even how to make it but I think that if I had instructions I might be able to put one together.

I listend to alot of alternative rock and alot of hip-hop and occasionally Ill throw some classics in like AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica or Black Sabbath.

I do have an aftermarket headunit but it is total garbage, its got buttons for volume, it skips and stops when you hit a bump (not even hard bumps) and its red and chrome and it completely clashes with the car. (Black, grey and teal) So I was looking for another one but all of the ones Ive seen so far are too complex to use or theyre the cheap feeling removeable faceplate kind.

And my car doesnt even have the Mach stereo so you can imagine how terrible the sound quality is after 13 years of abuse/neglect.

 

ok I have no idea what I'm doing as well I have an 89 lx and i dont know the wiring in this car it might a swell be in japanese, i have a sony xplod headunit, anyone know how to wore them together?

 

Building a box is super easy. I would recommend a small sealed enclosure if you don't want to give up a lot of room.I can even draw you one if you really want me to. Lowes or Home depot can easily cut the sheets (make sure they cut them right) and then all you have to do is glue/screw them together. Use a jig saw to cut a round hole and you are good to go.

For $600 this would be a great setup!

HU: http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4951$210

Fronts: http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4596$170

Sub: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=31$100

Amp: http://ikesound.com/product-product_id/2213$93

That leaves you $30 for box supplies and wiring.

 

I can speak from experience, the EF-61FG component speaker set from Woofersetc.com is a good buy. It comes with 30 ft of 16-gauge Monster Speaker Wire, tweeters and components. Except if you pick those, you have to do some grunt work and a cutting job [or build a baffle for the speakers to fit] since the ones that are in Mustang Doors are rectangular shape and those are 6.5" circles.

But they're $200 bucks. Plus you have to buy an amp, and then your subwoofers and an amp for those, as well as a HU.


And as far as building a box, it's really not hard at all. Most places you buy wood from will cut the pieces for you. So it's basically just screwing it in, and siliconing for protection. We can teach you how to make a box, it's incredibly easy. You only need either a table saw or a circular saw and a Jigsaw... and a tape measure.


I did everything myself, and honestly... the hardest part was running the wires. XD I hate Mustangs sometimes.

At any rate,

I recommend the CDT EF-61FG comp. set.

 

Go to a local audio shop [or online if you want] and get a harness that plugs into the stock harness and you just wire it onto your new HU.

[And BTW The Sony X-Plod line isn't really that good. I personally don't think so. They're loud, but poor quality]

 

Yea but yer dog will also tell us the tweeters taste good as well....................

I have recently seen some stuff that made me chuckle at walmart as they have pre-cut and carpeted pieces of wood put together asa "build yer own box kit". You use double sided tape to help make it airtight and wood screws to hold it stiff. I had to chuckle but for The $20 they charged it would do the job to be honest.......