Best audio setup for $300

[LenchikUCLA]

I have a '95 240SX and I am going to spend $300 for a new stereo & speakers.. I have a buddy who can install it so I think I am getting all the parts on eBay or from dealers... any advice on what I should get??

[Looneybomber]

McIntosh and Xtant.

Or Elemental Designs. http://www.edesignaudio.com

[phuphyter]

X2 on Elemental Designs

For $95 + Shipping you can get a huge deal on a great set of speakers. The only drawback is that they are still in preproduction but are shipping soon.

Here's the info thread on them

[LenchikUCLA]

Those speakers look really nice! I think I will start with a head unit first and get a nice one, then get those speakers when they're available.

Whats a good head unit for about $150?

[positron1]

I've been asking about the Pioneer Premiere units and everybody seems to like them. They also say that the speakers are pretty good too. I haven't bought any yet so I'm going off secondhand info.

[audtatious]

For $300 your are better off buying a "OK" headunit (or higher-end ebay used unit) and sinking the rest of the money into good front speakers. Worry about subs and amps later because you are not going to get any full system worth a crap for $300

<$100 for a HU>$200 for good front speakers

[Shift_Tommy]

I never heard of elemental designs. How do these compared to infinity kappas?

[Looneybomber]

I would vote for Kappa's and Boston Pro's sounding better, but they cost more. For the money though, you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal. You can find better speakers, that's for sure! For the money though, they're good...For example, their top of the line model of subwoofers uses the TC2 motor, which is also on TCsounds.com bottom of the line subwoofer. Just gives you an idea of what kind of quality TCsounds has.

I have one of ED's 18" subs.http://www.edesignaudio.com/ed...id=37

Here is a B.E.A.U.tiful sub by TCsounds.(the 12")http://www.tcsounds.com/tc1000.htm

[Shift_Tommy]

I can get the 6.5 kappa components for the same as the design elemental. MAD discounts.

[yelnatsch517]

I would vote for Kappa's and Boston Pro's sounding better, but they cost more. For the money though, you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal. You can find better speakers, that's for sure! For the money though, they're good...For example, their top of the line model of subwoofers uses the TC2 motor, which is also on TCsounds.com bottom of the line subwoofer. Just gives you an idea of what kind of quality TCsounds has.

I have one of ED's 18" subs.http://www.edesignaudio.com/ed...id=37

Here is a B.E.A.U.tiful sub by TCsounds.(the 12")http://www.tcsounds.com/tc1000.htm

How do the TCsounds subs compare to more expensive subs, ie. Eclipse Ti, Image Dynamics IDMax, Adire Brahmas, Resonant Engineering SX series?

[Looneybomber]

I don't have first hand experience with those, however, from what I hear other say, all of those mentioned will be viable options for a car audio enthusiast. For home audio, TCsounds builds a wide variety of very good speakers that also come reconed for the car audio scene. Adire is very good too but their tumults are not worth the price IMO, though you said Brahma and not Tumult.

As for the Eclipse Ti, ID and RE, I've always liked those eclipse Ti's but RE produces very nice drivers too.

Another company you should look at is http://www.ficaraudio.com. The owner of that used to be one of the top guys from Resonant Engineering. He broke off to make his own company. I don't know the whole story and I am likely not telling it correctly.

[yelnatsch517]

I don't have first hand experience with those, however, from what I hear other say, all of those mentioned will be viable options for a car audio enthusiast. For home audio, TCsounds builds a wide variety of very good speakers that also come reconed for the car audio scene. Adire is very good too but their tumults are not worth the price IMO, though you said Brahma and not Tumult.

As for the Eclipse Ti, ID and RE, I've always liked those eclipse Ti's but RE produces very nice drivers too.

Another company you should look at is http://www.ficaraudio.com. The owner of that used to be one of the top guys from Resonant Engineering. He broke off to make his own company. I don't know the whole story and I am likely not telling it correctly.

Yea I've heard of FI just forgot about them. I heard the same thing about he broke off from RE. I don't know the whole story either nor have I had any experience with their products, but from the specs and descriptions, they look like they would be nice.

[NCturbo75]

I've been asking about the Pioneer Premiere units and everybody seems to like them. They also say that the speakers are pretty good too. I haven't bought any yet so I'm going off secondhand info.

I had previous experiences with those headunits. Somehow or another the buttons tend to get stuck. I have had several Alpine units also. I would recommend those over Pioneer any day.

[audtatious]

Guys, you crack me up.

OP is looking to spend a max of $300. There is no way he is going to get a complete system including sub and amp for that price.

[xdabsx]

i got two 10" alpine type R $100980 watt power acoustik amp for $100

if local comes with sub box thats only $200 you could get a headunit off the street for $50 and some decent 6x9 for $50

[NCturbo75]

I have a '95 240SX and I am going to spend $300 for a new stereo & speakers.. I have a buddy who can install it so I think I am getting all the parts on eBay or from dealers... any advice on what I should get??

....for UNDER $300, I bought from ebay:--- used /////|LPINE CDA-7826 cd player (in excellent condition) $105--- new INFINITY 6010CS 6 1/2" component set (doors) $100--- new INFINITY 6012i 6 1/2" coaxial speakers (rear deck) $57

**** all the prices include S/H ****

They sound great and the price was just right.

[niemczykj]

i got a nice pioneer head unit for like 158...its real nice and looks great and fit right in wiht little modification in the stock brackets...if your interested let me kno and ill tell the product number and install tips and w.e

[otterball21]

Good luck with trying to build a full system...

Everyone's input sounded good.

I like the Kappa Perfects... excellent sound quality.

Premiere line is nice from Pioneer(try not to get anything tooo too old)Alpine headunits are great too.

But like some of them said, building sub and amp into the package might be pushing it.

I say get a nice set of components for the front so it sounds great.