Help with my gf's audio setup

[Nathan]

So to start things off I know a fair amount about car audio but not a ton because it's really not my thing. However, my girlfriend just got a new car and even I can tell that her stock speakers SUCK and the tape deck's gotta go. We went to the store and looked at some stuff and found a nice Panasonic headunit she and I liked because it plays WMA/MP3 files, is only 220 bucks, looks cool, and has 25x4 watts rms output. It also has 3 pre-amp outputs and a decent signal to noise ratio on the cd player. We are pretty set on that because I've always had good luck with panasonic stuff and my friends have as well. The place we are having a hard time at is deciding on speakers, she liked some Infinity Kappa 3 way's that were 5x7's (she has 5x7's all around) and they are about 150 bucks a set. She has a maximum budget for now of 500 bucks for the whole thing plus installation. The place we went to didn't have MB Quart speakers which I REALLY like but the Infinity's sounded pretty good to me. I've been looking at speakers though and some of you guys said that 3 ways were pointless. She's open to component style speakers as well but remember that the total speaker money is about 300 bucks. She would like to get a sub but I dont think she can afford it so she needs speakers with good low end output which the infinity's seem to have. Do you guys have any suggestions or ideas for a good sounded ampless, subless system for around 500 dollars?

[Nathan]

For you John, here's the girlfriend...it's the best picture I have! Oh, she wants to know if this is a good amp and I have NO clue: http://www.woofersetc.com/product.asp?3=2296

[SCOOBYSHAG]

shes a cutie dude!

Anyway, try the Boston Rally components up front. They are under $300 and sound fantastic.

[Nathan]

Those ARE nice but she needs to do all 4 speakers in her car for 300, so 150 a set is the target price Oh, and a correction is that it turns out the guy at the store was wrong and I was right...those ain't 5x7's in the front, they are 6.5's.

[Checkered-Member]

some of you guys said that 3 ways were pointless.

WTF? that has to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard...idiots.

and has 25x4 watts rms output.

haha you got raped, did they tell you that is a good output?Because my 2 year old $200 pioneer HU has 50x4 output.

The amp is junk.

Anyway, your first post makes little sense,

The $500 budget is that without the head unit?

How much for installation, different shops different rates, I need to know the exact number to spend on parts. If you have don’t know how much for install, what exactly is being installed?

What exactly does she want? HU, amp and 4 speakers? You mentioned Infinity 3 times, so just get them, I don’t understand…are they too expensive or what?

[Rex]

Not so we can give you a hard time, but what kind of car is it, we can then check the on-line guides as to what the speaker openings are and give better/more accurate recomendations.

But, if the openings are 6.5 versus the 5x7's and lets hope they are, any reputable name brand 6.5 2 or 3 way (huh, huhuh he said 3 way) speaker will sound nice. Make sure they use/salvage the foam backing that should be in the door. Assuming these go in the door. I had a pair of $79-ish Pioneer 6.5's in the door in my old Honda( yes, I had a Honda) and they sounded great. I actually just ran them off the HU and them put a small amp on a sub in the back, it wasn't loud or "great", but for the daily commute it worked great. Not to hi-jack your thread, but I have a Kenwood CD player, I'd let go for $100 (shipped). I'll have to check the model number, but it was the top of the line a couple years back. The one that folds up and hides itself when you turn it off. Actually, I have all the stuff out of that car?????

Back to your question, as I said quality 6.5's with the foam backing will sound nice, check the local electronics stores for open boxes, great savings.

[Nathan]

It's a 2002 Escort ZX2, it's actually a pretty cute little car for her, but not the 98' 240 I wanted her to get Checkered...there is a big difference in peak and rms output buddy. Peak doesn't really matter and it's possible your Pioneer headunit actually has closer to 17 watts rms output, I know my old one did! We haven't bought ANYTHING yet. Personally I like MB Quart speakers better than anything but I think I'll have a hard time keeping her in the budget with those. She really liked the Infinitys, I thought they were allright but not as good as Quarts. I also didn't like the Focal's much at all, a little too "bright". Checkered, the 500 dollar budget is basically for all the parts, before tax or shipping, and without installation. Yes it includes a headunit but most likely not an amp. She would like the ability to add a sub at a later point in time as well.

[SCOOBYSHAG]

Well the Boston Rally coaxials are hella nice for the price too. Sorry I am a Boston junky. I run a Boston Pro 12 and a set of Boston Z6's in my car but have also had the entry level Bostons before also.

[2sr20de]

Don't they make 5x7 plate speakers? I've always liked the sound of plates compared to an odd shaped speaker... Expecially if your going to have a sub... then you don't need bass from the regular speakers.

I would suggest not trying to run bass at all w/ the regular speakers... it always ends up being disappointing...

I had a cheap amp once... ummm I think US Acoustic it was like a 130$ amp i think like 400w??? I don't remember it was like a jcwhitney special that came w/ my car. It did a decent job.

Honest opinion... pioneer speakers are the way to go for cheaper stuff I don't care what people say they make good stuff for a great price. run those off the head unit then buy a amp and sub w/ the money you save... A system w/ a sub will sound 10x better than a system w/ just regular speakers...

[Nathan]

I thought about that as well but if she can add a sub and amp later (maybe another 2 months) then the better speakers would really be worth it in the long run as long as she didn't ruin them trying to get bass out of them. Does anyone else have any speaker suggestions? We'll have to go find some BA to listen to as well as some Pioneer and some MB Quarts to satisfy me now!

[Checkered-Member]

Checkered...there is a big difference in peak and rms output buddy. the 500 dollar budget is basically for all the parts, before tax or shipping, and without installation. Yes it includes a headunit but most likely not an amp. She would like the ability to add a sub at a later point in time as well.

haha Didn’t notice you said rms, good work then.

Look at alpine Type-S speakers.And pioneer, you can get some very nice sounding speakers for cheap.

amp I will recommend Rockford Fosgate - Power 551X (220-250)

[Nathan]

Yeah, I am not totally un-knowledgeable about audio...just not as knowledgeable as some of you guys on here so I figured I could use the help. Thanks for the suggestions so far!

[Rex]

If she just wants asomething "decent" to listen to a few CD's, I'm telling you... $70 for 6.5's in the doors$120 for a 10 inch in a box$150 for a bass only amp$200 for a decent CD HU$540 (less than 10% run over) and she'll be happy enough to make you happy

Look at any place for "open box", clearance items or even the BST here on NICO.

[Nathan]

I'll run that by her, I've used pioneer speakers before and as a budget speaker they sound pretty good to me. The main issue is correcting the HORRENDOUS sound her stock speakers have, it's like they are playing through a wet sponge. Knowing her getting a sub right away might be good, she's big on bass.

[2sr20de]

Do they sound horrible all the time or just when running bass? Cause if they sound ok with brights only then screw it get a sub, amp, hu and call it good till you replace the speakers...

[Nathan]

Oh no...they sound horrible ALL the time, I've never heard factory speakers sound this bad and they are probably WORST on the highs. The scary thing is they aren't blown, they are in good shape!

[IvoryJ30t]

WTF? that has to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard...idiots.

haha you got raped, did they tell you that is a good output?Because my 2 year old $200 pioneer HU has 50x4 output.

The amp is junk.

Anyway, your first post makes little sense,

The $500 budget is that without the head unit?

How much for installation, different shops different rates, I need to know the exact number to spend on parts. If you have don’t know how much for install, what exactly is being installed?

What exactly does she want? HU, amp and 4 speakers? You mentioned Infinity 3 times, so just get them, I don’t understand…are they too expensive or what?

ok, well anyway, the rms power rating of 25 watts is very good for a hu. the rating of 50x4 is not directly comparible because thats peak power, not root mean square. his 25 watts/channel rms is most likely more powerful than your 50 watts peak

[IvoryJ30t]

nevermind, didnt notice you corrected yourself. guess that makes me the a$$ monkey...

[Rex]

Okay, not to hi-jack your thread, but if you're interested, I'll sell you the HU, Sub and Amp out of my winter car.

The HU is a Kenwood not sure which one, I'd have to go by the car (it's in "storage") but the manual is for the KDC-X715, KDC-8015 & KDC-715S, so it's one of those.

The Amp is a KAC-718, I think it's a 120 RMS mono.

The Sub is an MTX ported box w/ a Terminator 10 inch TME100.

$300 shipped.

(mods, if I'm breaking a rule, please delete, sorry)