Need a new audio setup...

[Rockenreno]

Ok, I just bought my 1996 240sx finally, but it has a cheesy tape deck that attaches to a 6 CD changer in the trunk. Sometimes the tape deck has to be jiggled to work. Long story short, I decided I need a new audio system, and I think you guys can help.

I do not have huge goals. I am not going to be pumping out horribly loud music or bass, but I want a nice setup that will allow me to play music clearly and a good volume. I am also trying to avoid too serious of an investment. I am hoping for under $500 or 600 overall, and I would be getting a new head unit (nothin too fancy), new speakers, and maybe an amp. I don't think I'll get a big trunk woofer, my trunk is small enough and I don't need bass that loud. I will be satisfied if I can get decent bass out of my speakers inside.

I ask for your advice on quality stuff that performs well, but does not need to be top of the line. I just want a solid audio system that won't burn a hole in my pocket, but will be enough to fill my car with some strong and clear music. I have some friends and a dad who have all done their own car audio, so installation shouldn't be too hard to do, giving me a little more freedom in terms of money. Anyway, any suggestions for me? Did I provide enough info so you know what I'm looking for?

Thanks in advance for the help!:D

[Former_240_s14]

Hey Rock....glad again to hear about your new buy....

If you had more money, I would tell you to buy Alpine products....but looks like their head units are out of the question for you..

I would however suggest their basic speaker for you...fronts cost around 60-80 and the rears are the same price...... those speakers you can run off the cd player itself.....otherwise their type s speakers are very very nice.....and those run for about 100 a set, and circuit city is running buy one get one half off for those right now, till saturday...

Head unit....Pioneer is best bang for the buck...very nice amp, and tuner...plus it has many options in terms of tunning for your system.....and they are pretty decent price...you can get one for 150-200.

like i said you really don't need an amp to push the speakers, but the company coustic is nice, Xtant is the father company, and they have affordalbe amps....to run your 4 speakers, you can get an amp around 150, but wires would cost you another 50 bucks...

if you have any other questions just post somthing...

hope this helps

[Rockenreno]

wow, quick reply! Thanks for all the info, I remember reading about the Alpine's earlier. When you say for a set do you mean 2 speakers or 1? (just to clarify, I'm still kind of a newbie with all this stuff)

Also, what benefits would the amp give me? Is it just more power to send to the speakers? Thanks!

[Former_240_s14]

yes, set-2 speakers, lol.......i remember those days i was a newbie, lol"

and the benefit of the amp would be larger cleaner power...but imo its not needed just for an "average setup".....thats just my 2 cents though

i am running my door/deck speakers and my dome tweeters off the pioneer deh-6000 head unit...sounds great...just ask anyone here that has listen to them.....

anymore questions??? keep them comming.......lol

[Rockenreno]

That's it for the moment, I'm sure I'll have more later though! I am probably going to do this in a couple weeks when I get back from school. Finals are coming up and I don't want to be distracted till afterwards... (who am I kidding, I am going to be distracted by finally have my car!! BTW, pics are coming tomorrow, I'll post them in 240 general:D )

[Rockenreno]

More questions

http://www.circuitcity.com/det...68327Are those the speakers you suggest? I went on crutchfield.com to look around and it said they wouldn't fit my car. Any idea why?

I also noticed I don't have any speakers in the back near the window. I see the holes in the metal for them, but no speakers. I assume this means I just have the two speakers up front? Anyway, I plan on putting speakers back there, what the best/cleanest way to get that to work (I guess you'd have to cut the interior piece there)?

As for head units, you suggested Pioneer. http://www.circuitcity.com/det...69075h ... avf=YThose seem rather similar except one plays MP3s (obviously a little advantage, maybe thats the price difference. Anything I should look for specifically in finding the right head unit, or anything else for that matter? The ability to play MP3s would be nice, but is by no means essential.

Also, I've seen mention of crossovers and other weird things before, need I be concerned with this? Thanks again! Like I said, I have a lot to learn when it comes to car sterio!

[Rockenreno]

Another question (remember other people besides Former can answer too, but I guess this forum doesn't get a lot of views)...

Security. My friend suggested I invest in an alarm. Nothin super fancy, but if I am going to buy an alarm I want it to be worthwhile, and maybe even install power door locks with it. Any suggestions?

[Former_240_s14]

Well first off, I fit 6x5's in my doors, no problem putting them in either.......

Sounds like they removed your speakers from the rear deck.....

The head units you showd would be great either way, and sometimes circuit city/best buy sometimes have free installs, all you godda do is pay parts.....

Security..........Viper, I am running the deh-6000.....

did i miss anyquestions

[Rockenreno]

so those are the right speakers? I just want to make sure

And for the rear speakers, it looks like there were never any there. Like I said, if you look from the trunk you can see where they go, but there is no opening on the inside of the car. Any idea on the best way to cut that stuff?

Also, how much was your alarm? Thanks again!

[Former_240_s14]

My alarm came on the car when I bought her, but you can get a good one for around $225...

You shouldn't have to cut anything in regards to your rear deck, their should be holes precutted there for you.......

On the question regarding fitment, go to crutchfield.......they have an option to pick your car and it can tell you the sizes you need.....if I remember correctly its 6x5's all the way around....

The speakers are the right kind of speaker I was talking about, just make sure its the right size.......

any more questions........feel free to ask bro!

[Rockenreno]

right-o, thanks again for all the help! I'll probably have more questions on the rear speakers later, but I'm not doing this for another couple weeks, so I'll wait till then and look through my car some more

[Rockenreno]

here's what I mean by no place for rear speakers...



The way I see it I have 3 options:1) Cut holes for the speakers2) Go to junkyard and find wrecked 240 with speaker holes and same color interior and replace mine with that.3) mount speakers under cover and leave covered (probably would dampen the sound a lot)

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Former_240_s14]

I would look for a rear deck lid witht the speaker covers in them already, but you will still have to cut wholes in the rear deck I do beleive, but I am not sure on that, so don't quote me!