Who knows about car audio systems? What should i be looking for? All I know about them is that I want one.?

Question

I want a 'system' for my car, i dont know what i should be looking for in a subwoofer, amplifier or anything else. I don't even know what a 'system' consists of. i just know i want one. I know NOTHING about audio systems. Someone please explain it to me!

And like how much should it cost?

Answer 1

I've posted this before, but it should provide you with a some help.

The components of a good car sound system would be as follows: The source (cd player, in-dash dvd/nav system, radio, tape player, etc.), the speakers, the subs, the amps, the parts/wiring. Also, depending on how big of a system, possibly a new battery or two and an alternator. Here are some of my recommendations as far as good brands.

Deck: Eclipse, Pioneer (regular or premier), Alpine, Kenwood Excelon, Nakamichi (not the greatest looking, but great sound).

Speakers: Polk Audio, Infinity, Eclipse, Pioneer Rev High end: Focal, Boston, MB Quart, Nakamichi

Subs: JL Audio, MTX, Kicker, Eclipse, Audiobahn, Memphis, Hifonics, Diamond Audio, Fosgate (p3 and higher)

Amps: all the sub companies, plus, Precision Power, Crossfire, Cadence, Soundstream

Parts/Wiring: Monster, Tsunami, Streetwires, even Kicker and Fosgate make decent parts/wiring.

Now if I had to choose, here would be my choices:
Deck: Eclipse or Pioneer
Speakers: Polk Audio, Infinity, or Eclipse
Amps/Subs: JL Audio or MTX
Wiring: Tsunami or Monster

As far as the order in which to purchase (if you can't do it all at once) here would be my suggestion:

First replace you speakers (stock stereo with good speakers sounds better then aftermarket stereo with stock speakers),

Then replace the deck (it'll help the speakers, but it will also give you the foundation to build the rest of the system off of)

Next, subs/amps/wiring (give you that extra bass that you need, make sure you use good wiring and the right size, capacitors if needed, important for system, also as far as the wiring, remember you will need another amp for speakers)

Next, amp for speakers (speakers will play cleaner, tighter, more accurate, and louder - a must, especially with the subs)

After that its all just accessories: i.e. satellite radio, navigation, dvd player, screens, etc.

Now as far as where to get them, most of these companies will be available at Circuit City, BestBuy, Cardomain.com, Cruthfield.com. Others are only sold at authorized dealers (usually a local audio company), but you'll have to check out their websites in order to find the ones nearest you.

As far as cost, I would say a decent FULL system would start around 1200 installed and then just go up from there.

But in the end these are just my recommendations (based on quality and sound), like Sparky said only you can judge what you like. Everyone's ears are a little different so what sounds good to me may not sound good to you. Shop around at all the car audio dealers and take a listen, but make sure you take one of your cds with you so you can judge all of them with the same song (one that you are familiar with).

Answer 2

it depends on how much you want to spend.
as far as brands. JL is about the top brand. SONY makes awsome speakers. if you go to the store they should let you hear the speakers before you buy them. stay away from audovox. do not buy it. ever.

if you are going to pay the store to put it in, just listen to the speakers before you do..
if you want to do it yourself follow these steps



buy the cd player, and in installation kit.
the cd player fits inside the installation kit. the installation kit goes inside the car replacing the old stereo.
the red wire is the power wire. the yellow wire is a constant wire that has electricity even if the car is off (for the cd player time memory) the black wire is for the ground. splice these wires into the same color wires in ur dash.
the blue wire is the wire that turns on the amplifyer for the woffer. you should have 2 rca jacks on teh back of the stereo. run the blue wire and the rca jacks under the carpet on opposite sides of the car to the trunk, they go into the amplifier. run the big red wire directly from the positive terminal of ur battery to the amplifier, on the other side as the rca wires. same side as the blue wire.
when you buy an amplifier make sure you ask the sales guy for one that has a switch to make it so it only puts out bass. this way you can run the bass to the sub woffer only. if you dont get one like this you wont get much bass, and all of the audio will come out of hte sub woffer. not just bass. you will have to figure out what wires that are left goes to which speaker.
(do not push the stereo in the dash with wires not spliced or covered up with electrical tape, they will burn up the stereo(i dont knwo how, but i did this))

Answer 3

a basic system consists of a box w/ subs (1, 2, 3) 1 or 2 amps, a 1 farad capacitor (to balance the power), wires, desent speakers (for mids and highs) and a head unit w/ at least 1 rca output
for better sounds go: componet sets (higher end speakers)

Answer 4

ok well if ure going to get a system u got get it all, this is what i would do get new interior speakers, a new deck, 2 extra high tweeters 2 12" subs and a amp now that is if u want ures to be legit, this will probably cost ya like 1500 -2000 installed and all, installs are what really get ya, but u need to get new interior speakers if u want it to sound right, dont just get subs so it sounds like ****.

Answer 5

all you need is 2 mtx jackhammer subs and a good lightning audio amp.

Answer 6

Here is some more things to know:

http://spkrbox1.spaces.live.com