What is a good sound system for your car?

Answer 1

Let your ears do the talking. If you hear a cd player or speaker that you like above the rest, then that's what is good for your car. I would recommend that you start out upgrading your cd player at first, and then your speakers. If you're not content at the volume level you can achieve, then adding an amplifier would help. You can go to the local best buy or whatever to listen to various cd players and speakers, but I wouldn't recommend asking them for much advice. From my personal experience, the people on the floor trying to make the sales don't know a lot. Just enough to get people who don't know at all to buy (although I've had a slightly better experience with those people at Circuit City. I think the only people at these stores who know a lot about car audio are those who work in the install bay). For your questions, go to a local shop that specializes in car audio.

Answer 2

This depends on your budget. If you have a lot of $$$ to spend then you can go for the works...a new CD player, a couple of component sets for the interior of your car, subs for the rear, and a couple of amplifiers to run it all. But this gets into the thousands.
If you're on a budget like most people, then start out with a new head unit, coaxial speakers for the interior, and maybe a 4 channel amp to boost them a bit. Then when you get more cash you can add a subwoofer and amp for some good low notes.
Your best bet is to go to your local stereo shop/circuit city/best buy, etc. and tell them what your budget is and what kind of car you have. Then they can steer you in the right direction. It doesn't cost a thing to ask them questions...that's what they're there for!
Good luck.

Answer 3

My system:

1997 GMC Sierra. Factory head unit wired into a 4 channel Pioneer 600W amp, using the line level inputs. RCA cables from that amp to a 2 channel 760W Pioneer amp.

600W amp is driving 2 Infinity Reference 4" x 6" speakers in a couple of small enclosures I built for the rear of the cab (Infinity claims these fit in a GMC, but they didn't in my "third door" - magnet is too big), and it is driving 2 Infinity Reference 6.5" component speakers in the front doors.

760W amp output is bridged and is running 1 Infinity Reference 10" sub in a .75 cu ft enclosure sitting under the rear seat - driver' side.

I spent $575 dollars and about 6 hours installing (pulled seats and carpet).

It is the best quality sounding system I have ever heard (maybe I don't get around much, but....) The Infinity speakers are amazing at reproducing cymbals, saxophones and horns - sounds with lots of high frequency overtones and harmonics.

Nice level of volume, woofer makes my pants cuffs rattle and the sound is clean and pristine.