Best System for under $500 !!!

[Fly Girl E]

Thanks guys for your help.... I think $500 should be enough to get me started with an amp and (2) 12" subs, being that I already have a brand new Kenwood head unit and Kenwood 10 disc changer. I Just need to look around and listen to the quality. Keep your suggestions coming though, it's of great help. Also I'd like to see more pics of setups. I like what I've seen so far from Curtis & Roadenforcer =)

 

[agr99E.B.]

I've got less than $400 in my system, Right now I've got 2 Kicker Comp VR 10s, dual voice coil 4ohms, a Power Acoustik OV2-820 amp rated @ 820 watts max with 460 watts RMS bridged. I caught the subs on sale at Electronics Express for $119 for both, Got the amp for $149, $49 for the box ordered from summit racing, $75 for misc install parts, I'll soon add some components to my system that hopefully I can pick up for under $150. It pounds, but since I'm still running the factory HU its not as clear as it would be with an aftermarket HU. Hopefully by winter I'll have a new HU/DVD flip-out . Hope this helps you out, it can be done for under $500, for a non competition system.

 

[Fly Girl E]

Exactly! I'm not looking to enter this thing into a sound competition or anything. I just want to be able to enjoy my music and have it impress only me. ..and maybe a passenger =) Thanks for the response AGR

 

[Casey C]

That's what I'm aiming for also. I don't give out rides often so I only aim to please myself.

BTW, how are competion systems usually judged? I plan on making my X a show truck in the future and I think I would like to put a competion system into it.

 

[LudusHatesReese]

Just to let you know, you do not have to spend all your benjamins to get a high quality system. All you have to do is now how to talk to people. I know for a fact that the best buy guys get their stuff at 10% below cost, so all you have to do is sweet talk them into buyin it for you, and you can get whatever you want. Also check out flea markets, those guys will always negotiate.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by LudusHatesReese
I know for a fact that the best buy guys get their stuff at 10% below cost,

Do you mean below cost? or below retail?

 

[LudusHatesReese]

Below cost to the store. You'd be amazed at how much they mark that crap up. In the end, the more that stuff costs retail, the more they save. They usually only end up getting CDs for like .03$ cheaper, but with stereos and speakers, they get a better deal.

 

[chinsk]

Best buy guys get their stuff at 5% above what the store pays for it. I got a buddy that works there

 

[chinsk]

Oh and yes, the markup is rediculous.

 

[ChuckyD]

OK.. heres what you do..
first go get a crutchfield mag and see what you want.
then go to some sort of flea market that is near you... find what you want there and buy it... order the same exact things from crutchfield... use the crutchfield stuff and return the flea market stuff back to crutchfield. now you have crutchfield quality at flea market price...
Worked for me!!!

 

[aldive]

Its dishonesty like that that drives retail prices up.

 

[Mike 92 XLT]

Yup, I worked at Best Buy years ago. If you know someone there, you can get great deals on stuff.

Fly Girl, you said that your sub went out, so that means you have the JBL system. The speakers that you have in the doors are not bad for a factory system (they're actually sperates - 4" mid and 1" tweeter), so with a $500 budget I'd leave them alone and concentrate on the low end. Keeping in mind possible upgrades, this is what I'd do.

For now, run the door speakers off the head unit. A seperate amp for them and some new speakers can come as your budget allows. Get a dedicated mono amp to power the subs with a built-in crossover, so you can filter out the highs from the sub.

Subs: Right now, www.woofersetc.com is having a sale on Nakamichi 12" subs for $89 each. This is a fantastic price on some very well-regarded subs. To be honest though, unless you want to really pound, I don't think you're going to necessarily need two twelves. I have a single 10" a/d/s/ sub in mine, and it sounds awesome. In fact, with your budget, a single quality twelve should easily outperform two less expensive subs. A great choice would be an Image Dynamics IDQ12V2. Woofersetc has them for $185 each. The Alpine Type Rs are supposed to be awesome too. Woofersetc has them for $145 each.

Amps: Again, a mono block is a great way to go. The JL Audio 250/1 amp should power that IDQ nicely. The new JL amps are supposed to be awesome and Woofersetc has it for $289. The new JBL amps are supposed to be great too. The P180.2 would put 360 watts to that IDQ. Woofersetc has it for $190.

Personally, this is what I'd recommend: One IDQ sub with the JBL amp. The IDQs are rated for 350 watts RMS, so the amp would be perfect. Both products are well-regarded, sound great and are virtually bulletproof. Plus you'll have $125 left in your budget for the box and RCA cables and whatnot. I bought my a/d/s/ sub from woofersetc and was very happy with their service, plus they're authorized, so you get the factory warranties. Good luck!

Mike

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by LudusHatesReese
Below cost to the store.

Thenm pray tell, how would that store stay in business?

 

[ChuckyD]

Originally posted by aldive
Its dishonesty like that that drives retail prices up.

Its customers like you that keep them down... so you see we are at an equilibrium

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by ChuckyD


Its customers like you that keep them down... so you see we are at an equilibrium

No, I am honest and damn proud of being so.

 

[RoadEnforcer]

Casey C, usally its either marked by sound quality or decimal level, those are the only audio competitions I have heard of.

 

[Fly Girl E]

Hey thanks Mike for the info...I will check them out. I think for now that I will just leave the stock speakers in the front and middle. Are they JBL too if my sub was? Just curious.

 

[ChuckyD]

Originally posted by aldive


No, I am honest and damn proud of being so.

i know your honest, that was my point by saying that its customers like you that keep them down...

Fly girl... if your moral standards are to high fo my suggestion, then get ready to pay some $$$ for anything decent.

 

[Casey C]

Originally posted by RoadEnforcer
Casey C, usally its either marked by sound quality or decimal level, those are the only audio competitions I have heard of.

hmm... never heard of a "best design" by anychance? I have some awesome ideas for certain areas of the X when it comes to custom speaker housings.

There's a swap meet around here once a year (pittsburgh parts-a-rama) and they have a car audio and neon light "EXTRAVAGANZA" for one night. I missed it this year so I'm not too sure what I would want to do to make a prize competition system. I'm pretty sure that show is a competition.

 

[LudusHatesReese]

I THINK THE BEST WAY TO GET STEREO EQUIPMENT IS TO DRIVE AROUND PARKING LOTS AND FIND A CAR WITH A BUMPIN SYSTEM AND JACK THEIR STUFF. IT'S FREE AND EASY.

QUIT ARGUING OVER STUPID STUFF, AND ALDIVE, ISN'T IT TIME FOR YOUR GERITOL.