First step in audio improvements?

[aldive]

Help. What do you folks recommend as a first step in improving the factory am/fm/casette/cd with cd changer?

 

[Alec]

It depends on what you want to eventually end up with. I'm happy with the stock head unit and changer, so I decided to change things on the speaker end. First, I replaced the four corners with RockfordFosgate 5x7's. Then I added a 150W amp and 2 JL 10's. I'm pretty happy with this setup right now, and I don't have any $$$ to change it. Eventually, I might change the head unit, but it's fine for now.

If you're planning on changing everything out, I would think doing it all at once is the best plan. That way you can get everything done while it's all apart, and not have to take it apart again.

But, if you just want to improve on the factory system, my suggestion is to replace the four factory speakers. You can put 5x7's or 6x8's in there. Some have put components in or trimmed to fit 6x9's. Good luck!

 

[newbz]

I'd get a new headunit, made all the difference in the world by itself.....all I can I really tell you is spend a dime to save a penny. Only by good brand name stuff....i've WASTED so much money on cheap BS I thought could get the job done and it's not.....so only buy quality things. Doesn't have to be the best, but a good quality. If I could only go back.....eh

 

[DarkFox1]

I agree with newbz, ditch the factory HU.. my CD quality and radio quality used to be the same on the factory HU, when I got the new one, I was amazed at the FM quality increase.. now I think my FM quality sucks, I can't imagine the quality factory must have had *shudder* but yea, don't make my mistake and blow a sub trying to work around tha thorrible factory HU.. ditch it, get a nice pioneer or an eclipse or maybe even a kenwood, then move on to subs, then door speakers (that order can be switched if you want with the subs and speakers)

 

[JTang]

People discuss this all the time. I particularly agree with Alec on this one. Really, it takes both for the BEST sound. But I figure it this way. You get a good head unit, the sound still goes to crappy speakers, so you still get that mediocre sound. If you go with good speakers first, then you'll get much better sound, but not as clean signal. It's a close toss up, but I think for the money you're spending, you'll gain a little more immediate quality from speakers first. I think the newer model Exp's have better speakers than 91-94s did,though, so take that for what it's worth.

I totally understand waht newbz is saying. I think we all can - If I could only go back... So much $ lost out of not knowing.

 

[bigbird4x4]

look if you wanna do it right go with alarm first then get a great set of mids dont go cheap spend alot in the beginning and you will save alot in the end trust me i have about $1000 worth of junk i cant use. If your head unit isnt skipping with the cd player or isnt get a really bad signal then dont change it because after all head units look better than anything you will ever get.

 

[aldive]

Thanks so much for the input folks. Let me continue by saying I don't want a zillion speakers and tons of rms horsepower, I simply want a nice unit that has crisp clear music. I have the gazillion watts goodies in my home, leftovers from my misguided youth

Please offer suggestions for a quality sounding set up. Thanks in advance.....

 

[Exploder99]

like many others i suggest changing the head unit for a start. also like many others, im gonna suggest that you spend the extra few dollars and get yourself a nice quality piece. not only will the sound and construcion quality be better, you'll also be happier in the long run in addition to being able to expand your system more easily in the future. of course you must get what fits your needs/wants and most importantly your budget but also remember that you get what you pay for. anyway, welcome to the addictive car audio hobby. Enjoy!

 

[rock883]

The order I went in was:
1) Speakers-Pioneer 3ways all around hooked up to a crappy aftermarket tape player that was in there when my dad bought it. Didn't do much because the tape player was terrible.
2) New HU, clarion cd player. This drsctically changed the way everyhting sounded, it made it 1000% better than the other crap.
3) Amp and sub
4) Went with a bigger amp for the door speakers and at same time got some components up front.

I would say that the factory HU is pretty good on the newer models, and if you changed speakers first would be a good idea. Then gather up some money and get a new HU. Now you could just stop here, but if you get into this expensive hobby, you will WANT MORE!!! And like previously stated before, dont skimp on things, you will regret it. Pay a few more bucks and get some good speakers and a good HU, that way you don't have to go out and buy newer, better stuff because the other stuff sucked cause you didn't want to pay a lot of money, although, there is some stuff out there that sounds pretty good and is fairly cheap. Also, figure out if you are going to be hooking up more than 1 amp in the future. If you are just ging to get an amp for a sub, and really know that, then just egt a HU with 1 set of pre amp outs. And try to find some that are non fading if its for a sub. If you want to power your door speakers to get better sound, then make sure you get a HU with 3 pre amp outs. It is much easier to plug in some RCA's then having to splice into the factory wiring and buying signal converters to run the RCA's to your amp. Also, about the speakers, pionner, RF, clarion, polk, and many others make great, fairly inexspensive, 5x7's that will pop right into your doors.

 

[mdrut]

The order I went was : pioneer head unit $250, pioneer 6 disk changer $200, Rocford 5x7's $100 a set, Roford amp $250, misc. wire connecters, amp kit, tools, and dressings about $50, lets see...under a $ 1000 and installed it myself.. Took most of the weekend, but love it, plenty of bass and high's..Sounds good with everything from Merle haggard to Kid rock....

 

[Exploder99]

my head unit and Eq alone are close to $1000, my separats are loot too, then subs and wires and cables. it all adds up. and that is true you can save SOOO MUCH money doing your own install. plus youll enjoy your system a lot more.

 

[Rydogg]

My advice is to upgrade the head unit first as many other people have said. This is unless your speakers are blown. If your speakers are blown then it is a MUST to replace them first. However, if the speakers are running fine then go with the head unit. The best piece of advice that I can give you is to go to a BEST BUY or a CIRCUIT CITY and look for what they call "OPEN BOX ITEMS" in the Car Stereo Departments. This way you can get some sweet deals and with the money you save you can put it towards buying like a 4 year warranty. That way if anything goes wrong or blows then they will replace it for free with almost no questions asked. I think that the warranty is definitely worth the money b/c the $40 could save you hundreds in the long run. Just my advice and best of luck to you...

 

[karl_burns]

What order?

You will get the most satisfaction from upgrading the HU. Spend the money and get a decent brand. If you plan on getting a changer, plan now to purchase them together, or buy the same brand and MAKE SURE they are designated changer outputs/controls. FM modulators make your CDs sound like FM radio.

While everyone is right that the sound quality will not be affected as much until you change the speakers, remeber that with the new HU, more power AND a cleaner signal will be sent to the speakers. This is OK because excess power doesn't blow speakers, distortion does. The new HU will cut that distortion considerably.

Speaker order is negligible in my opinion, but I got a stealthbox before putting in my newest separates. And that too; GET SEPARATES. I think Pioneer makes a decent separate system for 120.00 per pair.

Good luck,
Karl

 

[DarkFox1]

to follow up on the "order" of things.. my first step was a sub and amp, since my factory blew in a year.. I would not advise this, the factory hu does not have the RCAs for this sort of hookup and I ran for a very long time unknown to me off an amped signal of about 100 watts or so going INTO my amp.. I beleive some damage may hav ebeen done since it ruined that sub, the sub afer it.. and is working on my JLs.. I just ordered myself a new amp today, what do you guys think of some IDQ 12s?

 

[regassert]

I would always start with the speakers. That is what you get sound from, and good quality high effeciency speakers will get good sound quality from a factory head unit. If you switch the head unit first, why bother. You send a clean signal and more power to speakers that can't do anything with it. As for subs, I am partial to Kicker. The Blaupunkt Head Unit and In-Dash 5 CD changer combined are the same size as the DD size factory unit.