My goal with my TC is to make it sound AWESOME.
Thing is idk where to start to get good info.

I'm debating replacing the head unit. I want to replace all factory speakers, need an amp and also maybe 1 or 2 subs in the back. Leaning towards maybe just one 12. I dont want anything too crazy or somthing that will take up all my trunk space. Just a box on one of the sides.

Anywhere, do you know where I can get some good info on car audio, any links or forum suggestions?

I dont wanna be that guy who just gets JBL or ALPINE and gets the best buys guys to install everything. I know there are better brands and possibly cheaper.

What would some of you recommend?

 

first thing to do is to replace the Head unit. it make the most difference.
go to www.crutchfield.com to read upon the review. or http://www.caraudiomag.com/

 

Alpine is great. Buy their stuff.

If you want to install it yourself, lurk around http://www.the12volt.com/

some reviews can be found at:
www.caraudiomag.com
www.carsound.com
but the audio scene is kinda dying, so experiencing stuff first hand in shops and through friends is probably your best bet.

 

btw, how much you will to spend on each of the products?

 

IDK how much stuff should cost yet. Over the course of ALL this, prob. not more than 3k. I'd start with speakers and head unit. Then save and go from there.

 

There are many car audio forums that I would go sign up at and start reading. The one I'm a regular at is http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/4/49.html . Bunch of smart people without the bull____ CA.com brings to the table. With a budget of $3k you have tons of options. Are you looking for sound quality or just looking to get loud, or be like everyone else and want a nice mix? To be completely honest, this car audio forum here is quite biased towards ED and without knocking ED, I wouldn't ever buy from them lol. Before people start recommending stuff, don't go out and buy the first thing someone tells you to buy. Research, learn, and understand what you are buying and why you are buying it. I can give you a great ground to start on for a $3k budget and can get you some deals on stuff just give us some more info as to what you are looking for.

 

diymobileaudio.com if you want to do something sound quality ish.....

 

Mostly sound quality. But a slight mix. I'm not making this a show car or anything. I also dont blast music and if I do its rare and for a short period of time. I just want what comes through my speakers to sound awesome. No raddles, muffles, like I'm there. I'm also looking for decent amount of bass but not something that has my entire car shaking. I want a balanced sounded system that sounded good and is clear.

 

3,000 dollars?

 

Yes, 3k, is that too much, to little? If I spend less then awesome. If I need to spend more it will take longer but okay.
Reason is I was saving for a GTI before the scion so I had parts money. Honestly all I'm doing to my scion is TRD shock/springs, Tints, KEEPING THE STOCK WHEELS, a short shifter and a magnaflow exhaust, the rest is all stereo.
I'm not gonna waste money on headers, intake, turbo kit, etc.

I'm assuming this will cost a little less, I had a 94 corolla before this and had a clarion head unit and all factory speakers replaced with clarions for 160 dollars. I'm just assuming more being these parts will be more expensive, plus 2 extra speakers, a sub and an amp.

 

alright, well let me think here (bear with me, this could take a while)

2 alpine type r subs - 130x2= 260
alpine type r component speakers- 110 (?)
2 alpine mrp-m500 amps- 135x2= 270
some 4 channel amp-TBD=200ish?
box materials-30ish

=

870 bucks? that was just adding it in my head. i think the alpine headunit was 180ish, so that brings my total to 1,050 bucks. (my math might not be right)

a far stretch from 3 grand. If you have 3 grand, that is gonna be one heck of a premium system.

 

I would go a audio forum. Also 3k is more than enough for studio sound in the car. I dropped less than 2k and I have great sound in my car. If you want to talk to someone that know there stuff call bing at simpicity in sound. The link is below on my sig.

 

yep, car audio forums are definitely great places for info

 

diymobileaudio.com go there,sign up and open an account,and sit back and read for 30 days,then let them know you have been reading and learning and ask them the questions you need answered.


Well some basic things to look into

What kind of deck do I want,Double Din that plays DVDs,one with Navi,or just a Single Din.for around $400 you can get a Pioneer Double din that plays DVDs and sounds great.

Next Wiring,a basic wireing kit is fine,but make sure it is big enough to be able to use as you upgrade system.......see a lot of guys buy 20' 8 gauge to power the amp,then 3 months later buy new bigger amp and have to buy 20' of 4 gauge,then by the time they do it all they spent 3 times the money for a wire they should of bought the first time.Knukoncepts.com has great wire,spendy but good.

Sound deadening is a must..........best thing you can buy for your car......ElementalDesigns.com has edead in rolls and also in liquid paint on....also there are other brands out there that work great as well.....many even better.

Sound stage........very important........Front components are really all that you need,no need for rear speakers........in fact rear speakers will make a worse sounding system as they will cancel out the sound and are not needed once you amp the fronts.

What type of music do you like to play most........differant comps react differant to music,some work great for stuff like Metallica,and others do not,do you like a full sounding speaker,mid bass,laid back,in your face or a rich full sound.........lots to consider.

Subs.........1 12" is indeed plenty ,question is do you wnat it to shake the car so the body panels flex or just provide a clean bass or a littel of both.......there are sealed boxes and ported,then of course there are IB boxes and many others,but a basic box will do fine.

Amps.........how loud you wnt to go.........and how do you want it to sound.....generally a two channel that gives about 300w to each comp is perfect as you can give a clean signal to the speakers without using all the power.

For subs,300-1000w depending on what you want to make.......1000w is somewhat painfull but fun.......600w is about perfect and loud.......300w is great for daily driver cruising and bumping.

Over 1000w you have a new ball of issues with charging system.

Great brands for components that I like Image Dynamics,Elemental Designs,Focal,Infinity,and DLS.

Great subs I like Image Dynamics,Elemental designs,JL,Alpine(think it was the D series),Boston

Great amps........Elemental Designs,JL,Diamond,and there are a few others,but those are the ones I have played with.

 

Also hit up your local forum and met up with people in your area and listen to waht they are using,hit up stores in your area and listen to what is what,going to CarToys and standing in a booth is a hard way to figure out waht sounds good in a car,really it does not take in to account the shape of a cars interior,but will give you an idea of tones and volume to some degree.

 

$3000 is more than enough for a kickass system in your car. I spent $2000 and have top notch equipment. With a budget of $3000, if you take your time with it, you can end up with some top of the line equipment and a sick system.

If you really want to learn about the equipment, then read these links and register at a couple forums besides this one and start reading. The knowledge you gain will save you money in the long run.
http://www.bcae1.com/
http://www.glasswolf.net/papers/index.html
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/wo...igurations.asp

Go out and read and then come back to us or another forum with questions that will better suit us to be help you. Of course, if you have questions right now, ask away lol

 

Wow, thanks guys the info and suggestions here are awesome. I'll re-read all these, check the forums out and get back to you guys with questions.

Someone recommended to me that I get...
head unit with a 3 channel pre-outs
a nice 4 channel amp for the main speakers
replacing factory components in car,
a mono amplifier
and a 10-12 single subwoofer.

 

Yep a good 2 or 4 channel amp for the components is a must.....now remember you will not need rear speakers,once you amp up the front comps you can hear them like 50 feet away clearly,so rear speakers are not needed and they tend to make it sound worse.

Definatly a mono amp for the sub,you can get one that can run two subs and be bridged to run 1 sub,but honestly it is a pain doing all that and tuning them sucks too.

multiple subs can e ran off one mono amp once you learn how to wire a box up.

10" is great,12" is great as well......just depends on how much space you want to use in most cases,after a while you want a trunk to use.....lol

My Avic has preouts for front back and sub,plus there is input and output for video,that is about the basic things you need.

 

kk, wont get any in the rear.
I'm still deciding on the 10 or 12. I'm most likely gonna mount it one the left side of the trunk against the side to keep some space in the back.

btw, why is everyone so into alpine type R's?

As for head unit, I think I'm gonna go with a basic one but I keep considering a flip up for dvd's and stuff. If you run one, how do you like it?

btw, on a side note, will I need a new battery like an optimum yellow top. Isn't that gear towards audio setups?

 

Stock battery does fine to a point,I am using a Red Top and have aobut 1000w total going out and never a problem.

If you buy a flip out DVD make sure it is not one taht goes out and up as the door for the dash will be in the way.