i'm new to car audio tech. i am wondering what products are best to invest in that give the most noticeable changes. for example like performance it's I/H/E so what about audio? brands and recommended specs. i'm also looking for a in-dash receiver so i can play ipod etc. i don't know what specs i should be looking for since each receiver has different watts. i've looked up some most are 50w x 4 channel peak power. what does that mean?

 

Well you can upgrade your stock component speakers to get better quality ones, and you should definitely add a sub, even a small one makes the song sound so much better. But as for the headunits go, the 50 x4 channel watt means it puts out 50 watts per channel and has 4 channels.. so basically if you upgrade your speakers and they need 50 watts..and theres 4 speakers, that headunit could power it without needing an amp.

 

The factory head units had some setting for the car type which matched the speaker system equalization really well when set properly. In my 06 xB I boost the bass setting to "feel" and adjust the center **** equalizer down -2 bass 0 treble and it sounds great with plenty of bass booming sound. Factory units has 160 watts. Peak music power is not as important as RMS power.

 

i have the ssp to "feel" with treble at 5 and bass-1. i'm not so crazy about bass, not to the point that i can't even hear the actual music anymore. i think i'm gonna go with a headunit first since i really want that aux or usb for ipod. any suggestions? aux doesn't charge and usb charges ipod right? i'm open to anything that's between $50-$99.

 

Head unit will be your biggest bang for the buck. Most important when you buy is what do you want to add down the road? if it's an amp later, make sure it has seperate pre-amp outputs for front, rear, and sub. DVD / Navigation is another question to ask, though for the price jump you're better off with a stand alone Garmin or Tom Tom, plus you can take them with you in rental cars.

iPod / iPhone integration is another thing. A lot of the newer ones just have a USB port for both, but some of the older / cheaper ones have a dedicated cable that may work with iPod but not iPhone. Bluetooth for cell phone compatibility is another add-on you can decide is worth it.

I'm partial to Alpine, I've used them for the last 12 years and always had good luck. The basic model is the CDA-102 which has 2 sets of pre-amps, and to plug in an iPod you'll need to buy the special Alpine cable.

I have the CDA-105. It's a great head unit, with a USB plug for iPhone, 3 sets of pre-amps, and if you want satellite, bluetooth or HD radio there are accessories for them. it's currently running around $180 on Sonic Electronix. Sonic has the best prices I've found for a non-shady internet retailer.

You're not going to find a decent head unit with USB and decent clean power for $100, not new anyway. Check the Scionlife classifieds or Craigslist, you may be able to find something used. let me know if you need / want speaker, amp or sub recommendations. Just don't buy anything with a money order. I'm running all Alpine, a 5 channel PDX amp (front, rear and sub all in one), Type-R components (6.5 front, 5 1/4 rear) and a type S sub. The type S takes up a bit of trunk space for the box though.

 

i don't need a headunit with usb port, an aux works too. i'm mainly gonna be using it for ipod. i'm leaning towards the sony headunits because the lighting is blue which will match my car. i want to upgrade the speakers. the xA has 2 small ones and 4 other ones. Would I need to replace them all or will the 4 big speakers be enough? also need recommendations. i don't think i'll be getting an amp and sub cuz i don't got the cash to go all out.

 

how much are you willing to spend?

 

okay ... i'm not upgrading my headunit =[ i'll be getting a ipod2car kit thing to add-on to the stock headunit. what specific specs should i be looking for in aftermarket speakers?

 

Look into sound deadening material. If you do it right you may not need to upgrade anything. Dynamat, Edead (elemental designs) or other companies offer stuff. much cheaper then new equipment and also quiet your car from road noise. If you search on this site you can also get discounts on these items.

 

yea true but then installing it is a hassle. i just want a set (4) of speakers that will out-do stocks, easy to find like from walmart or bestbuy or frys and easy to install.