I'm ready to get a great sound system for my xB, but with so many chioces i dont know where to start! amount wise, just try to keep in in a normal persons budget. i dont want to set one becuase i can save a little more for a better sound system. any info will help!

 

The first place to start is at the source of your audio... the head unit. Essentially find a system that fits your style. Decide if you want to go with DVD playback or just an audio deck. Check for options you want first, then start looking at different brands. When you look at the options first, you will end up with a better system.

As far as acoustical reproduction quality... this is what I would suggest:

High Quality, Higher than average price:
JL XR 653CS (6.5", 4" dash, 0.75"). Mount the 6.5" in the doors and couple 0.75" flush or surface mount near the woofer. The 4" should just drop in on the dash. You will need to remove two of the mounts on the 4" component. Amp the components with a two channel JL e2150. For a brand loyal completion... get one of the new JL 13W3v3 and couple that with a JL e1400. Disconnect the rear 5.25" speakers... you won't need them. The result will be a very solid front stage with enough low end support.

If you want to go on the cheap with decent quality... here's what I would do:

Start with the Pioneer 4" TS-G1041R coax speakers for the dash. You will need to cut two of the mounts as well as use a large washer to mount the speaker down. Couple that with a set of Pioneer 6.5" Rev series. Don't bother with the 3-way or 4-way coax... you'll have plenty of depth. Now you can add a set of speakers to the back if you want but it will make no difference in the front. Throw in almost any sub/amp combo and you're set (not a fan of pioneer).

Ultimately, you have tons of options. My only suggestion is to stay away from places like BestBuy and CircuitCity for your equipment and installs (there are some damn good installers at some of those places, but you take your chances). You're best option is to find a local ma and pa and get to know the installers well. If you find a ma and pa shop that offers equipment like Audiobahn or Volfenhaag, keep looking for another shop.

Last but not least... stay away from capacitors. They don't fix any problems... just bandaid a larger issue until it's too late.

 

so how much am i looking at for a high end setup? cheap? estimate of course.

 

For a good high end setup, you will be looking to spend around $2000 for everything. On the cheap will probably run just under a grand. The JL setup I posted above will be very close to $2000 with install.

 

this is actually my first car so im hoping to put in what i can, anything else you think it needs? parts?

 

Parts as far as what? Performance? If so, there's tons of options. Look at the N/A forum for ideas. As for sound, there are still areas to look at like sound deadening and barrier dampening. Depending on your local laws you can always go with a glow kit for show, but that's another story altogether.

 

ill be sure to check around thanks!
also i was trying for neons and whatnot but cant have em, somethin about emergency vehicles being confuzed with it. idk whatev ok thanks!

 

The guys on SL really know what they are talking about and if you follow their advice you will certainly have a nice sound system you will be very happy with. Good luck with your new system...

 

for good SQ for the price, check out elemental designs, one of the sponsors of this forum. They have a very good rep and you can order direct from them.

I cant personally vouch for them though....I havent installed my system yet.

But ill let you know how it goes when I get it in. :D

I got:

2 NINe.2 amps
eDi 6000s component speakers
and a 11Ov.2 sub

all for about 575

Elemental designs offers a package deal in which you can get 15% off and other discounts for forum members.

They also make sound deadening called eDead which is a hell of alot cheaper than dynamat. :D

Anyway, hope that helps, maybe some other forum members can chip in and vouch personally for Elemental Designs. :D

-Tyler

 

No offence meant but $2000 installed isnt what i would call a highend setup.
But if you shop around and check out some shops and listen to some cars so you can decide on what speakers you like.

 

I would consider $2000 to be about entry level to the high end equipment for a full setup. Note that I mentioned the E line of amps and the W3 to keep the cost low. If you really want to dig in and go all out, a center of the road highend system would run around $6000. That's for the DVD head unit, drop down 17" monitor, dub 7s and amps to push with a rainbow component or focal imps on the front biamped on a 4 channel. To me, it sounded like he wasn't looking for the end-all system, rather a really good system with high quality and moderatly low cost. If we really want to break out the Incriminator Audio IA.20s, sure... but for daily driving the setup mentioned above (either one) would be good. OOO, let's break out the RE MTs and put four of them in a wall! That would be hawt. For the setup I've got, I probably put about eight grand in just changing things in and out to find just the right setup.

 

Im not a big fan of jl amps cause in my opinion there are better korean made amps out there for less money that sound and perform better and im not a fan of class d for bass. The speakers and subs arent bad at all, but i prefure other brands.
I dont really get into video in car audio cause i dont sit in my car and watch movies i do that at home on my big tv.
Ive got several thousand in my setup with the labor being a major part of it to get my 3way front stage the way it is right now.
As we all know its a great thing we have so many different brands to choose from and price ranges because not everyone is gonna spend big money on it.

 

Totally understand the amps thing. I know there are much better amps out there, but I have to give props to the man behind the slash amps... he's one in the same for creating the PPI Art Series amps from days gone by. The e series amps on the other hand... don't know who designed those. I know a fellow audiophile when I see one, and you've got my respect for that.

 

If you are upgrading on a budget try getting a new radio and sub first!
this should run you around 800 - 900 for a nice radio that you can keep and won't have to upgrade later...

New GOOD radio goes for ~300 - 400,
I reccomend a Pioneer Premier Radio! don't skimp out on this as it is very important!

single sub 125, and maybe 40 - 50 bucks for a regular box
a JL 12w1 single sub should do the trick

and an amp like an JL A or E series run 200 bucks or so

install ~110 plus 75 bucks or so in parts and wires...

What a Nicer system consists of in my opinion, at a little over 2 grand

Headunit ~ 400 - 500 -
Front Components ~400 -600+
Front Amp ~400+
Sub Amp ~400+
Single Sub 250+
Wires and install accessories ~50 - 250
install ~250 - 450+, depending on what type of enclosure you go with

-don't skimp out on the radio, and don't be fooled by bells and whistles
-the average listener won't notice the difference between a 500 dollar and a 1000 dollar plus component set...
- the front amp will have either a 75 x 2 or 150 by 2 for this price...
- the sub amp should have approximately 300 - 500 watts for this price

A more basic system at a little over a grand

Radio ~200 - 300
Front Components ~200 - 250
Front amp ~200
Sub ~125+
Sub amp 200
wires install accessories 75 - 250
install ~250 - 450+, depending on what type of enclosure you go with

 

Thanks! Im sorry if i was sounding like a jerk i didnt mean to come off that way.
I owned a 300/4 and 500/1 for several years and they never let me down and they do have great features and an excellent xover section.
Ive always been a huge fan of car audio and am not a fan of the "bling" that has become more important than the sound, but i do respect alot of the installers out there.
Ive made some really good friends that are in the business and my installer who has been doing it for 10+ years so he gives me alot of real world opinions and i get to hear alot of cars that hes does. One minute I feel blessed and then the next minute i feel cursed.

 

Elemental Design, Elemental Design, Elemental Design...

I really can't speak Highly enough about them... the eDi6500's are insanely awesome components!!! compared to the JL XR's they're much more smooth and have a bit better bass response for alot less $$$!! the 6500's with a nine.2 + 19Ov.2(sealed) and a Nine.1 and you'd be set!!! all this would be somewhere around $1000 with better sound Q and more SPL than the JL's with the 13w3...

 

yeah, too bad the 19Ov.2 isnt out yet. (at least on eD site).....is it sposed to be available this summer?

 

^^ it's not available yet, but available for pre-order I believe... shouldn't be too long before they ARE available..

 

ahhic. :D