im lookin to get me a nice stereo for my XB... probably going to keep the stock head unit but going to get new speakers and a sub... im looking for SQ not loud... im probably going to get a nice component set in the front and just a 2 or 3 way in the rear, 4 channel amp for those and some sort of sub.. i'd like to get something already powered i.e. bazooka or infinity, but who knows....



what do you have? pix are more than welcome.....

 

I think my set up is real nice for a mild one.
Pioneer HU 6700
Infinty componants up front about
Infinty coax in rear
Eclipse 4 channel amp to run them
Ported small box with 10" infinity sub and additional 250w amp.

About $800 total. Most things were bought at the car toys tent sale.

 

Mine is more of an SQ setup, but has the bass when i need it.

Pioneer DVHP5000MP with seperate screen
Diamond Audio S600S components in front and rear
Rockford Fosgate T8004 4 channel amp
2 12" Diamond Audio D612D4 subs in transmission box
Rockford Fosgate T5002 2 channel amp

Retail is around $2500, but paid much less with my discount.

 

HU - Kenwood KDC-X689
Components - CDT 07
Subwoofer - Image Dynamics 12" IDMAX
Component Amp - TRU Technology T4.100v2
Subwoofer Amp - TRU Technology T2.200v2

 

I love my setup.
ALL ELEMENTAL DESIGNS:
HU: Alpine CDA-9851
COMPONENTS: eDi6000s
COMPONENT AMP: NINe.4
SUBS: (2) 13Kv.2s
SUB AMP: NINe.2x

 

If you're going for anything, lose the stock head unit. Period.
Head - Pioneer DEH-P8MP
Fronts - Infinity Kappa Perfect woofer, Infinity Kappa 5.25 in dash pod, Infinity tweeter on sail panel.
Rear - Infinity Kappa 6.5
Amps - Old Phoenix Gold MS-275 on fronts, two Polk Momo c300.2s on the subs.
Subs - Diamond Audio D312d2 12".

 

Man do i wish i had kept my 3 PG MS-250 Amplifiers those were the ____, but that was back when amps that were "made in the usa" were actually made in the usa.
Sheeeet i wish i has kept my ppi ms amps and the pc series for that matter..oh well i can only hope for some good stuff...the arc audio SE stuff is really peaking my interest..ok im done with my rant

 

and why is that? i plan to get an amp for my speakers so they will not be driven simply off of the head unit. i like the simplicity of the stock head unit, plus i dont want to have wasted space by having a smaller head unit in there

 

If im not mistaken youll need a high level to low level converter to give you rca outs to your amps and im not sure about the quality of going that route compared to the cd players that are available today.
If its a budget thing i can understand but im using some of the built in xover features of my headunit to control my setup.
my buddy just did an install with the stock unit in an xb and he hated it so they switched it out and were much happier with the results...he told me that the sound wasnt very good with the stock unit

 

Panasonic HU
Kicker L7 Sub
Infinity Amp
Ported Enclosure

When I originally had my stuff installed I left the stock HU in it and it sounded like crap. I lost all of my high's. They haft to tie into the rear speakers with your subs and it drowns everything out. A aftermarket HU is a must with a sub-out. It sounds far far better.

 

I've always loved my Eclipse setup for SQ

 

If you want a "good" sounding system, stock HU removal should come first!

 

I kept the stock Alpine HU in my RS 3.0, finally just got it finished and sounding the way I want it. Its working really well for me, just need to get a grill for the rear sub

Kicker TC104 10"sub, Audioforms underseat sub box
Kicker, TC104 10" sub, Audioforms Cargo space box,
Rockford Fosgate P4004 2 channel on the subs,
Pioneer GM6200F quad channel for Stock Alpine in car speakers

 

The exception to taking out the "stock" headunit would be if youve got one of the XBs that came with a factory installed aftermarket radio.
Im not sure which Alpine is installed in the RS3 but im sure its better than the pioneer that came in my car

 

Some of the RS3.0 owners I've talked to don't like the Alpine unit for one reason. . . it doesn't have a built in amp. . . that's what I am told at least. I am not sure though about how it sounds since I haven't heard it yet, but I think the stock system in the xB wasn't too bad for a economy car.

Personally I am running
Alpine CDA-9855 HU
Alpine SPS-171A Components
Alpine MRV-F545 Amp
2 JL 10w1v2-4

It's not the best sounding system but it beat's the crap outta my old car's stock tape player unit. . .lol

 

Clarion DXZ945XP
Rockford Fosgate Coaxles all they way around
Rockford P2 12" sub
Rockford p2002 amp on the sub

 

Not having a built in amp is what alot of people including myself prefure because i use external amplifiers only and not the built in one...not having it built in creates less heat in the unit possibly giving you improved sound and the internals might last longer

 

I see, makes sense, although there are many people who don't want external amps and expect it to rock outta the box. Hmmmmm, what to do. . .lol

 

people who want as you say to rock out of the box probably arent expecting to get the kind of sound that i and many others on this forum want and or have.
but i do see the need to have it available as an upgrade to stock and keeping stock speakers

 

true. . . i suppose we are agreed. . .lol