Navigation & Audio $500.00.....
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,656
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From: Cooper City, Fl
OK here's the deal. I have about $500.00 to spend on a audio upgrade. I don't have H/K. Stock headunit and sound. I want to keep the head unit but I want clarity and some sweeter sounds from the unit. What to get?? The days I was into audio are way behind me and I need some help from the new age experts.
Amp.. which one?
Speakers?? 6x9?? Replace them all??
Woofer?? Is it needed??
Anything I am missing??
Remember I have only $500.00 to spend.
Thanks for the help.
Amp.. which one?
Speakers?? 6x9?? Replace them all??
Woofer?? Is it needed??
Anything I am missing??
Remember I have only $500.00 to spend.
Thanks for the help.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
If you get an amp, make sure it has speaker level inputs because the stock HU has no line level outputs.
Also get some good speakers front AND back - I personally like the Infinity Kappas. If you seal up the rear enclosures before putting some Kappas back there, you'll get some really good bass response and you won't need a sub unless you really want to shake the car. Click the link in my sig to see how I sealed them up. I put 6.5" rounds in the rear using 6x9 adapters, but 6x9's will sound good too.
If you're as old as I am (41), you may remember when rear speakers were the primary source of sound, and front speakers were supposed to be "felt but not heard". Back then I preferred a somewhat equal balance between front and rear, and feel the same now. Just because the current philosophy is "the front soundstage is all that matters and forget the rear", doesn't mean that's everybody's preference.
Good luck!
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Also get some good speakers front AND back - I personally like the Infinity Kappas. If you seal up the rear enclosures before putting some Kappas back there, you'll get some really good bass response and you won't need a sub unless you really want to shake the car. Click the link in my sig to see how I sealed them up. I put 6.5" rounds in the rear using 6x9 adapters, but 6x9's will sound good too.
If you're as old as I am (41), you may remember when rear speakers were the primary source of sound, and front speakers were supposed to be "felt but not heard". Back then I preferred a somewhat equal balance between front and rear, and feel the same now. Just because the current philosophy is "the front soundstage is all that matters and forget the rear", doesn't mean that's everybody's preference.
Good luck!
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,062
Likes: 1
From: Boston, MA
Just wanted to pop in and say that I really like these types of threads in the audio forum (I have X amount of money, what should I do?). I know next to nothing about audio stuff, and I'm probably going to be in this exact same situation later this month, depending on the size of my holiday bonus. I always read these threads (as opposed to the more technical stuff in the audio forum), and appreciate everyone's responses. :smile:
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
Here is a similar post to yours-
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mp;topic=18496
>>If you get an amp, make sure it has speaker level inputs because the stock HU has no line level outputs.
>>
>>Also get some good speakers front AND back - I personally like the Infinity Kappas. If you seal up the rear enclosures before putting some Kappas back there, you'll get some really good bass response and you won't need a sub unless you really want to shake the car. Click the link in my sig to see how I sealed them up. I put 6.5" rounds in the rear using 6x9 adapters, but 6x9's will sound good too.
Who is doing the installation? That will add to the price if you add both front and rear speakers.
Infinity Kappas are good and on a strict budget maybe a two channel amp and just the front speakers might work.
If your budget allows Kappas in the front and rear with a four channel amp would work better. PM Pooky13 as she has kappas front and rear.
Dynamat extreme to deaden the noise and reduce vibration is worth it.
On adding front speakers and dynamat
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mp;topic=13195
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Aloha
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mp;topic=18496
>>If you get an amp, make sure it has speaker level inputs because the stock HU has no line level outputs.
>>
>>Also get some good speakers front AND back - I personally like the Infinity Kappas. If you seal up the rear enclosures before putting some Kappas back there, you'll get some really good bass response and you won't need a sub unless you really want to shake the car. Click the link in my sig to see how I sealed them up. I put 6.5" rounds in the rear using 6x9 adapters, but 6x9's will sound good too.
Who is doing the installation? That will add to the price if you add both front and rear speakers.
Infinity Kappas are good and on a strict budget maybe a two channel amp and just the front speakers might work.
If your budget allows Kappas in the front and rear with a four channel amp would work better. PM Pooky13 as she has kappas front and rear.
Dynamat extreme to deaden the noise and reduce vibration is worth it.
On adding front speakers and dynamat
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mp;topic=13195
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Orange County, CA
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4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 402
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From: Nashville, TN
Here's mine....
Dynamat Extreme, forget the price but it was worth every penny. Deadens enough sound to in itself be a pseudo amplifier installation due to higher perceived power output and cleaner sound, due to lower road noise.
Polk EX 6.5 components up front, 6x9's in the rear. These have since been replaced with the DB series speakers but appear to have the same specs. $350 for the set, front and rear combined, from Circuit City. VERY nice quality, GREAT sound, and high sensitivity (92/93) so they work great right off the stock headunit, no amp needed. Sounds as nice and clean as the H&K system, though without as much bass, and should last a long long time. If you later upgrade to an amp'd system these speakers can handle something like 300w peak power, 10-100 wats reccomended. So NO problem powerwise....
Dynamat Extreme, forget the price but it was worth every penny. Deadens enough sound to in itself be a pseudo amplifier installation due to higher perceived power output and cleaner sound, due to lower road noise.
Polk EX 6.5 components up front, 6x9's in the rear. These have since been replaced with the DB series speakers but appear to have the same specs. $350 for the set, front and rear combined, from Circuit City. VERY nice quality, GREAT sound, and high sensitivity (92/93) so they work great right off the stock headunit, no amp needed. Sounds as nice and clean as the H&K system, though without as much bass, and should last a long long time. If you later upgrade to an amp'd system these speakers can handle something like 300w peak power, 10-100 wats reccomended. So NO problem powerwise....