Hello. I am a newbie and have a few questions regarding stereo systems for the car. Right now, I have the factory 6 cd changer. I am looking to change the factory cd player with an aftermarket. My questions are: - Where is a place around Atlanta to go to shop around that offers affordable price and installation as well - Do I need to change the factory speakers? - What type of cd players/factory speakers do you guys recommend for a good quality sound? - Would I be able to get the above at an affordable price ? (<$200) Any advice I can get is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
You would probably want to upgrade the speakers if you are going to upgrade the headunit. I'm pretty sure they are already the weakest link in the stock system. As for what to get, basically any after market will sound better than stock. I've always heard Infinity was a good route. For the head unit I always hear either pioneer or alpine are the best. Under $200 seriously doubt it. You'd might be able to if you bought used or skimped on what you bought. But if you are going to skimp, why not just keep the factory system? Personally I love the 6-disc in dash changer. The only real stereo upgrade I will probably do is better speakers, and possibly a sub if I ever have more money than I know what to do with (which isn't likely anytime in the near future). Oh yeah, and installation place, I know that most of the diehard stereo guru's wouldn't use them, but I had a system installed in my old mustang and Best Buy did a great job. This was a classic mustang too so they had to do some custom work to get everything set up correctly. I was extremely satisfied witht he results. Unfortunately someone wrecked into me, totally my car about 3 weeks later. Haha so anyways... Hopefully someone with a little more specific experience will be able to chime in.
I would SERIOUSLY recommend getting an aftermarket Sub before you do anything as far as upgrades to the headunit/speakers. I just pulled the old sub from my Maxima and put it in the WRX and I am perfectly happy with the sound now. And in my old Maxima I had a Pioneer head unit, Polk Momo Speakers at all four corners and my sub. So try that first and you may save a lot of cash.
Sub is always a good upgrade...look at ebay for cheap sub/amp combos. Honestly $200 is not a lot to spend on anything except a head unit maybe and I can't see much of a difference in the head unit without upgrading the speakers, getting some amps and a sub or 2.
www.etronics.com If nothing else, get Hifi Buys or Best Buy to price match. I've got just a head unit in my car and I thought it made a big difference in sound quality, mostly in the clarity of the songs. I can only imagine what some decent components would sound like in here matched with a sub. Its in my grand plan but suspension is going to come first.
being a caraudio guy for my job i have to say that getting a new headunit is the first thing you should do. Here are some reasons why: subwoofer control more power output around 20wattrmsx4 on average as opposed to about a 5 to 10 wattx4 rms ont he factory radio. mp3/wma cd playback auxilory imput/ipod capabilities sat radio next i would upgrade the speakers if you think you should. Its not a necessity but if your like me and like music more than anything its a good idea. Then i would go to add a subwoofer if you feel its somethign oyu want. Bestbuy, circuity city, and hifi pretty much are all against each other in these markets and offer same day free install almost every week on radios. All you will need is a wiring harness($18.50), and then a universal pocket ($18.50). It takes about 10 to 15 minutes for me to put a radio in these cars. Not very difficult at all. As far as radio brands go alpine makes a great radio, but has been lazy this year. They have poor eq settings. Still put out good sound however. Next i recommend Pioneer, great radios all around especially for what you pay. Clarion, and Panasonic make some fantastic radios as well.
i've got some stuff FS if ya want a sub and amp http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9484
thanks guys looks like for about $200, i can't do much besides getting a head unit. i guess i will stick with the factory system. thanks again!
If you want to save a few bucks, skip professional installation. Wiring a Head Unit and speakers is so pathetically simple, it baffles me why people pay to get stuff installed. If you need help, let me know. I love wiring up stereo equipment. Could have a HU installed in about 30 minutes.
I think I picked up my Panasonic with front, rear and sub pre-outs for around $200. Call it another $40 for misc stuff like a conversion bracket, wiring, etc and it is a great starting point. You can then easily add amps and such with all the pre-outs.
so can you retain the factory HU and add upgraded speakers and a sub with an amp?.....sorry I'm REALLY stereo-ly challenged.... Bigb do you still work at Bestbuy off of 316?
I agree with BigB, upgrading speakers and adding subs to the factory head unit would be pushing the new speakers with hardly any wattage and blindly powering the sub. I pulled my system out of my truck. Personally I believe that a head unit that can play MP3 CD's is 100x better than the stock unit. 200 songs/cd vs 20 songs/cd x 6 + you can search through artist names etc. Not to mention the wattage gains and tons of sub & bass controls. As for door speakers I'm pushing 60x4 watts (max) from my head unit to the stock speakers and it sounds great. I'm going to keep using them until they rattle incoherently. If anyone wants info or an install guide or anything I can put something together. Here's what I have: HU: Alpine CDA-9833 Amp: Alpine MTV420(not sure on model #) 600W max 2-channel amp Subs: 2x Alpine Type-R 10" subs in the boxes custom made for the backseat of my truck fit in trunk nicely firing upward.
Yes, but you would need either an Amp that has line level inputs, ie, instead of RCAs to run to the amp, you tap from Speaker wire, or get a stand alone LOC. Quality is much worse this way, but if you are trying to go stealth and keep the stock head unit, it can be done.
naw scott i dont work there anymore, im at the one in athens off atlanta hwy now...only part time though. Galimore, though it may be a 60x4 watt max power head unit you will only see it 1 time and thats at the death of the unit hehe.....probably seeing about 26-28watts i would say. Regardless though still sounds a lot better than stock. Alot of people go and replace there speakers and keep factory stuff and you honestly will not see a difference unless you have added a 4 channel amp as well.
bigb So, from what you wrote, it does sound like I may be able to get something for around $200 after all.. That would include a headunit and some decent speakers with free installation at a best buy or something? or have I mistaken what you said for something else?
i mean yea you can get a good head unit for around the price, i would look to spend at minimum around 80-100 bucks on a good pair of speakers. If you cna come up with 200 bucks you can do alot better on the radio itself. Check out www.ikesound.com and you can get some good deals on there, now the shipping takes alittle over a week to get but its a good price thats worth the wait.
Figure around $175+ on the radio and then at least 40-50 bucks in wiring and such at Best buy. The installation is free, the stuff to install it is not...they usually have an install kit that you have to purchase.