Advise me on my next car audio system?

[SVOboy]

Thanks for the further advise. I think I may go with xplod for now unless someone can people me to a better speaker in a similar price range? I know they fit my fronts since the previous owner had them and they seem to be of decent quality.

Any recommendations for head units?

As I said, I need to be able to gut the old stuff and install the new stuff in a matter of hours since I am returning from japan and leaving for my road trip the next day.

Thanks!

[NiHaoMike]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Any recommendations for head units?

If you have an iPod or other MP3 player that supports remote control, get a remote for it. Then open up the remote, replace the buttons with larger ones, and mount the buttons in a convenient location. Leave the original radio in place and hide the iPod in the glove box. That'll offer a little theft protection. (If it's in an EV with a high pack voltage, an even better form of theft protection will be to route pack voltage to the amp unit (designed for operation from pack voltage) and use screw terminals that will require them to be exposed to disconnect them.)

Otherwise, get a small computer (those cheap mini desktops work great) and use it as a MP3 player. Relabel a cheap numeric keypad and use it as a remote.

[SVOboy]

I dont have the room under the dash for that

[IndyIan]

I just put in a cheap JVC headunit KD-R400 with a usb port, it also has an aux in on the front but I don't have an Ipod so I wanted the USB port for a memory stick.
I also put in a pair of pioneer 6x9 TS-A6963R in the rear deck. I have a bass tube that I was going to install but with these speakers I'm not going to bother. My fronts are dead so with just running the rear channels the bass response is way way better than I thought a 6x9 could do.
I've had it way louder than I'd ever listen normally and I can't hear any clipping from the amp or the cones bottoming or popping.
For $100 speakers and a $140 head unit I am quite impressed.
Becareful if you put your speakers in little boxes, as the cone suspension should be made for that, I'd imagine almost all car speakers are meant to be installed in an open environment, ie into a trunk or in a car door. Put in a little box they won't have much bass at all.
Ian

[SVOboy]

My plan thus far is to spend about 100 on speakers:
6.5 xplod up front
6x9 explod in back

And 140 on a head unit:
Dual XHD7714

[Christ]

For the $140, I wouldn't go with a Dual Audio head unit... that's pretty much a Wally-World special.

If you're using Sony speakers, the logical conclusion is to use a Sony unit as well, but one with all the features you're looking for. Lots of Sony units have AUX inputs, some have spare RCA's on the back for an AUX input as well. You can buy them right along w/ the speakers, and most are under $150 (that may have changed since the last time I cared to look).

[doviatt]

I just got a JVC's KD-HDR50 for Fathers Day. Well it is in the mail (so soon to get). My main interest was built in HD radio I didn't want an add on. It has aux in and USB port on front. Shop around and you can get it for $130 including shipping.

[DifferentPointofView]

Sony Xplod Head Units... bahhh. I wouldn't do it. They're not really that impressive, most of them look goofy, and they're RMS wattage isn't impressive.

Dual... They LOOK fancy, but in real usage are just one big mess, and really aren't worth it. again, Lower RMS

JVC makes AWESOME budget Head Units, that look very clean, pump out a decent RMS,

If I were you and getting speakers, I would go with pioneer. They're stuff is more suited to having no external amplifier, and is generally dollars cheaper than the sony's (and in my opinion, they sound better as well)

This, In my Opinion, is what your perfect setup is looking like.

JVC KD-R600- (128.99) has a built in Ipod control that lets you control the songs from either the CD player, or the Ipod itself through the USB port. It also has an Aux on the front, and the faceplate is detachable, to prevent thoughts of theft. Built in 24 bit digital-to-analog converter, and has a 2.5volt subwoofer preamp. you can also change the color of the lighting, as well as the intensity, for about 29,790 color options. USB can also be used with Thumb Drives. Comes with Wireless Remote.



For Speakers, I would suggest these to appropriately get the most without using an external amp.

and, You said your CRX (91' right?) uses 5 1/4" in the front? because I just looked it up, and it looks like it uses 6 1/2" speakers in the front AND in the Rear. but I know your rear is screwed up.

Front- Pioneer TS-G1642R (6 1/2") or TS-G1342R (5 1/4")

Rear - Pioneer TS-A6963R (6x9") speakers

The CD player I would DEFINITELY go with. It matches what you are looking for perfectly, and nothing in the price range you have will get you what you want like this, unless you order it.

As for the speakers, Sony speakers are much better than their CD player counterparts, so if the Sony's are cheaper, go with them.

And if you can figure out if 6 1/2" speakers actually fit (from what I'm looking at, they should. Check the stocks out with a ruler or something) I would definitely go for those. The bass output is much more clean than in 5"er's.

oh, and remember, you are going to need a wiring harness for your car, otherwise, when you go to hook up your stereo.... your gonna be stuck with one big whoops. Also, your gonna want a reciever din kit so that it fits in right.

[NiHaoMike]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

I dont have the room under the dash for that

Look at one of those mini-ITX boards in real life. They are smaller than they seem to be in pictures. I know you can find some place to put it.
And if you put an array of capacitive touch sensors under the keypad, you can get Prius-III-like "touch tracer" ability. Use a small video LCD as a display. (A good source is a portable LCD TV. Now that the digital transition has happened, it shouldn't be too difficult to find one for cheap.)

[DifferentPointofView]

I'd imagine almost all car speakers are meant to be installed in an open environment, ie into a trunk or in a car door. Put in a little box they won't have much bass at all.

If you've ever heard speakers when they're in a sealed box, you'll be able to tell how much more bass there is compared to open-air. if you've ever heard speakers in a door that isn't very sealed, or has almost no sound deadening, the bass is almost non-existant if the engine is on, or if the car is moving.

Many speakers sound good in rear decks, because the trunk area is quite padded, and seals good. take the carpet out, or have the trunk cracked while driving, that low end is just not there.

They make speaker baffles for doors that have a bad seal or sound deadening. they work, not as well as a good speaker box, but you can definitely hear the music better when your driving down the road.