so i don't hate the stock stereo.

in fact, with a slight rear fade, and a fav CD spinning, i actually think this may be the best stock system i have ever heard. the weak points are a lack of clarity (or richness, not sure of the terminology) in a noisy engine-roaring cabin.

having had a really nice aftermarket system (alpine, infinity, amps, sub etc...) in my beetle (sold with the car) i am a bit spoiled and wouldn't mind stepping it up.

this car is more about performance than rolling, so i am still undecided??? but i went shopping today and this is my $3030 quote*

would you do anything different?

1. Alpine 9886 (had the X001 in the beetle but from my understanding the big knob won't allow for door closure)
2. Alpine PDX-5 (for 150 watts RMS x 2 + 300 watts to sub)
3. Alpine SPX-17PRO 6.5 component speaker replacing the stock door woofer/tweeter
4. Boston G2-10 with custom fiberglass box to sit in flat tire well
5. Labor 8 hours x $85, and parts eg dynamat/amp kit/rca wire rounding out the final numbers

* goal is audio richness >loudness, and not adding a lot of weight

 

Seriously...

Eclipse CD7200mkII
Audison LRx 4.5k (4-chan amp)
Pick a set of individual woofers and tweeters (DLS/Rainbow/Focal/Hertz/etc)
JL 500/1v2 D-block mono subwoofer amp
Stereo Integrity Mag (www.stereointegrity.com)
Custom fiberglass box for the trunk well


Run an active crossover setup with the HU (yes, it supports this...I do this with my CD7100). You'll run two of your LRx channels to your tweets, and two to your woofers. Much cleaner sound than the passive crossovers that come with the component set. You'll also be able to invest in better speakers since you won't be paying for the passive crossovers.

The SI Mag is a 12" so you'll have better low-end coverage. It's rated to 1000W RMS, recommended is 500W+ RMS (which is what the JL puts out). 1cu ft recommended enclosure size, and a 5.5" mounting depth. Downside is there's a bit of a wait. I got in on the preorder, and SI is having issues with the shipping companies. I expect my Mag to arrive within the next few weeks...

Your Eclipse CD7200mkII will run approx $700
Audison LRx 4.5k will run $900 or so
Woofers and Tweeters can be had for a total of $400 for the higher end stuff (brands I listed above)
SI Mag is $250
Custom box will run $400 at a stereo shop, or if you're close to NE, see if one of the audio gurus up here will make you one for a bit less.
Wiring from www.knuknoceptz.com will run you <$200 for the whole deal.
Edit: JL 500/1v2 will run approx $400-500

If you're in the NE, I'll install everything for far less than $85/hr - pretty much free (as will a number of other guys)

 

I'm not sold on the eclipse. Alpine has always sounded so good to my ears so it's hard to imagine better (not saying there isn't).

And finding audison and focal is not easy.

Just checked out the audison web site. No list of authorized dealers???

I went to one of the authorized focal shops today (in NorCal) and ended up leaving without ever talking to somebody except the counter guy who said he didn't know how to work the demo floor.

Since alpine is small and sounds so good (to my ears) I am not sold on the extra effort and cost for audison. Focal, well, they are crazy expensive but if my listen this thursday (shop is putting the type x speakers in an Audi) is not great then I may have to look into them further -- even though there are only a few dealers around so it's a hassle.

That SI mag does look good, but the Boston G2-10 should be plenty big for the S2000 and it's cheaper. This I can listen to, as well, being installed along with the alpine type x speakers in the Audi I mentioned.

The install is the hang up for me. They want the car for 3-5 days! If they did a clean job (my precious) and could do it in one day, then I wouldn't mind the labor cost. How can anybody do it for free?

 

I ran Alpine for a LONG time. Many years, a couple different HUs. And believe me, there's a difference in the sound quality. Alpine's are known to have a harsh range around 3-5k that cannot easily be equalized out (trust me, I tried). Eclipse has a much smoother sound throughout the range.

Audison is hard to find, but very much worth the $$$ spent. If you want SQ, it's hard to beat without going into McIntosh, Genesis or so on (which would be throwing money away given the base sound level of the S).

Focal is the same way. Hard to find, but worth the time and $$$ if you're serious about upgrading.

I suggested a 12" subwoofer, not because I felt you needed more bass...but because it reproduces a lower frequency. Thereby giving you a better coverage of audible frequencies. There are other 10" woofers you might look into: IDQ, JL, CDT, Focal, etc.

It all really comes down to how serious are you really about stepping up your sound quality a notch or two or three...


I can do installs for far less than $85/hr because...I do it as a hobby, not as a full-time profession. Will it look as good as the professional install? You bet your ass it will. Will it cost as much? Not a chance. Only thing I don't do is fiberglass work but a fiberglass box should cost about $400 to have custom built. And the shop doesn't have to do more than have the car long enough to make the mold for the box. Or talk to Darkknight1999 about having him build you one. It'll cost even less than $400. Then you can install the sub yourself (have the amp pre-wired and you're good to go when the box is ready).

Where do you live?

 

Eclipse is nice but way to overpriced for what you get.. to hyped up.. But if you got the money go for it..

*85 dollars and hour is what we charge too... i would ask to see photos of there work if there gonna charge that... Trust me.. We keep a album for our customers that want to spend the big bucks.

 

Oh, I get it now. Thanks! I picked up a couple 12" subs at the store and god they weighed a ton. Seemed the G2-10 was half as much so that is one of the reasons I gravitated toward it. Since you have such high taste, I'll look at the SI 12 sub again. You happen to know how much it weighs?

I wish NY as your offer is much easier on the wallet

I am rethinking the cost of the install though. Might as well put together the product from ebay deals since I am paying them a pretty good hourly -- 1.6x what I make anyway

 

i like modesto. i've been out to modesto ducati a few times (they rock) and seriously enjoyed some of that curvy freeway fun through cow country. i imagine it would be equally fun in the s2000

if it takes 8 hours to install, why would a shop need the car for longer than a day? best thing about modesto is that the economy makes shops work harder than in the bay area so you get first rate service. i checked out yelp, though, and haven't found any reviews and yet 5 car audio shops on McHenry Ave

 

What's the best way to pick out an audio shop to install an audio system?
Was just curious how you go about finding one, and then what all do you set up before hand so you don't get screwed on the price.

 

The best audio shop is yourself. We (the EJ's here) have walked many people through installing there own systems. Unless you have true custom work being done just do it yourself. You'll save yourself a ton of money and you'll learn a little about your car. Plus you'll work on your car better than someone else will.

But if you decide to pay to have the work done... ask them which day is their busiest... then show up that day and see how the the shop runs. And look for their photo book and if they are a good shop they will have trophies from shows there work has won.

 

Personally I agree with the other guys, if you want it done right do it urself.. Mchenry has crap for audio shops, all of them to shotty work and dont warrenty any of it..