I'm getting ready to put together a custom system for my S2K and need some advice. I've had numerous systems over the years in various cars, but I want to do something even better. Since I haven't kept up with all the new stuff, I need some help.

A local stereo shop suggested the following:

Eclipse, Clarion or Pioneer Headunit
Focal coaxial (kevlar or glass series) and additional tweeters in door pods
Memphis Baby Bell 5-channel amp (75x4 or is it 100x4? and 400 on sub)
10" TREO sub in custom fiberglass enclosure
Cables, RCA's etc, labor, etc.

Total cost: $2,500 (seems a bit high)



In the past, I had this system:

Clarion headunit (8 volt, can't remember which model)
Premium series MB Quart 5.25" coaxial and additional titanium-dome tweeters
PPI 4800 4-channel (4x100) amp
Two kicker L7 8" subs in custom enclosure


Other goals/ideas I've had for the system in my S2K are:

1. A good headunit that requires no mods to car/stereo cover. Must plays MP3's, CD's, CDR's and is Sirius or XM ready. I prefer Eclipse, Pioneer, Alpine and may consider others (Kenwood). Suggestions? I saw a new Kenwood on Crutchfield that looked pretty cool (5 volt, pre-amp outputs, sirius ready, free tuner, etc.)

2. Focal, Boston Acoustic or MB Quart 5.25" coaxials and additional tweeters for pods. Any suggestions on which ones to get and the best place to buy? Best price?

3. Zapco, Memphis, Soundstream, Phoenix Gold or equivalent 4 or 5 channel amp. Recommendations? Price? Where to buy?

4. I'll probably stick with the TREO 10" sub unless someone else has other recommendations.

Thanks!

Nate

 

Ok.....quick take....

Forget Pioneer....

Alpine, Clarion, or Eclipse should be all you need to look at.

Im not too fond of memphis, but if you like it, its fine.

Speakers, like I said, forget MBQUART. The low/midlines are not good at all. Stick to boston, focal, and Infinity.

The speakers are also 6.5 inches, not 5 1/4. I advise agains an extra set of tweeters, there is no need for them.

$2500 bucks is waaaaaaaaay too much for your equipment.

Also, I pretty much heard of almost every brand and never heard of your sub. Go with whats tried and true. Eclipse, Ea, Soundstream, Infinity,.....etc.


Whats your budget?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by NFRs2000NYC
Ok.....quick take....

Forget Pioneer....

Alpine, Clarion, or Eclipse should be all you need to look at.

Im not too fond of memphis, but if you like it, its fine.

Speakers, like I said, forget MBQUART.

 

Treo makes good stuff. For those not in the know, they build comp. subs and do VERY well with them (in fact I think the Treo CSX may be the current world record holder for SPL in IASCA as I've seen that van). That said, there's a lot of much more common stuff out there that is good.

Unless you have a need to go with something as boutique as Treo, Resonant, or Adire, I'd recommend Eclpise, JL, or similar.

For amps, I don't know that I would go Memphis either. I am about to put in MMATS stuff because it is the smallest and most powerful amp around with reasonable prices. If money were no object, It would be Brax, but one of their amps would be about the price you were quoted for your entire system.

Agree on the Focals. That's what I'll be installing. Either that or JLs and it's just a matter of whether I want to buy local or order over the net.

 

Hey Nate, I'm about 1-2 mts from doing a system in mine if you want to wait and do ours over a weekend or something.

As for your stuff, I really like Alpine head units. Had them in 3 of my previous cars and will stick with an Alpine for the s2k. Off the top of my head the 9827 is a nice inexpensive option and the 9833 has more options in regard to controlling where and when music comes from the speaker.

A good set of components with x-overs and an amp are plenty. Just keep in mind that the s2k isn't the perfect car to use focal utopias as wind noise will become an issue with top down. A lot of people on the board like the Infinity K.P's with regard to price and sound.

Amp and sub issues depend on size of the s2k and how much you want to sacrifice. If you ditch the spare and the tool well, you open up a lot of space to install a 10" sub and have the amp where the spare used to be. I had a bad experience in my Integra where I was stranded w/out a spare so I need to do some research on what I can fit while keeping the spare

Lastly, you can find better prices than crutchfield and most importantly if you decide to have someone install everything to not take it to Sound Depot.

 

LOL!

Yeah, we should do a "group buy" and get our stuff together and put it in one weekend. We are currently doing this with Tej's and Joy's cars!

I like Alpine, but they are usually hard to find and expensive! But I'm open to them, Eclipse or Clarion. And maybe Kenwood.

I have heard good things about the Focals, and since I've done MB Quart in all my previous cars, I'd like to try something different.

I don't want to get rid of my spare. Done that. And I want to keep as much space as possible. That's why I want a single 10" in the trunk (custom enclosure) and a small amp to also fit in the trunk on the side area.

I have time, so we can research some good stuff.

I have one friend at Sound Depot that has done previous car audio for me. I trust him, and only him to do the work. He did a great job on my WRX and CRX.

I'd consider doing more of it myself if someone with some "expertise" could handle the more technical stuff (wiring, amps, etc.). But the wiring/final tuning will be done by Brian at SD.

 

Have you taken a look at the system install pics on this board? You can get some ideas as to what you want to do. The wlaurant box is the best and reasonably priced idea if you want to keep space and are ok with 1 or 2 8" subs. I'll be using the stuff out of my Integra to save cost so I may have to go into the tool well for the sub. We'll see.

If you have a friend at SDP and trust him, that's good. I've had 5 of my friends get something or another done there and something went wrong in each case. Doug seemed like an ok person, but things changed when something went wrong and I personally didn't like that

 

Ok, well.....

1) I cant explain in detail, but I know that 4V preouts, or 5V preouts, youll never notice. Also, the amps you are getting, you wont notice either.

2) 6.5 inch focals will fit

3) Alpine CDA-9831 is a great unit. You dont want the VDRIVE models, because those are made for non-amp applications....you wont use anything they have.

4) If the TREO subs are competition subs, 99 times out of 100 their SQ is sub-par. Get an Eclipse 10" (aluminum for 249, or titanium for 349)....much better subs than anything youve listed.

So figure......

300 for Focals
350 for Alpine Headunit (my pick)...just make sure you need all the features, otherwise, just get a 9827....IMHO, you dont need ANYTHING else if you dont do rear speakers. Time Correction is almost useless in a 2 speaker application.
350 for sub (I am counting the titanium)
50 for wiring
So you have $1050 worth of stuff right here, and all you need is an amp. 500 bucks would buy you a really nice amplifier,and you are still WAY underbudget.

Dont listen to what the shops try to sell you....unless you are their personal friend (owner)....they are selling you what they want....not what you want.

I wouldnt go Memphis myself.


www.thezeb.com has INSANE deals right now on Phoenix Gold....

You can get a Ti 600.2 for $379 for the speakers

And then you can get for $149
a sub amp, with option for rears later on.
http://www.woofersetc.com/product.asp?0=35...353&1=355&3=401

This is a far better setup than what you are being sold.

And if you dont want a two amp solution, and rather get a 1 amp solution (more costly)
You can always get an

X200.4




This amp is 200x4 @1-4 ohms....CEA certified power rating...
Available for 698.88 at
http://www.boostcaraudio.com/index.asp?Pag...ROD&ProdID=2221


Think about it.

 

AWESOME!

Thanks for the info!

I'll check into those links tomorrow and give you some feedback.

Now, where are some good places to purchase the above-mentioned items?



Sam,

I have had numerous friends complain. Brian does good work and is awesome when it comes to system design/installation.

 

1) Okay, for headunits, I'm looking into the Alpine 9827, 9831 and 9833. Adding rear speakers is something I want to keep optional in case I feel that rear fill and more sound is needed.

I'm also looking at the Kenwood KDC-X979. Many features and priced at $469.

Any advice on the above and where to get the best price?

It must have at least 4-5 volt output, have pre-amp outputs and play CDs, CDRs, MP3's and be XM or Sirius ready. Good quality, clean, clear, etc.

2) As for amps, I've narrowed it down to either the Phoenix Gold Ti500.4 or the Zapco C2K-2.5x.

Any advice on that? The Phoenix Gold is on sale for a good price at thezeb.com. The Zapco costs more. Any ideas/advice?


3) As for speakers, I was looking at the Focal 165V2. These are the glass-polymer component speakers. I've seen them for $249. Will these be a good choice, or do I need to bump up to the kevlar series? Or would Boston Acoustic Pro Series 6.5" be a better choice? I'd like to go with one of the above. I'll skip MB Quart this time around.

I'll also look into subs, but I would like to at least figure out the three above things soon.

Thanks!

Nate