Wassup guys,

I'm looking into installing a sound system in my S.

I've heard issues about certain components not fitting properly in the S, requiring spacers.

I'd prefer to get some components that can avoid the fitment issue. I'm not interested in co-axials. I'd rather spend a bit more for some kickass components, then to pay less for crappy ones which I'll want to upgrade later on. That being said, I'm not looking to enter any sound competitions!

Anyways, what have you guys used & recommend, and which ones should I avoid?

I loved the way my MB Quartz sounded before (in my Accord back in the day), but I've heard that they've been bought out by someone else and their products aren't the quality they were back in the day...any truth to this?

Oh, and I saw this box on ebay too...has anyone tried these out?

http://cgi.ebay.com/2000-up-Honda-S2000-SU...=item58808aa1fe

Thanks in advance for all your feedback!

 

I have Focals in mine. Love them.

 

MB Quart was bought by Maxxsonics

The PPI 356cs fit in the stock baskets, with the back cut out

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/p_..._PPI_356CS.aspx

you might be able to find them on ebay cheaper, sonic electronix use to have the from like $150

 

Polk Audio DB 6501.

 

I made a pair of 0.75" MDF spacers with $5 of material and a $30 jigsaw. Took a couple hours, and I've never done it before or even used a jigsaw. So <$40 including the tool and <4 hours for a guy with zero tools or experience to do it right.

If you're spending a few hundred on a component set, I would strongly recommend you pick the speakers first and then make a spacer if they don't quite fit. There are no permanent modifications to the car -- just pull the speakers and spacer out and dump the stock stuff back in.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I've read up on the Polk Audio DB 6501 and the PPI 356CS, with both having lots of positive reviews. The PPI's seem to be quite a bit more expensive then the Polk Audios.

Has anyone heard the comparison in person between these two? Are the PPI 356CS worth the extra cash?

I've also read positive talk regarding the Focals....is there a certain model number I should be looking into?

Lastly, anyone hear anything about those custom sub box they're selling on ebay? Are they any good?

Sorry for all the questions...I'm one of those people that wants to do it right the first time, so I don't have to redo over again later on. Thanks y'all!

 

The focals I hear the most discussion on are the K2Ps. They sell for around $600. Last year's model was on closeout for half price not long ago, but they're gone now. That's a set for Option 2 below.

No idea on the sub box. The most important things are just to have a good seal and an enclosure volume appropriate to the subwoofer you buy.




On component speakers, you should do it one of 2 ways and decide now:

Option 1: Get a drop-in set of speakers like a pair of coaxials for under $200. Pull the stock speakers, do a direct drop-in replacement (probably in the stock baskets and all), and call it a day. You'll notice a significant improvement over stock. And it's cheap and relatively easy.

Option 2: Get a nice set of component speakers like the PPIs. Those ones are so great because they were going for under $150 for a while. Now there are others that will be very comparable at the $200-$300 price range: Hertz HSKs, Rainbow has some, Pioneer 720PRS is what I have, entry level focals, components from madisound plus the required sound processing equipment, etc etc .... But spend at least $150+ and probably ~$300 or more on the speakers.
THEN spend another $150-$500 on a devoted amp for the components. Then spend another $100-200 on RCAs, amp and speaker wiring, and misc. mounting hardware to get everything put together. So total, anywhere from $400-$1000+ on speakers and associated stuff, and you have to spend a fair bit of time wiring and setting everything up or pay someone to do that for you.
You'll notice a significant improvement over option 1, but you kind of need to get a budget and complete system in mind before doing this.

I've only read about this, but in my mind it would be like ITBs vs just I/H/E alone. ITBs are probably a lot better in every way that I/H/E is good, but they require quite a bit more money, work, and technical understanding is involved.

Back to option 2, IMO, you'll also want to incorporate an advanced (like >10 band) equalizer and tuning, an auto system like IMPRINT, or something like that to dial the sound in and get the full benefit out of your investment because our car acoustics are pretty miserable--exactly analagous to a tune for ITBs/etc.

I took Option 2 and won't have a sub for a while yet. I forget some of the exact numbers, but I spent right about $375+$100 DCI etc on my headunit, $300-350 on my component amp, $300 on my component speakers ($250 could have worked but I bought local), and around another $200-300 on RCAs, wiring, a few tools, and misc. supplies. It was all new except the amp, which was a few months used. So now I've spent near $1500 and I still have no bass. But IMO, it really sounds great! My wife, who doesn't care about such things, says music in my car sounds like a recording studio should sound instead of a typical car stereo.

Doing it this way certainly helps me understand why people will spend nearly $1000 on a set of component speakers--you've already invested so much in getting everything else together, so no sense cheaping out.

 

I have some used Focal K2P's for sale. Ill throw in the spacer I made out of mdf if you decide to purchase, PM me for details.

 

Thanks for the detailed feedback Ace.

I hear what you're saying. Option 1 isn't what I'm looking to do. I've had co-axials in my prelude years back, (after I had my old skool mb quartz in my accord), and the comparison wasn't close at all. The guy at the shop sold me on those co-axials and I was so disappointed, I went back the following week and returned them.

I have a bunch of stuff I'm planning on installing in my S that I had in storage from when I had it on the accord way back when. The parts are probably obsolete now, but the way it sounded is exactly what I want right now--solid, hard bass evenly balanced with exceptional highs.

I've got a couple of Rio amps and 2 JL 10" subs at home. If I remember correctly, one amp was used to power the HU and components and 6x9's (this was on my Accord), and the other powered the subs. In my S, I'd only install 1 sub. I think it'd probably be overkill if I tried to install the MB Quart 6x9's too.

I'm planning on getting a HU, I'm gonna go to downtown la probably this weekend to see what they've got there. I had a Pioneer Premier p8000 (i think that was the model) which bit the dust years ago, but I was very pleased with it's functionality. I liked it so much that if I could find a new one now, I'd get it in a heartbeat! I'm considering the 710bt, or perhaps an older model Pioneer with similar functions.

Is an equalizer necessary? My old P8000 headunit had preset equalizer which worked fine, which was good for me, cause I'm not too good with state of the art technology and what not.

Thanks for the advice!

 

i have infinity reference components and they are decent. still would like a sub