Where would you all recommend starting to get some better sound quality? Trying to stay under $300 if possible.


Thanks,

David

 

Need more information.
You hav stock HU and speakers right now ?

 

Yea everything is stock now. It's a 00 if that matters.

 

Well to start off, you need to be able to install the HU yourself if you want to keep it under $300.
Its fairly easy and you can find DIY guide everywhere.
For $300 you can easily get a decent HU and speakers and add on an amp if you want later.
For $165 I would get a HU like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CLARION-DXZ785USB-CD-M...%3A3%7C294%3A30
People at DIYmobileaudio are raving about this HU on the features.
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/hot-de...60-shipped.html
Also Sonix will throw in a s2000 harness so installing this the HU is super easy. Just have to match color wires.

Then if you just want drop in speakers that fit the stock basket, I know the Infinity Reference will fit.
If you don't mind cutting the back of the basket with a dremel, I'd rather get Infinity Kappa 62.9is. These sounds great and will even be better if an amp later.
The Reference sounds good but with an amp, you won't be able to crank it up too much.
The Kappa can be had for <$80 on Ebay.
I would recommend components but they sound aweful without an amp and they are a bitch to install cause you need to place to put the tweeters.

So for $250 you can significantly ungrade your sounds with the ability to add on later.
The key here is you need to be able to install stuff yourself.

 

if $300 is all you can spend now but more money can be added to the system later, then I think you should put all that $300 into a good headunit. After all, a good source is the building ground of a good system.

However, if $300 is your ultimate limit, then I'd spend half on a pair of nice coaxials (like morel) and half on a hu.

stay away from mainstream brands when you shop for speakers around this price range, most of them make me run when I hear them.

 

the harness you'll need for an aftermarket deck can be had on ebay for $4 shipped

 

Your first step shouldn't be:
"What can I get for $300?"




The first step should be:
"Where would I like for this to end up?"

The second step is then:
"Given where I want this to end, what can I do to move towards that with the $300 I have?"

 

It is for my moms car. $300 is about the limit. She basically wants a little better sound quality and a little louder. She will never want a bumpin system, just to be able to listen with the top down.

 

These speakers:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_17121_...+PPI+356CS.html

And the rest for a head unit, perhaps the Clarion linked above. Or, perhaps less conventionally, run an amp off the factory head-unit. I can't believe the preamp section is too terrible on the factory unit, and then you retain dash controls.

 

I wouldn't recommend those speakers for a budget/easy upgrade system
in an '00 - first of all they'll require an amp, and second, there aren't
separate tweeters in an '00, so the install will be a relative PITA.
The stock speakers in an '00/'01 are so bad that the first upgrade is new
speakers. stick to a very efficient (sensitivity of 93+ dB) coax like the
Polks or Infinitys. Other model years allegedly have ok speakers.
Next would be a new headunit, you'll need to identify the feature set you
want (ipod?).
If you want to retain the dash controls, you'll need to budget roughly $100
for a dash control interface (DCI).
I think it's unlikely you'll be able to do a new headunit, new speakers, and
a DCI for $300, but maybe $400.