Been listening to the stock system for a while and it's just not cutting it anymore and I'm gonna make the jump to upgrading it. Just wanna get a feel of what I can get. Basically I want what everyone wants, cruise with the top without drowning out my music.. well that's just the beginning.. I'm no EJ so let me know what you think and if you have any comments/recommendations/ideas.

Head unit: I'm set out on getting the Alpine CDA-7998. I liked the amount of adjustability it has. Had it in my last car and got use to it. Not into the whole MP3 deck thing with the ipod. Don't even have one

Speakers: I plan on putting in coaxials in the back (behind the seat) but not components because I wanna get the 5 1/4 hole rear panels. I want to change out the fronts for better components too, but I'm not sure again. I had 5 1/4 Infinity Perfects in my car before and they had absolutely no base IMO. I want something that can hit hard (for a 6 1/2) that I won't have to get a sub... for now. I was looking at the Focal 165K3P. Do these have decent base? What are other comparable speakers? What are good rear speakers to pair up with the components up front?

Sub: Soon as I find a Wlaurent enclosure for the trunk (for a 10"), I had an Alpine Type S before.. thinking about getting the Type R. Any recommendations?

Amp: If possible, I want to power these with a 5 channel amp. I saw the Alpine PDX5. Would it be enough to power the four speakers up front and having the option to power a 10" sub (type r) if I get one in the future? The amp is small enough I could put it under the passenger seat. I don't wanna lose the tool well or the tire.

I saw the Focal 165K3P's are $700. Are these strong/decent enough that I wouldn't need to put rear speakers or is it still a 100x better to put rears anyway? Or are these for competition setups? I don't need anything crazy loud, just something better than the Perfects I had before in my other car. Would that 5 channel amp underpower the speakers? If so, what do you recommend? Or should I go with the lower end model speakers if these are above my requirements..?

I appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

 

A couple head units that I would recommend are alpine 9887 or pioneer deh-p800prs in terms of tunability. In regards to speakers, the focals imo are overkill for this car. Yes, the midbass is good but there are cheaper alternatives. I'd look at rainbow germaniums or hertz high energy. If you have the coin then go with the hertz milles! Quality components for sure and slightly cheaper than the focals. As for amps, there are a variety of good brands out there but in terms of space. Its hard to beat the pdx amps from alpine. Any of these brands are comparable or better depending on the line... Arc Audio, Tru Technology, Zapco, or Audison.

 

I just did my system. IME great sound but more about fidelity than punch (and that is with a sub).

The PDX can power two speakers up front and a sub. You'll have to do much, much more for "punch".

 

Thanks for the replies.

If I get the five channel and just run a pair of components up front (and sub in back), can it double the output of the amp? (utilize the other two unused channels). Sorry, new to ICE

I looked up Hertz Mille's and the sound very promising. I'll definately have to hear them in person if the shops carry them.

Update in my situation, due to cost and all the other stuff I'm doing to my car, I have to do this down the line a bit more. SO, with that, just to get me through my stock system (my right speaker is blown btw)... I just wanna chcange the stock fronts out.

-What would be the best, most efficient speaker I could throw on them now using my stock HU? Car is an 05. Got a long road trip on the way (3k miles) and I dont think I could handle my stock speakers anymore.. or they can't handle me lol.

Thanks in advance.

 

So I went to a shop today and they said the best all around speaker (with base) that I could run on my car is the stocks. lol... guess I'll be going to Honda to get some "new" speakers.

 

i'm no guru!!! but unless you update the HU you should stick with stock speakers.

i am VERY happy with my system (put together via eBay purchases) but it ain't cheap!!! and my .02 is to plan on >$2g and at least do the HU and front speaker components with intent for amp and sub outlay as funds become available.

 

They're kidding, right?

Diamond Audio Hex S600s is one of the best bangs for the buck. $200 on Ebay, fit perfectly into the doors (but not the stock spacer), and have tons of bass (for midbasses)

Lots of guys here also like the Polks.


Find a new shop, yo...

 

Will those S600s work fine off of the stock HU?


His choices were $1900 system, or you might as well stay with the stock system. i said f.o. Money hungry shops

Priced out for
9887
Typ X components
pdx5
10" Type r sub
custom fiberglass/ enclosure in the tool well

"hi, my right speaker is blown, i want to upgrade my stocks"

~well you if just get the type r components (SPR17c) you're not gonna have the same base as your stock, so you gotta get the sub
-to get a sub you're gonna have to get the amp
-but to get the sub and components to not sound like crap, you gotta upgrade the HU.
-to do the components some justice, you gotta run a dedicated amp.
-by the way we have to do some custom work on the sub, it'll be extra for that.

-amp kit/dash kit/blah blah/etc, labor, just only $1900.

Are there no "regular" speakers (aside from factory) that don't need anything else to "make them work"? (ie, have decent base)

"You cant just get one, you gotta get em' all." lol

Like I said, I just need something to get me through this road trip. Gonna build a real system in two months when I get the fundage.

 

Do the diamonds. You won't be disappointed $200 on Ebay


And then, when it comes time to do the rest, look into a WLAURENT sub enclosure (he's going to start selling them again in Jan) and a Stereo Integrity Mag V4d2 (www.stereointegrity.com - 12" that fits perfectly into the WLAURENT well enclosure). That right there is $450

A JL 500/1v2 is plenty for that subwoofer (actually about half the max RMS it's rated for). $350

Alpine 9887, Pioneer D880-PRS - about $350 (I would encourage you to pick the Pioneer - warmer sound. Alpine tends to be overly bright in the 3-5k range and there's really no way to tune it out, I've tried)

Pick up a good 4-chan amp, maybe $250-300 (unless you really want something good, then $500+)

Wiring from www.knukonceptz.com - $200

Total cost is going to be around $1800-2000...but it'll sound much MUCH better than what that shop was going to sell you.

 

Go to ebay if you want to save some money.

I recently upgraded my systme under $1000 + my labor.

I got all of these off Ebay
Alpine IDA X200
Alpine Type R 12"
Alpine Type R component spr17s
Alpine MRP M500
Alpine MRP f300
Sub box (1.0 cu.ft) in tool well
Tsunami dual amp kit

Modifry DCI from modifry.com

Also it's good to check craigslist.com.
My bro bought mint condition JL 12w6v2 and JL 500/1 amp for under $500.