great reply, would you like to help this newb build a good to great sound system?
would like to keep it at around what you spent...$1500-$2000.
also need an alarm, have a compustar in my jeep seems to work pretty well, any suggestions on an alarm?

Sam

 

I'm not all that well versed on alarms. You'll need to find someone else to help with that...


As for a build... What kind of sound quality are you looking for? The absolute best you can get? Do you like warm or bright sound?


HU: Eclipse CD7200mkII ($500) or Pioneer Premier D880-PRS ($350)

(or CD7100, D800-PRS)

Amps: Sundown SAX 100.4 ($395), Sundown SAE 1200D ($310)

or

Audison SRx 4, Audison SRx 1D (not sure on prices, comparable to Sundown)

or

Sundown SAX 100.4/Audison SRx 4, JL 500/1v2 (for the subwoofer)


Speakers: Talk to a dealer and buy them separately - you'll save $$$ by not paying for the passive crossovers that come in the component sets.

DLS, Dynaudio, Hertz, CDT, Morel, Rainbow (any in your price range will be equivalent - but try to listen to the different speakers first)


Woofer: Stereo Integrity Mag 12" v4d2 ($250)


Enclosure: 1 cu ft tool well enclosure - whether fiberglass from WLAURENT or Darkknight or the ebay MDF enclosure - $200 or so

Wiring from KnuKonceptz.com - $250



$1500 setup (add the amp and sub later):

Pioneer HU ($350), Sundown SAX 100.4 ($400), $400 components, $200 wiring.

or

Eclipse HU ($500), Sundown SAX 100.4 ($400), $400 components, $200 wiring



$2000 setup:

Pioneer HU ($350), amps ($700-800), $350 components, $200 wiring, SI Mag ($250), enclosure ($200)

 

TYVM, i'll go there.

 

great, just got in. will look this stuff up online and get more info on the models, was thinking Eclipse myself, the audio place suggested the Alpine, of course he sells the brand also....

 

Me too

 

Of course he recommended Alpine...that's what he sells, and quite possibly all he's really been experienced with.


Pioneer is warm, Eclipse is pretty neutral (leans warm), and Alpine is overly bright.


As far as ease of controls, each has their own idiosyncrasies... When you've used Alpine forever, Pioneer is difficult to get used to - but once you've used it awhile, it's simple to manipulate. Same applies to switching to Eclipse, etc.


Make sure when you test the speakers to see which you like the most, do so with the same CD. And make it a complex CD - like, classical or blues, or jazz, etc. You'll want to hear the full range of the speaker and very few genres/artists/groups really stress the responsiveness of the speakers.

 

This is what I've learned:

1) Don't buy speakers unless you hear them yourself.
2) Don't buy speakers where manufacturers slam the peak power handling at you.

BTW, I was going to get Alpine Type-R's but for a little bit more money I bought Morel Tempo's that have more power and better/cleaner bass, it's made from better material aswell.

Just my .02

 

My Alpine Type R's were purchased from best buy as an employee for a friend, so he only had to spend like $70 on the pair. Then he sold his car, but kept the speakers, and in exchange for me driving him to the airport, he gave them to me

So, I can't beat free. However, I agree, there are better out there, but TypeR's are a big step up from the factory ones.