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View Full Version : Need help planning a stereo install....... Please...


pavo_roddy
05-19-2008, 08:57 PM
HI all,

As per the topic... I have absolutely NO confidence in picking out this kind of thing, I have help with the install, that's covered.... But what I need is help picking out equipment so I can set a plan in motion to save up ya know. Obviously, this is gonna be awhile before I actually install, with that knowledge in mind i'll layout what I do know vs what i'd like to do and then go with what I can afford, or want to spend on a system anyways........

What I have is an '03 pontiac Grand Am Se, and someone here once told me to keep the stock tweeters.... Is this a good idea? Perhaps a lil more clarification is in order!

What I'd like:
1 10inch sub, sound deadner, for at least the trunk!.. An amp, and anything that'll help keep it running in tip top shape, capacitors (?) if needed, that sorta thing..... Door speakers, forget what size rite now, but i'll look that up, 6x9's for the rear... I would like to go with deadner in the cabin, doors, yada yada....... OH!! And the deck.......

Dynamat vs sound be gone? Any thoughts?? Any other good deadner that I am unaware of, that maybe won't break the bank? Deadner, I know this is to keep the sound within, and to lessen the degree of rattle, but will this help sub performance?

What I am thinking:
Sony Xplod for the sub, mostly cuz I play alot of trance, house, and happy hardcore, which you audiophiles know has LOTS of basslines..... Irony, yes, I should go with a better speaker, but I also figure that with the rite amp and accessories, replacing the sub would be cheaper..... I also have this idea about the trunk sub...... Would it be wise to cut a whole, to port the sub basically, in the ledge behind the rear seats, that part that holds the rear speaks?....... Thoughts? Also, I live in MN basically, and it DOES get cold in the winter months, how do you take care of a sub during these times??

Probably all sony xplod cabin speakers too, again, the easibly replaceable due to cost... HAHA, I once had cerwin-vega 6x9's in an old car, and basically blew them to pooh during 1 summer... I like my music hard hitting.....

A good amp and the associated acessories to keep it working great, any hints, suggestions, insights, something you scratched on paper would be cool here too??

Last but not least, the Deck....... Any good suggestions?

This will probably be all installed by next spring, with school, I need more time to save as I don't work that much during.........

PLEASE!!! Any help you could offer, don't hesitate to add lib!! Becuz I am outa my realm, i've NO clue what kinda budget to plan for..... OH! I will be removing the carpet in the cabin, to route the wire, so the cabin deadner is probably a good idea... So let's start with a ball park figure on what everything would cost first, and then go from there, k??

Blackhawk
05-19-2008, 09:26 PM
5.25" or 6.5" for the fronts.
MN weather isn't bad for subs, just don't crank them right away and let it warm up a bit.
One ten won't need a cap, stock tweeters are useless if you buy a component speaker set like Phoenix Gold RSDs or the Polk DB series speakers, they come with tweeters that are made to be run with the speakers. New speakers in the back aren't very useful unless the stock ones are blown, alot of members remove them. How much does an Xplod run these days? I know Sony's car audio quality has improved since 2004 or so but you can still get much much better for the price.

Biggest thing to consider...Budget? How much are you willing to spend at once? I dropped $800 in a few weeks basically for just three aspects of the car audio realm.
Deck brands to consider:
Alpine
Pioneer (especially Premier)
Kenwood (Excelon)
Eclipse
Jensen (for DVD players)

Anything I'm missing or have wrong audio guys?

theMessenjah44
05-20-2008, 03:18 PM
Anything I'm missing or have wrong audio guys?

You pretty well got it. Bottom line. You can find better than what you're looking at for a comparable price. But it doesn't sound like he's completely worried about top of the line products, just better than what he has and something that's going to fit in his car and not damage anything.

Kudos on actually wanting to use sound deadener, most people don't want to drop the cash, but you'll notice a big difference. Basic dynomat, you might as well just go to the hardware store and buy their peel-n-seal roofing stuff, it's the same thing (I wouldn't suggest this) You should buy the Dynomat Xtreme or something else that is butyl based. The Dynomat Xtreme is a great product, but you can find equally as good of a product that is cheaper just because it doesn't say "dynomat" on it.

Cutting a hole in the rear of your car to make a "port" isn't really going to make any difference.

For what little power you'll be running, a capacitor shouldn't be needed, but even if it's bigger than "recommended", I wouldn't run an amp kit anything smaller than a 4 gauge.

I think we covered everything...maybe?

Blackhawk
05-20-2008, 04:59 PM
Polk and Phoenix Gold are pretty high end but they're still low price, I'm buying my PG comps off eBay for the same price as Jensen 4x6 coaxials from the local Pamida (they overcharge horribly, $19 for SOAD's Toxicity still)