Car audio is so expensive!

[LikeLinus]

I'm putting together an audio system for my wifes new car (her surprise xmas present) and i forgot how much everything adds up in the end. All the power wire, remote turn-on wire, speaker cable, in-line fuses, distribution block, RCAs, dash install kit, PAC control for steering wheel and so on..

All that on top of the 6 speakers, subwoofer, amps, head unit, LCD screens. lol

It's been awhile since I've had to get all this stuff, you forget about some of the little things and how it all adds up.

 

[troytime]

don't forget the crossover

 

[CRXican]

yes sir

that's why I've stayed away from it

that and it always seems to get stolen

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: troytime
don't forget the crossover

The speakers have crossovers and the amp has a built in crossover. The HU also has a 13 band EQ...so I think I'm covered.

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
All that on top of the 6 speakers, subwoofer, amps, head unit, LCD screens. lol

Why would you need ALL of that?

Then again, my current stereo system is worth well over $500 if I bought it right now (headunit, component speakers up front, subwoofer, 2 amps, wiring...).

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: hans030390

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
All that on top of the 6 speakers, subwoofer, amps, head unit, LCD screens. lol

Why would you need ALL of that?

Then again, my current stereo system is worth well over $500 if I bought it right now (headunit, component speakers up front, subwoofer, 2 amps, wiring...).

The stock speakers suck. So it has (2) 3.5" in the dash. 6.5" in each of the 4 doors. I got her a DNX8120 headunit because it has the built in Garmin nav and bluetooth...and it's just fun to play with. The (2) 7" LCD screens are for the back of the headrest for the kids. 1 Amp to run the highs/mids and the second amp to run the sub.

 

[erub]

crazy..I upgraded the system in one car, then the faceplate got stolen (left me the radio..great).

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: erub
crazy..I upgraded the system in one car, then the faceplate got stolen (left me the radio..great).

lol, that's retarded. Why would they do that.

 

[LikeLinus]

I just got done installing one of the Alpine 7" LCDs in the headrest. It's scary cutting into a new leather headrest that's a surprise for your wife and she hasn't even seen!

Headrest

I think it came out good though, it looks great in person. First time I've ever done that!

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: hans030390

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
All that on top of the 6 speakers, subwoofer, amps, head unit, LCD screens. lol

Why would you need ALL of that?

Then again, my current stereo system is worth well over $500 if I bought it right now (headunit, component speakers up front, subwoofer, 2 amps, wiring...).

The stock speakers suck. So it has (2) 3.5" in the dash. 6.5" in each of the 4 doors. I got her a DNX8120 headunit because it has the built in Garmin nav and bluetooth...and it's just fun to play with. The (2) 7" LCD screens are for the back of the headrest for the kids. 1 Amp to run the highs/mids and the second amp to run the sub.

Post pics when it's done! Sounds like a great project :thumbsup:

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: hans030390

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
All that on top of the 6 speakers, subwoofer, amps, head unit, LCD screens. lol

Why would you need ALL of that?

Then again, my current stereo system is worth well over $500 if I bought it right now (headunit, component speakers up front, subwoofer, 2 amps, wiring...).

The stock speakers suck. So it has (2) 3.5" in the dash. 6.5" in each of the 4 doors. I got her a DNX8120 headunit because it has the built in Garmin nav and bluetooth...and it's just fun to play with. The (2) 7" LCD screens are for the back of the headrest for the kids. 1 Amp to run the highs/mids and the second amp to run the sub.

Post pics when it's done! Sounds like a great project :thumbsup:

Yeah, I plan on taking lots of pics during the install. I'm off work from Dec 17 - Jan 3rd. I need to get the install done before Christmas, since it's a gift for the wife.

My wife would say this is more for me than her She's probably right..lol. But she'll still love it. She loves music like me.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Back in my car audio days I saved a ton of cash by installing most of it myself. But after its all said and done it was still like 4k. I took it to one stereo competition and scored a 9 out of 10 for overall sound quality, it even did 134.5 DB which isnt bad considering it was never built for SPL levels.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

What parts are you installing (brand/model of speakers is my biggest question)?

I would love to do a Focal K2P front comp set, and a Focal K2P sub (they have a 9, 11, 13 inch IIRC). Would cost ~$1000-1400 depending on the sub.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp
Back in my car audio days I saved a ton of cash by installing most of it myself. But after its all said and done it was still like 4k. I took it to one stereo competition and scored a 9 out of 10 for overall sound quality, it even did 134.5 DB which isnt bad considering it was never built for SPL levels.

That's awesome. Yeah, there's no telling how much money I'm saving.

I used to always install most of my equipment back when I was younger. I always had a nice sound system, but never really went to competitions. I just haven't done an install for a long time and I'm exited about doing it again.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
What parts are you installing (brand/model of speakers is my biggest question)?

I would love to do a Focal K2P front comp set, and a Focal K2P sub (they have a 9, 11, 13 inch IIRC). Would cost ~$1000-1400 depending on the sub.

Focal makes nice stuff but its way too pricey IMHO, for fronts look into Diamond Audio, I ran the Hex series in my days and man they were truely a sick set of seperates.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp
Back in my car audio days I saved a ton of cash by installing most of it myself. But after its all said and done it was still like 4k. I took it to one stereo competition and scored a 9 out of 10 for overall sound quality, it even did 134.5 DB which isnt bad considering it was never built for SPL levels.

That's awesome. Yeah, there's no telling how much money I'm saving.

I used to always install most of my equipment back when I was younger. I always had a nice sound system, but never really went to competitions. I just haven't done an install for a long time and I'm exited about doing it again.

I only did the competition on the request of the place I got alot of my equipment from. They also did the RTA tuning and built my sub box. They have been world champions many years with alot of very famous cars in the show circuit. The scary part is there were cars there that they built with people spending 20k and up and my overall SQ score was the best at the show with my 9.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
What parts are you installing (brand/model of speakers is my biggest question)?

I would love to do a Focal K2P front comp set, and a Focal K2P sub (they have a 9, 11, 13 inch IIRC). Would cost ~$1000-1400 depending on the sub.

Head Unit: Kenwood DNX8120 (7" Touchscreen w/ Nav and Bluetooth)
Dash Speakers: JL Audio Evolution 3.5" Coaxial (Really the only 3.5" I could find!)
Front/Rear Doors: Diamond Audio 6.5" D6
Sub: Kicker Comp VR DVC 10"
LCDs: Alpine PKG-M780 - Dual 7" LCD w/ 2 wireless headphones and video switcher
Amps: Eclipse EA4100 (highs/mids) and XA1000
Cables/Wire: knukonceptz


It came down to Focal, Image Dynamics and Diamond Audio. Diamond just seemed to be the best for the price.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
What parts are you installing (brand/model of speakers is my biggest question)?

I would love to do a Focal K2P front comp set, and a Focal K2P sub (they have a 9, 11, 13 inch IIRC). Would cost ~$1000-1400 depending on the sub.

Focal makes nice stuff but its way too pricey IMHO, for fronts look into Diamond Audio, I ran the Hex series in my days and man they were truely a sick set of seperates.

Speak of the devil. I went with Diamond Audio for that very reason. They just sound great for the price. I didn't go all the way up to the Hex, but the D6 line is very nice for the price. Plus, this isn't a show car, it's a familymobile

 

[Gunbuster]

Markup on car audio can be 500% Still time to get a part time job at Best Buy for the holidays. Employee discount FTW

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
I just got done installing one of the Alpine 7" LCDs in the headrest. It's scary cutting into a new leather headrest that's a surprise for your wife and she hasn't even seen!

Headrest

I think it came out good though, it looks great in person. First time I've ever done that!

what did you get for speakers?

 

[Riverhound777]

Mine wasn't bad. I wanted to leave most stock so you couldn't tell I added anything. The stock system in my 06 Mazda 3 isn't bad, 6 speaker with cd-changer. I just wanted some thump. I added a single 10" Type R sub in a ported box I built myself. Got a nice 430watt amp off ebay (Phoenix Gold x400.1) along with a LOC and knukoncepts wiring all for around $300. Had it for almost two years now, love it. Although if I could go back I would have gotten the x600.1 with a 12" type R in a sealed box.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
What parts are you installing (brand/model of speakers is my biggest question)?

I would love to do a Focal K2P front comp set, and a Focal K2P sub (they have a 9, 11, 13 inch IIRC). Would cost ~$1000-1400 depending on the sub.

Focal makes nice stuff but its way too pricey IMHO, for fronts look into Diamond Audio, I ran the Hex series in my days and man they were truely a sick set of seperates.

Speak of the devil. I went with Diamond Audio for that very reason. They just sound great

Even after all these years I still know my car audio, well MOST of it lol.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I will take you guys into a whole new level of sound, these rock.


http://www.usdaudio.com/products/wg.php

These are the guys I did my business with, this car is VERY old and alot has changed but you get the picture.


http://www.usdaudio.com/sw/cars/buick/


This car was at the same show I went to, different class of course but I still got a better SQ score.

http://www.usdaudio.com/sw/cars/mb/

 

[jtvang125]

When I bought my car I vowed to keep the stereo stock. It was decent but couldn't satisfy my car audio desire for long so I ended up ripping everything out for aftermarket. I went through numerous components through the years but finally settled on a kenwood dnx8120 indash nav for the headunit. An Elemental Designs 5 channel amp to power my front focal components, rear boston acoutics coaxials, and a 10" Image Dynamics IQ sub. JL audio RCAs carried the signals and streetwires power cables carried the juice.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

My car was the following.

Alpine head unit
1 Sounstream Rubicon 4 channel amp
1 Sounstream Rubicon 2 channel amp
Diamond Audio Hex fronts
Kicker 8" mid bass
2 USD 12" subs
Audio control EQT
Crossfire 32 band Parametric EQ

I think thats correct, its a long time ago.