Car audio advice/reccomendations..

[ash t]

Hi All,

Im looking to "upgrade" the sound system in my car, but I havent a clue where to start.

I basically want more bass and perhaps more volume.

Any recommendations on what I need for this and how much roughly its going to cost??
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When You're Starting To Choke, Take Some Pills With Your Coke, Its Hyserical

[Dischord]

Just whack a set of 6x9's on the rear shelf and wire it to the OEM loom for the rear speakers.

Quickest easiest, cheapest way for a quick volume/bass boost.

But watch out...you're going to get tons of replies saying '6x9's suck' and 'you want £300 rainbow components wired to a 1500w Rainbow Amp'
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2012 KTM EXC 250

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[JonB]

Or rear speakers are pointless.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[cagiva gezzer]

Rip out the OE ones and put in better quality ones.
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[ash t]

Iv just seen a sub and amp package on halfords website for £130. May look into that. Had 6x9's before and I want more than they can offer to be honest, besides I don't have anywhere to fit them as my car is a saloon/coupe
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When You're Starting To Choke, Take Some Pills With Your Coke, Its Hyserical

[kingsmith]

jsut fit better speakeras to the original speaker holes/places and then add a good sub amp combo ..very easy to do and will sound 100% better..
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[Misc]

I wouldn't go too cheap for a sound system as you'll find your stock speakers are actually better then the one's you just bought. I had a car with £40ish Alpine components in & they sounded horrible.

If you got that Halfords package you'd probably need another amplifier to power your speakers, so your best off buying an amp that can run both the subwoofer & speakers.

I'd join Talkaudio.co.uk & get someone to maybe write you up a setup.

[defblade]

Biggest problem in car stereos is running off the Head Unit's intrnal amp.

They are (with one or two notable and very expensive exceptions) pretty poor, and they allow you to increase the volume until they are clipping the signal.

Clipping is what really kills speakers. And often, cheap speakers will actually take it longer than expensive ones.....

The best way to get decent quality of music in the car is with external amplifiers. They are more expensive, and harder to wire in than HU or speaker changes, but they are the only way to really make a long term significant difference.

For a simple set-up, you need either 2 2-channel amps, or 1 4-channel. Put some tidy speakers rated to the same-ish power as the amp (RMS, not peak!) in front; then a sub rated to the second amp or the bridged output of the other 2 channels on a 4-channel in the boot.

Rear speakers drag the sound backwards and ruin the staging (the music should sound like it's coming from a stage in front of you, and you should be able to point to where each instrument is on a good stereo recording). But some people seem to like them....

I like 2nd hand amps (with some proof they're not stolen, eg box or instructions) but new speakers.

Next thing is to make sure you use a test-tone CD to set all the gains (volumes) so you never drive the system into clipping. There will almost certainly be a point on your HU where the pre-amp output starts clipping whatever you do.... find that point and never, ever, go above it (it's volume "40" on mine, although it goes up to "50").

Oh, and use some sound-deading behind and around the speakers, and make sure they are sealed into their mounts as much as possible.

Loads more here: www.bcae1.com

My set-up FWIW is Genesis Profile speakers in the front (new, not cheap but not too expensive given they'll be doing most of the work) powered by a Genesis Profile amp (2nd hand, long waited for), 2x75w RMS; the sub is a 10"er (new, about £120 IIRC)powered by a Dragster amp (new but half price in sale), 1x200w RMS. It's loud enough in the car that you can't hear yourself talk, but clean enough that you try to talk as normal because you don't realise how loud it is without all those pops and crackles
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[Clanger]

Oooh, can I ask some advice, (don't mean to hijack your thread) but my car stereo, no matter what I'm listening to (radio or CD), but it changes station to give me a traffic report...when I don't even care...how do I stop this? Please, it's driving me nuts??
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Misc]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[Clanger]

Okay...thanks guys.

I will have a look next time I use the car. It's really irritating, especially as it does it sometimes every 10mins or so...
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[arry]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

To give recommendations really we need to know :-

What car is it?
How big is the budget? (& do you already have a head unit?)
How much effort are you prepared to put into the installation?
What priorities do you have - sound quality or volume?

[Steve-D]

I'm a noob to car audio, so I just bought a complete set up off my mate.
Fusion 1000w amp, 800w sub 400w 6x9's
Already had some cheap 110w speakers in the front door cards.
Gonna swap the 6x9's to the front.

All in a 91 micra The sub literally shakes the entire car. Cost me £100 so I'm very happy.
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Tristan The said 'Dunno what my pace will be like, fastish slow puncture on the rear and if I go too fast I risk my 'keys' falling out'

[defblade]

[arry]

[Steve-D]

Lol, no not particulary good for sound quality. Like I said don't really understand how it all works.


I wondered how long before I got called a chav, nah think older more boxy and completly standard
except for the rust
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Tristan The said 'Dunno what my pace will be like, fastish slow puncture on the rear and if I go too fast I risk my 'keys' falling out'

[Steve-D]

Is it wrong that I actually really like that
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Tristan The said 'Dunno what my pace will be like, fastish slow puncture on the rear and if I go too fast I risk my 'keys' falling out'