Budget conscious speaker/amp upgrade

[RobPhoboS]

As I was starting to hog drginger's thread, I thought it was only polite to start my own one instead.

 

At some point in the year I'd like to upgrade the speakers in the car, I barely use the stereo anyway so it's not something I really care about.

However, what is bothering me when I do listen to things is the clarity, which currently seems pretty muddy to me.

 

I was thinking about something like this lot for now - but feel free to laugh or more helpfully some other suggestions

Amp: Vibe Slick Stereo 4

Coax: Vibe Slick 6 v3

Comp: Vibe Slick 6 Comp v2

Sub: Hertz Dieci DS 25.3

£315-ish

 

Cheers for any pointers !

 

I've not put down a HU, as I think most of them look utter shite (stupid flashing lights/screens only serve to irritate me ), and it's push the price up even more to an area I don't want to be in.

[spursmaddave]

Hard to say if you will be happy until you get it all fitted and have a listen....

 

Personally I would always chance the source (HU) first but that's just me, there are plenty out there without flashing lights etc...

[un1eash]

The headunit is the first thing you should look to upgrade. Without it you'll struggle to get decent sound from the stock headunit without fancy external crossovers. You can save some money though and not bother reaplacing the rear speakers. Buy a decent active subwoofer and a 2 channel amp to power the fronts.

[spursmaddave]

The headunit is the first thing you should look to upgrade. Without it you'll struggle to get decent sound from the stock headunit without fancy external crossovers. You can save some money though and not bother reaplacing the rear speakers. Buy a decent active subwoofer and a 2 channel amp to power the fronts.

 

Very true, I would approach it like this -

 

Replace HU

 

Replace Speakers

 

Amp Speakers

 

Each stage will get better and if you are happy then you can stick with what you have

[RobPhoboS]

Appreciate the advice gents.

I'll look into a headunit but any pointers would be good, and of course I'll search the forums and online stores.

I guess one that could can SD or micro SD cards would be handy.

[un1eash]

You ideally want a headunit with 3 preouts so you can control the sub,front and rears independently. No need to go double din if you dont want, you can get some decent headunits with ipod,sd card,usb etc now for well under £200.

[RobPhoboS]

This is one that crops up that looks fairly OE:

http://www.beat-audio.co.uk/BEAT350.html

 

I know it's just a cheap one but I really can't stand the look of many I'm seeing

[spursmaddave]

This is one that crops up that looks fairly OE:

http://www.beat-audi...uk/BEAT350.html

 

I know it's just a cheap one but I really can't stand the look of many I'm seeing

 

That's only got 1 pre out.....

[spursmaddave]

Have a look at these -

 

The Beat350 one is at the top (cheapest) but there are JCV/Kenwood etc for £120ish.... all much better units IMO

 

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product_list/c_path/9_84/spd/double-din-stereos.html

[Olliecrx]

My current setup is :

 

Alpine W505 double din

JL Audio XR front components

Bazooka tube

 

 

The tube was already fitted, but I'm replacing that with :

 

Alpine V12 5channel amp

Diamond audio 10" sub

 

Most of this stuff I've been donated by mates selling cars or hoarded over time so the actual cost is minimal. If I was buying from scratch, ignoring the headunit as others have covered that above I'd be more inclined to have this setup or similar :

 

Very close to what un1eash mentioned

 

Headunit

Alpine Type R front components

NO rear coax

10" sub

4channel amp

 

The vibe subs are actually pretty good sounding, but is it a pre boxed one or are you building a box?

 

The amp again, the vibe aren't bad but you may find you can get kenwood or alpine for the same money by shopping around.

 

This is just my opinion. I would forego the rear speakers and add that money to buying better front components.

 

I've spent 12 years advising people on audio as a specialist and painfully for 6 months in halfords before I left the game altogether, so I've seen both ends of the spectrum lol. Buy what you can afford obviously, but make sure to shop around for the best deal. I was able to buy a kenwood screen recently for over £40 less online than I could buy it direct from a distributor I'd dealt with for 10 years.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Ollierx

[RobPhoboS]

It's not a case of what I can or can't afford, it's just not something I'm 'into' - so I don't want to spend time/money having things fabricated, rewired etc

 

I guess for now, perhaps just fitting a new HU will be the first step, at least I won't have to keep smacking the side of it.

But I'm struggling to find something aesthetically pleasing

[spursmaddave]

It's not a case of what I can or can't afford, it's just not something I'm 'into' - so I don't want to spend time/money having things fabricated, rewired etc

 

I guess for now, perhaps just fitting a new HU will be the first step, at least I won't have to keep smacking the side of it.

But I'm struggling to find something aesthetically pleasing

 

Thats a good start, at least it will be more functional too although unfortunately you will loose the tape fuction

[RobPhoboS]

Thats a good start, at least it will be more functional too although unfortunately you will loose the tape fuction

 

Heh, I've used it a couple of times

[RobPhoboS]

This looks very clean and simple and has 2 x Pre-Out (enough?):

http://www.halfords....yId_265857#tab1

Although I don't use apple products, I think the DA100 is meant to work with Android but it's £250 ! ffs

Edited March 12, 2013 by RobPhoboS

[Olliecrx]

Sorry perhaps I worded that wrong, perhaps buy the best you can within your allotted budget would be better.

 

Research the DA100, although the appradios say android compatible there are a lot of known issues. Any double din radio is going to be £129 plus, and most are iPod biased.

 

As said I was only offering advice, based on experience. It's your money to spend as you please, this is why when I was in halfords I just nodded and let people buy what they wanted because its not my money.

[wizard]

how many of you people have a Nissan OEM steering wheel interface for your HU?

[Olliecrx]

I do, I have the incar tech system. I used it with alpine double din I think it was a w205 then changed to kenwood then back to alpine w505.

 

Just bought the additional fly lead for the kenwood for about £5.

[un1eash]

I used the ICT loom also even though my 9886R has a built in remote interface.

[Briggsybriggs1]

I got a pioneer avh-2400bt it's a all in double din av dvd ipod Bluetooth 5.8 all in for just over £200 it looks mint in my roadster and iv being looking for amp and speaker deals iv found this place in Manchester caraudiosecurity .com . I would go for infinity speakers I'm getting a package deal from this shop

[RobPhoboS]

So I've definitely decided that for now, head-unit upgrade is the way to go.

 

Looking at what is available, I don't think I'd mind a flat screen with minimal buttons - this one has 3 pre-outs (which I presume is what we require?).

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/cad-beat690-beat-690-dvdusbsd-bluetooth.html

 

I saw some other ones on amazon for a great price but possibly poor quality.

[spursmaddave]

So I've definitely decided that for now, head-unit upgrade is the way to go.

 

Looking at what is available, I don't think I'd mind a flat screen with minimal buttons - this one has 3 pre-outs (which I presume is what we require?).

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/cad-beat690-beat-690-dvdusbsd-bluetooth.html

 

I saw some other ones on amazon for a great price but possibly poor quality.

 

3 preouts is spot on Front, Rear & Sub

 

Never heard of Beats stuff have you read up on it

[Olliecrx]

Much better screen, slightly more expensive but it's head and shoulders above the beat

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-DDX-3021-Multimedia-Touchscreen-Control/dp/B0070UZ0YY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363209465&sr=8-1

 

 

May be cheaper elsewhere too. I think it only has 2 preouts, which in all honesty is probably more than ample.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[spursmaddave]

Much better screen, slightly more expensive but it's head and shoulders above the beat

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-DDX-3021-Multimedia-Touchscreen-Control/dp/B0070UZ0YY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363209465&sr=8-1

 

 

May be cheaper elsewhere too. I think it only has 2 preouts, which in all honesty is probably more than ample.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

That looks like a much better unit, I would personally stick to the major brands if you can find one you like the look of at the right price

[Olliecrx]

Forgot to say, I previously found this screen at £174 delivered, but that was through amazon, and the price has went up, but I'm pretty certain other online retailers were pretty competitive.

 

I wouldn't get hung up on 3 preouts, unless your planning on amping front & rear speakers and subwoofer via a 5 channel amp or a 4channel and a mono. Even then it's still possible using a 2 preout set

[un1eash]

That unit has 3 preouts, if using the preout method to hook upto the bose system 3 will give you more scope for the future but if people are wiring them directly to the speaker outputs then that leaves the preouts on the headunit free to control a seperate sub.