Hey guys... my sound system blows! I've got a 92 Integra with a stock system, the cd player doesn't work anymore and my right speaker makes crackling noises everytime i turn on the radio. I think it's time for an upgrade.

So i just plan on going to Best Buy or Circuit City and getting it all done at once. For now i just want a deck and speakers. I was planning on getting a fairly inexpensive cd player, one just about $100. I've seen some from Sony, JVC, and Pioneer. Are those any good? Do the decks even matter that much in the whole car audio picture?

After the deck, i want to pick up some front speakers. Here is where im lost, there are so many brands and types that i'm not sure what to get. I was looking at some Infinity speakers on sale for $80. Are those any good?

Basically, i just need some advice on car audio from the pros here at honda-tech . Thanks guys.

 

For head-unit, I'd pick Pioneer and JVC and stay far away from Sony. Head-unit matters depending on what you're wanting to do with it. Do you want MP3 capability, are u going to be using ipod etc.

Infinity has a nice lineup for speakers. What brand of Infinity were you looking at?

 

A good head unit is the starting point of any goood sound system. If you are on a budget then spend wisely. For 100 bucks I would go with a Pioneer head unit or if you can find an Alpine. Infinity coaxials are good speakers if you're just lookig to upgrade your stock ones. Later on your can move up to a component set. How much are you lookig to spend by the way?

 

Well for now i've got about $300 for speakers and a head unit. I'll go for the sub and amp later. I just want a basic cd player, no need for the mp3 capability.

 

300$ budget could get you a fairly nice cd player, and a nice set of components too actually. You could spend 150$ on a cd player and 150$ on some component speakers.

Also are you set on only wanting to buy it from places like best buy / circuit city, and new?


Modified by shyboy817 at 9:16 PM 8/6/2006

 

I'm pretty set on buying them from a place like best buy and circuit city because i have no clue how to install any of these things, and i really can't order from the internet right now.

I was considering these speakers. http://bestbuy.shoplocal.com/b...32682

 

They'll work for replacing stock speakers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Riceball &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm pretty set on buying them from a place like best buy and circuit city because i have no clue how to install any of these things, and i really can't order from the internet right now.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
imo, plces like circuit city and best buy will rip you off, both with price of product and installation. while, indy places can do the same, i suggest you do some research and head to your local shop for install, if not purcahse as well.

 

hey man i'm an installer at circuit, and if your looking for a good deal at a large place like circuit or bestbuy you have to ask for the open box stuff, i know at my shop we have tons of open box laying in the back. Also installation on the radio is usually free if it is over $99 and i would definatly install the speakers yourself because the grills just pop off on your car.

 

 

I do not see what the problem is with Sony Xplod car audio. I have not had any problems with Sony. Sony is also relatively affordable. $119 will get you a middle-of-the-road head unit complete with WMA/MP3/ATRAC3plus/CD/AM/FM capabilities and 14W continuous power, which, although it may not seem like much, it still provides good full-range sound quality. A pair of Sony Xplod speakers will run anywhere between $50 and $80, depending on the size. Sony Xplod is a good full-range setup, look in the Audio FAQ's for the definition of a full-range system. Bass, mid-range, and high range all come through clearly with little to no distortion at normal listening levels, even without an amp. Honestly, it is better to get a cheap mp3-capable system now so you won't have to spend money in the future on another upgrade.

 

from what I'm reading you want a head around the 150-200 range...

But what exactly do u plan on running???

If u plan on just some speakers and subs.. the subs are the only ones that require and amp... the speakers don't need an external amp, but it would sound better with an external amp....

The front speakers are the most important speakers, if u are in a jam.. some times u can fit the rear sized speakers in the front mounts... then move them once u can afford some nice front speakers...

When buying a head look at the number of preouts it has... the number of preouts dictates how u can separate the signals for the amps.. F/R/S

if you only plan on running a sub, then u only need one preout... imo 2 preouts is really all you need...

also do you own an ipod? thats another thing that you should also consider, if the head supports ipods, and how well it supports ipods, and how much does the head accessory costs... the alpine fullspeed has gotten good ratings because of it's speed, and it only is an extra 30bucks for the fullspeed cable (but u need a new 06 apline head that has fullspeed)

most heads come with mp3 playback already.. just not sat-ready...

too bad you cannot buy from online stores...

a good place for a noob to visit is http://www.crutchfield.com/ their prices are okay.. but you get free instructions and free wiring harnesses, plus great customer support...

once ur comfortable with wiring.. then the12volt.com will answer most of ur questions...

have fun building ur system

 

Nice info bpr0422, thanks. Yea i plan on 2 front speakers, a head unit, and then in the future, a sub and amp. That's all. I guess i can order over the internet although i'd rather not. I just like the idea of going to best buy or circuit city and getting it all taken care of at once.

 

changing out the speakers on the 2nd gen teggy is extremely easy if you're just swapping for some coaxials.. you can do it yourself in 10 minutes and save the money. Head Unit, i can understand if ya dont feel like messing with the wiring and stuff.. especially since some places do the labor for free.. although they usually markya up on the kit and wiring harness..

 

do yourself a favor and buy an alpine headunit and a nice set of components. check http://www.onlinecarstereo.com and it should be just about the same price as you would pay for "cheaper" audio with free shipping.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Riceball &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So i just plan on going to Best Buy or Circuit City and getting it all done at once. </TD></TR></TABLE>You have already made the right decision in going to a local shop to buy the equipment, and if your not comfortable installing it yourself, having them install it, it will get you full manufacturers warranty on the equipment and if you have it installed, up to a lifetime warranty on the install

With that said, I would look at a better then the "cheapest HU that you can find", just like the amp and sub that you will add later, maybe you can hold off on speakers, it may be the HU that is causing the "crackling" in the right speaker.

Anything you do with the system, [or can do] will depend largely on the HU and it's capabilities, think about what you want the HU to be able to do, you say you want to add an amp and sub, so something like a "sub out" with level control would be something to think about, other things have been mentioned, like an Ipod, maybe an AUX input is something you could use, my point is that you don't want to wish, [3 mo. down the road] that you should have got a HU that would do something that you will then have to replace the HU with one that does

IMO the most important piece of a sound system is the HU, pretty much everything depends on it, from SQ to control to capability.

If it turns out you need speakers, or when you want to replace them, [next pay check] install them yourself, and as long as you pick a standard 6.5" speaker that is 2" or less in depth it's almost a plug and play install, if you can turn a screw driver you can install the speakers.

Also as has been mentioned $300 would get you a pretty good HU, even less if you don't need MP3, better to get a better HU without capabilities you don't need the a cheaper one that has a lot of things you don't need or want. 94

 

The $119 Sony Xplod head unit I bought has a selectable rear/sub output with volume controls for the subwoofer, a front-mounted 3.5mm auxiliary input, WMA/ATRAC CD/mp3 CD/AM/FM capability, a remote control, and 52Wx4 power rating, coupled with a negative LCD display, red-lit buttons, and a removeable faceplate. The only downside to the Sony Xplod HU is that it can only be used on cars with a negative grounded battery.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> it may be the HU that is causing the "crackling" in the right speaker.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah.. my honda hu from a 90' accord - long story short accord stolen but we had a breakout box - died on me and killed the right speaker...

the hu was underpowering the right speaker and created distortion...

the oddessy 05 oddessy is also starting to do that in the winter...

I think honda hu just have this problem..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mnaines &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The $119 Sony Xplod head unit I bought has a selectable rear/sub output with volume controls for the subwoofer, a front-mounted 3.5mm auxiliary input, WMA/ATRAC CD/mp3 CD/AM/FM capability, a remote control, and 52Wx4 power rating, coupled with a negative LCD display, red-lit buttons, and a removeable faceplate. The only downside to the Sony Xplod HU is that it can only be used on cars with a negative grounded battery.</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL funny but not true, a couple months back another installer and I put a poineer deck in 37 dodge with a positive 6volt ground.

 

i agree with the sony non-dissers. Theyre alright decks when it comes down to it.... not many come back after you sell them and I see them in tons of cars....

on a personal note I think theyre ugly and pioneer and jvc counterparts kill them

 

pioneer or kenwood