Hey all, I've been looking around and saw some of the pictures of a numerous amount of your systems, and it has inspired me. I know absolutely nothing about car audio, so I have some questions. I have an 05 coupe with the bose package for reference.

Is $1700 enough for a good sub, amp, and new speakers? I would prefer a more high quality brand if possible. Could anyone give me an accurate estimate on what a nice system setup would cost me? I know Head units can easily be $1,000 but the one I plan to buy is a Doube Din pioneer for around $550. Any suggestions/recommendations? Please use lamens terms whenever possible.


Also, in that price labor is not included.

 

What I would do to start is buy the DD and integrate it with the bose system. Then get a good sub and amp to run it. That will get you close to $1700 if you buy good equipment. Then you can change the interior speakers and add another amp later when money allows. For now the Pioneer running the bose setup won't be that bad.

 

So the HU + sub and amp wouldn't sound bad with my bose stock speakers? Any suggestion on which amp and sub?

 

I would spend the money entirely on the speakers/amps/processing without touching the stock head unit. There is a lot of misinformation floating around... on this site in particular, but the stock HU offers relatively flat frequency response with ~2v balanced outs. You will not really gain much except possibly a better EQ section by switching to an aftermarket head unit, unless it is higher end. Get a nice set of front speakers, sub, amp/s, a decent EQ and enough deadener to do the doors and trunk and you will be much happier with the end result, unless playing DVD's is your main concern

All the processing on these cars is done right in the Bose amp, that and the stock speakers are the culprits

 

bose speakers suck. I got a JL 12w3 and BOston gt22 amp for sale, but the sub has a small crack,but still hits. If u dont need huge thump its a good steal. bought it for 350, ill let it go for 150.

 

yea, but you have do your reasearch and wait for the right parts to come up. best i can suggest if you want a full audio system farly cheap but with high end parts try this set up

alpine w505 from ebay $500
zenclosure box $120 from ebay
alpine type Rs 10'' $180 for a pair 2 ohm from ebay
kicker apm 800 watt $200 from ebay
kicker componet for front $120 from ebay
kicker 6x9 $100 from ebay
kicker componet for rear $150 from ebay
hifonics 4 channel amp $150 from ebay

thats about your budget and it will put a smile on your face

now of coarse this is not 100% but last time i checked the prices where pretty close and this is before you add dynamat if you want plus instaltion

take your time and buy piece buy peice and for your budget you can get a pretty good system.

 

Thank you for the suggestions, I'll make sure to keep my eye out for some of these pieces.

 

well I just got a Pioneer DD w/out Nav. since my car already has it.
I also got all these accessories to go with it.
Pioneer AVH-P4000DVD (Head Unit)
Pioneer CD-BTB200 (bluetooth adapter)
Pioneer CD-SB10 (Sirius Sat. Interface)
Sirius SCC1 (Tuner)
Pioneer CD-I200 (Ipod Cable)
Metra DD dash Kit
Metra 70-7551 (Wire Harness that plugs Directly to Factory Amp from the New Deck)
PAC SWI-PS (To Maintain Use Of Steering Wheel Controls)
Audivox CMOS1 (Back Up Camera)
Antenna Cable

So I just paid under $800 for all of this stuff brand new
that would leave me with $900 for speakers and an amp plus install if I had your budget LOL. btw I did already have a sub and amp in my car prior to buying this stuff. But as others have posted If your looking for an immediate upgrade for little cash I would recommend adding a sub/amp to factory system and also sound deading where ever you can get it done.

 

Now if I wanted to put a new HU in it, preferably a DD one, what all would I need? I know I would need the Dash kit that holds it, and it has the AC controls built into it, the JDM one is like $340, would I need anything else to make my HU and AC controls to work?

 

a thing called pac-II or something like that, its so that you can still use your steering wheel controls

 

you can go with a Metra dash kit that has the A/C controls built in the kit I believe, If you go with the JDM kit I think you have to buy the A/C controls sepperate.

You also need a wire harness that plugs into the factory amp. and that should be all you need just to install a new DD head unit and use it right away.

I paid $179 for my dash kit and they threw in the correct wire harness i needed to use fac. amp.

 

If I decided just to put all new speakers, sub, and an amp in, how would all of this sound and work with my Stock HU?

 

if you have BOSE stock, then go with 2 ohm speakers, heard people had problems with the stock HU and speakers with 4 ohm

if you swap to a DD then any speaker should be fine i belive

 

I got a full JL audio system with 300/2 and 500/1 amps, 3 piece components and 10w6v2 for well under 1700. Of course I bought the stuff and so it has no warranty though.

 

Hows your jl system sound? What components did you go with?