ALPINE CDA-117 (head unit)
Front: DIAMOND AUDIO 5.25" Components (old ones da 5.6?) - from prev. car
Rear: no speakers or cheap coaxials
alpine PDX - 5 amp
memphis 10" sub (s-class slim design) in a shallow sealed box

I'm trying to stay in budget and don't wanna buy a 4080 box or jl stealthbox. What is your opinion on memphis subs? I listen to mostly rock, pop, and hip hop. I'm looking for clean tight bass. My other option is image dynamics or boston acoustics. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

CDA-117 - good SQ I guess, but double din's where it's at. Then there's the whole blue illumination that you can't change in a car with amber illumination everywhere else.
I mean this is in the same price range as that one:


What are you doing with a 5-channel D-class amp for a 3-channel setup? The PDX's are fairly good at full-range, but combining an AB-class for the full range with a mono channel D-class for the sub will give you more power and SQ for the same price. You'll definitely save space with the PDX though.

You can put 6.5's up front no problem, but re-using something will keep your price down.

Box-wise, the zenclosures 1x10" box is a clean fit and pretty good price. I'd combine it with the IDQv3 as I know it is well-respected for SQ and I don't have much knowledge or seen many reviews of the Memphis subs, but it seems that combo is out of your price range, and also doesn't fit the shallow mounting theme you have.

But pop and hip-hop don't need SQ at all, so it doing anything for SQ won't be noticeable for 2/3rd of your listening anyway.

And you mentioned staying in your budget... stating said budget would greatly help in people recommending pieces.
Also saying what you already have (trim kit, harnesses, steering wheel adapters...) so we can take into account their purchase in your budget will be required.

 

Good advice as usual. Thanks! The alpine cda 117 is gonna cost me about $280 and that sony (pretty sweet looking) is about $499 online. I'd get it if i could afford it. I really just want a nice SQ head unit for CDs.

I may consider the older version 10" idqv2 ($159) and those zenclosures are pretty reasonable at $99. My budget for the sub is about $250 for sub/box. The memphis 10" sub was $180 and the box (prefab) was $30.

All the other stuff (ie trim kit, a/c adapter, harness...) I have to get so no choice on skipping out on that.

I"ll probably stick with the pdx-5 since 2 pdx amps would be a lil more in price and slightly more difficult install.

 

$499? Where are you looking?
. Donate 1/2 the difference towards G35driver.com for the good advice and let them know Wrathernaut sent ya!

The idq + zenclosures "Formed TO the trunk" would be a lot better than some "fits IN the trunk" $30 special bouncing around back there.

If you're going to do the Metra kit, get the headunit through Crutchfield.com and you'll be able to get the combo of:
$431 headunit + metra kit + wiring harness (free)
and wherever you were getting these:
$160 for the IDQv2
$100 for the Zenclosure
Plus these from amazon
$43 for $40 for an amp wiring
$360 for PDX-5
======
$1134

Not too bad for a total overhaul.
Of course, going the JDM route (highly recommended with an 05-07) will raise it to about $1300, unless you can get a good deal in the marketplace.

 

Thanks again. That's about the budget I'm working with. I just need to pull the trigger now.

 

Can't wait to get some dough and upgrade my audio.

 

Neither can I.

So many good parts to install in a couple weeks.

Then I have to go another 6 months without it.

 

Yo wrathernaut, you are extremely informed, what would you do if you wanted to upgrade a 06 coupe stock (nonbose) system. Mainly listen to rock and rap and love to blast it!!! Also have about 1 grand to spend on speakers alone, stock headunit. Thanks man.

 

I'm gonna change my setup slightly. INstead of the PDX-5, I'm thinking of JL XD400/4 as a three channel to push my fronts (diamond audio comps - old ones) and a 10" IDv3 (image dynamics). Is that enough power for the sub?

 

Sorry, I had a full reply done up, but it got munched by the server. I'll retype it when I get off shift.

That'll put you in the low end of the optimal RMS for that sub, but it should still be fine.

 

appreciate it.

 

Spending $1k with a stock headunit still in place is a huge gamble.

My wife's '06 headunit had already been replaced when I got it in 08, and that's certainly not an isolated occurrence. It would suck to dump all your upgrade budget only to have the headunit go out and not be able to listen to anything at all.

Blasting rap is cheap, but having quality rock blastin' is expensive.

If you're gonna do the gamble with your stock headunit, let me know and I'll post up a list.

After replacing the headunit in my wife's without doing anything else, the quality went up, but there's definitely a lack of "bump" with it.