I'm looking at putting a new sound system in my car what would be the best brand to use?

Dude, this question cannot properly be answered. And also if you hit search button, you could probably find this question already asked.

What price range are we looking at? How big of a system do you want? Are you just after better than factory or do you want to enter comps?

These questions need to be confronted before you go anywhere.

As for a simple guide. I've found Xplod h/u good and you cant really go wrong with pioneer and kenwood equipment.That is bang for your buck.

I am myself looking for some cheap and nasty Jaycar speakers that i'm hoping are fairly decent. I've heard they are good value for money.

ive also heard that "Jenson" 6x9" speakers are a great rear fill for cheap as. wouldnt touch any of their other stuff though. and DO NOT go ANYWHERE near "Avalanche" or "Boss"

if u got the big bucks, go alphasonic, in the middle i'd go pioneer, but i hear pheonix gold is quite a good brand for wot it costs

The first two and more important questions you need to answer are these:

1. What is your budget?
2. What do you listen too?

As for the types of brands you should be looking at, try this:

System Cost: $500
Source Unit(s): Alpine CDM-9821 / Pioneer DEH-P2650 / Clarion DXZ546MP
Rear Speaker(s): Hertz ECX 690 / Phoenix Gold R69.0Coax / Vibe SR-69

System Cost: $1000
Source Unit(s): Alpine CDA-9823 / Pioneer DEH-P4650MP / Clarion DXZ646MP
Front Speaker(s): Boston FS-60 / Diamond M361 / Hertz HSK 165 / Phoenix Gold R6.5 Comp / Vibe SA-60
Amplifier(s): Alpine MRP-F200 / Audison SRx2 / Phoenix Gold R2.5:2
Cable: Stinger / Phoenix Gold / Audison
Deadening: G-Spot Serenity Max / Stinger Roadkill / Dynamat Pro

System Cost: $2000
Source Unit(s): Alpine CDA-9827 / Pioneer DEH-P5650MP / Clarion DXZ746MP
Front Speaker(s): Boston RC620 / Diamond M361 / Hertz HSK 165 / Rainbow CMX 265 Kick / Morel Pulse / Phoenix Gold ZR6.5 Comp / Vibe ST-60 / Eton Pro-160X
Sub(s): JL Audio 12W0-4 / Image Dynamics ID12V.3 / Diamond M312 / Hertx HX 300 / Boston GS1204 / Phoenix Gold R12D / Digital Designs 2012 / Vibe BlackAir-12
Amplifier(s): Audison SRx3 / Phoenix Gold R8.0:4
Cable: Stinger / Phoenix Gold / Audison
Deadening: G-Spot Serenity Max / Stinger Roadkill / Dynamat Pro

System Cost: $5000
Source Unit(s): Alpine CDA-9833 / Pioneer DEH-P7550MP / Clarion DXZ946MP
Front Speaker(s): Kicker RS6 / Boston Pro6.5 / Diamond M661 / Focal Polyglass 165V2 / Hertz HSK 1600 / Rainbow CS 265 Profi Vanadium Kick / Morel Dotech Mk II / Phoenix Gold X6.5 / Eton RS-160
Sub(s): JL Audio 12W3 / Image Dynamics IDQ12D4.V2 / Diamond M312 / Focal 33A / Hertx HX380 / Phoenix Gold X12D / Digital Designs 2512 / Vibe Space-12
Amplifier(s): 2 x ARC Audio 2100XXK / 2 x Audison SRx2S / Zapco 350 & Zapco 500M / Boston GT20 & Boston GT22 / Tru-Tech T-4.65 & Tru-Tech T-2.100 / Phoenix Gold R4.0:2 & Phoenix Gold R5.0:1
Cable: Stinger / Phoenix Gold / Audison
Deadening: G-Spot Serenity Max / Stinger Roadkill / Dynamat Pro

System Cost: $10000 (SQ system)
Source Unit(s): Nakamichi CD-700 / Alpine CDA-7998 / Pioneer DEH-P1Y / Clarion HXD2
Processor(s): Precision Power DEQ-230 / Phoenix Gold Ti EQ30
Front Speaker(s): Boston Pro6.5.3 / Image Dynamics CXS 64 / Diamond S600 / Focal 165W / Rainbow CS 265.28 Platinum / Morel Elate 6 & Supremo / DynAudio System 240GT / Phoenix Gold X6.5 / Eton A2-160
Sub(s): JL Audio 12W6V2 / Image Dynamics IDQ12D4.V2 / Boston 12.5LF / Diamond M612 / Focal 33KX / Adire Brahma / Phoenix Gold X12D / Digital Designs 3512
Amplifier(s): ARC Audio 2100XXK & ARC Audio 2500XXK / Audison LRx4.300 & Audison LRx1.400 / Zapco 750 & Zapco 1100M / Boston GT24 & Boston GT28 / Tru-Tech T03-4.150 & Tru-Tech T03-2.250 / Phoenix Gold X200.2 & Phoenix Gold X1200.1
Cable: Stinger / Streetwires / Audison / QED
Deadening: G-Spot Serenity Max / Stinger Roadkill / Dynamat Pro

System Cost: $10000 (A/V system)
Source Unit(s): Alpine IVA-1003E / Toshiba SD-1300 / Pioneer AVH-P6650DVD / Clarion VRX935VD
Processor(s): Precision Power DEQ-230 / Phoenix Gold Ti EQ30
Front Speaker(s): Boston Pro6.5.3 / Image Dynamics CXS 64 / Diamond S600 / Focal 165V2 / Rainbow CS 265.28 Platinum / Morel Elate 6 / DynAudio System 240GT / Phoenix Gold X6.5 / Eton A2-160
Center Speaker(s): Kicker R4 / Boston FX4 / Phoenix Gold R4.0 Coax
Rear Speaker(s): Hertz ECX-165 / Phoenix Gold R6.0 Coax
Sub(s): JL Audio 12W6V2 / Image Dynamics IDMAX12V.3 / Boston 12.5LF / Diamond M612 / Focal 33KX / Adire Brahma / Phoenix Gold X12D / Digital Designs 3512
Amplifier(s): ARC Audio 2100XXK & ARC Audio 2500XXK / Audison LRx4.300 & Audison LRx1.400 / Zapco 750 & Zapco 1100M / Boston GT24 & Boston GT28 / Tru-Tech T03-4.150 & Tru-Tech T03-2.250 / Phoenix Gold X200.2 & Phoenix Gold X1200.1
Cable: Stinger / Streetwires / Audison / QED
Deadening: G-Spot Serenity Max / Stinger Roadkill / Dynamat Pro

System Cost: $20000 (SQ system)
Source Unit(s): Nakamichi CD-700 / Alpine CDA-7990 / Pioneer DEH-P9450MP / Clarion HXD2
Processor(s): Alpine PXA-H701 / Precision Power DEQ-230 / Phoenix Gold Ti EQ30
Front Speaker(s): DynAudio System 360 / Boston Z6 / Focal 165W3 / Rainbow CS 265.30 Reference / Morel Elate 9 & Supremo / Phoenix Gold Ti 6 Comp Elite / Eton D160 SQ
Rear Speaker(s): Kicker R6.2 / Boston RC620 / Hertz HSK 165 / Rainbow SLX 265.03 / Phoenix Gold X6.5
Sub(s): JL Audio 12W7 / Image Dynamics IDMAX12V.3 / Boston 12.5LF / Diamond TDX 12 / Focal 33WX / Adire Brahma / Phoenix Gold Ti 12D Elite / Digital Designs 9512
Amplifier(s): ARC Audio 2500XXK & ARC Audio 4000XXK / JL Audio 300.4 & JL Audio 1000.1 / Audison VRx1.500 & Audison VRx4.300 / Zapco C2K-6.0x & Zapco C2K-9.0xd / Boston GT24 & Boston GT28 / Tru-Tech C-7 & Tru-Tech C7.2 / Phoenix Gold X200.2 & Phoenix Gold X1200.1
Cable: Stinger / Streetwires / Audison / QED
Deadening: G-Spot Serenity Max / Stinger Roadkill / Dynamat Pro

System Cost: $20000 (A/V System)
Source Unit(s): Alpine IVA-D900E, Alpine DHA-S680E / Pioneer AVX-P7300DVD / Clarion VRX935VD
Processor(s): Alpine PXA-H701 / Hardon Karmon DTS decoder / Rane EQ / Phoenix Gold Ti EQ30
Front Speaker(s): DynAudio System 360 / Boston Z6 / Focal 165W3 / Rainbow CS 265.30 Reference / Morel Elate 9 & Supremo / Phoenix Gold Ti 6 Comp Elite / Eton D160 SQ
Center Speaker(s): Kicker R4 / Boston 4.5LF / Phoenix Gold X6.5
Rear Speaker(s): Kicker R6.2 / Boston RC620 / Hertz HSK 165 / Rainbow SLX 265.03 Platinum / Phoenix Gold X6.5
Sub(s): JL Audio 12W7 / Image Dynamics IDMAX12V.3 / Boston 12.5LF / Diamond TDX 12 / Focal 33WX / Adire Brahma / Phoenix Gold Ti 12D Elite / Digital Designs 9512
Amplifier(s): ARC Audio 4150XXK & ARC Audio 4000XXK / Audison VRx6.420 / Zapco C2K-4.0x & Zapco C2K-9.0xd & Zapco C2K-2.0x / Boston GT50 & Boston GT28 / Tru-Tech C-7 & Tru-Tech C7.2 / Phoenix Gold X200.2 & Phoenix Gold X200.4 & Phoenix Gold X1200.1
Cable: Stinger / Streetwires / Audison / QED
Deadening: G-Spot Serenity Max / Stinger Roadkill / Dynamat Pro

Thanks for your reply. I'm probably go between the $2000 to $5000.

Oh and by the way, if ya go phoenix gold like i did... DONT SHORT IT OUT!.. :shock: :rant: not good... most of my gear is roasted. I learnt a lesson!

Hay man, i fully recommend JL gear, it dosnt only sound awsome, but it will last you forever. and kicker amps are also just plain sweet. JL speakers and subs, kicker amps, just cool. if you are looking for some big bass, i would look at the JL W7 or MTX thunder 9000. They both pump hard. Anyway good luck

TS, you still didn't tell me what us what you listen too champ. No one can realistically recommend anything until they know what you listen too. This is because speakers have different types of suspension to suit different types of music genres. :)

i like all music, i like the bass cranked up when i'm listening to R&B/hip-hop/rap. i'm looking for good quality sound and all i'm willing to spend is $500,or $1000 if you think i should get a new h/u. i've already got a kenwood 4x45 head deck and all i want to add is a set of 6" speakers in the front and a set of 6x9's in the back. what do you recommend Fhrx???

Hay man, i fully recommend JL gear, it dosnt only sound awsome, but it will last you forever. and kicker amps are also just plain sweet. JL speakers and subs, kicker amps, just cool. if you are looking for some big bass, i would look at the JL W7 or MTX thunder 9000. They both pump hard. Anyway good luck

Im not a fan of the kicker amps. I had my Xplod system stolen outta my old car and i went down the road and got a full kicker system (exept the unit was clarion) and the amp has nothing but stuffed up, it now sits with all the others at the bottom of my cuboard :(
here is what i have had:

kenwood - overheated and blew up
sony - ran hot but never any problems
response (Jaycar) - its was a big mofo 5 channel and the sub channel blew.. twice.
Fusion - the RCA jacks stuffed up twice
Phoenix gold - wicked up until i short circit it
kicker - works on and off (and no its not the wiring)
alpine - never any problems
phillips - the HP/LP filters didnt work

i like all music, i like the bass cranked up when i'm listening to R&B/hip-hop/rap. i'm looking for good quality sound and all i'm willing to spend is $500,or $1000 if you think i should get a new h/u. i've already got a kenwood 4x45 head deck and all i want to add is a set of 6" speakers in the front and a set of 6x9's in the back. what do you recommend Fhrx???

I wouldn't bother doing anything to the rear of the car because you're sitting at the front and your ears face forwards. Besides you already have your 6x9's in the back. For a budget of $1000 I would suggest:

Front Speaker(s): Vibe SA60
Sub(s): Image Dynamics ID12V.3
Amplifier(s): Audison SRx4

Add a small enclosure, quality cable and some sound deadening and there you have a rock solid system built from some of the better components around. :D