hey guys

i''ll be taking delivery of my car (VRX Limited Ed) next week. Its got the stock magna sound setup:

8 speakers
tape deck
In dash 4 or 6 disc cd changer.

I want to change the front 2 speakers and the back 2 as well. Is phoenix gold any good or is JL audio better? Or what would you guys recommend.

As for the head unit what make and model will do?

Please include any make or model and their repective price range.

Budget is $1000.

Thanks

1) are you looking @ installing these yourself? if you arnt, include installation in this budget
2) what size speakers you amiing for? 6"?, 6 1/2"?, 6x9's?
3) have you thought of adding a sub to the equation, since you will be spending so much on speaerks, its sort of a waste to go without a small 10" sub even

just clarifying is all

TUFFTR has made a very good point. A $1k budget for speakers is a good start but what is you end goal going to be? If $1k is all you want to spend on a stereo then maybe:
6 or 6.5inch splits for the front
Sound Deadening
3 or 4 channel amp
10 or 12inch sub.

If you just want $1k on the speakers with a sub upgrade later then:
New headunit
Splits
2channel amp
S/Deadening.

What music you listen to?

TUFFTR has made a very good point. A $1k budget for speakers is a good start but what is you end goal going to be? If $1k is all you want to spend on a stereo then maybe:
6 or 6.5inch splits for the front
Sound Deadening
3 or 4 channel amp
10 or 12inch sub.

If you just want $1k on the speakers with a sub upgrade later then:
New headunit
Splits
2channel amp
S/Deadening.

What music you listen to?


At the moment no Amp or Sub. Just headunit and 4 speakers. I'm new to audio stuff so i don't even know what sound deadening,splits are :redface: . Yes installation should be included in the budget and 6x9 at the back and 6 at the front i think. I mainly listen to rock - metallica, guns, pink floyd and a bit of RnB

So any thoughts on what speakers to get?

Pink Floyd Needs a Sub...some of those nice bass lines like Brick in the wall... it needs a Sub of at least a 10 inch sealed...

Diamond Audio Get my Vote but will be hard to achieve on your Budget
6x9's
Model # D391i
http://www.diamondaudio.com/products/index.cfm?page=productList&type=29&line=3&model=


Fronts
Model # D661a/D661s
http://www.diamondaudio.com/products/index.cfm?page=productList&type=29&line=2&model=

For $1k you could start to create a solid front stage for your car...
I'd suggest spending the majority on your front splits (around $300).

Before you limit yourself to the brand names you have mentioned above, go take a look at some less mainstream brands that can be found around the lower price range bracket. The car audio market is in a slump atm and there are some really good discounts to be had on good quality car audio equipment, if you know what your looking for.

Try auditioning a pair of "Hertz HSK 165" 6.5" splits and see how they sound to ya..
http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com/file/img/img_hsk165.jpg HSK 165 specifications (http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com/default_en.htm)
The beauty of these speakers is their efficiency, which makes them sound good off a headuint, and can be coupled with a amplifier for better results later on down the track (manufactuer quotes that they can soak up over 100WRMS!!). You'll find these on special atm for under $300

Focals access range has a similarly priced pair of splits, with the latest offering of the "Access 165 A1" http://www.focal-fr.com/car/images/im_access1/Kit165A1.jpg 165 A1 specifications (http://www.focal-fr.com/car/en/access1/index.htm)
These babies are so new to the market that the Focal Australian website (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/) hasn't included them in thier line up yet.

Boston splits can also be had for around $300, and their cheaper models still sound fantastic.

With regards to tape players.... Have you seen how much blank tapes cost lately? Compare $5 bucks for a decent blank tape (if you can find em) to a blank CD for a 10th the price. Added to this, the lack of support, and the cost of producing tape players actually being more than a CD player, will mean that you will be limited to features and quality in most brands.
Keeping in line with your budget, let's say we wish to spend around $350 for the H.U. and the stacker.... This will get you a Pioneer KEH-P2035 cassette player

http://www.pioneer.com.au/images/products/resized/kehp2035.jpg KEH-P2035 specifications (http://www.pioneer.com.au/car_entertainment/cassettetunersandcdchangers/kehp2035/index.html)
and the CDX-P680 stacker
http://www.pioneer.com.au/images/products/resized/cdxp680.jpg CDX-P680 specifications (http://www.pioneer.com.au/car_entertainment/cassettetunersandcdchangers/cdxp680/index.html)
You'll be hard pressed to do better than this, and it's going to be hard to find a cassette player that doesn't have cheap and nasty internals (to cope with market trends)

Why not instead spend $300 (less) on a higher specification MP3 player?
You'll also find that due to the current car audio market that some good deals can be had...
For example, the latest "WOW sight n sound" catalogue shows the DEH-P4750MP player at only $229... http://www.pioneer.com.au/images/products/resized/deh_p4750mp1_041021.jpg specifications (http://www.pioneer.com.au/car_entertainment/cdtuners/dehp4750mp/index.html)

$300 on front splits, $350 on cassette player and stacker....
That leaves $350 for an amp, sub and install... Not gonna happen...

Instead, get the MP3 player and avoid paying for a stacker install and save yourself $120 in the process (use this for the install and wiring)
So now you have $480... Spend $200 on the AA-0422 (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0422&CATID=24&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=595) 4 x50WRMS channel amp from Jaycar and bridge the rear channels for a $100 Kenwood, Kicker, Clarion, Pioneer sub to run off...
This will leave you $180 for the install and wiring....

Hey Im getting a VRX limited edition delivered next week too :) what colour/leather colour is yours?

Anyway maybe $300 for a decent headunit then $500 for some good splits, that would leave you about $200 for installation, Im not sure if thats enough though?

Dave

hmmm $1000?

i dont think you'll come across a more jam packed HU then the JVC KDG 615
$240 - Here (http://www.jvc-australia.com/products/_products_sub_group_details.asp?ID=1393)
It has 3 preouts, even an AUX In. only HU you'll ever need.

So now, i mean Best Bet would be the jaycar 4channel 4x100WRMS - $220
You could run one channel to your 6x9's, and brdige one channel for the sub.
Here (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0426&CATID=24&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=595)

6x9's, well, i havent heard many, and have only gone by recomendations on this, and the one i was recommended i am more then happy with, They are the JBL GTO 936 6x9 @ $130
Here (http://www.strathfield.com.au/ViewProduct.asp?ProdID=730)

Front Splits, Look At About $100- 120.
I Got Mine for $98 But This was a freak Incident, but if you do look for something in the Clarion range, the splits sound fantastic for the money.

So far
HU - $240
Amp - $220
Front Speakers - $100
Rear Speakers - $130
total so far - $690
This Leaves you with Lets say $100 for a 10" Sub + Box, and Also $100 In wiring
So Now You Have $110 Left to Play With For Installation, And SD, My advice, dont worry about the SD Yet, Get It Installed, See how it sounds, and if your happy, well then no need for SD then.

BUT - you can give the speakers a go yourself, taking speakers out and putting new ones in isnt even a 1 hour job (for 4 speakers), and im sure your capable of turning a few screws.

just giving you something to shoot for here, remember, in the end you might need 1.1K for this, my budget went from 1K to 1.5K.....and im still not done :redface:

But you will save a CRAPLOAD of money by giving it a shot yourself :)

Hoped That Helped,
Paul

P.s. i have a few wiring diagrams in another audio thread here, refer to those if you want to see how to wire something like this up

P.s - Credit Goes to magnat and Mitsimonsta for above recommendations.

With a $1000 budget for fronts/rears and headunit I'd have to say Hertz HSK-165s. For the rears, what the hell, get a set of Hertz 6x9s (if you're not planning on putting a subwoofer in).

Hey Im getting a VRX limited edition delivered next week too :) what colour/leather colour is yours?

Anyway maybe $300 for a decent headunit then $500 for some good splits, that would leave you about $200 for installation, Im not sure if thats enough though?

Dave


Mine is Sable Black 5 Speed Manual :badgrin:

Tuff is Correct on the Headunit
The JVC KDG 615 will be a Marked Improvement for sound..

I would look at Going with VIBE or SoundStream for Speakers For speakers...
Both Companies have Great Splits and Great 6x9's and with Your $1000 Budget I can See a Great front and Rear speaker Package...

Then Just add a Sub on at a later Date..
Having 6x9 and a Sub has very little drawbacks
All you have to do is just fade them out when you dont want them.. and fade them back in when you have Passengers.. me I like them on all the time!

Tuff is Correct on the Headunit
The JVC KDG 615 will be a Marked Improvement for sound..

I would look at Going with VIBE or SoundStream for Speakers For speakers...
Both Companies have Great Splits and Great 6x9's and with Your $1000 Budget I can See a Great front and Rear speaker Package...

Then Just add a Sub on at a later Date..
Having 6x9 and a Sub has very little drawbacks
All you have to do is just fade them out when you dont want them.. and fade them back in when you have Passengers.. me I like them on all the time!


Can any of you suggest a couple places that's worth checking out. I'm in Melbourne by the way.

Any favourite places or online stores that offer great prices and a wide selection of products you guys know ?

Can any of you suggest a couple places that's worth checking out. I'm in Melbourne by the way.

Any favourite places or online stores that offer great prices and a wide selection of products you guys know ?


Anyone? Would be really helpful!!. Which places do they sell Diamond,Boston or Herzt?

Anyone? Would be really helpful!!. Which places do they sell Diamond,Boston or Herzt?

caraudioaustralia.com have an online directory.

avoid pioneer speakers. they may have been the best 20yrs ago but today that are just entry level. and i mean just.