Hey guys,

I've been saving up a bit of money, and have decided that now's the time to replace the stock standard sound system in my TJ VR-X. It's a 2001 model, so it comes standard with four speakers - no tweeters.

I've been down to the local Autobarn, and this is what I've come up (with the help of a friend who works there):

Pioneer DEH-6850MP Headunit (link (http://www.pioneer.com.au/car_entertainment/cdtuners/dehp6850mp/index.html)) ($630, on sale for $530)
Pioneer TSC-1625 6" Splits (link (http://www.pioneer.com.au/car_entertainment/speakers/tsc1625/index.html)) ($350?)
Pioneer TSA-6971E 6x9"s (link (http://www.pioneer.com.au/car_entertainment/speakers/tsa6971e/index.html)) ($220?)
Kenwood 40w x4 Amplifier (link (http://www.kenwoodaudio.com/australia/prodDetails.asp?Cat=Car%20Entertainment&SubCat=Power%20Amplifiers&Model=KAC-6403)) ($250)
Aeropro AAK106 Wiring Kit ($90?)

RRP on all this gear is $2033, but old mate said they can do it for $1660 installed. I'd save $200 or so if I installed it myself.

So I ask, is this a worthy system for the price? I understand that there'll definitely be better products for the money, but I'm not overly fussy. I definitely don't want a crappy sound system, but I'm not going to be bothered if it's not the very best value around. Where I live, there isn't much of a range of audio gear around. Apart from Supercheap and Autobarn, there's only one car audio store in town, and I think he primarily stocks Fusion and Alpine gear.

I'm feeling pretty happy about the products we came up with, apart from the amplifier. I was originally looking at a Response amplifier - not sure if I'd be best with a 4x50 or a 4x100 watt amplifier (I originally budgeted ~$250 for an amp so either one would do fine). I think I'd prefer either of them over the Kenwood - is my hunch right or should I just stick with the Kenwood? Apparently the closest Pioneer amplifier is about $450, so I'll pass.

I'm not sure if I'll get them to install or it, or if I will. I don't know much about audio installs, but I've got a mate who while not an expert, has always installed his own gear. I'm leaning towards installing it myself, I can get some experience that way, I can have full control over everything (ie where to position stuff), and while I don't think Autobarn would do a bad job, I don't think it'd be overly excellent either. Either way I plan on sound deadening my car myself (of which I'll probably ask a few questions about later).

Cheers,
Damien

Will definantely be better than what you currently have in there, but the amp and 6x9's are nothing to write home about.

Still an ok price if its fully installed. My friend installed my Pioneer deck, Alpine 6x9's and splits for 2 cartons of beer. Deck I paid $300 for and it was a high level deck for its time. 6x9's were $10 (friend didnt want them :D) and splits were $180.

Ill just also add that its best to go out a little further and spend a little more. Later on you'll be thankful you did because you will always want better quality in your sound later on.

Will definantely be better than what you currently have in there, but the amp and 6x9's are nothing to write home about.

The mate who'd help me install the gear has the same 6x9s in his Torana, and for an unamplified set of speakers, they sound reasonable enough IMO.

However, what do you reckon about the amp? Ideally should I be buying something more expensive?


Ill just also add that its best to go out a little further and spend a little more.

Precisely why I'm not getting subs until at least the end of the year :) I budgeted $1500 for audio, so I really don't want to be spending any more than what I am now.

However, what do you reckon about the amp? Ideally should I be buying something more expensive?

I recommend looking into a Jaycar amp. If youre looking for bang for your buck.

For the speakers I'm looking at getting, should I get the 4x 50w or 4x 100w Response amplifier?

Like I said in my first post, I originally budgeted ~$250 on an amplifier, so if it's worth it I'd grab the 4x 100w model no worries. If there'd be no noticable difference on my speakers and there was no reason to grab it for future-proofing, I'd have no qualms in saving a few pennies and getting the 4x 50w model.

Cheers for the help so far.

the splits only want 60W nominal rating, so dont give them 100W (ideally)...underpowering them will b the better idea...if u upgrade the amp, upgrade the splits!

me personally i'm looking at spending round $2000-$2200(rrp) plus install costs with nice HU, splits, amp and rears. and thats a mix of panasonic, eclipse, JBL and Clarion. better quality by far :)

but hey, go for wat ya want, it'll obviously b better than stock!

pioneer to me make very muddy sounding 6x9's

Try to have a listen to a pair of infinity 6x9's...these are VERY expensive, about $260ish, but if you like these then the JBL GTO 936e 6x9's you will love, as mitsi and magnat showed me, they are an identical speaker, just a different exterior, they are an extreamly crisp and powerful speaker.

they retail @ $130 a pair from straithfeild.

I am betting in terms of sound quality they would crap over the pioneer.

As for the amp, the response 4x100 is an awesome amp, and powers my 6x9's and splits quite happily.

try ebay first, you can get the amp delivered for about $250ish

everything else seems oright

Also for $350, consider some mid range speakers liek Morel, Hertz, MB Quart etc (Misti willtell you which ones to look for)

but $350 for a pair of 60W pioneer splits is very overpriced

Are there any online stores that sell any of the brands you've mentioned? Unfortunately for me, the nearest Strathfield and/or JB Hi-Fi are an easy 5+ hours drive away, so I've got no way to audition them in person. I'd buy stuff off the net, as long as it's not from eBay (I've got no problems getting a Response amp off eBay, but for other stuff I'd prefer a reputable store).

And while I remember, how can I disconnect the red light from the front doors so I can remove the trim to deaden it? I thought I'd have a go at taking apart the trim today... I had no problems removing the wiring harness for the power windows, but I couldn't see how to remove the wiring for the red door light.

s**t.

Mate i go no idea, unless you can be bothered making an online account with strathfeild and purcashing through there website.

or talk to FHRX, i dont think he would deal with JBL but might be able to help you order some in.

other then that, you could ring up some stores and see if they can get some delivered to you.

but i assure you, the JBL's sound much better then the pioneers, ive listened to some similar pioneers and they sounded so muggy and damp compred to the JBL's.

So it would not only sound better but save you $130 aswell.

Sorry mate

Dont limit your brands here... Pioneer are a popular brand but by no means the best. Look at some other brands, do some research on the net.

www.caraudioaustralia.com

I would put as much as possible into your front splits. This is where you will see the biggest improvement in the quality of your system.

Brands I would recommend Morel, Dynaudio, Boston, Diamond etc.

Instead of spending 50/50 on fronts and rears, consider leaving the rears stock, your ears face the front and having $500 to play with for your frontstage can get you some seriously decent gear that you will be able to really appreciate.

But alternatively if you just want something that gets loud so you can impress your friends/neighbourhood go the amp and the 6x9's.

Down the track you can buy a small sealed box and a 10 or 12 inch sub for the boot. Run the fronts of ch1+2 and the sub bridged off ch 3+4...

And steer clear of that kenwood amp... Go Jaycar over that if need be...

I'm bludging at school right now, so I've done a little bit of trawling.

Would a SPR-17LS Type-R 6 1/2” Component 2-way Speaker ($399) and SPS-690A Type-S 6" x 9" 3-Way Speaker ($189) be a better buy than the Pioneers I suggested?

I came across the FHRX Studios website... they have a pretty good range and do mail delivery. Are there any other products on their website which would be a better buy?

Like I said I'm not going to be overly fussed if it's not the very very best product I can get for my money (hence why I'm not doing that much "forum ratting" over at CAA), as long as it's pretty good value. I like my audio, but I wouldn't call myself an audiophile - heck the stock standard Magna sound system doesn't sound that bad to me :P

What type of music do you listen to?
For the $399 price I would go for something like Morel, Hertz, Boston etc... Give Marty a ring or email (from FHRX) and he will be a huge help.

The Jaycar amp would be a better choice than the Kenwood though it looks like you've already figured that out! I would go the 4x100 as it gives the amp some headroom and space if you decide you ever want to use it.

Cheers
Pete

Sending them an email isn't a bad idea, unfortunately I only thought of that after I posted my previous post :P

As for music, I really listen to a bit of everything - so I don't want speakers that are particularly biased to a certain type of music. If I'm cruising I'll listen to a bit of rap/rnb/electronic (ie Ministry of Sound) music, but I'll also often listen to few classics, like 70s/80s/90s rock. About the only thing I don't normally listen to is Country, but I've got a few old country cds here, so I might listen to them one day :P

But alternatively if you just want something that gets loud so you can impress your friends/neighbourhood go the amp and the 6x9's.

Down the track you can buy a small sealed box and a 10 or 12 inch sub for the boot. Run the fronts of ch1+2 and the sub bridged off ch 3+4...

And steer clear of that kenwood amp... Go Jaycar over that if need be...

Have to agree with s_tim_ulate. U should look at getting the jaycar 4 x 50 for the cabin speakers. It's small enough to be mounted under the seat if need be as the 4 x 100 is a monster of an amp. When it's time for more thump you can then purchase the 2 x 150 and run a sub per channel, it's also small enough to fit under the seat.
I've got pioneer speakers for my front and rears and they sound OK for an amatuer setup. Bought them from Strathfield at a cheap price and I'm happy with them for now. At this stage their just running off the h/u and they go pretty loud without an amp + the clarity is fine as well. The jaycar subs are worth having a look at as well.
Depends what you want to do really but with some research you can install a good system on a small budget.

In that case you want a good all rounder...
The following were sugested to me when looking and I agree: (all in the $200-$370 price range)
Morel (Pulse 6 $202, Dotech MKII 6 $314): Very musical and a sweet sounding speaker. Can thump when needed though.
Boston (FS-60 $?): In the middle of the Morel and Hertz as far as sound goes. A great all round speaker
Hertz (HSK 165 $363): A bass heavy speaker that can thumb HARD and loud! Tweeter is a tad bright...

Other people will probably have some suggestions and might differ, but thats a rough guide!
Good luck
Pete

Have to agree with s_tim_ulate. U should look at getting the jaycar 4 x 50 for the cabin speakers. It's small enough to be mounted under the seat if need be as the 4 x 100 is a monster of an amp. When it's time for more thump you can then purchase the 2 x 150 and run a sub per channel, it's also small enough to fit under the seat.
I've got pioneer speakers for my front and rears and they sound OK for an amatuer setup. Bought them from Strathfield at a cheap price and I'm happy with them for now. At this stage their just running off the h/u and they go pretty loud without an amp + the clarity is fine as well. The jaycar subs are worth having a look at as well.
Depends what you want to do really but with some research you can install a good system on a small budget.

I can guarantee that the 4x100WRMS will fit under the drivers' seat too ;) :)

If you're willing to look at ebay, these are good speakers for the price :)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/PIONEER-TSC160R-6-REV-Component-Speaker-Pack-250W_W0QQitemZ9719988588QQcategoryZ3292QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

Thanks for the replies so far, but I've temporarily put the equipment side of things on hold for time being as I work out how to deaden the car. Thanks to TUFFTR I'm making pretty good progress working out the best way to deaden it, however I have a Q for all the 3rd gen owners... how can I disconnect the red light from the front doors so I can remove the trim to deaden it? I had no problems removing the wiring harness for the power windows, but I couldn't see how to remove the wiring for the red door light. It's the thingamabob on the left in the photo.

twist the cable 90degrees, the lightglobe should pop out?

Cheers, I'll give her a go tomorrow.

Posted this over at Car Audio Australia, and got a few ideas....

How would an all-Alpine setup go for a similar price as the Pioneer setup I initially listed? Something like the CDA-9856 headunit for ~$400, Type R splits for $399 (SPR-17LS), Type S 6x9s for $189 (SPS-690A), and an amplifier to run it all for $299 (MRP-F240). That brings me to a smidgen under $1300, which would be just about perfect....

Old mate also suggested the following splits: boston acoustics S60, focal 165V1, mb quart DSF-216, hertz HSK165, digital designs DDC-6. How do the Type Rs compare to these, and the Pioneers I originally suggested? If the Alpines are nearly/just about as good, I'd prefer to get them (I've got a thing for continuity with brands).... if they aren't, what would that setup be with like with the other speakers suggested?

Keep in mind that I'm not a real audiophile. I don't think I could tell the difference between a good set of $300 speakers and a really good set of $300 speakers; so I don't need THE very best that my money can buy.

I'm baaaaack. After a bit of deliberation, I've decided to go for either a Pioneer or Alpine system, from local stores.

My two options are:

Pioneer DEH-6850MP Headunit ($630, on sale for $530)
Pioneer TSC-1625 6" Splits ($350?)
Pioneer TSA-6971E 6x9"s ($220?)
Kenwood 40w x4 Amplifier ($250)
Aeropro AAK106 Wiring Kit ($90?)

RRP is $2033, but old mate said they can do it for $1660 installed. ~$1400 without installation. Considering swapping the amp for a Jaycar.

or

Alpine CDA-9856i Headunit $469
Alpine SPR-17LS Type R 6.5" splits $349
Alpine SPS-690A Type S 3-way 6x9"s $189
Alpine MRP-F250 4x50watt amplifier $299

Which comes to $1306. Installation would be around another $200, and I'd get the lot a bit cheaper if I paid for it in cold hard cash.


Which one should I go for? ('Neither' is not an option :P)

$200 for installation?

Thats cheap for all that gear?!

EDIT: I have the Pioneer 6850 H/u! Sweet unit! Very nice features. Good sound.

Two thumbs up from me!

I'm baaaaack. After a bit of deliberation, I've decided to go for either a Pioneer or Alpine system, from local stores.

My two options are:

Pioneer DEH-6850MP Headunit ($630, on sale for $530)
Pioneer TSC-1625 6" Splits ($350?)
Pioneer TSA-6971E 6x9"s ($220?)
Kenwood 40w x4 Amplifier ($250)
Aeropro AAK106 Wiring Kit ($90?)

RRP is $2033, but old mate said they can do it for $1660 installed. ~$1400 without installation. Considering swapping the amp for a Jaycar.

or

Alpine CDA-9856i Headunit $469
Alpine SPR-17LS Type R 6.5" splits $349
Alpine SPS-690A Type S 3-way 6x9"s $189
Alpine MRP-F250 4x50watt amplifier $299

Which comes to $1306. Installation would be around another $200, and I'd get the lot a bit cheaper if I paid for it in cold hard cash.


Which one should I go for? ('Neither' is not an option :P)


Why spend $300 on that amp?
you can get this one for $219!
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-RESPONSE-4x-100W-RMS-HIGH-POWER-CAR-AMPLIFIER-AMP_W0QQitemZ9723779290QQcategoryZ4950QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem
and thats twice the power there my friend, why care about brands when this will just go under the seat?

and again, the JBL's
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/JBL-GTO936-6x9-3-way-Loudspeaker-Pair-Bass-Kicker_W0QQitemZ9722301457QQcategoryZ3292QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem

Much better mate!!!!!

and i gaurantee these will sound freeken sweet.

The headunit and splits seem fine.

some other things as well:

1) end of financial year sales soonish, i'm sure u can get the gear for cheaper.

2) ask at the place selling all the alpine stuff, and see if they have any of the older stock available. a number of places still have old stock (as suppliers have only just released the new stuff) and r discounting it heavily.

eg i picked up an eclipse cd8445 for $550, normal rrp is $850, just coz its been outdated. so yeah, u can get the slightly older stuff for alot cheaper :)

']and thats twice the power there my friend, why care about brands when this will just go under the seat?

I was always leaning towards the 4x100 Response amp no matter what speakers I decided to get, but a few people reckon it's overkill for the speakers, so I was rethinking it. Bah, decisions decisions :P


and again, the JBL's
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/JBL-GTO936-6x9-3-way-Loudspeaker-Pair-Bass-Kicker_W0QQitemZ9722301457QQcategoryZ3292QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem

Much better mate!!!!!

Thanks for that... I eliminated the JBLs after I emailed a nearby-ish store on Monday (who's website indicates that they sell JBL speakers). I asked how much they'd cost, and they haven't replied back, so meh:/ An authorised seller on eBay seems the go though _b


The headunit and splits seem fine.

The Pioneer or the Alpine? :P