Car Audio Advice Needed =]

Okay so here is my situation... I'm getting a Ford Explorer XLT Sport in a few weeks with a factory stereo... I basically want to replace everything in the car and put in a thumpin' audio system... I'm selling my current car for hopefully $2000, and want to use roughly $800-$1000 of that money on the new audio system for the Explorer... Now to be honest, I have absolutely no know-how when it comes to installing this stuff, so I'm going to have to pay for it to be installed (that's a given)...

My 2 options so far have been Best Buy or this local car audio place in my hometown... Here are some of the parts I was looking at already, let me know what u think:

Head Unit ($180): Pioneer XM Satellite Radio-Ready CD Deck w/ MOSFET50 Amp/CD Changer Control/MP3CD Player


http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/6183/6183827_sa.jpg

4 Speakers ($79 a pair): Pioneer 6" x 8" 3-Way Car Speakers with Polypropylene Cone (pair) Specially fit for Ford/Mazda cars

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/5272/5272484_ra.jpg

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I'm pretty convinced those are the units i want for the head unit/speakers... I'm still not too sure what kinda Subwoofer/Amplifier I want... I was looking at this packaged deal offered at Best Buy:

Sony 1200W Car Amp, 2 Sony 12" Subs & Q-Logic Sub Box ($350): Special package savings of $160.00 (discounted from individual-item total)

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/9999/9999110/999919100050001_sb.jpg

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As I said, i'm willing to spend up to $1000... Listening to music is one of my favorite hobbies so I have no problem spending this amount of money on ensuring a good sound system... I understand that Best Buy doesn't have the best products/prices but I'm not comfortable ordering the parts separately off E-Bay.... With Best Buy everything is under warranty and I can return something if i'm not satisfied with it or it's defective... My other option is to visit this local Cartronics place that installs Car audio equipment... If I go that route I will likely walk in and tell them my budget, and ask what they can do for me for that price. My current car ('94 Civic) has 2 shitty speakers in the front, and 2 Honda factory speakers in the back, and i have no CD player so i use a Sony Discman with a car adapter kit. So as you can see I haven't been exposed to much... I'm sure my current configuration will blow me away, so I don't see a need to exceed the specs of the products I listed... I know Pioneer makes quality products, Sony as well...


Any input on this issue would be greatly appreciated, as I know MajorGeeks is a great place to seek advice in any realm of life =]

Thanks

 

A friend of mine went to the local place one time and had the works installed. He had to have been watched by someone when he had his alarm removed by the local place that installed it in order to replace it. It was out for one night and his truck got broken into. Nice. Gee, we have always wondered who exactly knew that his truck was under repair besides the local car stereo shop.

I would go with Best Buy or Car Toys (more expensive).

 

Yeah, people breaking into my car is a concern of mine... I won't really be living in a sketchy neighborhood but I plan on covering up the sub/amp with a blanket (that i keep in my trunk) when i park overnight, and also removing the detachable head unit and storing in my center console... Eventually I will get tint for the back windows so hopefully people won't be able to peer in or see much....

 

do you have any more info on the head unit or speakers? i would search but im just to lazy

 

here's the Best Buy links:

Receiver (head unit): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...83827&productCategoryId=cat03066&type=product

Speakers: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...72484&productCategoryId=cat03078&type=product


I'm definetely going to get these components from Best Buy because my good friend works there and he's going to buy them for me with his employee discount... He'll get them for Cost price + 5% off...

 

im not an expert or anything but it sounds like a good system to me, of course it really depends on what kind of a sound your looking for different speakers are better for different applications. I would suggest visiting best buy and just playing with there combinations of headseats and speakers till you find a sound you like, and then go from there, obviously an amp and sub is going to have an effect, as well as the acoustics of the car, from memory i dont think ive ever heard a stereo in a ford so that will have an impact

 

Spent about 20 yrs in mobile electronics....
Pioneer has gotten better over the years, but unless you go with the real high end stuff from them, they still leave lots of room for improvement.
Head unit is about the most important factor in a good system. If it were me, get a better one, and build on as you can. You can still do a lot w/ $1,000.00
As for the speakers, you can get adapters for the factory openings to be able to put a 6" round in there that will sound a lot better than the 6x8.
Until you get an alarm on it, be sure to turn it all downbefore going to places where you're going to be leaving your car for a while, and there is a potential for theft... shopping centers, movies, even around your neighborhood.
Get a removable face unit, (to get one to "replace" the face, you generally have to show proof of purchase,) and if the sub box isn't removable at home, at least cover it somehow...

 

ah Shadow Captain just the man to talk to.... with regards to a few of the things you mentioned...

as i'm pricing things in my head now, i'm starting to think i can keep my budget under $800, especially since my friend will be getting me a discount on the speakers + receiver... i had picked this particular receiver not only because i liked the interface but because it was Pioneer, and it had a detachable face... with regards to the adapters, could you provide me with some more information on that... i know the speaker area specifically fits 6x8" speakers on my Explorer... i'm trying to keep the spending lower now so that i can allot some of the extra money towards tint... as i was saying before, i my ear's haven't been exposed to much so i'm sure i won't know what i'm missing out on, with regards to spending more money on the system...

 

Stating with BB, personally I would go for one of the Sony's first, then Kenwood. If you go to Circuit City, or an electronics dealer, Alpine is the best I've ever dealt with for head unit and alarm systems. You may want to check out their site and see what they have to offer. Something else to concider, you may want to get a deck compatible w/ MP3.
As far as standing behind the product, any place should stand behind the install. If not, they may not be around for long. It's actually Mfr warrenty on the equipment.
The speaker adapters may have to be made to seal the opening, but it's not hard to do. A round speaker will just move more easily and clear than an oval. A lot of cars use a 6x9, but still better off with a 6 round. Ford went with a 6x8 just to screw people up so they could make it harder to replace the speakers w/ a 6x9.
From the sub aspect, the sony system you are looking at would work well. Again, just like computers, there's always going to be something better out there.
Like I say, you can always build on to a good system, so you're better off to get good pieces to start rather than buy something now and spend the extra money later to upgrade.

 

yes the description of the Head Unit above says it has mp3 capability... that's one of the things i'm really looking forward to... being able to play 130 or so mp3's on a single CD... I understand that certain companies will have better products out, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Pioneer receiver will not sound great... I won't be able to build those car adapters, as i mentioned in my first post i'm a novice when it comes to all this stuff... I'm going to be buying the components from Best Buy but having a different car audio shop install the stuff, I feel more comfortable w/ them...

I have a question for you though... those Pioneer speakers pictured above... they are 3 way and cost $80 a pair... the 4 way versions cost $20 more ($99)... what would the difference be in these 2 different speakers... is it worth the extra $40 (total) to buy the higher priced ones if it's something i probably won't notice... any input is appreciated...


here's more info regarding the Subwoofer/Amp package:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmprd19100050001&skuId=999919000050001&type=product

" 1200W peak, 500W RMS x 1 @ 4 ohms, bridged "

 

Don't get Sony Xplod. Try Kicker, JL Audio, or Kenwood's DB series subs, (two 2 Ohm subs connected parallel if you want a two-sub setup, you only need one sub though) they have better low end response- your minimum frequency should be 20 HZ or below. Replace your stock front speakers, too- I doubt they handle 50 watts per channel. Get a dedicated mono sub amp ( 1 Ohm stable for maximum power utilization) and a power capacitor protect your battery and alternator. Have the installers add high pass filters onto your front and rear speakers. This will block out low frequency signals because there is no reason for your front or rear speakers to handle any bass when you have a sub. Bolt down your sub box for security (you won't want it bouncing around in the truck in an accident, either) Don't attach your amp to your box, it only makes it easier for thieves.

I have a Kenwood KAC-718 dedicated sub amp, KDC 5019 motorized face head unit, KDC-C719 10 disc changer, and a KFC-XW1225dB subwoofer in a home-built box-no one makes a 12" sub box that fits behind an S-10's seat-one day I'll carpet it) along with a set of Pioneer two-way 4x6 in-dash speakers with integral high-pass filters and a no-name power capacitor (pic below)

 

Just Playing... What is your advice regarding those Pioneer speakers.... the 3 way pair is $80 and the 4-way pair is $99... What's the difference between these 2 speakers and is it noticeable do you think?

 

It's an extra set of tweeters. I have Kenwood 4-way 6X9s-better high frequency reproduction than the 3-ways, I'm sure it follows with Pioneer, too.
Listen to both of them side by side-if you hear the difference, spend the $20.

 

Update

Well I went today and purchased the Pioneer receiver and Speakers, and u won't believe how much i payed for them... With my friends discount, I got the Pioneer 6x8" 4 Way speakers (originally $99 a pair) for a whopping $42.50... LOL! so 4 speakers total for $85... Once we found out how insane the discount was on teh speakers we went back in and picked up the receiver... it was originally $180 but on sale today for $140, and w/ the discount it was $105!!! so initially the parts i picked out would have cost me $380 but only woulnd up costing me $190, couldn't be happier how it turned out...

 

I need better friends. That leaves plenty for a top of the line killer sub-amp combo, even paying for the install.