Ive been out of the loop
 

Hello.

I used to be into car audio 10-15 years ago. I need some opinions on what brands are good for different components...newer companies that have come about since then. I go to sites to look at stuff and there are some brands that Ive never heard of before. I know you always get what you pay for, but prices on things like amps have dropped drastically and still maintain the quality and reputation.

They are lot's of brands out there, giving a budget would certainly help to narrow things down.

Here is a list of a few:
Audison
Focal
Hertz
Hybrid audio
Dls

I agree with that list. If you have a couple of hours (if you want) spend the day searching the net, see all the debates back and forth ...
Thing is, end of the day, just comes down to your personal tastes ...

But that's a good start right there.

Many of the classics are still solid choices: Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, Rockford, JL Audio.