Tough Decision on Building System
 

Hi there all on cca, i have a beginners question about my process of buying parts for a system and i need some advice regarding a certain aspect.

I was in my fathers 2002 mustang which has a factory stereo in it rated at '400 watts' not sure if thats peak or rms but im assuming peak. I found it to be perfectly satisfactory for my everyday stereo needs, im not thinking of competition level or anything, i just want something that i can turn up and rock out to, without breaking the bank/shaking my neighbours house.

I was looking at systems online and i pieced together a system giving me around 1200 peak (barely useful i know) and around 300 rms, but it was costing over 700 (including head unit) which is more than i want to pay.

So, here is my dilemma, i want a system more powerful than i can achieve with just a head unit/speakers because the head unit cant supply nearly as much RMS as the speakers can put out, and i would like to at least see the RMS of the speakers being met, however amplifyers are expensive and i don't want to burn a whole paycheck on simply my car stereo. I was wondering if there is any way to get a somewhat decent system for my car without having to purchase a sub? such as some kind of highly amplifyed head unit or something, rather than buying a head unit, and an amp, and speakers. I have no interest in subs/an amp to power the sub(s). I just want a head unit with some speakers that bang alright for a starter project

Thanks in advance for any advice :)

That factory system you were listening to has been specifically tuned for the vehicle it is installed in......it probably included a small sub somewhere and that's why it sounded so good. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you will not be able to duplicate the sound you heard in the 'Stang for less than $700 without going into the used market, at which point you really need to know what you're doing.......:smokin:

Aftermarket head units are limited in the amount of power they can provide, but most are good for around 20WRMS per channel. If funding is an issue, I would suggest you find a good deck and 4 decent coax speakers to run off it for now. When you can, a single sub in a good enclosure and amp (200W RMS or so) will fill in the bottom end and blend with your other speakers to give you decent quality sound without breaking the bank.

Don't worry too much about ratings on speakers.....listen to a few different brands if you can, it's the SQ that's important and as long as they sound good to you thats what really counts.

There are a few more details to doing all this of course but the basics are here.....have fun doing it and don't be reluctant to ask questions, that's how we all learned......:smilie_da

HTH

I think you answered your own questions with this comment you made.

"I just want a head unit with some speakers that bang alright for a starter project."

With a budget of $500.00, vehicle dependent of course, it is easy to get a good cd player, front and rear speakers. An amp is going to bring life to the speakers. The sub is going to develop sound beyond the capabilities of the front and rear speakers, sound that is naturally there in the recording.

What vehicle do you have and are you willing to do this in a step by step process?

What size speakers are you looking at getting?

Its a 98 honda accord
The fronts are 6 1/2
The backs are 6 x 9

Step by step works for me, and any suggestions on where to start and what order to piece things together in would be helpful for sure.

Thanks for the tips HTH :D

My budget is flexible i just want something decent without regretting it
i could definately go higher price wise if i was doing step by step.

Add me to msn, way easier to talk in real time and help you out.

It wont let me see your email in your sig becuase of my post count, add bondboy_28@hotmail.com

Nevermind it works now.

Well, I see you there but you are off line...