I want to replace the Bose system and need help deciding on the components to use...I have no knowledge of audio gear...

I want something that sounds nice and clear when played at loud volumes, without spending a lot of $$$...I also do not want to lose any storage space within the car...so no big speaker boxes...I just want to pull out all of the Bose speakers within the car, (subwoofer too), and replace them with something else, using the existing spaces...Is this possible?

Amp and head unit suggestions as well please...

I am not interested in having the biggest, baddest, loudest stereo system on the block, I just want my music to sound really good...

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated...

 

Go to a nice local Audio Shop and tell them what you want. (read: no chain stores).

Buy all of your speakers from the same brand and series (Like all Alpine Type S Speakers and Subs) and all of your electronics from the same brand and series (Like Alpine HU, Alpine Amp). If you are buying middle grade speakers, dont buy a High end Head Unit, buy a middle grade one. That is the key to a fantastic sounding system, don't mix and match, go with matched gear.

Match the Power requirements of your speakers to your amps (75w RMS Speakers?, Get a 75w RMS Amp) and you are set.

 

+1

 

Do alpine and Pioneer make good amps? I'm getting either an Alpine or Pioneer HU but was under the impression they do not make good quality amps.

If they do make decent amps, whats a good 4 channel amp?

 

it's sometimes about preference. I like Kicker amps and have had good experience with Rockford Fosgate amps for subs in the past.

 

Most manufactures make enough equipment to satisfy any budget level. Pioneer and Alpine both have units that would be considered entry level, they also make some wild super over the top gear. You might want to pursue this by figuring out your budget first, then go from there. Go to a few shops listen to some equipment.

 

Good question, and stated very well. I wanted exactly what you describe. The other posts to your thread are right-on. I would like to offer some additional comments.

So many of the systems described on this Forum are high-end, and past what I am willing to spend, and I am not willing to sacrifice space in an already minimal-storage-capable car as is the Z. I need to transport a couple of sets of golf clubs along with a couple of weekend bags. There is no room for sub-boxes in the rear storage area of my coupe. And, I needed to replace the lousy OEM system.

So… first thing was to design (i.e., pick out all the sound components) the “system.” My goal was a decent system that did not cost a fortune but had good sound. And, like you, I wanted to preserve the existing cargo space in my Z coupe. Once the design is in place, you can begin installing without having to do everything at once. But, you should have the plan (and all of the components) in mind before you begin installing anything. Once you make these decisions, you can do it in stages that fit your budget.

Here is a list of the products I decided upon (and for no good reason other than I thought they would fit together to give me reasonably good sound at a fair price). My system is no where near the great systems I read about here, but it gives me what I want. Here is what I installed:
____________________________
HU: Clarion (for no other reason other than I could get a mid-priced model that had good performance to which I could connect a Sirius receiver… love Sirius)

AMP: Infinity (again, mid-priced model)

FRONT/DOOR SPEAKERS: Infinity Component Speakers

REAR SPEAKERS: Infinity (not component)

SUB: None…nada… no sub… I didn’t put in a sub because I used the rear space behind the driver seat to store my amp. …More about this later.
_____________________________
Installation sequence was: (1) rear speakers (big improvement), (2) Amp plus front speakers (another huge improvement), (3) HU and Sirius (more good sound plus better radio reception and the great Sirius channels).
______________________________
REGRETS and SECOND GUESSING

I didn’t install a sub, and now I’m thinking I would like this. I don’t want anything that is elaborate or robs storage space, but a sub would be nice. So… maybe I could move the amp and the Sirius box to the glove box behind the passenger seat where I would build a frame and not lose all of that space, saving some of it for casual storage. Then I would make a modest sub inside the area behind the drive’s seat where the amp was before.

I realize that the audiophiles reading this will think my approach is lame, but I am trying to balance cost with my preferences, and this one does it for me.

--Spike

 

i would think theres lots of high end stereo places out in l.a. i would try the ones toward beverly hills.

 

there are a few you can check out:

superautobacs

audioshoppe

california soundworks

there are deifnetly more of course :0

b