What would you say is the best parts for a SQ build (from HU to subs to wire so on) and who is one of the best shops to tune/install the system?

 

I would just call bing and tell him to have fun at no expense. I have been wishing I had the funds and time to take my car to him and just leave it for a month.

If not, I think I would go with Zapco amps, Morel or Dynaudio speakers, I am loving my new Polk SR sub, but would probably go with a Sea Lotus or Focal Utopia sub. Headunit, I am assuming you are referring to double dins, in which case I would take the Alpine IWA 205 with the add on DSP processor. Single din, I have actually been pretty impressed with some of the Pioneer units. Wires, I have used Knuconceptz and love them, but I am sure there are more "high end" wires out there. If not, I would let Bing go crazy with all DLS stuff and to just surprise me with the unit he picked.

 

Honestly, there is no correct answer to your question, I just did an SQ build with what I think is the best quality stuff available right now, at least that I know of. However, I can honestly think of a few different system configurations with different brand equipment which would have just as high of a caliber of sound quality. As my current set-up.

In regards to shop recommendations me tell you who did your work would not help you since we are completely opposite ends of the country. My best as advice to you would be to buy and have your equipment installed from an authorized dealer. With high-end equipment obviously comes a higher price tag. Usually with that comes a higher attention to detail and someone who knows the equipment and knows how to tune It correctly. You can have the greatest equipment and its not tuned correctly what is the point? Not to mention a lot of high-end manufacturer like McIntosh mandate that their resellers take classes in order to become authorized.

 

This is potentially a long-lived and very active thread.

 

is there a difference in the head units as far as sound quality as far as head units are concerned? What is a good brand with a proven track record for sound quality? Ive got my whole system designed minus the headunit at the moment
Thanks
Remington

 

SQ in terms of headunits is as subjective as speaker preference. Most people at least respect Alpine if not love it. Some swear by Eclipse while others HATE it. I give the thumbs up to Alpine and Pioneer who seem to of really stepped it up the last couple years. What is your budget?

 

Bing...........

/end thread

 

This is a hard question to answer, since each persons taste in music and equipment is different, and so is the car. My taste is i like alpine equipment, subs and Focal speakers. First step to know is what type of music you mostly listen to, because the speakers out there are made from different types of materials, i.e. paper cone, metalic cone, poyl cone, kevlar cones and so on. Each one will produce sound differently to your music. When putting a system together dont buy just one brand of everything, i.e. Alpine, pioneer. Alpines equipment (headunits, DSP processor) are great SQ, but there speakers arent the greatist. Take mine for example, i have all alpine equipment (head unit, DSP processor, sub, amps, sat, nav) then i have Focal Speakers, and it sounds really good to my ears, even at high volume levels.

just remember, do alot of research, go to different place and listen to the display set-ups and even find people with set-ups in there car. Map out what you want, were you want it, your budget.

Oh from my readings, Alpine is better in SQ and with its Ipod interface then some of the others. But is Alpine flawless, nope.

Bing does do great work!