After being convinced to get a sub, now I need to know what I'm getting.
My budget... I didn't ever plan on spending more than $500 (that was when I was planning on a head unit and speakers only..), so I wouldn't like to go too much over that. I've never purchased a system before though, so I don't know what I should be expecting to pay.

I only want a small sub, I don't want to have bass killing everything else in my music (I wasn't even going to get a sub before, but I'm told I won't hear certain low frequencies). I do not want to lose any trunk space.
I am much, much more concerned about the quality of sound.

I will be getting this installed by a shop, so while I'm sure they could custom fit speakers that don't normally fit, I think I'd rather get ones that fit well to begin with.

So, could someone recommend a setup for me? I'm set on the Alpine iDA-X100 for the headunit unless I see something better soon. Also, is there anything I should be careful with when I go to this shop? I'm not knowledgeable about much so I feel like I could get talked into something easily. (Ex. Do I need dynamat?)

Long post I know, I just want to get this done ASAP.

 

Not sure you will do much with that budget for a whole system. And if you are mosly concerned with SQ you might have a hard time. If having a shop do the install, that will be a couple hundred bucks as well.

Hopefully you will find some help with suggestions on equipment to fit your needs.

 

eh, get a 10 inch sub, put that behind the driver seat..replace the fronts (including tweeters), get an amp (put that behind the passenger seat). Do the install yourself and I bet you will be well below your budget and get what you want..

yes you will need some sort of sound deadening if you dont like rattles.. and it doesnt necessarily have to be dynamat.. there MANY others out there thats just as good and WAY cheaper..

 

I'd recommend skipping the second amplifier and subwoofer (for now).

Spend your budget on a good pair of front speakers and a head end. Have them connect the RCA line level signal cables to the head end and run the cable back along the center console. They're going to have console out likely anyways and just running the cable shouldn't cost any more on the installation fee. Leave the extra cable sitting back behind the seat.

Later when you come up with another $300-$500 you can add a decent amplifier and subwoofer in a real enclosure. I'd rather not see you spend money on a speaker to hang it in the leaky stock position and drive it with 8-12 watts from the head end.

 

I'm sorry but this just isn't possible on a $500 budget. You'll probably want to get a custom enclosure (Anywhere from $75-$900), the shop install will be about $200, you'll want a good sub ($200-$400), Amps are expensive and then you'll need new speakers so it doesn't drown out the weak stock speakers you have. Of course you'll then need to get the best cables (total like $50) and I recommend getting a stereo with an ipod jack ($150ish).

Goodluck though.

I ended up spending $2600 (When I had a Envoy, now I am spending about $600 on a custom enclosure for the Z)on my last system to get the most amazing thing I could to avoid any regrets. If you spend $500 on a weak system you'll regret it down the road. Instead save up and buy something awesome.

 

This sounds like the best plan. Well, the only one that works for me

Okay, could someone recommend good speakers? I could take a stab at doing them myself but I've never done audio installs. Which means if I have to do lots of work to fit a speaker, I'll have a hard time..
And connecting extra RCA cables to the head won't mess anything up?

So the stock speaker placement is not good? I thought people use it often with spacers...
I don't understand the 8-12 watts from head end statement..

 

Bahahahahaaaa.............. your very loose with the word BEST... my RCA's are $140 each (i didnt pay that because of my job but still)

Hertz, morel, JL, etc... just dont buy lowend, hell pioneer prs sound amazing for the price

nope, wont mess up anything

stock speaker placement is fine... pods would be better but your trying to keep this economical

8-12 watts is what the average headunit pushes per channel

 

The iDA-X100 specs say 18 watts RMS and 50 watts peak - is that decent? I love the features of the unit. And it turns red, which (kind of) matches dash lighting.

I think I'd like to go with JL's, but what size do I need to fit well in stock location? And how do I know if I need a spacer? (I'll go look through the thread about stock speaker location fitment now.. lol)

Final question: How many RCA cables do I need??? Any specific recommendation? Oh dear budget.

(Edit: Just looking at crutchfield, how are JBL's? Looking at these. And their fitment guide says I will need custom fit tweeters.. true? And where do crossovers go?)

 

OP: Alpine makes affordable iPod compatible head units. A new HU alone will improve your system's sound; adding aftermarket fronts will have your system sounding 100 times better.

I am certain RCA's costing $50 sound JUST LIKE $140 RCA's. In fact, I bet the RCA's from my install kit (install kit cost me $60) sound the same. What brand did you get: Monster? Tsunami? Rockford? I was duped into buying Tsunami RCA's a couple years back. I later added a sub amp, and bought a Scoshe install kit from WalMart. True to form, the Scoshe RCA's sounded JUST LIKE the uber $120 Tsunami RCAs.

Just like speaker wire from Wal-mart sounds the same as the Monster BS speaker wire. Sadly, there are people who still get raped buying "better" wire

 

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-build...tall-pics.html

Check out my install. I tried to keep everything subtle and I installed everything myself to save money.

 

cheap 10'' sub
zenclosures box or build one yourself
amp for sub
that would be close to 500 right there
Decent set of components.
decent amp to push the components
headunit for source
900 is pushing it for a decent system. and that is really pushing it. save up.

 

Actually are there JL's better then the JBL's I listed? Crutchfield doesn't say that fit, but is that because I'll need a spacer??

JL Audio VR600

(Should I be buying speakers and tweeters separately? I keep seeing crossovers mentioned in other threads but nobody here said anything about it - what are they?)

Read in the fitment thread that JL VR650-CSi components fit very well (speakers need a 1/2" spacer apparently) but will my head unit power them properly? (iDA-x100) A crutchfield advisor said I should probably get an amp, even if I'm not getting a sub yet..

 

This is where having friends come in handy. They can help with the install and I'm sure they'll glady accept a few adult brevages. I'm sure there's cheaper local deals on used head unit and amp. You might want to check Craigslist or some local online forum. As for subs, mid's, and hi's, you can buy them brand new either locally or from Crutchfield. The Scoshe wire kit should be good enough, unless you plan to run 1000+ watts. Yes, I have the cheap Walmart Scoshe and running 1200 watt amp and no issues here. Could it be better? Yes, but not complaining here.

No need to custom build a box for your Z unless you rather build it for pure joy. Buy a Zenclosure box from here and you're set on an affordable upgrade in the boom category.

 

Should I make another thread for my most recent questions about speaker power from HU / Amp situation?

 

I suppose you can ask away. It's not like you are thread-jacking. You can use the the HU's speaker wiring harness to connect directly to your speakers wires with a harness adapter. This should be a plug and play on the factory car stereo wiring. Next, you could pretty much match the colored wires and voila, it is complete. Most HU has an internal amp so there's no need for an external amp to hook it up to have sound. Most people would use an external amp due to the option of crispier/louder music. IMO, it's kinda pointless of upgrading your mids and highs if you aren't going to use an amp to push those it... unless you plan to upgrade it later to have a 4 channel amp to push it. I would say it's about the same difficulty of changing your oil. Or like you mentioned before, an installer could do it.

 

well if this helps your budget i planned on putting up a jl 500/1 monoblock sub amp for 200 shipped pm me if interested, i just have to test it, it has not been used in about a year

 

A crutchfield advisor told me to get a Profile amp ($79). 2 channel. This has to be a bad amp right?

 

OP, the JL 500/1 is an awesome deal. I am not sure about the Profile amp, but I'm sure it's not even close the the JL...unless you are looking for an affordable amp.

 

If I decided to go with an amp, I would be on a budget. $200 for the 500/1 is good if I am looking at the correct one on Crutchfield, but isn't it a subwoofer amp? Or is it designed to handle everything at once? (If I got it, could I hook the HU and speakers up, and then when I do get a sub, not need another amp?)

 

Yes, it is a sub amp. From personal experience, you wouldn't want an amp to run all subs, mids, and highs. Most people run multiple amps because subs are power hungry. Most would recommend Class D for subs, while most will recommend Class A and B for mids and highs.