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Car stereo...help

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fillup
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 568
I have a scion tc, stock system, its aight but i want bass, some subs or whatever.

I really dont know anything about cars or bout stereo, i dont want to go all out but i want bump and shit.

Give me ideas? tell me what i need to know.

price range: 300 max? maybe more if thats what it takes.
Oct 8 2008 7:16PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
For 300 you can't get too great of a system. I'd spend more than that. You're going to want an amp, probably a Class D, that you can power at least 1 or 2 subs depending on what you get. I wouldn't go cheap though, it will sound like shit. 
Oct 8 2008 7:18PM
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fillup
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 568
One of my friends only has one sub, and it sounds good.

I mean i dont want a quality high grade system and all that shit. just base.

Would a powered sub be good? like one of those bazooca things. I dont have alot of room in my car.
Oct 8 2008 7:23PM
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
i am looking into similar things for my car.

for 300 you can't really get anything worth sounding good. The bazooka tubes are not that great if you are looking for a good system.

I just changed my deck. But then you need an amp. Which will run you a pretty penny. One or two subs i prefer 10's or 12's depending if you want a trunk? Then you'll need an enclosure. So look at this site, it'll give you a good idea of how much things cost:

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/
Oct 8 2008 7:32PM
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fillup
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 568
I really have no room in my car, if i get an enclosure it wouldnt fit or take all the room.

Is this a good option? will it thump?
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=51000&i=108BASSLIN&tp=114&tab=features_and_specs
Oct 8 2008 7:35PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
that will give you some bass, but it won't "thump" and you won't hear it too loud outside your car.

If you want it to really thump so you can hear it outside of your car, you're going to need at least a 12" and a box. You pretty much have to have a box one way or another. Look up the difference between a sealed box and a ported box, they provide different effects. One is more for clarity, and one is more for big thumps.

Personally, I'm planning on spending about $400 or so. The most important thing is the amp. I'm going to get a nice amp and then either a 10" alpine type-r or an alpine type-x depending on what I want. The rest of my car is already upgraded so I just want some more bass to finish it off and make it sound really nice. The amp is really whats going to be the expensive part of the setup.
Oct 8 2008 7:42PM
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gmack24
Posts: 4636 - Karma: 31
ill sell you a new in box alpine amp if you're interested...pm
Oct 8 2008 7:47PM
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fillup
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 568
fuck, this probably wont go through.

Oct 8 2008 7:50PM
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
agreed.

However when you are with a group of kids, open the doors and the tailgate and blast some beats... instant dance party.

But yeah, get good stuff or its not really worth it at all.
Oct 8 2008 7:50PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
if you just want bass I'd go with a cheap 12" sub.  Pioneer, Alipine type S or a knock off Sony or something from Walmart.  That'll set you back no more than $120 if you're looking in the right spot.. then get a decent amp that can put out some power.  make sure you aren't maxing past RMS power though.  You can probably drop less than 200 on that.  I'd definitely look at getting a dec deck and something to keep your highs and mids audible too.. I don't know how your stock stuff holds up.

When you box your sub get it ported if you want bass.. I'd recommend having your local shop do it because they will be much more personal about it.  Or do some research and make your own.  It takes a couple system builds but box building is not a hard skill.  First time I've ever applied my high school math skills though..
Oct 8 2008 7:50PM
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fillup
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 568
Wow, a good answer.

If i went to a car audio place, shop, whatever you call it. And ask them to set me up would they rip me off? Is the internet the best to deal with?
Oct 8 2008 7:59PM
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unchyll
Posts: 4554 - Karma: 96
Yea if your gonna buy a system you might as well get something decent, just make sure your interior speakers are loud enough for the sub, my friend has 1 18 inch sub in the back of his jeep (same exact car as mine) and its fucking rediculous, it seriously makes my ears hurt, its blown out his windows and the windows in the shop when he bought. he did drop like 2400 dollars on it tho...
but im just saying cus his interior speakers sound like shit, personaly if i was you i would get a ten and start with that
Oct 8 2008 8:04PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
The guy at my local shop is awesome so I've never had to deal with it.  Go to your shop and get INFO on stereo systems.  make sure you tell them what you want.  They know so much about it they could talk your ear off for hours.. anyway listen to them and then go home and research it on the computer.  Get a price estimate.  Good places are www.crutchfield.com and www.onlinecarstereo.com.  both those are legit and have norm prices.  Then I'd go back to your audio store and get their estimate on price.  Don't ever make it obvious that you would want to buy something on the spot because they will make you.  If they're prices are better than support your local store.

if you just want the shop to build the box I'd say an average price is what $120-$200?  Someone correct me if they think it's off.. but yeah between checking online and info from your shop you should be able to get a decent sounding system for relatively cheap.

Wouldn't hurt checking online car/stereo forums either.
Oct 8 2008 8:07PM
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fillup
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 568
So if i went in and said, i want mad bass, for under 400, i have a scion tc, whatcha got?

would i be good with that?
Oct 8 2008 8:12PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
yeah.  Just don't buy anything the first time you go in.  like I said go home and research it and come back.  they'll know you know more the next time and won't try to screw you.  Make sur eyou remember prices from both places.  I usually plug shit in my phone and pretend to text when I'm talkin to em haha
Oct 8 2008 8:14PM
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BdoubleU
Posts: 880 - Karma: 291
yo for 300-350 I could pick you out a sick good sounding system.

pm me

I know a really legit site that I'm not trying to leak out
Oct 8 2008 8:16PM
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PurpleReign
Posts: 148 - Karma: 90
With a Scion tC you should be fine with a single 10" or 12" as it is a pretty small car, you don't want to take up too much trunk space. I have a Mazda Protege, aka pretty small, and I have two 12" Rockfords with a 225 amp and closed box and I can't even get my skis through the backseat from the trunk it's so big, at least the bass is unreal (imagine setting a glass of water on the trunk and having it dumped on the ground by the first hit). Also watch out for the wire kit, lots of people forget that they have to purchase that even if they are getting the subs professionally installed, that will set you back around $100. Then on top of that most installers charge about $44 dollars per speaker plus a nasty flat rate for the amp. It sucks. My best advice, troll ebay and craigslist for systems, often times the sellers still have them in their cars so you can test them out before you buy them, and if you get lucky they will throw the wire kit in too. If you don't want to risk a used system, I'd keep your eyes open for an all-in-one deal. I know that Rockford sells a complete set (single sub, mono amp, etc.) those will probably be close to your price range. Also, make sure to check that your deck can support all the wires you need, you'll need at least one RCA plug-in so you might want to invest in a solid deck.

I hope this helped you get a little beter picture.

Good luck dawg, it's a tough investment but when you finally get it I promise it's worth it. People turn around to look at me before I even pass them and I know that's exactly what you are looking for! Plus it's nice to have an unaware chick in the front seat and then BOOM...clothes get blown off.
Oct 8 2008 8:26PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
yo dude can you explain to me why buying wiring kits is better than buying the stuff separately?  I bought my wires and fuses at our local auto parts store and it cost me like $7.. my friends are buying wiring kits for anywhere from 35-100 and I don't get why.  Sometimes you'll get a fat inline fuse that might cost more but I dunno.. I'm not disagreeing with you I just don't get why.. explain?
Oct 8 2008 8:30PM
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BdoubleU
Posts: 880 - Karma: 291
^^ 100 bucks for a wiring kit?

onlinecarstereo.com you can get a descent kit starting at 50 to a nice one around 75.


Oct 8 2008 8:32PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
yeah my friend has 2000w (RMS) running to two Alpine Type-R 15" subs.. so I dunno.  I assume the fat wire and like 150 amp fuses would cost a lot in a kit.. I dunno.
Oct 8 2008 8:36PM
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PurpleReign
Posts: 148 - Karma: 90
Mine was a little more expensive because I needed all the RCA plug-ins as well, so they were included. As I look now though you're absolutely right, it shouldn't be a problem to find a good kit for
Oct 8 2008 8:43PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
Type R 15's are only 750 rms, so he would be at 1500w. 2k would fry his subs. 25% diff is pretty substantial. Is he using capacitors at all? that's some pretty big draw either way. Personally I don't like to try and do my own wiring with wire that big of guage, just because it can be a bitch to get a good crimp, but that's just personal preference for me.
Oct 8 2008 11:26PM
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smuggsVT
Posts: 2145 - Karma: 19
you dont want to buy cheap shit when your looking at car stereo equipment.  I have bought a sony head unit, 2 kicker 6x9 speakers, a 1000 watt amp, 2 12 inch subs, an enclosure,  and a wiring kit all for around 1000 dollars.  i wish i wouldn't have bought cheap subs  only because they are not as responsive as i want and they lag and shit with fast hitting baselines.   I would also suggest that if you want quality shit to go to a specialty sound store rather than say best buy or circuit city.  if you want to get a decent set of subs, and amp, an enclosure and a wiring kit your going to have to spend a little more than 300 dollars.  especially if you want it professionally installed. 
Oct 8 2008 11:33PM
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D-HAWK
Posts: 890 - Karma: 10
stfu i got bangers in my car hommiee
Oct 8 2008 11:45PM
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Calvin.
Posts: 771 - Karma: 10
Try Craigslist.
In my area there are sooo many components for way cheap.
Oct 9 2008 1:12AM
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djikstra
Posts: 2471 - Karma: 6,014
I have brand new kicker stuff and am in salt lake trying to get rid of it, pretty fair prices compared to what i could find on the internet. All brand new never been opened, check it out!

https://newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/384756/
Oct 9 2008 1:51AM
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