There seem to be thousands of options for in car audio. From experience, what have you done, who has done it and what did it cost? Was it worth it?
In car audio: tips, advice and pointers for a novice?
LGrogDog on 15/11/2018 - 12:18
Comments
Replaced cassette player in old car with head unit that has USB port.
Yes, worth it.
Comes down to budget as to what you wanna do.
Head unit is priority 1, then front stage, then sound deadening, then rear/sub.
Don't just throw a cheap sub in the boot and think you've upgraded it 😂
If you play really loud doof doof music you must also have all windows down, lean the drivers seat as far back as it will go and also ensure your rear window tint has heaps of bubbles in it.
This is the setup I got about 3-4 years ago and still going strong;
Head Unit - Kenwood DNX7330BT
Fronts - Hertz ESK F165.6 6.5inch woofer, 1 inch tweeter splits 270W
Rears - Hertz DCX 165.3 6.5 inch woofer, 120
Subwoofer - Hertz - DST 31.3 1000W 12 inch
Amplifier - Hertz HDP 5 - 950W - 60W x 4 and 310W x 1
Reverse Camera
$1850.00 (Headunit and camera install) + $1670.00 (speakers and subwoofer install)
$3520 total. Love the look on peoples faces when I turn the bass up. Each to their own though!
Depends on how serious you want to take it. A lot of us will tell you to go with 6.5 inch components at the front, and 6-6.5" coaxials in the back (plus a sub). However, if you have a small car you honestly don't need speakers that big as the cabin you're trying to fill with sound just doesn't require it.
For me, I did it on a budget trying to utilise an already good system from the factory (headunit is some tricky 1990's Alpine unit with a 6 stacker + cassette player lol.) All the speakers and sub were shot, however.
With that in mind, I went with the following:
JBL GTO609C 6.5 components in the front doors, tweaters in the dash)
Jaycar 6.5" Kevlar Coaxial's in the back parcel shelf
300w RMS Pioneer sub (not the most powerful but does the job for 90% of the songs)
Stock Alpine Amp drives my sub + back speakers, headunit drives my front's.Utilising the stock headunit and amp meant I spent about $500 total on mine (self-installed). It's pretty uncommon to start with such a good base system though so you'd honestly be looking at a headunit and amp upgrade too. The next step would be sound proofing in the doors and an amp upgrade. But again..depends on your budget.
EDIT: And yes, it was worth it.
On my old WRX, I did a whole install DIY, splits, rear, sub, full AV head unit with DAB+ and rear camera, all Pioneer, cost me $800 all up. Also Dynamat sound deadening. much better than stock unit.
Then bought a WRX STI premium with factory 8 Harman Kardon® speakers, subwoofer and amplifier.
if Id do it again, Id buy a new car.
if Id do it again, Id buy a new car.
I'd have to agree, newer cars have sealed off the road noise really well from getting through the door, window joins and so forth. They've placed any speakers, tweeters etc in optimal positions which is kinda of hard to replicate if retrofitting an old car.
I've also noticed the type of music and quality of the source makes a huge difference. Having to play mp3's come's out significantly worse, i need to replace my head unit again with something that could playback 16bit or, better 24bit lossless.
I listen to the rock sort of genres you don't hear on australian radio, from what i've seen the typical rnb type music carries across far better when you have a terrible source (eg low bitrate mp3) to begin with
OP, what make and model car do you have?
This can ascertain the type of head unit and system that you integrate an upgrade easier.For example, if you have a BA Falcon, you will be restricted with a single-din unit rather than a double-din (unless you modify)
Then you will factor stereo volume steering wheel controls are want to add a Bluetooth functionality for phone if you don't currently have it.… and the list goes on :P
Cheers
You have asked a question that is too open ended. Give us some details on what you want and already have and what your budget is to get some better advice otherwise you’ll get everything from ‘I hooked up my phone via Bluetooth’ (first reply) to ‘I won autosalon sound off with $30k worth of gear’ (moolz)
I’ve done a range of things over the years. Modern factory speakers are much better than they used to be, so the last few upgrades I’ve done have been Chinese double din units for features (esp reverse canmeras) rather than sound. In the past have done a full basic install. Head unit, upgraded speakers in factory position and sub with amp. My first car I pulled out and am radio and installed 4 speakers and tape deck but car audio wasn’t a thing in a 74 model car.
Friends sony entry level gear from jbhifi does the job for less than $300.
Rainbow car audio is my pref. It is a pursuit.
step 1 - turn on stereo
step 2 - listen to music
step 3 - enjoy music