Brand/Model Recommendations for Amp + speakers

[NViejeP]

Soon I will be shopping for a pair of component speakers, a pair of coaxial and a 4-channel amplifer.

Does anyone have any recommendations, im on a budget so im looking for something pretty cheap and a good bang for your buck.

Also one mroe thing. What size is the tweeter in the 2000 4runner?

Thanks

 

[riceandpho]

so ur in frisco, im in oakland, go to audiomobile of oakland in oakland china town , its on 11th street close to harrison, i ono if its in ur budget but im runnin a jl audio 300/4 amp and focal acess speakers, talk to the manager alan, hes the owner and he got a nice 350z, im sure u can work out a deal with him.

 

[NViejeP]

Kind of a long trip. I'll see if I ever have to drive around there.

 

[Jade]

http://customtacos.com/tech/index.php?page=index_v2&id=25&c=6

what exactly is your budget. there are best bang for your bucks at all different price range : )

 

[NViejeP]

I havne't decided if I want to buy individualy or not, but heres what I'm goign to do if I buy individually

1) Component Speakers for $150 at absolute max, probably around $100-$125 is a good target for me.

2) Coaxial Speakers - Looking for some good/cheap ones at around $50 and like $75 max.

3) Amplifer - I don't even know. Probably like $150 max or should I save up for a better amplifer?

4) Sub - Infinity Basslink with a built in amplifer. Around $200 and I've hear dgood things.

Might switch 3 and 4.

Thanks

 

[arcas]

I don't know if you're willing to buy online or not but...

1 & 2) given your speaker budget of $150-$225, you could consider the following:

For around $190, Infinity Ref 6010cs comps in front, Infinity Ref 6012i coax in rear.

Also for around $190, Alpine SPS-171A comps in front, Alpine SPS-170A coax in rear.

For around $230, you could do CDT CL-61A comps in front with CL-6x coax in rear.

I suspect you could assemble a low-end Kicker or Pioneer setup for around $160-$170.

(It just occurred to me that I don't know what size speakers are in the 2000 4r. The above assumed 6.5s in the rear. If they're 4s or 5s, your rear coax will cost even less).

What you might also consider is spending ~$200 for the front comps and neglecting your rear speakers for now (they're just for fill anyway). That gives you more component possibilities including Alpine R-series, CDT CL62, Infinity Kappa, JL VR, etc.

3) Lots of 2-channel amps and several 4-channel amps in this price range. IIRC, cardomain.com currently has a sale on (presumably 2005 model) Orion amps.

An option you may not have considered would be to combine 3&4: That gives you $350 to work with. Get a 4-channel amp such as the Audiobahn 6004T (75Wx4@4ohm) which I've seen for $150 or less since Christmas. Use 2 channels to power your front components, run your rear speakers from the head-unit's built-in amp, use the amp's remaining 2 channels to power a sub. If you get a DVC sub with 2ohm coils, you could do 150W@2ohm per coil or bridge the amp channels and run the coils in series for 150W@4ohm (I don't think you can run that amp @2 ohms bridged). It's not a whole lot of sub power but unless you're looking to wake your neighbors, it's probably enough for now.

That leaves around $200 for your sub and enclosure. Lots of 10" subs can be had for under $100 (check Circuit City or Best Buy) but for sound quality, I'd consider a 10" Image Dynamics IDQ10D2v.2 at $150. That leaves $50 for your enclosure. For a sealed enclosure, the IDQ10 only needs around 0.3-0.5 cuft. That's tiny. You could build it for $15 sans carpet.

Shipping costs would probably eat up the remaining $35. Buy beer with whatever remains.

Online places you might consider include cardomain.com, woofersetc.com, crutchfield (especially their discounted scratch & dent stuff)...Note that I'm not affiliated with any of these.

 

[riceandpho]

its only a 15-20 min drive from frisco to china town lol, heres the number to audiomobile of oakland 510-839-1992, try to ask for the manager name alan and talk to him about the speakers and amp, ur system is too budget like, if u spend close to 1000 around there u can get good stuff, jl audio 300/4 is like 525, and add some focal access 130ca they like 280 for the coaxils which is
5 1/4, and then the focal access components should run like 300 or cheaper, if u go with some jl audio speakers it should be cheaper, kuss the jl audio XR525-CXi Coaxials was costin 200 for rears, and the components XR650-CSi 2-Way Component Systems should run like 250 or so, i not sure, but thats wat i get charge for

 

[riceandpho]

pioneer setup will be a lil cheaper

 

[NViejeP]

Wow arcas, thanks a lot. That really helped. Very thorough and I appreciate it.

The front is 6.5 and the rear is 4".

My options now that you've explained them to me is:

1) Get front and rear speakers, power them to an AMP, and get an Infinity Basslink or other.

2) Get components in the front, get an amp, power the components and sub to the amp. Power the rear to the head unit.

3) Get components for the front, and coaxials for the rear. Get an amp, power the components and a subwoofer to the amp. Power the rear to the head unit.

I just can't decide. What do you think would th ebest way?

Also, I need to pay for installation cost. I know none of these things will be very easy for me to afford. So I probably will have to end up waiting a few weeks/months and upgrading 1 at a time.

I wouldn't mind buying online, actually I prefer it.

Riceandpho, I can't afford a system for $1000, Right now, I've got like $100-$200 to spend and I think I'm just going to save, but I got to look at my options so I can look for good deals periodically.

 

[NViejeP]

I'm also leaning towards CDT CL-61A because therers a deal on woofersetc.com where you get free shipping. And shipping is like $10, so for like $5 more you cna get the CDT over those infinitys.

 

[arcas]

If money were no object, clearly the "best" way would be (3). Buy everything at once and install all at once.

Since you're on a budget, I'd say (2) is the best compromise. Splurge on your front components and upgrade your rear speakers at some later date. Like I mentioned, your rears are only for fill (they don't even need tweeters) so you can happily live with the stock rears until you save up some more money.

Whether you do the install yourself or pay a shop to do it is your call. Your install won't be very complicated (just one amp) so I think you could do it yourself in a day even if you've never done it before. There are online tutorials for installing an amp and this message board has several 4Runner-specific threads on installing door speakers. Better yet, find a friend who's done it before and offer him/her a few beers in exchange for an afternoon of help.