Do I have a ****ty sound system?

[seLect]

Hello all! I hope all is well! It has BEEN a LONG time since I have been here on the forums (according to the website statistics, my last visit was this Jan. on the 20th!). Anyways, let's begin reading my boring thread shall we!?


Basically when I first got the truck, my dad refused to upgrade my sound system for 6 months until the stock system finally gave up (in other words, i blew the stock system on purpose to get a new sound system; spoiled i know!). my dad made two different upgrades; 1) replaced the stock deck unit with alpine deck unit & replaced stock speakers with Infinity speakers (this was back in '07 so i cannot remember the product exactly but i'm guessing this is what i went with [ Infinity - 6-1/2" Car Speakers with Polypropylene Woofer Cones (Pair) - Silver - REF6032SI ] because i remember my dad telling geeksquad to pick whatever that is "suitable for a teenager and stays under budget" and to install them.

I upgraded again a while ago (few months ago) and I got a rockford fosgate [P300-1] amp and two subwoofers [10" rockford fosgate subwoofers sealed]. Note: it is a mono amp

Basically I'm just not happy with the audio quality the system produces. (I spent about $800 on them including wiring & installation in general ; not good at installing car audio). I am hearing impaired so audio quality means everything to me. I really enjoyed my mother's BMW audio (but then it's obviously a luxury brand) when I drove it during my vacation in North Carolina but if anyone has ever ridden in a BMW or a lexus that owns a 4runner at the moment, could you possibly recommend me any good amps/subwoofers that will produce superior audio quality? For anyone else that has not owned a BMW or ridden in one but has an extensive knowledge when it comes to car audio that would like to share, please do. I'm starting to lose faith in local salespeople because they don't really care about helping me find the right products when they care about getting profit for selling products given by major companies.


I mostly listen to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin but I certainly do listen to songs with a lot of bass mostly but nothing incredibly nuts.

Summary: I need a better sound system that will produce more superior audio quality (close to BMW audio if possible; especially a Z4 2.5i BMW audio) and I am considering doing away with the speakers, the amp, and probably the subwoofers for a overhaul on my sound system. The deck unit stays.


I'm ready to spend some money!

 

[mistaj0hnny]

JL AUDIO!!! They are pretty affordable and sound excellent. My whole system is JL, from the subs, amps, speakers, etc. I guess having a nice deck with an EQ to adjust the sound to what sounds best to you would also be key to a great sounding system.

 

[seLect]

Thanks for typing a fast response to my thread!


JL...that is what they were going with until at the last minute they advised me to go with rockford gate rather than JL.

Do you think you could potentially link me to a head unit with EQ? I don't seem to think my head unit has that, but it can adjust the sub/tremble/bass but that is about it. Hell, do you think you could link me the complete set of JL audio system? If it's not too much of a trouble to you. I would greatly appreciate it.
I apologize if my English is off at times, Im fighting off the ambien side effects.

How much did you spend on your system Mista jOhnny~? I await your response with links to JL!! Help me finish this B! down! We got this.

 

[hunton]

JL mis the way to go. i had 2 12 inch w3s and it was ridiculous. the alpine should have eq. it will probably just take some hutning to find it

 

[seLect]

Awesome!!! What does w3s mean? ANd what is JL mis?

I need products with links!!!!!! Thanks so miuch

 

[Clemsonfan15]

JL Audio is overpriced sometimes. You can find better stuff for the same price or cheaper.

To get your "BMW" sound system you're going to need to do more than just upgrade your headunit and speakers. Proper sound deadening is going to be very important.

If you really want to do it right you should get a separate EQ, not one that is built into the headunit.

 

[seLect]

ClemsonFan!! It's been a long time, pal. But yeah...I feel you.

Do you have facebook or something where we can chat live time? I have questions and if you're free to answer; let me know. OTher than that, does anyone recommends products with links??

 

[mistaj0hnny]

Thanks for typing a fast response to my thread!


JL...that is what they were going with until at the last minute they advised me to go with rockford gate rather than JL.

Do you think you could potentially link me to a head unit with EQ? I don't seem to think my head unit has that, but it can adjust the sub/tremble/bass but that is about it. Hell, do you think you could link me the complete set of JL audio system? If it's not too much of a trouble to you. I would greatly appreciate it.
I apologize if my English is off at times, Im fighting off the ambien side effects.

How much did you spend on your system Mista jOhnny~? I await your response with links to JL!! Help me finish this B! down! We got this.

Well sounds like you have an EQ already but I think you should consider upgrading to a double DIN that has a full EQ. Something like this. For $300 I think it's a steal!! For the best sound, get a 4-channel amp to hook up hook up some 6.5" components in front and 5.25" coaxials in the back. W3 is a model of sub woofer that JL makes. They bump real hard so depending on what type of bass you are looking for a single 12" in a ported box will probably do the trick. Car audio can get really expensive so definitely budget your expenses and consider saving up for a quality system if you really want the best sound. And get everything wired professionally!! I would budget around $1000 bucks or so for everything together.. and that's with finding good deals on amazon/craigslist and labor. Along the lines you'll also want to consider sound deadening mats such as Second Skin, Dynamat, etc.

 

[mistaj0hnny]

Also, do more research before buying everything. It takes a lot of time and patience to get a sound system that would work the best for your needs. Like I said, try to find good deals on amazon and craigslist! JL is the way to go though. What is your budget anyways?

 

[seLect]

Thanks for the helpful responses! I'm a little bit intoxicated at the moment, but I will certainly re-check this thread when I wake up. However, I'll answer Q's right now. My budget is around 1000 (i could have had a 2k budget but , but id rather use the other g for something else). As for upgrading to a DIN, will it have room in my truck? Remember, it's a '99 4WD 4Runner SR5. I can't imagine how I would fit it in there, unless I get rid of the dual outlets? Exactly what is sound deadending? Let me know.

I'm just trying to upgrade the system as soon as possible before I go off to Blacksburg when classes start in few weeks . Ill look around though, components = front rear speakers / coaxials = rear rear speakers?


If anyone is insanely bored and wants to do something to kill time, create a list of parts you would use for your sound system (deckunit, subs, amps, etc).

I like options, like a lot.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I am extremely happy with my sound system and I have been complemented several times on the quality.

Alpine Head Unit

Alpine 4 Channel Amp - 75x4 RMS
Front: Infinity Kappa components
Rear: Infinity Kappa 6x9 (some cutting required)

.5F RockFord-F CAP
MTX Audio 6500D - 700x1 RMS
12 x 2 MTX Audio subs


ROCK ON!


:guitar3:

 

[Socco]

As for upgrading to a DIN, will it have room in my truck? Remember, it's a '99 4WD 4Runner SR5. I can't imagine how I would fit it in there, unless I get rid of the dual outlets?

"DIN" is the standard radio size (2" x 7".) Your truck has a "Double Din" or (4" x 7") opening in the dash. The brackets the hold the radio in the dash can support either size. No cutting.

Here is my old Alpine 3DA-W882 (Double Din) that I just retired after 13 years of flawless service.

 

[A.Wilson013]

I had the HK System in my Bimmer back in High School. Going to be hard to beat.

I ALSO had some Infinity References in a GLI I had in High School and was VERY unhappy with them.

The best aftermarket system that I have ever had was a 100% JL System run off of the stock Audi Symphony Deck. I do not remember the parts, unfortunately, but it made my A4 sound better than my buddies Civic hatch that he purchased from the local car audio shop. His car was their demo car. Granted, I did not have 6 12's and an XBox 360, but the sound quality was 100x as nice. His car was running all Pioneer equipment with the exception of the subs, which were Kicker SoloBarics or whatever they're called.


I am running off of 3 hours of sleep and that jumbled mess may not make any sense, sorry.

 

[Nelsonmd]

JL AUDIO!!! They are pretty affordable and sound excellent. My whole system is JL, from the subs, amps, speakers, etc. I guess having a nice deck with an EQ to adjust the sound to what sounds best to you would also be key to a great sounding system.

x2... I have as much JL as I could get. You can get their discontinued models for pretty reasonable prices online (I have JL sub amp and rear component speakers). They are great sound quality.

Thanks for typing a fast response to my thread!


JL...that is what they were going with until at the last minute they advised me to go with rockford gate rather than JL.

Do you think you could potentially link me to a head unit with EQ? I don't seem to think my head unit has that, but it can adjust the sub/tremble/bass but that is about it. Hell, do you think you could link me the complete set of JL audio system? If it's not too much of a trouble to you. I would greatly appreciate it.
I apologize if my English is off at times, Im fighting off the ambien side effects.

Whoever told you to go with RF instead of JL was trying to ditch some crappy stock they couldn't move. In my opinion, RF is crap that appeals to bangers that want some thump only (unless you are looking at their high end products, which I am betting you aren't). Take the time to listen to the products you are buying, and whatever you do, don't take ANY advice from the idiots at bestbuy, geek squad, or any big-box retailer. Just don't. You can't trust them, and chances are they are just some teenager working a summer job that doesn't know his ass from his elbow...

JL Audio is overpriced sometimes. You can find better stuff for the same price or cheaper.

To get your "BMW" sound system you're going to need to do more than just upgrade your headunit and speakers. Proper sound deadening is going to be very important.

If you really want to do it right you should get a separate EQ, not one that is built into the headunit.

JL can be had at reasonable prices, you just have to shop for it. Totally agree about the sound deadening. This is a big factor for making a good sound stage.

If you really want sound quality, then 80% of what you need to pay attention to is your head unit and front speakers. Get quality there before you add rears or a subwoofer. Once you have that, then look at subs, and really you only need 1 sub in a properly sized box. Sealed will help with clarity (as long as the box is sized right). BTW, rears will not add much if anything to your sound experience. Some people disagree with that, but after researching myself and playing around in my old car with the F/R balance, and having really nice speakers in both front and back, I am convinced that it is true. But again, try it for yourself.

Here's what I have, and I am very happy with it:
HU: Pioneer Premier DEH 690IB
Front Speakers: Pioneer TS-C160R (2 way component speakers)
Rears: Stock right now, had JL's in my old car.
Sub Amp: JL Audio A1400
Sub: Alpine R-series 12" SWR-1242D (just 1, more than you need to really feel the bass)

People go overboard with subs (to be honest, it sound like you did this before) just trying to get thump. They are not the most important part of your system. Definitely do you own research like mistajohnny said.

 

[seLect]

Thanks so much for all the responses that were made today on this thread!


@brianemc2_42, so you're saying you have two separate amps? (4-chan amp and a MTX amp? I looked it up online, looks like an amp to me. I didn't know people could have more than one amp installed in their vehicle (because of wiring). Nonetheless, I will continue to look into your products and see where I go from there. By the way, what kind of music do you listen to mostly? :thanks:

@Socco, I see!!! I saw that picture also...it looks very complicated! Is it a one piece unit or a two piece unit? I see you have a CD changer unit...the thing is, I use an iPod to play music and I don't have any use for CD's (rarely used) but I certainly hope there are products that includes an iPod ready nowadays. The brackets, are you talking about the ones below the deck unit? I can feel something if I stick my hand under the radio, something metal (probably the metal brackets you were talking about earlier) Just to clairfy, there is no way to keep the current alpine unit while a double DIN unit is in place, correct? I'm gonna go out on a limb and say no, it's not possible. Btw, are they complicated? The unit you had had an interesting layout (on the screen), definitely did not look simple at first glance.

@A.Wilson013, I know. I was blown away by the audio quality my mother's Z4 produced and I was determined to get the near-same if not; the same audio quality the BMW audio produced in my truck. I'm starting to see that JL is clearly king when it comes to car audio but there are products that are just as good as JL's products, but cheaper with a brand that is not known as much as JL brand is.


@Nelsonmd, yeah. I basically walked into the store and told them I wanted to spend some money upgrading my sound system and they basically walked me around the store until at the near end where we were gonna go with JL but instead they recommended RF at the last minute which I obliged (i am an idiot). I will certainly shop around and see what I can find.

Thank you all for making insightful comments, I appreciate it.

Question: So lets say I do away with Infinity speakers, Alpine head unit, RF amp & two 10" subs sealed, would it be possible for me to keep the wiring in place (especially the amp/subs) or are all wires exclusive to the products that companies makes? i.e. you cannot use a RF wire for JL when it will only work for a RF. Also, if anyone here is interested in buying any of my products that I am replacing for a better system; shoot me a PM. I will sell it for insanely cheap (or we can negotiate; either way I know they will sit in the garage for a long time as soon I upgrade my system)

Another question: Would a guy that doesn't know much about car interior have issues doing a "sound deadening" process, or whatever it's called? How much would one have to spend on materials for proper sound-deadening? Thanks!!! I will link products that I'm looking at later tonight, hopefully. But for now, it's pool time!

:thumb3:

Cool picture of my truck in the snow;

 

[Nelsonmd]

Infinity makes some good stuff, just stay away from their cheap stuff, same for alpine.

As far as wiring, you can keep your existing wiring, but it may have limitations if it is small diameter. I replaced the wiring in my old vehicle with some thicker monster cable (they actually some really cheap stuff that is pretty good, it's clear/blue colored), but I didn't in my 4runner (too much work, though I may replace it in the future). If you put good quality sub cables in, then go ahead an keep them, but especially with the sub, make sure you have large enough cables for the power you are running. Brand doesn't matter, I am running kicker sub cable to a JL amp and Alpine sub. Cable is cable, as long as it is quality cable.

You can do the sound deadening yourself, but do your research first and decide if it is too much for you.

 

[seLect]

Infinity makes some good stuff, just stay away from their cheap stuff, same for alpine.

As far as wiring, you can keep your existing wiring, but it may have limitations if it is small diameter. I replaced the wiring in my old vehicle with some thicker monster cable (they actually some really cheap stuff that is pretty good, it's clear/blue colored), but I didn't in my 4runner (too much work, though I may replace it in the future). If you put good quality sub cables in, then go ahead an keep them, but especially with the sub, make sure you have large enough cables for the power you are running. Brand doesn't matter, I am running kicker sub cable to a JL amp and Alpine sub. Cable is cable, as long as it is quality cable.

You can do the sound deadening yourself, but do your research first and decide if it is too much for you.

Thanks so much for replying and clearing up the question regarding cables!! I'm just upset that I went to Best Buy the first time to upgrade my sound system. I wish I found this forum earlier when I was in the market for a new sound system. /sigh

 

[Nelsonmd]

Thanks so much for replying and clearing up the question regarding cables!! I'm just upset that I went to Best Buy the first time to upgrade my sound system. I wish I found this forum earlier when I was in the market for a new sound system. /sigh

Check out Sonicelectronix.com I have gotten stuff there and have been pleased with them. It sounds like money isn't a big deal to you, so you might try some higher service sites like crutchfield.com.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

ClemsonFan!! It's been a long time, pal. But yeah...I feel you.

Do you have facebook or something where we can chat live time? I have questions and if you're free to answer; let me know. OTher than that, does anyone recommends products with links??

Yeah man. I'll PM you.

Here is the sound deadening I would go with: RAAMmat BXT II - RAAMaudio Inc.

If you have time on your hands and feel fairly confident I don't see why you couldn't do it yourself.

If you wanted to do something different from everyone else I would go with FI Audio. The Q would probably be pretty nice. Do a 15" in a nice box. :boink:

Make sure you don't skimp on the box though. That is pretty crucial.

I'd go to KnuKonceptz for my wires, well at least the power wires. KnuKonceptz - view products for category KCA Kable

For an amp I'd go with a MB Quart 1500.1: MB Quart DSC-1500.1D (dsc15001d) 1500W RMS, Discus Series Class D

or Audioque 1200D: AQ1200D Amplifier

 

[Socco]

@Socco, I see!!! I saw that picture also...it looks very complicated! Is it a one piece unit or a two piece unit? I see you have a CD changer unit...the thing is, I use an iPod to play music and I don't have any use for CD's (rarely used) but I certainly hope there are products that includes an iPod ready nowadays. The brackets, are you talking about the ones below the deck unit? I can feel something if I stick my hand under the radio, something metal (probably the metal brackets you were talking about earlier) Just to clairfy, there is no way to keep the current alpine unit while a double DIN unit is in place, correct? I'm gonna go out on a limb and say no, it's not possible. Btw, are they complicated? The unit you had had an interesting layout (on the screen), definitely did not look simple at first glance.

That deck is a single piece. Its really a tape deck on bottom and a 3CD on top with a big motorized display. It was pretty kick a@@ back in '99. Yeah, LOTS to look at and lots of buttons, but I got used to it. Its long since discontinued. The only way to listen to my iPhone/iPod on it was through an FM modulator, which sounded like carp. Hence why it is on a shelf in the garage. The brackets are the screwed to the radio on left and right then screwed into the dash frame. If you take the dash piece around the radio off, you'll see 2 8mm screws on either side of your radio - that's them.
No... the dash has room for 2) single din devices or 1) double din device. Why would you want a second stereo anyways?