What should I buy?

Early B.

Pure newb question here 'cause I don't know a damn thing about car audio:

I'm replacing the horrible Bose system in my car with 2 pair of Polk db525 speakers and a Pioneer receiver. My needs are quite simple -- I listen almost exclusively to local radio stations while driving, so I don't need anything fancy. I'm just wondering if what I've purchased is all that I need.

Oh yeah, it helps to know that I won't be cranking it up (too old for that stuff), but I'm most interested in high quality sound. With that in mind, is a separate amp necessary? What about a powered subwoofer?

Thanks.

Kinetic

what car do you have?

Kinetic

The HU:
I prefer Alpine HUs insted of Pioneer, but Pioneer is actually pretty good...


The coaxials:
The Amp will give your more Sound Quality, the speakers always will sound better with the recomended power, thats why you need the right amp for the inside speakers, most of the time more power means better sound, becouse you dont need to force any component to hear your music at a pretty decent volumen level, that will avoid any kind of distortion.

The frecuency response of your DB525 is 60-22k Hz so the sub would be a really great help.
and the RMS power is 45W on those DB525, so i would recomend a 40 or 50W RMS 4 channel amp.

maybe a pioneer GM-4300F or an Alpine MRP-F250


The Sub:
The powered sub? im not sure, i would buy it separetly, I really think that the separetly components are better, and those powered subs are good but can be better.

for the Sub I would recomend a polk DB104 DVC should be enough (but i dont know much about subs), but it seems like a pretty decent power, and also a nice SQ

and the amp for the Sub should be the same:
Pioneer GM-7300M or an Alpine MRP-M450

Early B.

Kinetic wrote: »

what car do you have?

Mercedes C-280.

beardog03

kommpressor

Kinetic

thats a big trunk, maybe you should use a little more power on the bass, but lets wait for more people to post, im not a subwoofer expert...

Early B.

Wow. I just discovered HD Radio!!!

I'm looking at purchasing one of these instead of the Pioneer I ordered:

http://www.dualav.com/receivers/xhd6425.html

Kinetic

buy an alpine 9887, is HD radio ready

MacLeod

Yo Early! Good to see ya over here dude!

As for needing an amp - its the same as in home audio. The more power the better itll sound. However, if youre just looking for some decent tunes to listen to while you drive to work and back, the head unit will have sufficient power for that.

Same with a sub. One thing to note, those DB's will NOT have as much low frequency response as your current Bose system as theyre designed to work with a sub and not designed to be play full range where as your Bose system was. The midrange and highs will be better but the lows will not. So you could definitely benefit from a sub. As for powered subs there are a few out there. The Infinity Basslink is pretty solid and MTX and Alpine both make good powered subs.

Of course, youll get your best results from a component sub and separate amp but since youre not going for home audio level sound quality the powered subs will work fine.

Here are some good choices.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Group/ProductMenu.aspx?g=51000&tp=114

Oh, and stay away from Dual. Shoddy build quality. Stick with the big names for receivers. Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, Clarion and even Panasonic.

eloplayspolo

im pretty sure the 9887 still requires the HD adapter

Kinetic

yes the Alpine 9887 is HD ready, i mean, it can have HD with the HD adapter TUA-T500HD

Early B.

The Alpine is way beyond my budget. I decided to buy this one:

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=300&i=257KDHDR1&c=3&tp=5684&avf=N

eloplayspolo

seems like a good value.

Kinetic

check this:

http://www.amazon.com/Alpine-CDA-9883-MP3-WMA-Receiver/dp/B000OOWGRW/ref=pd_bbs_7/103-8297847-0291846?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1194416082&sr=8-7

its an Alpine CDA-9883

check the specs here.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=CDA-9883&lang=en&tab=A

and you will need this..

http://www.amazon.com/Alpine-TUA-T500HD-HD-radio-tuner/dp/B000HVVESY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-8297847-0291846?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1194416338&sr=8-1

is the HD Module TUA-T500HD

Kinetic

you would use the

50Wx4 Max power if you dont use an amp

the crossover for giving the right frecuency to the inside speakers, and the sub, so every speaker should have the correct frecuency and they will sound at the best performance. (so important in SQ)

Ipod Ready you probably have an Ipod, so the cable is just $17 bucks on amazon

3 pre outs front ones, rear ones and subwoofer, and you can regulate the power of the sub from your HU


And comparing this JVC with the Alpine CDA-9883

power same
frecuency response, 40-20k vs 20 a 20k on the alpine
sub pre amps same
EQ 7 bands JVC none Alpine (i have the 9887 with EQ and i really dont use it, sometimes sounds better in flat)
HD radio JVC built in vs Alpine optional
Bluetooth JVC none vs Alpine optional

I know what are you saying "Alpine is expensive becouse everything is optional" but come on, you are not going to buy all the options, just the ones you need, and the sound is awesome and is one of the best brands in HUs

eloplayspolo

the jvc has a built in hd tuner, its a very good deal. there is a big price diffrent kinetic and for him, its prob not worth it.

madmax

Early, you better high tail it back to 2 channel before these guys pull you into the dark side.
madmax

MacLeod

I dunno, its a lot cheaper over here!

That JVC is a solid piece Early. Its got a 7 band graphic EQ which aint great but is just fine for your needs. It has several presets in case you dont want to mess with it but it allows enough flexibility in case you get the itch to fidget with it.

It doesnt have a crossover tho but most dont and again, for your needs its ok.

Early B.

madmax wrote: »

Early, you better high tail it back to 2 channel before these guys pull you into the dark side.
madmax

Too late.

I got everything installed this morning -- Polk 5.25" front speakers, Alpine 6.5" speakers in the rear, and the JVC head unit. Sounds OK, not great (yet). Bass is weak. maybe the equalizer will help. I'm using the presets right now. I still have to learn how to tweak this thing, though. A couple of my favorite radio stations broadcast in HD, but the signal is not as strong as regular radio (yet).

I was gonna install everything myself, but then I glanced at the instructions for the head unit (or lack thereof) and said, "'Eff it!" I'm not gonna attempt it. However, I ripped out the cheap, $3-looking Bose speakers.

Man, this stuff can get expensive very quickly. So far I've spent over $400 just to get better radio perfomance. WTF am I doing?!! :eek: I'd really like a separate amp and subwoofer, but it ain't gonna happen. That's just too much money. Now I see why some people are really into car audio.

I promise -- I won't get pulled to the dark side.;)

audiobliss

Hope you can figure out how to tweak it and are satisfied with it!

But, you should join the dark side! I have about $1100 in my system...and don't even have a sub! :eek: It's a pity...I NEED a sub...and new speakers, for that matter...

exalted512

I have a $2800 amp.
-Cody