Just bought a '94 Trans-Am that has POS Monsoon junk in it, naturally I sold it all. Now got about $500 to spend. I searched for quite a while but everything seemed to center on subs & amps. I assume all the stereo guys here are into rap (crap) . I don't need hard hitting bass, I listen to classic rock, some heavier stuff and ALOT of talk radio. In fact I'm getting an MP3 player so I can record my favorite radio show ( coasttocoastam.com) and listen to it on long trips. So I just need clean sound I can crank on occasion, I'm pretty much sold on an Alpine HU. I also will get a 6 1/2" componant setup for my doors, and 6.5" 2 ways for the rear seat area. Not gonna bother with hatch speakers. Some guys seem to like to just componants for the front and a sub/amps combo for the rear, however like I said I dont need hard hitting bass....just clean sound.

I also noticed no one likes Blaupunkt stuff, I always thought this was really good componants. Crutchfield has some good sales on Blaupunkt. Ideas?

BTW I'm sold on a lower line Alpine at around ~$160, all I need is a CD/MP3 player not alot of fancy features I'll never use. So that leaves me $350 for speakers. Should I just forget about the rear seat 6.5" and get a killer componant setup for the doors??

 

As far as bass goes, I love the factory bose sub that came with the car. Like you, I don't listen to much rap, but I think that little sub does great for giving rock a nice punchy bass line. If you're only looking at speakers, I say buy a nice set of components for the front, at least $250, then spend the rest on some decent 3 ways for the rear. My Rockford Fosgate components in front are great.

 

I've had Blaupunkt and was satisfied with it. Blaupunkt had the most sensitive tuner I've ever had. Good for those talk shows you like. However, having said that, they have changed the tuner, and the AM has been toned down quite a bit. Most aftermarket radios have about the same amount of sensivity on the AM band, which I think you're interested in. Usually in the 20 - 22 db range. Check the Alpine against the Pioneer digital tuner and see if there is much difference. I know some of you don't buy based on specs, but that's a good starting poing.

 

i worked in car audio at best buy, and as with any retail, catalog or store, your going to pay way to much there, the best deals i found for my formula was on ebay from "electronicgiant" they have some sweet deals and not a lot of cash required to really make it sound sweet. also blaupunkt stuff sucks, pretty much all of it is a waste of $$$. fyi

 

Well, as for subs, Im with you, but you do want some bass. I bought a cheap $13 bass tube from Kragen (not sure what it is by you, but here is a link http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductL...egorycode=3082 should work other wise go to partsamerica.com and search for Electra 6012.) I used speaker wire to hook it up to my speakers behind my head and put it on the floor between my seat and the rear (fit perfect). Just guess and check what wires to hook it into the stock wiring harness. This doesn't give a crap load of bass, but it is better than nothing and would be perfect for you. I have been pushing it (to see how much it would take to blow) and I havent had any problems.
So I got a little bass for under $20, not bad.

 

Hey Fuji I went to Ebay and looked up electronicgiant, his prices were ok- about the same as Crutchfield on some, better on others. Still I ordered an Alpine CDA 9830 , some Rockford Fosgate componant speakers for the door and some 6.5" Rockford Fosgate 6.5" for the passenger compartment. I was gonna just get the componant speakers, however in my Talon when I have the balance set to "0" all i hear is the rear speakers. So I might as well put a set back there. If I think I need an amp and a sub I'll get one.

 

You may want to look into a sub later on. Just because you don't listen to Rap doesn't mean a sub won't make your system sound a lot better.

In any rock band you have a bass guitar player and a drum set right?


I would've said save your money on the back speakers, because as you said, in your Talon all your back speakers did was pull the soundstage to the back of the car. That money would have been well spent on one 10" or even an 8" to put in the hatch area. I'm pretty sure you can get JBL GT4 or JL W0 subs at super cheap prices on eBay.

The 9830 is a good choice. Very solid deck, though I would maybe have looked into a 7893. They're a couple years old, but you can find perfectly good units on eBay very cheap and you get the same features.


Though, the sub will be fairly useless on talk radio