Complete New System

drw2514 · Post by **drw2514** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:40 pm

Okay, so here's the deal. I'm completely upgrading my sound system, that much is for sure. Here's what I'm thinking about getting:HU: Sony CDX-F5700 http://www.crutchfield.com/S-J...F5700Subs: (2) Alpine Type-E 12" http://www.crutchfield.com/S-J...avf=YSpeakers: (4) 5 1/4" Polk http://www.circuitcity.com/det...73869Sub amp: Alpine http://www.circuitcity.com/det...69339Speaker amp: Alpine http://www.circuitcity.com/det...68670So what do you think? I had the guy at the car stereo place help me put it together. He seemed to think it was pretty good. But I'm more interested in what you think...good? bad? ugly? Any input is appreciated, as well as suggestions. Thanks for all the help you've all given me.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:58 pm

I'm pretty sure someone said you can use 6 1/4" speakers, i think?

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:15 pm

6 1/2" Yeah. Definitely get the 6 1/2", it'll get you better bass response (Even with the subs)I'd say nay on the Sony HU and the Alpine 4 channel amp, and i'll give reasons in a second. Of course, if you really want Alpine, go Alpine.Sony HU - The quality of Sony HUs have gone down in the last couple of years, reliability wise. And also, this year they're reverting style back to those of about 3-4 years ago when they started with the whole "D-Bass" thing.. I'd reccomend Pioneer/Alpine instead.. Or an older version Sony. There are a few other high-end brands which are also good, but I don't want to make a huge list..Not to mention, I, personally..would like a better display than the one you picked out.. but that's me.. The Alpine amps... They're good, but expensive. I'd reccomend the Audiobahn A4004T for the cabin speakers, and the Bazooka 300.1 for the Subs. Reason being? The Alpine 4 channel has high and low pass crossovers..but not adjustable! It's important to have adjustable crossovers because each car is different, and it all needs to be tweaked to work together.As for the Sub amp?Bazooka 300.1 http://www.circuitcity.com/det...70290Check the price, you save. If you were going with the higher series of Alpine amps, that'd be different, but don't go for the black box ones..A4004T - http://www.circuitcity.com/det...76492I'm curious who suggested all of this? Not that it's bad suggestions, but still, curious. I work in a Circuit City in Atlanta, and we always try to move away from the Alpine amps.. Also, I'd suggest trying to go for some Sony P5 subs, or the Infinity's... The Type-E's aren't very powerful (RMS 200 Watts), the Infinity's and the Sony's are more like 300-350...which will give a much better sound..Sony P5 - Crutchfield (same price as CC) http://www.crutchfield.com/S-5...avf=NInfinity Reference - Crutchfield again, same as CC - http://www.crutchfield.com/S-5...avf=N

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:18 pm

And, as nightly, my memory stops working...What features in particular did you want in your headunit? I see the Sony you picked has MP3 capabilities, is that important to you?Mp3?Aux input?I assume you'll want 3 pre-outs so your amps are easier to install..so i'll keep that in mind...and also, how much would you want to spend on the HU itself?

drw2514 · Post by **drw2514** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:25 pm

i want a HU that I can use my iPod with, so an aux input is a must. Other than that, it's pretty much up in the air.do the 6 1/2" speakers require any modification to the vehicle, or do they fit in the opening that is already in the door? just curious.i'd really like to not go over $329 for the HU (that was the most expensive one I was looking at...).The guy at my local Circuit City suggested all this for me. I'm in Ann Arbor, MI.What do you think of the speakers? Are the polks good? I'd probably get the 6 1/2" ones with what I've learned here...I'm looking to get all of this done this week, and all of your help is invaluable. I'd be lost without you, as I know next to nothing about all this and I don't feel completely comfortable trusting someone at a store. Thank you so much.

drw2514 · Post by **drw2514** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:55 pm

what about this HU? it says it has an aux input, but with a special cable that I can imagine is pretty easy to find and pretty inexpensive.http://www.circuitcity.com/det...69693

mwebb · Post by **mwebb** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 2:29 pm

That head unit is nice- My buddy had it in his Grand AmIf you like the alpine products like the subs check out http://www.ikesound.com they have really good prices. They do not have the type E subs but they have the better type S and R for a good priceAre you goignt o hook it up your self?Do you have Moons and Tunes?I live in Ypsi if you need any help

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:08 pm

Quote, originally posted by drw2514 Â»i want a HU that I can use my iPod with, so an aux input is a must. Other than that, it's pretty much up in the air.i'd really like to not go over $329 for the HU (that was the most expensive one I was looking at...).I personally try to reccomend the Pioneers. Why? They sound nearly as good as the Alpines, and they're quite a bit cheaper. The 9807 is nice, but a lower-end unit. I'd reccomend the Pioneer DEHP-6600. http://www.circuitcity.com/det...87377For only $250, you get a great display, a great AM/FM tuner, and a pretty hefty set of crossovers and audio options built in. For the aux in, add this - http://www.crutchfield.com/S-J...avf=NThe CC page says "Aux In - NO", but you can add that adapter from crutchfield and it'll give you an aux in. Either that, or step up to the Sony CDXM800. http://www.circuitcity.com/det...68777I know I said avoid Sony, but this unit is still as quality as the original ActiveBlack units (like one I used to have). This has the Aux In built in on the back, and still gives you all the sound fixin' abilities.Quote Â»What do you think of the speakers? Are the polks good? I'd probably get the 6 1/2" ones with what I've learned here...do the 6 1/2" speakers require any modification to the vehicle, or do they fit in the opening that is already in the door? just curious.They aren't bad. I try to reccomend Polks as often as possible, because I love how they sound. If you can't afford the component sets.. ($199 at CC), then stick with what you found. I'd even say get one of the component db series in the front, and stick with what you have in the back.. it raises the price about $100, but I find it to be well worth it. (Personal opinion, of course..)For the rear speakers, it just sits in the hole the old speakers went in. For the front, I think you have two options, you either need to add a spacer (so the magnet doesn't hit the window), or tear out the guts of the front speakers, and mount the new ones in the cone of the old ones. CC might not do this, as we're supposed to be able to return your car to stock, so you can either tell them to do it, or get the spacers, which they should have..Quote Â»I'm looking to get all of this done this week, and all of your help is invaluable. I'd be lost without you, as I know next to nothing about all this and I don't feel completely comfortable trusting someone at a store. Thank you so much.Oddly enough, you're trusting someone on a computer, who happens to work at one of those stores! But, I only work there because the job market for television is kinda thin down here.. If you want the option that'll work for you straight away, try the Sony CDXM800, or even the newer CDXF7700 (http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?c ... &oid=87279). Both have aux in without an extra adapter, nice screens, and pretty good sound. A nice benefit of the 800 over the 7700 is the motorized flip face...you dont' need to remove the faceplate, because it's completely black when closed..Hope it all helps!

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:12 pm

Quote, originally posted by drw2514 Â»what about this HU? it says it has an aux input, but with a special cable that I can imagine is pretty easy to find and pretty inexpensive.http://www.circuitcity.com/det...69693You can get an aux in adapter from crutchfield for $18.. Which is odd, something Alpine being cheap.. Heh.

drw2514 · Post by **drw2514** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:37 pm

The only reason I was no longer considering the Sony CDXF7700 was because the guy told me that it didn't have an aux input on the back. I really liked it when I saw it at circuit city...it was my favorite HU there. I didn't like the 800 that much because of the way the controls were laid out, and because it didn't have a detachable face.

dsegundo · Post by **dsegundo** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:43 pm

It seems that you're amp is, ahem, a little underpowered for the subs right? If you've got 200w mono into 2 subs wouldn't that only give you, roughly 100w per sub at best? my wattage math is loose and hypothetical. wouldn't a two channel bridged be better to run 2 subs?

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 2:05 am

The 7700 does have an Aux in. Even says it on the CC page. Sooo...that guy obviously didn't read up on it.. no biggie.And amplifiers don't quite work that way. If he had two subs connected to it, the amplifier would get a 2 Ohm load, and therefore put out 350watts to both. You don't need to split it... When you hook up two subs to a mono amplifier, it makes it more efficient. So both subs would get 350 watts. That's another reason why I say don't get the E-Types... they're designed to work with 200 watts, and for the price, wouldn't give you as much sound as the Infinity or the Sony.Also, bridging two subs on a two-channel amp is very dangerous, and likely to blow the amp. Two channel amps are designed so they could be bridged to a single 4 Ohm sub, but not two.

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