nice replacement stereo system nothing to crazy

[chappys4life]

I just purchased a 1987 325 someone has put in an aftermarket deck and it sucks. Half the speakers work and are not good quality. I was thinking of doing a new sound system but because I am unaware of what the Previous owner butchered I was going to bypass the factory stuff and run new lines to a amp.

I am not looking for anything crazy this is my DD and some light autox time as well so looking for clean nice sound and being able to pass tech.

So far I am planning:
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X595 (multiple colors match it close to original dash)
Kenwood KAC-2404S 4 channel amp
4x JL AUDIO TR 525-CXi
Run new speaker wires and clean up existing wiring.

What do you guys think of this system?

[jasonsnoddy]

try and use original wiring if possible, its good stuff

[StereoInstaller1]

I just purchased a 1987 325 someone has put in an aftermarket deck and it sucks. Half the speakers work and are not good quality. I was thinking of doing a new sound system but because I am unaware of what the Previous owner butchered I was going to bypass the factory stuff and run new lines to a amp.

I am not looking for anything crazy this is my DD and some light autox time as well so looking for clean nice sound and being able to pass tech.

So far I am planning:
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X595 (multiple colors match it close to original dash)
Kenwood KAC-2404S 4 channel amp
4x JL AUDIO TR 525-CXi
Run new speaker wires and clean up existing wiring.

What do you guys think of this system?

Frankly, that is gonna be lame.

The deck, amp and speakers are all fine, but having 4 5" woofers as all of your sound is inadequate, to say the least. The issue is the cars acoustics more than anything. Also, those speakers, like virtually all 5.25" drivers have LESS bass than the stock Premium Sound speakers...all in all, that is gonna play pretty loud, but sound "compressed" and not terribly clear.

[chappys4life]

How could I improve the system then?

[jasonsnoddy]

bass. gotta pay to play my friend.

[nrubenstein]

How could I improve the system then?

Ideally, you want to buy a sub box from Luke. If you really just can't/won't do that, then pick up a set of stock premium sound speakers.

[bmwman91]

Honestly, using the integrated amp in ANY head unit is not a recipe for great sound. All HUs use the same quad-amp ICs (Nakamichi, Pioneer, Apline, etc.) and they will all sound the same. Basically, once you are pushing more than 14W per channel, distortion will rise to well above 10%, which is easily audible (even 1% is noticeable). A dedicated amp is sort of required since they have space for their own switching power supplies which allow them to run with more than battery voltage.

I'd keep things simple by running a mono sub in the ski-pass hole, a pair of mids up front & a pair of tweeters up front. Find a 5CH amp with integrated crossovers & just use that to actively cross everything over. Use whatever HU you want.

[StereoInstaller1]

How could I improve the system then?

IMO, the best sounding car for the least money is a very simple install.

Pick whatever deck you like and whatever 4 channel you like, as long as it has variable crossovers, which that Kenwood does not have. If you are thinking about new, for gods sake don't buy that amp, get the MB Quart 4.60 for the same money, or, consider the Jensen Power 5500, (5 channel) it kicks the crap out of the Kenwont in terms of features, power, flexibility and sound quality.

BTW, the 4.60 is basically the same as 90% of all the 4 channel amps out there. They are all made on the same assembly line by the same people using the same parts...you can tell by the control panel layout. Look at the Quart, then look at other 4 channel amps (sonicelectronix.com has great pics). Basically, the only difference is the sticker. That particular 4 channel sounds terrific. You have to drop MUCH bigger dollars to get any better, seriously, these sound great and do everything you need.

So, that Kenwwod deck you picked is fine. Has high and low pass filters, great SQ, nice interface. I do wish the RCA outs were high voltage, but you aren't looking to rule the stereo world here, just some respectable tunes...something you can listen to with the windows down at 70 and still enjoy, but at least a 6DH trunkspace rating, minimum.

A single 10" and 1 of my boxes is under $300 shipped to your door. Add a $100 amp and a car-full of good condition stock Premium Sound speakers or Infinities or MB Quart or whatever 5.25 component kit up front, then whatever crap you can find for the noise from behind your head...keep in mind with the system I am describing using the 4 channel, you will have roughly 80 watts to the front speakers, roughly 25 watts to the rear speakers and 180ish to the subwoofer, which is amazingly efficient and will play damn loud on 140 watts...so plenty of bass, with extraordinary clarity and depth and excellent SQ.

Sounds like it would be roughly $600 total, right?

This setup is what generally resides in my own daily driver, although today it has the 8" box and the little POS Alpine I have, which is not as good as that 4.60.

Here is a pic of the 8" box and amp setup:



and here is a typical 10"



If you want to look through just a bunch of raw install pics, check out http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...5is%20install/

Luke

[Jean]

Subwoofers are not just for lots of bass, they bring the missing bottom end to ANY music.

[StereoInstaller1]

and more importantly, they allow the mids and highs to play with far less strain.

[chappys4life]

Is there a better deck out there than? I am not attached to that one just trying to get one with somewhat close color scheme to match my car.

The only thing that worries me about the sub us doing autocross as I know it will have to be taken out more than likely so just a pain.

[StereoInstaller1]

Actually, the 8" version can be made to be easily removable, that is one of the design goals. Besides, it weighs so little it would not be why someone lost...

My personal fav deck right now is the Pioneer DEH6300. Great features, great color match, not too hideous. Cheap, too, roughly $120.

I just did an hours drive at 70ish speeds with the windows down listening to Sublime. The little 8" box just flat gets it, the thing is amazing! Every time I see how tiny the thing is it just amazes me how good the bass is.