What can i get?

[Super Eta]

alright graduation is here and i am tossing idea's around

i am wondering what i can get stereo wise with a $500 budget.

Things i would be replacing is the, headunit, amp, speakers, tweeters.

Now can i get a really good sound system staying within that budget.

[KenC]

Getting used stuff off of eBay, you could get a decent set-up for $500.

[Super Eta]

hmm.

What are some good company's?

id kinda like to stay new if possible

[KenC]

www.carmedia1.com has VERY good prices on new equipment

Brands:

Head Unit - Nakamichi, Clarion, Alpine
-I have a really really nice Clarion deck that I'm going to sell in July when I get a new one.

Amps - a/d/s/ , Zapco, Xtant, Alpine V12, Phoenix Gold
-You can usually find really good deals on used amps on eBay

Speakers - MB Quart, a/d/s/, Diamond Audio, Crystal Mobilesound, CDT

Wiring - Phoenix Gold for Power cabling, Outdoor Extension cord for speaker wires, Monster Cable or DEI for RCAs.

[AmaRu]

www.carmedia1.com has VERY good prices on new equipment


Head Unit - Nakamichi, Clarion, Alpine

i think pioneer has some nice headunits also

[KenC]

www.carmedia1.com has VERY good prices on new equipment


Head Unit - Nakamichi, Clarion, Alpine

i think pioneer has some nice headunits also

They're higher end Primier ones are nice.

[Super Eta]

alright once again Ken helps me out, what a great guy. :up:

anyway here is what we narrowed it down to.

a/d/s/ Amplifier PQ10
CLARION DXZ645MP
Diamond Audio M5 Component speakers
...............................................

Diamond Audio M5 - 5 1/4 in component speakers



General
Type: Component
Drivers: Tweeter, Midbass
Drivers per Channel: 2
Crossover Included: Yes
Woofer Cone: Titanium-Magnesium
Tweeter Cone: Aluminum
Tweeter Mounting: Flush, Surface, Angle
Specifications
Power(watts): 20-150
Imped (ohms): 4
Sensitivity with w/2.83-V input @ 1 meter (dB SPL): 91
Freq. Resp.(±3dB): 60Hz-24KHz
Dimensions
Mount Depth: 1-7/8"
Diameter: 5-1/4"
Tweeter Diameter: 1"
---------------------------------------------------------
CLARION DXZ645MP

Flip-Down Detachable Faceplate
Plays CD-R and CD-RWs
Plays MP3- and WMA-Encoded CDs
Sirius Satellite Radio Ready
CeNET Controls Optional TV Tuner, Optional Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver, Optional DVD Changer and 6-Disc CD Changer
CD Text, CD Titling, Station Titling
2-Band Parametric EQ (Z-Enhancer Plus)
Subwoofer Volume Control
Built-In Low-Pass Crossovers (off/50Hz/80Hz/120Hz)
6-Channel RCA Line Level Output
2 Zone Control With Dedicated RCA Line Level Outputs
Magna Bass EX
2-Channel Aux. Input
IR Remote Control
208-Watt (52W x 4)
Radio Tuner With 18FM/6AM Presets
80 Variable Color LCD and Control Buttons (9 presets and 1 user)
5 x 7 Dot Matrix by 10 Digit LCD Monitor
Retractable Rotary Volume Control
Screen Saver With User-Programmable Message Information
Aluminum Faceplate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/D/S/ PQ10

40 watts per channel into 4 Ohms (4 X 40)
Bridged to 80 watts per channel into 4 Ohms (2 X 80)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 93dBA
IHF dynamic headroom: 2.2 dBA into 4 Ohms
Ch. 1,2,3 and 4 Pre-amp inputs
THD=0.05% into 4 Ohms
Dimensions: 11.25 x 2 x 6.125 in
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ken has some rear speakers that he will let go for 35 and i will be using those as temps until i get the funds to match the fronts.

Overall what do you guys think?

[Sean]

Looks awesome to me! Lots better than any sound system I have right now. When my time comes, my friends will most likely hook me up with some sweet stuff. 8)

[bwanac]

How much you looking to spend on that amp. I have a kickass, I mean major kickass one, that I will get rid of for the right price. But Ken kind of has it on hold. So... ;)

And some Infinity Reference Components w/ tweets installed in the tweet pods. Or some Kappa Coaxials. And some Kicker RMB6 mid-bass. Serious kickass right there. :D

Shameless plug. :roll:

[Jordan]

getting a 4 channel amp that puts out 40watts/4 is just stupid, particularly when the deck you want will be just about the same.

the deck sucks, looks horrible (doesnt even remotely match a e30)

and i dont care for diamond audio.

[bwanac]

Is that the HU that has multi-color display? I mean it can change what color it is.

But at least the amp will be putting out 40w of high quality shit! The HU is not putting out 40w RMS, that is the peak I am sure. Plus a/d/s usually "underrates" their amps.

[Super Eta]

getting a 4 channel amp that puts out 40watts/4 is just stupid, particularly when the deck you want will be just about the same.

the deck sucks, looks horrible (doesnt even remotely match a e30)

and i dont care for diamond audio.

so whats a good system setup to get?

[Super Eta]

what do you guys think of Nakamichi?

HEAD UNIT FEATURES
Rotary Encoder type volume control
Detachable face with carrying case
Wireless remote control
CD changer control capability
Track scan/Track repeat / random play
8-cm (3") CD play w/o adapter
PLL tuner,18FM/12AM PS
PS scan/auto mem / auto DX-local
Loudness
Audio mute
Subwoofer preamp output (RCA)
Aux input (RCA)
6ch/4V Preamplifier output (RCA)
AUXILLARY INPUTS (RCA)
Clock

HEAD UNIT SPECIFICATIONS
Max.power x 4 at 4 ohms 47W
D/A Converter Type 24-bit
Frequency Response 20Hz-20,000Hz (CD)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Better than 100dB
FM Frequency Range in 200kHz steps 87.5-107.9MHz
AM Frequency Range in 10kHz steps 530-1710kHz
FM Sensitivity 15dBf(IHF)
Preamplifier Output Level 4.0V
Tone Controls
Bass 100Hz 11dB
Mid 1kHz 11dB
Treble 10kHz 11dB
Outer Dimensions (W x H x D) 49 x 26 x 110

[Jordan]

so whats a good system setup to get?

Honestly you are not going to get any "good system setups" for a budget of $500. Nothing I consider to be "good" anyways.

[Jordan]

Take my planned setup for example, which will be GOOD, and I wont be spending a whole lotta money on it. $500 just isn't enough to build a decent system.

Headunit:

Alpine CDA-7998_____________________________ $399.00

Speakers:

MB Quart RSC 213 (5.25" Midrange, .75" Tweeter)___$150.00
MB Quart RCE 164 (6.5" Woofer)_________________$175.00
MB Quart DKE 116 (6.5"Coaxial Woofer/Tweeter)_____$95.00
JL Audio 12w3v2_____________________________$250.00

Amplifiers:

JL Audio 300/4 (Interior speakers)________________$374.00
JL Audio 250/1 (Subwoofer)____________________$299.00

Totals: ____________________________________$1742.00

Of course that doesnt include wiring, or all the custom install work I will be doing. I have the front speaker pods for the 6.5" woofer, and I will be making a completely custom rear deck for the 6.5" coaxials. I havent decided just how custom the trunk will be.