Need help picking out audio-system for my car

[Spork3245]

Here is what I came up with via Circuit City (free installation as well)
Head Unit/CD-Deck: Sony CDXGT200 - $130
Amp: Sony 2-Channel Xplod Amplifier (XM2002GTR) - $200
Subs: MTX 10" Subwoofer (RT1004) - $60x2 ($120)
Sub Box: Bass Slammer Dual Vented Subwoofer Enclosure (BS210V) - $140
Front Speakers: Pioneer 5 ¼" 2-Way Speaker (TSG1341R) - $50
Rear Speakers: Pioneer 6" x 8" 150W 2-Way Speakers (TSG6841R) - $60
Total: $700 (not including wires and what-not)

This is for a 1990 Ford Mustang LX Convertible - Should I change anything or is this a good set-up?

Here's something odd that happened though: Best Buy's online fit-check said that the Head-Unit won't fit, and that the Amp won't fit (it's a friggen amp!!!), but according to Circuit City's everything fits fine

PS: I'm a total noob/idiot so forgive me in advance please!

[Hautewheeler]

hey, that setup sounds pretty good (providing that you're just looking for something to jam to some tunes on). It's not strong in any certain field, but decent for a first setup (I'm assuming). although, I think that you could do a lot better in the trunk for the same dough.

140 - box, 120 -subs, 200 - amp...
for 460 bucks, you could get a much better thumper setup online and it wouldn't be hard to hookup by yourself. If you wanna give it a go by yourself, just let us know.. we'd be happy to save ya some scratch.

ps... we were all noobs when we started.. fuggetaboutit..

[Spork3245]

Yea sure, I'd be willing to get the amp/sub/box elsewhere if it means i'd get way better for less/the same money. I'll just get the speakers/head-unit installed at CC and I could always take the subs and what-not somewhere to get installed with the money I'd be saving, right?
Oh, and should I get a capacitor or whatever, or will my battery be enough to handel this since it isn't anything crazy?

[LunarEclipse]

the funny thing is, since your a ford, everything is MADE to fit your car perfectly. But that whole setup kind of sucks. The MTX subs are the best out of that setup. The best woofers Circuit City has are Alpine Type R's (which is discontinued supposively). The sony amps have a bad rep for cutting out when they get slightly hot and the radios i would just not reccommend what so ever. I guess everything just depends on your spending budget though.

Circuit City has some stuff worth looking at like the Infinity Reference/ Kappas, and Polks for speakers. They also have some nice Panasonic Decks and Pioneed decks for the radio. Spend the extra money and get their audiobahn intake series amp for your bass amp. Also, check out a sealed box since a vented box makes no sense since you own a convertable.

[Hautewheeler]

- whether you're about saving money, or getting a better setup for the budget you have allowed, you can do much better if you shop for your stuff online. Stores like circuit city, etc.. are not going to have a lot of the better stuff that guys like us like, and thier prices are generally higher. It all depends on what your biggest priority is. You want something to listen to right away with no waiting, then have CC do it. If you're patient, don't mind doing your homework, and are willing to do a little comparison shopping, you can get much better equipment for a lot cheaper than what you want to spend on your sony stuff.. however, CC will bite you if you ask them to install something that you bought elsewhere, and even if they do it, they won't usually offer any warranties on the work. If you'd like to learn about car audio and take a stab at doing it yourself, then there are a lot of us here who are more than happy to lend an ear and some expertise. It's not as hard as you think to hook up your own stuff, and I think that (I hate to disagree, guys) with having a small convertible, you should use a bandpass box instead of ported or sealed. Bandpass boxes have a flatter response curve but a much broader one, and they really come alive in a small trunk, and since it's in a trunk, you would miss out on a lot of the benefits of a sealed box since it's not right there to pound you in the face. Let us know what you're priorities are, and you can count on all of the help you need.. If you'd like, I can get a sample system together for you using the $700 budget that you outlined before. either way, keep in touch and welcome to the site..

[Spork3245]

Hmm, OK. Well I swapped that Sony deck out for a Pioneer DEHP4800MP - how's that? Also, are the front/rear speakers I picked good?
I think I'm just going to get the front/rear speakers and the deck at CC, and then get the amp/subs/box online - this is what I found:

-Amp: Hifonics BX605D - Hifonics 1 Ch 600 Watt Amplifier - $160
http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...duct_ID=33 73

-Subs: Image Dynamics ID10 v.3 D4 - $105x2 ($210)
http://www.cardomain.com/item/IDSID10V3D4

-Sub Box: R/T 326-10 - $70
http://www.cardomain.com/item/RTE32610

Is a 1-channel amp good enough? Or do I need a 2 channel to get the subs in stereo... or is that pointless?
Oh, and again - should I get a capacitor, or is that just silly?

[Hautewheeler]

pioneer is great entry level equipment.. you will be happy with your jams.. as long as you're not hoping to win any competions with the deh4800..!

I have 6" pioneers in my doors and I love them..

My suggestion for the thumpers is to go to ebay and search these items exactly. shipping will put you a little over budget but you won't be sorry that you bought the name brand stuff.

NEW KENWOOD KAC-9102D MONO BLOCK SUBWOOFER AMP 1400W
10" Plexi-Glass Bandpass Enclosure Subwoofer Dual Boxes
New Pair MTX 600W 10 Inch Subs 10? Subwoofer MZS1004 NR (or)
TWO 2 JL AUDIO 10W1V2 10" W1V2 4 OHM SUBWOOFER NEW 2005

and.. a one channel (mono) amp is perfect for subs, usually easier if the amp has dual outputs, though!

ps..guys..don't hate on me for not suggesting the really good stuff, he's on a budget and he's a first timer..

[ibanezFreak87]

OMG , please don't buy a plexiglass box, thats the stupidest idea i've ever heard. they rattle and sound terrible.

Rap= ported/vented box
Rock = sealed box

I agree with spending a little more money for name brand stuff. You'll be thankful down the line.
I recommend Infinity stuff.

[Hautewheeler]

[quote=ibanezFreak87]OMG , please don't buy a plexiglass box, thats the stupidest idea i've ever heard. they rattle and sound terrible.

I have two 10" bandpass setups with plexiglass windows and they work flawlessly with no rattles, and for that matter, no port noise. one is homemade, and the other is a cheap ass jensen box with two kicker's. Perhaps your experience was with boxes inferior to the infamous quality of that which is jensen. (that's a joke, dude) or maybe there was a few screws loose, or crud subs.

But it would have to be a pretty cruddy box to rattle. And by the way, I'm just trying to help old boy out, and however your preference goes with equipment is all opinion, we all have them, but I don't appreciate you calling my suggestions "the stupidest idea....
sorry for the rant.. just be cool man.

[sinistercory]

I am new here and definately don't want to step on any toes but have to disagree with some of the points made.
Do not buy from the internet! The prices may be great, alot times below dealer cost. But you will not get any kind of warranty whether claimed or not. Reputable companies like JL and Arc strictly prohibit sales of their equipment online. It destroys the "brick and mortar" car audio shop and puts equipment in the hands of amateurs which in turn makes their product seem much worse than it is. I really don't want to preach but it affects me directly being the owner of my own store. I recently stopped carrying Hifonics because of rampant internet sales. Warranty matters! Feel secure about your investment, pay the extra.
Not a day goes by when I don't have to test somebodies amplifier or troubleshoot a smoking deck. These people are truly upsetted by this. When they think they have a warranty and get absolutely no response from the internet retailer it turns them off to audio altogether.
I could fill pages of how I feel about this. But that is unnecessary.
I would steer clear from anything Audiobahn makes. The failure rate on them is the highest in the industry.
I agree, a bandpass would be the way to go if you can fit it. But if I remember correctly, not much of anything is going to fit well in the convertible version of that car. And being that a bandpass is one of the largest enclosures you can select for your woofer I would doubt it will fit.
In this scenario, small sealed with alot of power, and definately rear fire the subs. Sealed can take more abuse than any enclosure and you can get just as low with forced beta.