hey hey

After months and months of building a great system, spending lots of $$$ on high quality gear... not to mention countless hours roaming Melbourne just listening to different brands of speakers and subs. Its time to start fresh!

For a while now i've been thinking about making a "SQ" system for one of my cars, except in this case I want to prove a point after doing a few setups were i've seen high quality gear go into some fabulous cars... Yet they skimp big time on the install and at the end as many of you may know the outcome. It sounded like s....it

So i've decided to build a system, based solely on what people consider "cheap" equipment and prove the point that any car audio system is 85% install 15% gear, The budget has yet to be determined but will probably end up around the $1000. (this does not include the install or the head unit)

To make things interesting and painful... (and to suit my varying music tastes) In building this system I want to make it as close to being able to be used for ANY sort of music played, may it be metal, jazz, r&b, dance, house, orchestral, etc (wishful thinking maybe?)

Obviously with a budget of this nature there will have to be a lot of compromise on build quality, compenents, etc. I've taken a template from FHRX's website (thanks in advance marty:p) that i hope people will use to give me some suggestions (thanks in advance people )

Here are two quick templates I have done with gear i've used previously and/or have heard great things about.

(EDIT: Revised budget down from 1500 to 1000. So screwed the template well :|)

System Cost: $1615 (without head unit)
Source Unit(s): Pioneer DEH-P8650 = $715 <--the head unit is already sitting here
Front Speaker: Hertz HSK165 ~ $415
Rear Speaker: - none used -
Sub: JL W3v2 (12 inch) ~ $350
Amplifier(s): JL e1400d + JL e4300 ~ $850

System Cost: $1410 (without head unit)
Source Unit(s): Pioneer DEH-P8650 = $715 <--the head unit is already sitting here
Front Speaker: Morel Dotech MkII ~ $450
Rear Speaker: JL TR600cxi ~ $150
Sub: RE 12 ~ $160
Amplifier(s): Audison Srx3 ~ $650


Sorry for the essay...:shock: any suggestions, comments, gripes, budget bashing, etc will be gladly taken on board. Thanks again in advance.

The stuff you listed is not exactly "cheap" gear. I would consider Jaycar "cheap" gear...but Morel, Audison and JL I would defiantely not.

Yes, I know its not cheap gear. I probably should have used a better word than cheap. its certainly value for money... Bang for buck.

Budget should be as low as possible but still sound good (and actually last) if you really want to make a point. $1500 worth of gear + a $700 Pioneer HU is not really a 'budget' system, sure it's 'a' budget but so is $5000 etc. Should be more 'it sounds this good for only $x' IMO

point taken on the head unit, but it already here. If i had to buy a head unit for this system it certiainly wouldn't be this one. Something along the $200-250 range would have been the go. Can't beat a freebie before the system even gets off the ground

'it sounds this good for only $x'
Your probably right there too... I probably should lower the budget a tad. closer to $1000 max.

Thanks for reply

i have tried the HSK165's in a budget SQ system but with no luck, there just not good enough unfortunly, they are a good speaker for everyday listning and just to pump out some tunes but not enough for a SQ comp system..

my system i did on the cheep,
the HU i already had (got a few here)
Tweeters cost me $180 (vifa)
mid's i borrowed
sub is from the last car but ws $400 (boston pro)
xover $50
4 chan soundstream $200
mono block (undisclosed)

$830 and won 3 trophys now.

you can do it but dont limit youself to new gear, there is some awesome bargins in the FS section.
my next setup ill be running just the SS ref, splits and sub thats it. no dedicated mono block (just extra drain on the battery i dont need)
and run everythng passive and keep it all cheep!

other options on amps

jlaudio 4/300

eclipse pa5422

the e series jlaudio amps are nice and they will give you a lot of power so they are a very good choice (the 4 channel bridged can do 2 x200watts rms into 4ohms so youve got lots of front stage power there)

Funny you should bring up this topic - I'm thinking of competing myself and I know very well that my whole system was very budget...I reckon it'll fare quite well though!

thanks jas for the input... the e series amps are unbelievable, I had "/" series amps in my previous install when my 500/1 packed itself. I threw a e1400d till i got a replacement. I was plesently suprised by how rich the sound was.

HighPingBastard, I think you should compete... You may be suprised to find out good your system REALLY sounds stacked up against like minded people.

Still looking for some input on system people.

yes do compete

get the jlaudio e series amps i love them too

subs hard choice but the jlaudio is well known and can be sold easily if you are not that happy with it (single ported 12w3v2 would work very well)

splits and the install of the splits will make or break your system not the sub or amps

small high quality tweeter is the best choice, soft dome will give you more on axis mounting options while the metal domes will give you low off axis mounting options.

on the e4300 the dyn gt series would be a very nice choice but the price is a lot more than the $400 budget

Earthquake make a nice 5 channel. 4 x 130rms and 1 x 400rms @ 4ohm (500rms @ 2ohm)

$570 run it all from there

Hertz fronts a re a good option int hat price range and you should be able to get them for close to $300

Forget the sub and just get decent fronts and a nice two or four channel amp to run them alone for the moment. Then at a latter date get a decent sub and monoblock that way you won't have to get rid of anything when you upgrade.

Piss off the rear speakers, put that money where its better suited.

I dont have a lot of experience with the earthquake gear. I'll check it out

Marlin, i was thinking that same thing before i posted up... Still a posibility but I would probably do it all at once and to the plan, so no upgrading later. Nice idea though...

I may have to get rid of the rears to keep in budget but i do have soft spot for rear fill

Thanks for the suggestions, keep it coming

focal polyglass range splits up front 165v2's $419 in the focal catalog or Boston Acoustics SL60 $???

would it be better to keep it cheap a get 4 channel amp for the fronts and sub or spend the extra few $$$ and get a monoblock and a two channel?

I would go with a 4 channel for fronts and sub. Then if you wish to upgrade later on (perhaps post tax return time) you can keep it to run fronts and rears and buy a monoblock, or bridge it for more power to fronts, or use it to run the fronts active. Plenty of options with that combination.

thanks for the ideas guys,

I had a look at the focal polyglass today, wasn't too bad. Not really my cup of tea... but then i was half asleep. Might go have another listen tommorow.

Keep it coming

do a complete boss install, probaly only cost $400 and see if you can make it sound good thats a real cheap budget lol

hehehe... if it doesn't set fire to my car it may just play some sound :shock:

I think with 7's or 8's in the front, you wouldn't really need a sub.