Could use your opinion with car audio..

[~Brian~]

I am interested in upgrading my sound system in the Passat. I already have a Pioneer deck in there which is making the stock Mongoose system sound nice, but I think its time for something with a little more bump.

Last night I stopped by Best Buy and picked these up:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1199494646605

After doing some thinking, I decided to shop around a bit more and then I found these:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1199494646675


The question is because the tweeter is separate from the speaker like it is in my current setup, will I be able to generate a better sound as opposed to the speakers that have the tweeter on the cone?


*edit- Just found these too.. although I'm thinking I couldn't really get full use out of them by just using the stock amp..

http://www.amazon.com/Alpine-Type-R-...3434088&sr=1-1

Thoughts?

[lownslow95]

Just a heads up, but all your links fail.

[~Brian~]

Haha, oops!

Fixed!

[TROLL]

Ok I am not an audio guru, but I have taught myself the basics and feel like I know enough to build a good bang for the buck setup.

You're on the right track with getting a decent heat unit... that is the source and of course if its not decent quality the rest is hopeless.

The next step is to get a decent quality front speaker. You are comparing coaxials to components here, where components will provide better sound imaging because of the separate tweeter and woofer, allowing better placement of the speakers. generally components are more expensive and better quality. I can't tell you the technical details on what speaker placement is ideal and why, but having the freedom to mount the tweeter a certain distance and position away from the woofer is more ideal.

Rear speakers are not a priority if you're just trying to focus on the basics... you want your sound to mostly come from in front of you so the focus should be on the front speakers. I actually have my fade set to about 2/3 front and 1/3 rear because of this.

Depending on the speaker you're using, you will probably benefit further from using a separate amplifier instead of depending on the small built in amp in your head unit. It will produce a cleaner sound at all volumes, not just high volume. You can skip this though and just run your speakers off of the head units internal amp.

Another component if you want to go there would be to add a subwoofer, which you would also want to amp. Subs come in a lot of different sizes from 8" up to 15" and maybe others... but for a simple effective setup a single 10 or 12" will do great to add some low end and improve overall sound quality (but not necessarily be boomy or rattle your body panels).

Anyway, these are the basics that I learned and followed, which lead me to:

Panasonic AVIC-D3 - decent head unit / nav, great price
MB Quart QSD-216 front components - really high end front speakers, got a good price on them
Stock rear speakers - if you're going all out then upgrade, but they are a last priority in a simpler setup
Alpine 4 x 75 V12 amp - 2 channels to the front speakers, and the other 2 channels bridged to the sub... small, simple, and quite effective
JL 12w3v3 sub - a simple single sub... good quailty for a nice clean sound, not boomy, just good full deep sound. put in a custom fiberglass box molded in the corner of my trunk

Oh another I'd add... you can get a lot better prices by shopping around online than you would get by walking into a store. Support and warranty are something to consider, but you can definitely save money buying online. I'm not sure where to recommend you go though, maybe others can add to that.

[~Brian~]

Thanks for the info!!

Here is my situation though- in the Passat, I have four 6 1/2" speakers- two in front and two in the back. Each speaker has a separate tweeter. This is the reason I was looking at the second link in my original post.

As for the amp, I didn't really want to upgrade from the stock one. Also, there already is an aftermarket Pioneer head unit in the car powering my stock system.

[TROLL]

Ok cool... well I'd go with some decent components for sure then... the fronts are really all I'd do. I'd see if you can avoid Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. unless you have a friend there who can at least help you out a bit on price. Of course unless you want a no hassle return policy then in that case you dont have to be a cheapo like me.
As far as install goes, if you dont already have someone to help with that I'm sure there are some guys on here who would be willing to do it for a good amt. cheaper than you'd pay a shop like BB.

Order or purchases i'd recommend would be:

head unit (you already have)
front speakers
amp
sub (and dedicated amp, or share one with front speakers like i did)
rear speakers

Also keep in mind that audio is highly objective. I'm waiting for someone to come in and disagree with me right now actually, haha. And different speakers sound different... and everyone's tastes differ. Some guys would kill for my front speakers, and some guys wouldn't use them if they were free. Its like asking a guy if blondes or brunettes are better. So what I'm saying, is if you can... go listen in person. Try to get a sales guy to set them up amped and also not amped, and even if they can run them through the actual head unit you have.
Also keep in mind that the listening rooms are usually set up to optimize acoustics and your car wont be as good as far as that goes.

[~Brian~]

Gotcha.

What I think I'm gonna do is return the coaxial's I bought last night and pick these up from amazon... they are about $50 cheaper than Best Buy.

The price Best Buy wanted to charge me wasn't too bad though considering how much work would be involved (around $80). Apparently my stock speakers are riveted in place and would need to be drilled out. I am no novice to installing sound systems, but that is def something I didn't want to attempt. By having them install it, they are responsible if they break something whereas if I do it or pay a friend, I'm SOL if something goes wrong.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=UTF8&v=glance

As for the subs, I don't think I am going to go that route.. been there, done that. I just want to keep a simple setup. At least for now...

[~Brian~]

Well, here is what I'm planning on doing...

I just made an order on Amazon.com for the Type S components... and paid just over half of what I paid the other day at Best Buy for the coaxial's...

Hopefully they will come in before the middle of next week.

After following your suggestion and the recommendation of my boy who works in the Best Buy install bay, I am probably going to be picking up one of these to power the new speakers..

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1199494646190

I'm going to hold off on the amp for now though, at least until I can see how my stock amp treats the new speakers. If I have to upgrade, then I will.

[~Brian~]

Well here are the new toys...

They are going in the car in about two hours!

[~Brian~]

Well ****...

They are not going in.

My boy at Best Buy was about to put them in when he called me and said that there was no point because these speakers are only SLIGHTLY better then what I have in the car now and I really wouldn't notice a difference.

[TROLL]

what do you have in the car now? if they're stock then i'm definitely confused...

not going to assume anything about your friend, but keep in mind that the training at most chain stores is quite limited and usually only 1 or 2 guys at each place really knows quality, since they dont sell much of it.

[~Brian~]

Yeah, normally I would think the same thing, but he has been working in the install bay for over 6 years and from what I know, is pretty good at what he does because he keeps getting promoted.

He said it is the upgraded monsoon sound system that Volkswagon put in their cars..

[OMGz Turbo]

Dude do you want a dead honest opinion with equipment that you cant buy at best buy? I can list better underground companys with "competition" speakers almost but im only gonna make a list if you would be interested

Here little sample"
this is the higher side- http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=16053

Lower priced- http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=15112

[OMGz Turbo]

guess you werent that interested

[GregV]

it's for the better. Car audio sucks. For what I've spent on my truck's stereo equipment I could have a decent track slut in the driveway instead. Oh well.

[OMGz Turbo]

Originally Posted by GregV

it's for the better. Car audio sucks. For what I've spent on my truck's stereo equipment I could have a decent track slut in the driveway instead. Oh well.

Thats why you go 50/50 and now a days factory radios suck worse and worse. Besides all sound with little speed means less chance you will be ticketed for speeding haha

[GregV]

no instead you get tickets for disturbing the peace with 2000 watts RMS worth of bass.

[OMGz Turbo]

Originally Posted by GregV

no instead you get tickets for disturbing the peace with 2000 watts RMS worth of bass.

Never had a problem before?? idk must depend where you live