Decent Car Audio System

[Dan380]

Hii
Im wanting to put a decent audio system in my old punto. I dont know exactly what year of a punto it is, but it is the model that looks more round than the newer versions. It maybes like a 1990 car?

This is not my car, but my car is the same model as this!

Could anybody recommend a good method they have used? or something similar.

Btw im looking for a good amount of bass in the sound.



Thanks Dan

 

[chaos]

Depends on how much cash you got to spend.

 

[Blood Junkie]

Exactly.

You want bass, a pair of JL Audio 12W7s run off a Genesis Monoblock will be all the bass you'll ever need. A Genesis Dual mono amp running Focal Utopia mids and tweets in the front doors (& an Alpine CDA-7944R although rather old now), will round your system off nicely.....With the ability to win P.O.R sound-offs as a happy by-product.:slayer:

 

[Dan380]

ermmm money wise im willing to put about £200/250 towards it
im getting a new car in a year so i dont exactly want a really top of the line system just something decent

 

[Blood Junkie]

ermmm money wise im willing to put about £200/250 towards it
im getting a new car in a year so i dont exactly want a really top of the line system just something decent

Aaaah.....The system i mentioned earlier would probably set you back around £5k once installed, so we've got to think smarter.

If you can, get a 5/6 channel amp. This will run your whole system, and will sound better than the internal amp in a head-unit. ensure it has Xovers on all channels. You'll probably want a pair or 12"s if you're a bass head, and a ported box rather than a sealed box (Rule of thumb..Sealed boxes punch, ported boxes drop)


If money is super tight, get a decent-ish mono amp to power your 2 x 12"s. Ensure you filter off anything below about 120/150 hz from your full range speakers (Solder a cap (or is it a coil?) to the speaker terminals....I can never remember which one it is.)

I've used JBL subs in the past and had a positive experience for the price. Also check out MTX & Infinity.

Don't go for a DVC (Dual Voice Coil) sub. For the bass you want, you'll want 2 x 12"s. and if you get a pair of DVC subs with the standard 4ohm voice coil, You'll be placing a 1 ohm load on your amp, and i think you'll struggle to find a 1 ohm stable amp on your budget.

 

[Dan380]

hmmm it seems quite technical!

would it just be easier to replace the two rear and two front speakers to better ones?

i took some pics of the rear speaker, not sure if they will be of any use to you but just to show you what kinda speakers and connections are already in.

 

[volxstu]

Check the deal below,
Your HU will need two sets of preouts so make sure that you have that.
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/1320.html
Also Fusion do a similar pack so that can be found on ebay or whatever you wont get a lot of bass out of just changing the speakers so a sub is your best bet.
There is no point in doing a Half Arse job as you will get bored of it easily so you may aswell save yourself the time and money by doing the whole lot properly the first time. Either you want to take on a project or not.

You can always take audio equiptment with you when you sell the car if that is what you are worried about.

 

[paulbfd]

an Alpine CDA-7944R

The very headunit going in my car.

 

[Dan380]

This is my current HU.

By the way coming out of my rear speakers are two cables, one has a red line on it and one has a yellow line on it, are these the normal attachment cables for speakers?

and would something like this be able to connect to them?
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/7971.html

 

[Blood Junkie]

The very headunit going in my car.

I ran a 7939R for about 10 years. Got so i'd rubbed all the icons off the buttons, so only i could use it.

I wanted a 7969R when i replaced it, but started getting out of big installs so plumped for a CDA-9853R instead.

Then some f**ker stole my Genesis P300X, my 2 Pioneer SW-124Ds, & my CHA-S624 changer. from my boot.

Gonna concentrate on home stereos from now on.

 

[Blood Junkie]

hmmm it seems quite technical!

would it just be easier to replace the two rear and two front speakers to better ones?

i took some pics of the rear speaker, not sure if they will be of any use to you but just to show you what kinda speakers and connections are already in.

I would whole-heartedly recommend replacing the full range speakers, but they're not gonna give you the bass you crave. Sound quality will definitely improve. I recommend Focal speakers without reservation. Don't buy Infinity, I blew about 3 sets of Infinty tweeters years ago, got my Focals, blasted the crap out of them and never had any problems.

Listen to what VOLXSTU is telling you. You're better saving and get what you actually want, rather than settling for something you're not entirely happy with. Case in point: I bought a Genesis 5 channel amp in '97 for £700. My brother who's a tight-arse, bought a £150 'Fury' amp....This died, he bought a £250 Sony...That died, he bought a 300 Macaudio...This also died........ I think you see where this is heading.

My Genesis was running fine until the day it was stolen last November. Overall he paid more for inferior products....Div....

 

[Dan380]

I would whole-heartedly recommend replacing the full range speakers, but they're not gonna give you the bass you crave. Sound quality will definitely improve. I recommend Focal speakers without reservation. Don't buy Infinity, I blew about 3 sets of Infinty tweeters years ago, got my Focals, blasted the crap out of them and never had any problems.

Yeh i will probably get round to changing the whole lot, i just hope that the wiring that is currently plugged into the speakers at the moment, will work on new speakers.

Because as i havent got that much of a clue about all this stuff, i dont really want to be doing too much technical stuff, incase i do it wrong!

 

[Blood Junkie]

...i just hope that the wiring that is currently plugged into the speakers at the moment, will work on new speakers....

Yes and No. The actual wiring will not be a problem. The only issue you may have (and i'm not sure on this 'cos i'm new to Fiats) will be the Fiat terminations fitting aftermarket speakers.

From the pic you posted, it looks as if you'll need to cut those yellow speaker connectors off, and crimp a pair of regular spade terminals in their place.

Trust me, it ain't hard. Go to a car audio store or even Halfords. Buy spade connectors (Usually 1 small and 1 medium sized for each speaker, but buy spares. 6 of each should be fine.)

Cut off Fiat connectors.
Strip about a centimetre of insulation from the end of each speaker wire and twist the strands into a single 'mass'
Place spade terminal over wire (match correct spade to correct wire for polarity, should be easily colour coded)
Squeeze with crimping tool, or if you haven't got one, some pliers.
Check connection (but don't pull too hard)
Connect to speaker.

 

[Dan380]

Cut off Fiat connectors.
Strip about a centimetre of insulation from the end of each speaker wire and twist the strands into a single 'mass'
Place spade terminal over wire (match correct spade to correct wire for polarity, should be easily colour coded)
Squeeze with crimping tool, or if you haven't got one, some pliers.
Check connection (but don't pull too hard)
Connect to speaker.

Ahh yeh that sounds pretty simple, there is a Halfords not far from me. I think il pop down and see if they have any.

 

[Blood Junkie]

Ahh yeh that sounds pretty simple, there is a Halfords not far from me. I think il pop down and see if they have any.

If they've got one, try finding a kit which will have the proper crimping tool (I'm sure you know what they look like. Like a set of pliers that's been run over by a steamroller, and then covered with coloured dots and numbers) and a selection of spade, bullet and eye connectors.

It's a very handy tool to have, and the bullet connectors will prove especially useful if/when you upgrade the rest of your system.



**Failing that. Check to see if you need an adapter ring/plate to fit the speakers, as some cars do. Halfords do a range of 'Autoleads' adapters and they usually come with a mini wiring harness type thing which will convert your Fiat wiring to two standard spades. Might cost more in the long run, but at least you haven't got to cut anything about, and you can revert back to standard if you sell your car (Don't forget to keep the Fiat speakers if you're gonna go down this path)**

 

[Dan380]

I went down to Halfords and i was gunna buy a set of infiti 10cm speakers for the rear, but the guy then suggested that i buy a set of 6" x 9" speakers and attach them to my parcel shelf! Which i thought was a good idea, so i bought a set of them.

And i bought a set of spade connectors, so im gunna split my current speaker cables from the two existing rear speakers and send them to the new speakers on the parcel shelf.

 

[Blood Junkie]

I went down to Halfords and i was gunna buy a set of infiti 10cm speakers for the rear, but the guy then suggested that i buy a set of 6" x 9" speakers and attach them to my parcel shelf! Which i thought was a good idea, so i bought a set of them.

And i bought a set of spade connectors, so im gunna split my current speaker cables from the two existing rear speakers and send them to the new speakers on the parcel shelf.

Dan, Dan, Dan..... I spend time and effort explaining that INFINTY IS RUBBISH, and what do you do?.......


. Seriously though, Nothing shouts STEAL ME!!! more than a set of 6x9s on a parcel shelf.

Also, (and call this an unfair generalisation if you will) The guy working at Halfords is a guy working at Halfords....

 

[dannygp]

Right all you car audio nerds. Can anyone find me a better head unit about the same price. Or can you confirm this is first class to go into my GP with my Alpine system

 

[chaos]

Right all you car audio nerds. Can anyone find me a better head unit about the same price. Or can you confirm this is first class to go into my GP with my Alpine system

Which HU?

 

[Dan380]

Dan, Dan, Dan..... I spend time and effort explaining that INFINTY IS RUBBISH, and what do you do?.......


. Seriously though, Nothing shouts STEAL ME!!! more than a set of 6x9s on a parcel shelf.

Also, (and call this an unfair generalisation if you will) The guy working at Halfords is a guy working at Halfords....

lol i know im sorry

but it sounds really great for the kinda thing i want!
and the stealing part. I found a way to get around that

because as im only using this car for a year, 55 quid on some decent speakers isnt much but it sounds great
then when i get my new car it should have a decent sound system in it anyway :slayer: