Car Audio Questions - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Fob_Magi · 11-16-2005, 08:18 AM

I am looking to get a new car stereo to replace my factory stuff (yuck!).. here is what I am looking for, the car is only worth like $3000 (2001 Mitsu Mirage) so I'm not looking to really spend more than $500-$600:

CD Deck - MP3 Capable
6 1/2" - Rear Speakers
5 1/4" - Front Speakers

Question 1:
What do you guys think of Pioneer Car Audio? I have looked at some of their stuff and seems to sound good with a good price and respectable specs. However a few of my friends almost tore my head off when I mentioned buying a Pioneer system and started blabbering about Alpine, Infinity and various other top shelf names.. Are they just being brand-centric or is pioneer really so much worse than these companies (keep in mind my price range and lack of amp).

Question 2:
Coaxial or Component? Is Component really that much better than Coaxial speakers? Again keep in mind my price range and lack of amp...

Question 3:
Does anybody have any general suggestions about recievers and speakers?

jwoody · 11-16-2005, 08:42 AM

I bought a Pioneer car stereo because it was the cheapest one in the shop which could play mp3s. It's connected to the existing six speakers which came with the car and I don't have an amp either.

I don't remember the model of it (other than it's the 'entry-level' (a.k.a. the cheapest)one).

Pros -

Loud as fuck.
Does exactly what I want it to do.
Cost half the price of an equivalent featured model from supposedly superior brands.

Cons -

It's ugly.
It's too bright at night, would definitely benefit from a dimmer switch.

Nelson · 11-19-2005, 10:53 AM

Pioneer is a fine brand - but everyone has their own opinion. IMO they are ugly, challenging to use, displays wash out in direct light etc....

My standard reply - visit a local SPECIALIST car audio retailer. Look, listen, and actually use the equipment. A good SPECIALIST retailer will walk you through the whole process.

You should be able to get a nice sounding system within your budget. A name brand CD player with MP3 will run around $129+. Stick with co-axial speakers - an average pair will run $79-129 dependingon brand. Also allow for professtional installation - parts and labor. Parts will run around $35 and labor should be around $120 for the whole package.

jujueye · 11-20-2005, 11:38 PM

Nelson: perfect!

Fob: your friends ARE being brand-centric. If all they can think of is Alpine, then they are not paying any attention. A few years back, Pioneer made one of the few component car CD players to have 4V or more output. At the time, only Alpine had that, and they only had one or two models to brag about anyway. Just remember that the units that have more features will likely have less in sound quality. Let's face it: there's only so much room in there.

So stick with Nelson's ideas: bring your own CDs and find some units you like, then listen to them. Listen to the player and the speakers you want before they are in your car.

shakran · 11-20-2005, 11:40 PM

pioneer is pretty much tops in bang for the buck. No one else gives you the number of features for the price that they do. There are nicer units out there but you'll pay more for 'em.

Fob_Magi · 11-22-2005, 12:02 PM

Well in case anybody is interested....

I went to a car audio specialist place and there was some young prick there who gave me a bunch of attitude... wasn't interested in giving me any information or prices etc... so I looked at the head units found one I like and bought it on ebay... it's wrong I know, but the only service he was providing was having the units for me to see, I actually had to get online to find the specs I wanted because if he actually knew anything he wasn't going to share it with likes of me....

I ended up going with the Clarion DXZ845MC ... I was initially against the 'big' name brands but I have to say this one had beautiful sound on it... better than what I had heard on any of the pioneers... maybe this is because it's a $700 player and the most expensive pioneer anybody carried was $300... also it looks really nice... and supposedly supplies 31 W per channel average which is 30% higher than most of the others...

anyway that deck, 4 Infinity coax speakers, shipping and wiring harness ran a total of $320 on ebay (MSRP of like $1100)... I'm not worried about professional install, I figure with 6 years of electrical engineering training I can connect some wires without too much issue...

Thanks for everybodies help... sorry if I didnt exactly go for some of your advice... but I went with what my ears and wallet told me...

11-16-2005, 08:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Fob_Magi Psycho Location: Texas	Car Audio Questions I am looking to get a new car stereo to replace my factory stuff (yuck!).. here is what I am looking for, the car is only worth like $3000 (2001 Mitsu Mirage) so I'm not looking to really spend more than $500-$600: CD Deck - MP3 Capable 6 1/2" - Rear Speakers 5 1/4" - Front Speakers Question 1: What do you guys think of Pioneer Car Audio? I have looked at some of their stuff and seems to sound good with a good price and respectable specs. However a few of my friends almost tore my head off when I mentioned buying a Pioneer system and started blabbering about Alpine, Infinity and various other top shelf names.. Are they just being brand-centric or is pioneer really so much worse than these companies (keep in mind my price range and lack of amp). Question 2: Coaxial or Component? Is Component really that much better than Coaxial speakers? Again keep in mind my price range and lack of amp... Question 3: Does anybody have any general suggestions about recievers and speakers? __________________ Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I live I will kill you, if I die you are forgiven". Such is the Rule of Honor.

11-16-2005, 08:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
jwoody Shackle Me Not Location: Newcastle - England.	I bought a Pioneer car stereo because it was the cheapest one in the shop which could play mp3s. It's connected to the existing six speakers which came with the car and I don't have an amp either. I don't remember the model of it (other than it's the 'entry-level' (a.k.a. the cheapest)one). Pros - Loud as fuck. Does exactly what I want it to do. Cost half the price of an equivalent featured model from supposedly superior brands. Cons - It's ugly. It's too bright at night, would definitely benefit from a dimmer switch. __________________ .

11-19-2005, 10:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nelson Tilted	Pioneer is a fine brand - but everyone has their own opinion. IMO they are ugly, challenging to use, displays wash out in direct light etc.... My standard reply - visit a local SPECIALIST car audio retailer. Look, listen, and actually use the equipment. A good SPECIALIST retailer will walk you through the whole process. You should be able to get a nice sounding system within your budget. A name brand CD player with MP3 will run around $129+. Stick with co-axial speakers - an average pair will run $79-129 dependingon brand. Also allow for professtional installation - parts and labor. Parts will run around $35 and labor should be around $120 for the whole package. __________________ Nelson

11-22-2005, 12:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Fob_Magi Psycho Location: Texas	Well in case anybody is interested.... I went to a car audio specialist place and there was some young prick there who gave me a bunch of attitude... wasn't interested in giving me any information or prices etc... so I looked at the head units found one I like and bought it on ebay... it's wrong I know, but the only service he was providing was having the units for me to see, I actually had to get online to find the specs I wanted because if he actually knew anything he wasn't going to share it with likes of me.... I ended up going with the Clarion DXZ845MC ... I was initially against the 'big' name brands but I have to say this one had beautiful sound on it... better than what I had heard on any of the pioneers... maybe this is because it's a $700 player and the most expensive pioneer anybody carried was $300... also it looks really nice... and supposedly supplies 31 W per channel average which is 30% higher than most of the others... anyway that deck, 4 Infinity coax speakers, shipping and wiring harness ran a total of $320 on ebay (MSRP of like $1100)... I'm not worried about professional install, I figure with 6 years of electrical engineering training I can connect some wires without too much issue... Thanks for everybodies help... sorry if I didnt exactly go for some of your advice... but I went with what my ears and wallet told me... __________________ Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I live I will kill you, if I die you are forgiven". Such is the Rule of Honor. Last edited by Fob_Magi; 11-22-2005 at 12:05 PM..

11-20-2005, 11:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
jujueye alpaca lunch for the trip Location: in my computer	Nelson: perfect! Fob: your friends ARE being brand-centric. If all they can think of is Alpine, then they are not paying any attention. A few years back, Pioneer made one of the few component car CD players to have 4V or more output. At the time, only Alpine had that, and they only had one or two models to brag about anyway. Just remember that the units that have more features will likely have less in sound quality. Let's face it: there's only so much room in there. So stick with Nelson's ideas: bring your own CDs and find some units you like, then listen to them. Listen to the player and the speakers you want before they are in your car.

11-20-2005, 11:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	pioneer is pretty much tops in bang for the buck. No one else gives you the number of features for the price that they do. There are nicer units out there but you'll pay more for 'em.