Need upgrade in '94 Camaro

[Crashtest]

Ive tried to put systems in my past cars, but always ended up sounding like crap. So.... need some help. I have a '94 camaro. Kenwood KDC X617 AM/FM/CD w/ remote. 2 speakers in the front lower floor area. 2 speaker holes with covers, but no speakers in the side pillars. I speaker in the back on the drivers side. All the covers say "Bose" I listen to U2, Led Zep, AC/DC, basic 80's rock. I want to upgrade my speaker system, but dont think I realy need the big THUMP-THUMP everybody has going on. More than likely gonna have Best Buy or some store put it in. Only want to spend around $500.
I need input on what I should purchase for speakers and amps & what sizes. Thanks everyone. [img]graemlins/rock.gif[/img]

[Fbody3400]

Why get an amp if your just gonna get speakers? Anything but sony is my opinion.

[terminaldegree]

Replacing speakers in the facory locations [doors and backseat], if they're like my 2000, isn't really that hard at all, it just takes time. Use the money you save to buy better speakers-- not the ones sold at best buy, for example. The head unit is particularly easy to change also.

If you're not that good [technically], then you may want to hire someone to install the sub+amp+wiring, but it doesn't sound like you're headed down that road anyway.

There are a few people who know A LOT on this board who can help you out.

[96firebird311]

You think all home audio systems have subwoofers just so teenagers can impress their friends? [img]tongue.gif[/img] :D A subwoofer is an integral part of a well balanced audio system. I feel it really adds.... depth to the music. Even if your not bumpin hard, a subwoofer gives you a full bodied sound that is near impossible with a component set alone. Without it, you're missing out on a lot of lower frequencies that your other speakers cannot produce. I'm not saying you need a pair of 12"s in the back. But maybe a single 10" or 8" would work for ya? I'm thinking something like:
1) CDT CL-61T for the front
2) CDT CL-6X for the rear seat area
3) Hifonics X8000 for power

and when you can put a couple more bucks together...
4) Kicker CompVR 10"
5) Stealth box from subthump or you can find a used one on these boards for around 75 bucks.

And no. Best Buy doesn't sell very good gear. Also, with our help, you can easily install this stuff yourself. For all of the above mentioned items to be installed by Best Buy, they would probably charge you $150+wires. Grab your wiring from www.knukonceptz.com , www.darvex.com , www.ebay.com or a local welding shop. The welding shop will probably be the cheapest, but their wires aren't all pretty colors and stuff. Everything here can be easily be installed in an afternoon. Being that I've toyed with my car a couple times, ;) , I could do all this by myself in around 2 1/2 hours. Hardest part.... I'd say working the speaker wire through the boot on the doors. A coat hanger is your best friend there. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ February 20, 2005, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: 96firebird311 ]

[nda0602v6]

Like the others are saying, try and do this stuff yourself. It not only saves you money, you know it was done right and with care. Best Buy may say they offer "professional" installation but what they really are saying is "get em in and get em out.....next."


Components are the best way to go for your doors but you could also go with a nice set of 6-1/2" coaxial speakers if money is tight. Either the CDT CL-6x or the Infinity Reference 6002i would sound nice. Use the same coaxials in the rear if you want. Like 96firebird311 mentioned, you should really consider adding a subwoofer to your system. Instead of a 5-channel amp, you could get a MTX mxa-6004 4-channel amp and use two channels to drive the coaxials in your doors and bridge the other two channels on the amp to drive a single 8" or 10" subwoofer in a stealthbox. To power the rear coaxials, use your headunit to power them.

Another route you could go would be:
1)use a nice component set up front, like the CDT CL-61T's 96firebird311 suggested and don't use any coaxials at all in the rear, leave them empty.
2) Then use either a single 8" or 10" sub in a stealthbox.

The MTX 4-channel amp I listed would also work well for this setup.

[Crashtest]

Thanks for the input, simple & to the point.