Need help on a car audio setup!

[Raz18]

I need suggestions on what to get for a good setup in my ford explorer. I need a new head unit, speakers and subs. I just need some ideas on what a good setup would be. I'd like to have two 12'' subs. Im pretty new as you can probably tell, I'd love some help though!

 

[TLS Guy]

I need suggestions on what to get for a good setup in my ford explorer. I need a new head unit, speakers and subs. I just need some ideas on what a good setup would be. I'd like to have two 12'' subs. Im pretty new as you can probably tell, I'd love some help though!

This is not a car forum. However if your car is new enough to have it a head unit, then leave your car alone. If you mess with it, you will really regret it.

 

[jplinville]

In today's vehicles, stock is best. You don't need the kind of base that rattles windows on houses as you drive past them.

 

[ARES24]

I tend to think that extra bass is sometimes required. In that case you can get systems that do not require a change of head unit. They get their input from line level. (the front speaker wires) I would suggest finding a good car audio place and asking them.

 

[hizzaah]

i've looked to these ones for ideas:
CarAudioForum.com - The WWW Car Audio Forum
DIYMA Car Audio Forum

I would agree with ARES24 on using a sub that gets it's input from line level (to clarify, I saw this done usually through adapters in my research when I did my gf's speakers). If you do decide to swap everything else, for the love of everything that is decent, DO NOT destroy the stock wiring harness! Don't know what car it is, but you never know if someone will want to return it to stock for whatever reason.

 

[jplinville]

There's so much I could tell you about my 3 year, $20k adventure in the early 1990's, building and competing in SPL competitions, but in the end it was the stupidest thing I ever wasted time and money on. It nearly put me in the poor house and caused thousands of dollars of damage in to my car because of it being broke into...no matter how good of an alarm I had on it.

 

[slipperybidness]

I need suggestions on what to get for a good setup in my ford explorer. I need a new head unit, speakers and subs. I just need some ideas on what a good setup would be. I'd like to have two 12'' subs. Im pretty new as you can probably tell, I'd love some help though!

The stock head units and stereos can be pretty good nowadays, but mostly it depends on how new your car is. The newest ones with all the extra features and navigation, etc, on the head unit make it tough to even consider going aftermarket. If that is the case here, then the advice to only add a sub is pretty good advice. If you go that route, usually you would have an adapter piggyback off the rear speakers that convert the speaker level signal to line level, then run that to the input of the amp. I think a few options may even have speaker level inputs, something like a Bazooka tube sub comes to mind.

I would definitely take a look at the speakers. In general, if they are paper cones, then I would swap them out.

As far as brands, etc:

For head units, I like Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood.

For subwoofers and amps, you really can't go wrong with the Rockford Fosgate stuff. I also like the Infinity Kappa line of Subs. If you are on more of a budget, then look into Audiobahn (personally I like the chrome on these), or Kenwood. Both of those are solid choices for reaonable prices.

In general, I've found that about a 300W RMS amp down to about 100W is more than enough for my tastes, but I do also have smaller sports cars.

Final word of advice, avoid the Sony Xplode series altogether.

 

[jplinville]

In general, I've found that about a 300W RMS amp down to about 100W is more than enough for my tastes, but I do also have smaller sports cars.

Final word of advice, avoid the Sony Xplode series altogether.

The Exploder might need up to 400 watts, depending on what's being pushed, and if it's sealed or free. I've learned that a bandpass box works best in the larger airspace of an SUV. X100 on the RF suggestion. I used to run Punch Series pushing RF subs. No more than 200 on the other speakers...

X1000000000000000000000 on the Sony Explode. Any Walmart electronics are junk...os stay away from them. Yes, I know they sell some of the same looking stereos as the big guys, but if the serial numbers start with WM, run away from it. I have a set of the Sone Explode 6X9 in boxes behind the seat of my truck...only because they were on sale and I needed a set in a bad way.

Bottom line...you're not going to get superb clarity in a vehicle. Make it sound as good as you can, for as cheap as you can...because homie is going to steal it anyway. You might want to check with your insurance to see what your deductible would be if the stuff is stolen, then decide if you really want to go down this road.

 

[slipperybidness]

Bottom line...you're not going to get superb clarity in a vehicle. Make it sound as good as you can, for as cheap as you can...because homie is going to steal it anyway. You might want to check with your insurance to see what your deductible would be if the stuff is stolen, then decide if you really want to go down this road.

More words of advice:

1) Don't "bump" your system anywhere near your home, especially if you park outside. As soon as you get within a couple of miles of your hood, turn it waaaay down or off completely. People like to show off their nice systems so the whole world knows. That just let's the whole world know which car to break into.
2) Same for going somewhere. When you get to within a couple of miles of your destination, shut it off!
3) Do not put the stickers on your rear glass that show what components are in the vehicle. That's an invitation to get a window busted.
4) Get your windows tinted as dark as your state allows. You don't want anybody looking in there and seeing your equipment.
5) Take the faceplate off of the head unit when you park it.

On a side note, go check out Crutchfield.com. They have some pretty good resources on what will fit in any car, and they have some boxes that are custom made for most of the popular cars. I'll bet they have something for the Explorer. In general, their prices aren't competitive, but I have seen some really good deals on there from time to time.

 

[jplinville]

Great advise.

I'd also like to add that a factory head unit, factory grilles, factory looking sub, etc., will deter thieves fairly quickly. You can add on other items such as AUX ports and hide them so you can plug your mp3 player in and enjoy your music.

You can't tell by looking at the system in our Tahoe that there's 2 factory subs (one front, one rear), creative wiring to add mp3 playability, and a bluetooth adapter to play straight from the cell phone, but it's all there, well hidden from the eyes of would be punks.

 

[lemonslush]

I rock the stock stereo in my cars now, however when I did install car stereos My head unit of choice was alpine if you planned on not using a 4 channel amp and Eclipse if you do. No you can get some nice Jl audio amps used on CL for short money the 500/1 or 1000/1 mono blocks. Memphis audio makes some great amps as well. In regards to speakers its not just size of the woofer but size of the enclosure. If you have less space then a sealed box if the way to go. Cant really go wrong with Jl audio for subs. I had a few Diamond audio m3's which look fantastic but my favorite were teh Klipsch solobarics. The square shape make them pump. Not the best sound quality but for SPL they were hard to beat for the price and enclosure size. In less than a cubic foot you can get a 10" solobaric. and that 10" pushes the same amount of air as a round 12".
Also get a farad cap, even if its 1 or 3 farads. it will help when the heavy bass hits and your battery will thank you. Whatever you do for a system make sure its balanced. Dont go rocken 2k watts for your dual 15" subs in a ported box and leave the stock speakers running of the headunits crappy real world 14 watts.