noodles

Was thinking about improving my sound system in my P5, adding a sub and amp and probably 2 more speakers or changing the stock speakers, but i don't really want to change the deck cuz i don't wanna attract thieves, so my question is, doi need to change my deck in order to have a better "sounding" system ? or is the deck just for looks and buttons?

dru

It depends on what you're after. If you like gizmos and gadgets, go with an aftermarket deck. The downside is worrying about it getting stolen (if it is a stealth deck) or having to cart it around (removable faceplate).

In my last car I upgraded to a Sony ES C780 because the factory deck was tape only. It was great because it was loaded (CD Text was my favourite). But it meant worrying about it getting stolen.

If all you're looking for is better sound then upgrade the speakers and toss in a couple of amps and a sub. The install isn't all that much different, just be sure to get some converters to take the speaker level inputs down to RCA levels for the signals going to the amps.

onehawaiian

actually, stealing the hu is usually nothing compared to the damage prior... usually. removable faces are a bit of a burden, but you don't have to carry it with you. blaupunkt has a keycard anti-theft device which fits in your wallet (credit card size). the best thing would probably be as many visual deterrants as possible.

i vote for new hu.

sunbyrne

gee, onehawaiian votes to spend money on something you probably don't need? There's a shock. Just kidding...

Anyway, the real drawbacks of the stock HU are:
* Limited power
* Limited feature set

If you're happy with the stock feature set and are going to add amps anyway, then there isn't a real need to replace the HU.

onehawaiian

sniff/sniff, that hurt my feelings... ** wipes teary eyes with hundred dollar bills**

LOL

actually, listening to my advise will probably result in bankruptcy.

imsorrystoned

could i run a pair of alpine sps-5729 off the stock unit? somebody suggested those as the fronts to a decent budget system. i also wanna put at least one sub, so an amp is gonna be required. how would that be hooked up to the HU? I'm assuming the stock hu has no pre-amp out so which output should i put the converter on? (dunno what the thing is called that converts the speaker signal). Any ideas what amp and sub(s) i should put in? i'm looking for a system around $500 canadian. i don't need to replace the rear speakers, those can stay stock, and as i've said i don't wanna replace the HU.

Could the sub(s) and amp fit under the rear seats? Its not just my car (shared with parents right now) and i don't think they wanna lose trunk space.

onehawaiian

um, what kind of car to you have? you want subs and amps under the rear seats? imsorryRUstoned? lol, j/k don't think that's a good place for your subs and amp.

try an infinity's basslink, a self-amplified 10" sub.

imsorrystoned

what makes that a place for them?

its a protege 5, otherwise i'd be asking somewhere else..

onehawaiian

oh, are you meaning behind the seats? well then yeah. you said under and i immediately thought of blaupunkt's flat subs, but even those wouldn't fit under the seat.

but yeah, behind the seats are very roomy for amps and subs. sorry, i misunderstood your post.

imsorrystoned

meant to say "what makes that a bad place for them"

no i did mean under the seats, but to be more specific, i meant like hollowing out the part of the seat between where your butt goes and where the floor of the car is, then putting the subs and amp in there. use the seat itself as the box and port it out to where passenger's legs would be. it would save the trunk space and bring the subs closer to the front (subs may be non-directional, but their intensity increases as you get closer)

Sweedenhouse

First off I love your name imsorrystoned, and go figure you're in B.C., heh. Anyway bottom line is the first thing you should ever do in a car stereo situation is shitcan the stock deck. You will never acheive anything worth listening to with the stock HU, its underpowered, has terrible sound quality, and looks like crap. Unless its a situation like the MP3 where it came with that Kenwood (even though I would shitcan that deck too, Eclipse is the only way to go for me). In my 6 years experience with car audio systems a good HU is necessary to get a good system. I mean its like you have these nice speakers and amps and stuff, but you're feeding them a crap signal. I dunno its kinda like havin a Porsche 911 Turbo with a governor installed on it that slows the car past 65 MPH.

imsorrystoned

that makes sense, thanks. i was hoping i wouldn't have to spend the extra $250 or more though


btw the name is from when a friend of mine was too stoned to pay attention to me, so she tried to say "sorry, i'm super stoned" but "i'm sorry stoned" is all that came out and she didn't even notice. i figured it was funny enough to use as an alias

pentium006

i have two used decks if you are interested.

Kenwood KDC-215 $100

Pioneer DEH 2400 $150


let me know.

adam