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Calvin Firenze
Minmatar Demon Theory Wildly Inappropriate.
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Posted - 2009.08.03 05:31:00 -
[1]
I just got a new 2010 Kia Soul a few weeks ago and while the stock stereo sounds alright, I want to put something in with a little more kick to it. The stock head unit looks like this.
I don't know what to look for that will fit there and I'm not sure that I want to anyhow. The ipod jack is down by the shifter and I don't listen to cd's or the radio anymore.
As far as subwoofers, I'm an old school JL Audio fan, so I was looking at this. Also I'm completely clueless as to what amp(s) to buy.
Additionally, I'm not some tool that only adds subs to his system and thinks its cool. I need the whole system to sound good or its just a waste of money. I was thinking pioneer for the mids and tweeters, but I'm a bit of a noob with all this. I'm just going off past experiences with what used to be quality products, not sure if they still are.
I'll probably need to install a new battery to run it all as I'm not sure the stock battery can handle it.
I was 18 the last time I wired a car stereo, and that was for my best friends Ford escort station wagon...he had already bought everything and I was mostly there for color support. He was color blind and attaching the wires correctly was a bit of a chore for him.
Disclaimer: I know absolutely nothing about hooking up a car stereo, I just want it to have a lot of kick and I want it to sound good at the same time, I don't want the bass to drown out the actual music, so keep the flames to a minimum please. Slowly buying parts for a new pc, will be back ingame soon...
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Kurfin
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Posted - 2009.08.03 09:02:00 -
[2]
Unfortunately most new cars are really difficult to fit new head units, which severely gimps any attempt to improve the sounds. I'm guessing since you just bought the car, chopping it in for something a little more old skool is out of the question?
You may be able to get a fascia adapter to allow you to fit a standard sized head unit, or if you can't you could get one custom made if you're feeling rich.
Before you choose your speakers you need to find out what size you can fit. Make sure you measure the depth too, you don't want to get speakers then find out they are too deep to fit (like I did, DOH!). If you don't have much depth to play with you can get shallow mount speakers, they don't sound quite as good but if nothing else will fit they will still sound better than the factory ones.
Another important factor in a good install is sound deadening, the areas around the speakers are a must.
The battery should be ok. But one thing you must check before you do anything to the car is the warranty, and how it will be affected.
As for wiring it up yourself, I'd advice against it. Wiring in new cars isn't as straight forward as it was even 10 years ago. Get a professional install.
Finally with bits you get, quality is mostly due to the amount you pay not the brand you buy. Best advice would be to buy from somewhere where they have them set up so you can listen to different combinations of head unit and speakers. Component choice has a lot to do with personal preferences, you can't always say x is better than y, one person may prefer x another y.
I would say your subwoofer choice is over the top for anything other than a completely monster install, on a more modest set up it would completely overpower the rest of the system. Choice of music does affect sub choice, I'd go one 12" or maybe one 10" depending how bass heavy your music is.
It's been a while since I've done an install, so like you I'm not sure what of the manufactures current line up is any good and what isn't. But hopefully I've given you enough info to be able to go on a car stereo forum and not look clueless.
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Tallaran Kouros
Caldari Sc0rched Earth
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Posted - 2009.08.03 09:29:00 -
[3]
Originally by: Calvin Firenze
Additionally, I'm not some tool that only adds subs to his system and thinks its cool. I need the whole system to sound good or its just a waste of money. I was thinking pioneer for the mids and tweeters, but I'm a bit of a noob with all this. I'm just going off past experiences with what used to be quality products, not sure if they still are.
As an "audiophile", what's the point?
Surely the noise from the traffic and/or engine is going to interfere sufficiently that there is a point beyond which it's not worth spending money?
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Kurfin
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Posted - 2009.08.03 09:48:00 -
[4]
That's why sound deadening in one of the most important aspects of any good install.
Obliviously you'll never beat a good home hifi, even stationary with the engine switched off as cars aren't great acoustically. The speaker placing is rarely that great and sitting on one side of the car doesn't help either.
But it doesn't mean that it isn't worth upgrading, as you can still make a massive improvement over stock (assuming stock isn't an expensive car, with the optional expensive stereo upgrade).
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Tallaran Kouros
Caldari Sc0rched Earth
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Posted - 2009.08.03 09:55:00 -
[5]
Originally by: Kurfin
But it doesn't mean that it isn't worth upgrading, as you can still make a massive improvement over stock (assuming stock isn't an expensive car, with the optional expensive stereo upgrade).
Yeah, you just gotta find the point where it's "good enough" and you don't end up throwing away money chasing an improvement that you will never be able to hear.
Just please don't be one of those ****s that drives a shoebox on wheels with the subwoofer blaring. For the love of God please no.
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Grimpak
Gallente Noir. Noir. Mercenary Group
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Posted - 2009.08.03 10:02:00 -
[6]
Originally by: Kurfin Unfortunately most new cars are really difficult to fit new head units, which severely gimps any attempt to improve the sounds. I'm guessing since you just bought the car, chopping it in for something a little more old skool is out of the question?
You may be able to get a fascia adapter to allow you to fit a standard sized head unit, or if you can't you could get one custom made if you're feeling rich.
Before you choose your speakers you need to find out what size you can fit. Make sure you measure the depth too, you don't want to get speakers then find out they are too deep to fit (like I did, DOH!). If you don't have much depth to play with you can get shallow mount speakers, they don't sound quite as good but if nothing else will fit they will still sound better than the factory ones.
Another important factor in a good install is sound deadening, the areas around the speakers are a must.
The battery should be ok. But one thing you must check before you do anything to the car is the warranty, and how it will be affected.
As for wiring it up yourself, I'd advice against it. Wiring in new cars isn't as straight forward as it was even 10 years ago. Get a professional install.
Finally with bits you get, quality is mostly due to the amount you pay not the brand you buy. Best advice would be to buy from somewhere where they have them set up so you can listen to different combinations of head unit and speakers. Component choice has a lot to do with personal preferences, you can't always say x is better than y, one person may prefer x another y.
I would say your subwoofer choice is over the top for anything other than a completely monster install, on a more modest set up it would completely overpower the rest of the system. Choice of music does affect sub choice, I'd go one 12" or maybe one 10" depending how bass heavy your music is.
It's been a while since I've done an install, so like you I'm not sure what of the manufactures current line up is any good and what isn't. But hopefully I've given you enough info to be able to go on a car stereo forum and not look clueless.
this.
also, if slapping an amp of sorts, get a special fuse so that the system doesn't fry your electrical wiring. electrical feedback from an amp is capable to kill a car's electrical system if isn't protected. ---
Quote: The more I know about humans, the more I love animals.
ain't that right. |
Elena Khan
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Posted - 2009.08.03 11:46:00 -
[7]
M-Station 4TW
chuck in a 250GB hdd and max it out with mp3's (more music than you can shake a stick at)
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Iasius
Mercurialis Inc. Wildly Inappropriate.
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Posted - 2009.08.03 14:10:00 -
[8]
For ú70 from Halfords i got a Radio\CD tuner that also could play mp3s from a CD. Its handy if you want a wallet of CD's with each CD containing an entire artists collection.
If you car has the standard ISO connector then the car stereo should plug straight in.
Once i got a fancy Pioneer tuner\cd\minidisc player that sucked from the battery when it was standing. I had to get a 12V solar panel trickle charger from maplins to stop the battery from going flat if the car was not used for 4 days Please resize image to a maximum of 400 x 120, not exceeding 24000 bytes. ~Saint |
Taua Roqa
Minmatar junQtion
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Posted - 2009.08.03 17:16:00 -
[9]
just so no-one confuses audiophile - someone who likes to have a fukken good stereo - with a rich idiot, someone who spends tons of cash on speaker cables and power conditioning etc :P often confused tbh :P
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Taua Roqa
Minmatar junQtion
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Posted - 2009.08.03 17:18:00 -
[10]
on topic, couldn't ya plop something in ya boot and use a control panel stuck on the dashboard, and rewire the car speakers to the amp in the boot?
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