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Cheap but loud sound system!

8K views 39 replies 12 participants last post by  peterc 
#1 ·
Hey all! I need some advice on my soun system for my TJ. I can barely hear it when going at high speeds, and was wondering how to get it louder for as cheap as I can. I don't need to to be hurting my ears loud at high speeds, but I want to hear if. Should I suck it up an get a sub and amp, amp for the other speKers, and a head unit? Or would I be good by just getting a head unit? Any advice is good but try to keep it as cheap as you can! Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Start wearing ear protection when around loud noises... I'm half deaf and aside from my headunit (older Pioneer headunit), my speakers are stock...and I can hear them just fine with the top and doors off on the highway. lol

Seriously though...replace your headunit with one that puts out more power (mine is 25 watts per channel I believe) and get some nicer speakers. I don't have any specific recommendations...most of it comes down to personal preference. For instance...some people love Pioneer speakers...and others prefer Sony speakers.
 
#3 ·
One of the first things i did was buy a little used four channel amp from craigslist and ran all my speakers to the amp then from the amp youll run rca jacks and it will give you a louder sound plus a clearer sound.. I put two memphis audio crossovers in the roll bar pods for 120 have had them for over two years now and they are loud..!
 
#7 ·
:rofl: You and your Jensen talk. My opinion is for a decent aftermarket deck (with the features that will fit where you may wish to go) and some efficient middle of the road speakers. If you aren't looking for much bass that will be plenty loud to hear with the top down. You could always add a powered sub or bass tube in the future if you want a full sound. It's all preference, personally I don't want to put too much $$$ in a system that says "look what I left exposed in this busy parking lot."
 
#11 ·
:rofl:
It is to a certain point yes, but as an enthusist and a professional Alpine has always been overrated and underperformed in the last 15 years. In the last 10 years everyones radios went to crap in the 350 and less category. A customer brought in a 200 dollar Alpine last week for us to install and it only had 1 rear preout...and it wasnt even a subout. Give me a break, even the jensons have more than that these days.

Sound familiar? :rofl:

Just bustin' your chops man. Good stuff, my memory is great with the wrong things. :D
 
#13 ·
I will give you what I've done with my stereo so far and I've only replaced the deck about 2 months ago.
1.) 10 year old Alpine deck, 5 year old 4x40watt Alpine amp, new 6.5" Infinity Reference components front and rear. Loud and clear at any speed, bass was tight for drums but lacking anything deep.
2.) Added JL Audio 8w3v2d2 (8" mid/high level sub) and ran 2 rear channels bridged to sub, and soundbar off deck. Sub severely underpowered but sounded good with certain music. Lost about 1/2 bass when I put hardtop back on??? Soundbar got louder but a little less clarity off the deck.
3.) Removed 4 channel amp, added 300w Alpine monoblock(also about 10 years old). Ran all mids/highs off deck. Bass is much better, highs pretty much same volume as when amped but not as clean. Still sounds great, and sticking with this until I have money to blow on a 5 channel amp. Have not had top off since amp change, but need to put something between box and metal tub since it vibrates with the higher power going to sub.

crutchfield usually has good desls and
they give you everything you need to hook it up. after i installed my polks in the dash and soundbar friends thought i had a sub
I like Polk speakers, DB's are good but the next series up is better with an amp IMO. Also, not to discount Crutchfield....but you may find what you want cheaper at Amazon. I sound like a broken record, but I use crutchfield for research and price checking unless they are similar priced. They do have great customer service in my experiences with them.

:thumb:
 
#15 ·
That sounds great... Yet expensive. Is anything I can do for very cheap like just getting one thing or something? I will probably save up for that, but being a teenager it might take a while to get it. So I need some loud music for as cheap as possible.
 
#18 ·
Start with a deck and they all should come with at least 1 set of RCA pre-outs to add a sub in the future. I personally only listen to Ipod and radio so Ipod controls was top of my list. When you blow the speakers you have with the new deck you can look into some decent speakers on Amazon. I got mine for about $70 a set and they retailed for $200+.

Like mentioned, check Crutchfield for the deck, the free hardware goes a long way when pinching pennies.

Shop around and you can get deck and speakers that sound good for less than $300. (maybe $200 if not too picky)
 
#21 ·
desertgoose said:
Start with a deck and they all should come with at least 1 set of RCA pre-outs to add a sub in the future. I personally only listen to Ipod and radio so Ipod controls was top of my list. When you blow the speakers you have with the new deck you can look into some decent speakers on Amazon. I got mine for about $70 a set and they retailed for $200+.

Like mentioned, check Crutchfield for the deck, the free hardware goes a long way when pinching pennies.

Shop around and you can get deck and speakers that sound good for less than $300. (maybe $200 if not too picky)
I agree with desertgoose. I replaced my deck with a 10+ year old kenwood that I had laying around and that alone made a big difference. Still running factory speakers for now and I can hear the music grat at highway speeds topless. That would be a good place to start.
 
#23 ·
I am getting ready to eliminate the head unit all together. I am going to use my Droid X as the head unit. I have a 4x300 Rockford Fozgate amp that will be driving the 2 6.5" Focal component speakers in a sound bar. The phone does FM radio, GPS, Pandora and has a 32gig card with over 500 Cd's stored on it. No more head unit to steel and a great place to mount extra switches.
 
#29 ·
I'm curious to hear how that goes. I wonder what the output voltage would be from the phone. I have the DROID x2 but wouldn't think of what you are wanting to do. Everything but my components has been collecting dust in my garage and I just knew it was a matter of time til I gave in and installed most of it. I've had multiple systems in every vehicle I've owned and the trend seems to be smaller with better sound quality as I got older.
 
#32 ·
I think this thread has been going the wrong way. Title was cheap and loud, not Zapco and Focal. :rofl:

Alpine CDA-105 CD receiver at Crutchfield Signature

Amazon.com: Pioneer DEH-6300UB CD Receiver with iPod/iPhone Control, Pandora player and MultiColor LCD: Car Electronics

Might be less expensive for CD player on crutchfield if they give you the mounting stuff with it.
Kenwood KDC-248U CD receiver at Crutchfield.com
Amazon.com: Kenwood KDC248U In-Dash Head Unit Car Stereo: Car Electronics
Speakers seem a bit less expensive on Amazon.
Amazon.com: 4 brands Car Speakers & Subwoofers

Hope this helps, goodnight.
 
#33 ·
Thank you! That did help. If I feel like splurging I might get a HD radio receiver, esspecially if I don't need an amp. Would you suggest that I get an amp? And if I should could you suggest an amp that would be good for me? Thanks! P.S. Thanks for keeping us on cheap and loud!
 
#35 ·
Hd list



You can check here to see what HD radio offers in your area, as far as service goes.

[lame] In my area, the only thing in HD radio is news and Jazz. [/lame]
 
#34 ·
Start with the deck first. Save some money and try to get decent speakers for stock locations when you blow the stock ones or are ready to upgrade. Those $40 sets will sound ok,(loud) but a better quality speaker goes a long way. I don't know what year your Wrangler is, but check out what size speakers fit currently and what size you could upgrade to with minimal modifications. The larger the speaker the better the "bass" will be and less distortion when the bass is playing.

If you own an Ipod, I suggest that above the HD radio. My deck is HD ready, but never crossed my mind to do it because for me radio is more casual listening and I jam with Ipod.

In regards to an amp, I saw this neat sounding power pack. It's rated same power as the amp I took out and doesn't require all of the wiring or space. A possiblility if the deck doesn't push enough power to your speakers when you put them in. Alpine KTP-445 Power Pack Of course, only compatible with Alpine deck, not positive if it is good for all Alpine's though.:punk:
 
#36 ·
My point was not to suggest Zapco amps or focal speakers but rather that if you have a Ipod or other device (Iphone, DroidX etc) you can save space by not having a head unit. Jeeps are stingy when it comes to space to put your electronic goodies. If you eliminate the head unit and mount your amp in that location under the dash then you can spend the money you have available on the other items you need to produce a good sounding, loud system. Other than an acctual CD, Iphone's etc do everything the head unit does and more and many people already have them so, why not use them to there fullest? No head unit means $200-$300 or more in the budget for an amp and/or speakers and nothing tempting a thief to get into your jeep to steel!! My suggestion is just that....a suggestion to answer the question that was asked.


This one even comes with a water resistant cap and mounts to your dash.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CLAR...RSAL-AUX-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ140562354700


If you want to run more than 2 channels then just use these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-SCOSCHE-AUDIO...622?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e732c0ce
 
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