ICE - advice needed
Discussion
Hi,
Having picked up an 04 plate Type R this weekend, I'm now looking for a reasonable hi-fi package. The standard CD player and speakers don't seem up to much, and the door cards vibrate a fair while.
So, I've a budget of around £450 inc fitting for a new system. I wouldn't mind a small subwoofer as part of the package, but nothing ridiculous - I'm not a chav!
Where's the best place to source a full package? Should I buy used bits and pieces on Ebay and compile the set up this way? I know it's not a huge budget, but is there any brand etc I should steer clear of?
How much do you reckon I'd be looking for a decent place to install it?
I'm in Bristol if that helps.
Thank you.
Having picked up an 04 plate Type R this weekend, I'm now looking for a reasonable hi-fi package. The standard CD player and speakers don't seem up to much, and the door cards vibrate a fair while.
So, I've a budget of around £450 inc fitting for a new system. I wouldn't mind a small subwoofer as part of the package, but nothing ridiculous - I'm not a chav!
Where's the best place to source a full package? Should I buy used bits and pieces on Ebay and compile the set up this way? I know it's not a huge budget, but is there any brand etc I should steer clear of?
How much do you reckon I'd be looking for a decent place to install it?
I'm in Bristol if that helps.
Thank you.
Responses may be limited but, why are you getting someone to install. It is honestly very easy, the hardest bit is getting door cards off etc but take your time and it is simple.
As regards components I would steer clear of ebay unless you know what you are looking for. Seen a few people buy stuff and it not work correctly, missing bits.
A good headunit is something you can take from car to car. A set of decent component speakers upfront and some money on sound deadening for the doors and you are sorted. If you want a sub later than save up. This way you have a good set and can build rather than a crappy one that shows where you have 'saved' money.
Remember you want decent sound in the drivers seat so forget the other speakers
As regards components I would steer clear of ebay unless you know what you are looking for. Seen a few people buy stuff and it not work correctly, missing bits.
A good headunit is something you can take from car to car. A set of decent component speakers upfront and some money on sound deadening for the doors and you are sorted. If you want a sub later than save up. This way you have a good set and can build rather than a crappy one that shows where you have 'saved' money.
Remember you want decent sound in the drivers seat so forget the other speakers
Go to halfords if you can bear it. Get a feel for the different head units in stock. I've always found sony ones to be best and most user friendly, you may disagree. Also, although they aren't in optimum place, listen to speakers, and see which ones suit your music taste and preferences. Write down model numbers. All through this, don't look at price tags, don't ask for help.
Go home, go on the internet, use caraudiodirect or something like that, where all the stuff will be a 1/3 of the price it was in halfords.
Go home, go on the internet, use caraudiodirect or something like that, where all the stuff will be a 1/3 of the price it was in halfords.
Thanks for the help guys.
Will get a decent head unit and speakers for the doors, and upgrade to a sub and amp when I can afford it.
I spose some sound deadening in the doors and decent speakers will provide a decent amount of bass for now.
Also, I'm absolutely hopeless when installing this kind of thing - wouldn't know where to begin.
Are the speaker wires currently installed good enough or should I look to replace these?
Will get a decent head unit and speakers for the doors, and upgrade to a sub and amp when I can afford it.
I spose some sound deadening in the doors and decent speakers will provide a decent amount of bass for now.
Also, I'm absolutely hopeless when installing this kind of thing - wouldn't know where to begin.
Are the speaker wires currently installed good enough or should I look to replace these?
for sound deadening i really really really cannot recommend getting onto talkaduio and sending a PM to a user called loudboy - he runs DB Drag racing in the UK and brings in some uber-deadening that is not that expensive but wee's allover dynamat
As other people have said the hardest thing is getting the doorcards/interior off and using a router to make some speaker adapters if needed and running cabling but be warned that you can spend thousands and thousands on car audio once you start - I know personally i have a physical shed full of equiptment waiting to go into the car that i bought specifically to fit the install into
As other people have said the hardest thing is getting the doorcards/interior off and using a router to make some speaker adapters if needed and running cabling but be warned that you can spend thousands and thousands on car audio once you start - I know personally i have a physical shed full of equiptment waiting to go into the car that i bought specifically to fit the install into
Having someone install it wont be cheap.
Go to www.talkaudio.co.uk for advice. You wont be able to view the classifieds straight away though.
Go to www.talkaudio.co.uk for advice. You wont be able to view the classifieds straight away though.
BlueMR2 said:
Having someone install it wont be cheap.
Go to www.talkaudio.co.uk for advice. You wont be able to view the classifieds straight away though.
Cheers.Go to www.talkaudio.co.uk for advice. You wont be able to view the classifieds straight away though.
I'm just after a speakers and head unit being installed - would it really be that expensive?
theundecided said:
BlueMR2 said:
Having someone install it wont be cheap.
Go to www.talkaudio.co.uk for advice. You wont be able to view the classifieds straight away though.
Cheers.Go to www.talkaudio.co.uk for advice. You wont be able to view the classifieds straight away though.
I'm just after a speakers and head unit being installed - would it really be that expensive?
For the stereo once you have this part of it out will make sense.
The door cards for the speakers are a bit harder you may find that the speakers sound ok after you have replaced the head unit.
I haven't got guide for the speakers but it is very easy to remove you just need to find all the screws and know where the plastic poppers are around the door card.
Edited by Yodafone on Wednesday 1st September 23:26
My advise would always be second hand...
I've bought 2x 8" woofers + a 350w amp for £8, a 9" sub for £0.99, a 600w 4-channel JBL amp for £42 and now a fancy Kenwood USB headunit for £60.
The JBL amp on it's own would of cost the price of everything that i've got if I went new...
Fitting a headunit and speakers isn't that hard - head unit is slide out old one, slide in new one, plug in any adaptors you need and your away.
Speakers will just need you to pop the door cards off, undo a few screws and slide the new ones in (if you've got the right size...), and plug them in (might need to use a few crimps).
An amp is a bit harder as it involves running wires from the headunit / battery, but still nothing impossible.
£450 is more than enough to get new speakers all round + tweeters, a new headunit, a sub and amp and some deadening new if you want to...
You don't have to spend anywhere near that, though, i've replaced all the speakers with some upgraded Harmon Kardon ones, got a sub, 2x amps and a new headunit and in total it's all come to sub-£135 second hand.
I've bought 2x 8" woofers + a 350w amp for £8, a 9" sub for £0.99, a 600w 4-channel JBL amp for £42 and now a fancy Kenwood USB headunit for £60.
The JBL amp on it's own would of cost the price of everything that i've got if I went new...
Fitting a headunit and speakers isn't that hard - head unit is slide out old one, slide in new one, plug in any adaptors you need and your away.
Speakers will just need you to pop the door cards off, undo a few screws and slide the new ones in (if you've got the right size...), and plug them in (might need to use a few crimps).
An amp is a bit harder as it involves running wires from the headunit / battery, but still nothing impossible.
£450 is more than enough to get new speakers all round + tweeters, a new headunit, a sub and amp and some deadening new if you want to...
You don't have to spend anywhere near that, though, i've replaced all the speakers with some upgraded Harmon Kardon ones, got a sub, 2x amps and a new headunit and in total it's all come to sub-£135 second hand.
Edited by Jakg on Wednesday 1st September 23:37
Jakg said:
My advise would always be second hand...
I've bought 2x 8" woofers + a 350w amp for £8, a 9" sub for £0.99, a 600w 4-channel JBL amp for £42 and now a fancy Kenwood USB headunit for £60.
The JBL amp on it's own would of cost the price of everything that i've got if I went new...
Fitting a headunit and speakers isn't that hard - head unit is slide out old one, slide in new one, plug in any adaptors you need and your away.
Speakers will just need you to pop the door cards off, undo a few screws and slide the new ones in (if you've got the right size...), and plug them in (might need to use a few crimps).
An amp is a bit harder as it involves running wires from the headunit / battery, but still nothing impossible.
£450 is more than enough to get new speakers all round + tweeters, a new headunit, a sub and amp and some deadening new if you want to...
You don't have to spend anywhere near that, though, i've replaced all the speakers with some upgraded Harmon Kardon ones, got a sub, 2x amps and a new headunit and in total it's all come to sub-£135 second hand.
Cheers guys.I've bought 2x 8" woofers + a 350w amp for £8, a 9" sub for £0.99, a 600w 4-channel JBL amp for £42 and now a fancy Kenwood USB headunit for £60.
The JBL amp on it's own would of cost the price of everything that i've got if I went new...
Fitting a headunit and speakers isn't that hard - head unit is slide out old one, slide in new one, plug in any adaptors you need and your away.
Speakers will just need you to pop the door cards off, undo a few screws and slide the new ones in (if you've got the right size...), and plug them in (might need to use a few crimps).
An amp is a bit harder as it involves running wires from the headunit / battery, but still nothing impossible.
£450 is more than enough to get new speakers all round + tweeters, a new headunit, a sub and amp and some deadening new if you want to...
You don't have to spend anywhere near that, though, i've replaced all the speakers with some upgraded Harmon Kardon ones, got a sub, 2x amps and a new headunit and in total it's all come to sub-£135 second hand.
Edited by Jakg on Wednesday 1st September 23:37
Jakg - where'd you get your 2nd hand stuff?
If you're replacing speakers yourself try and make sure you get exactly the same size as you have already. I bought some nice Alpine speakers for my Accord Type-R and gave up trying to make them fit. I ended up paying a local guy £100 (IIRC) to fit them into the door cards, and tweeters into the A-pillars, and also rear parcel shelf speakers.
Like someone else said, try just replacing the head unit first. You might be surprised how much better your standard speakers sound. If you're still not happy, then replace the speakers.
Like someone else said, try just replacing the head unit first. You might be surprised how much better your standard speakers sound. If you're still not happy, then replace the speakers.
i have a pioneer deh 8600 supposed to be good to be honest bought it due to the colour screen. dont need it as the elise came with a similar alpine unit, 2 years old been sat in a vacuum pack for the last year if interested feel free to pm me, if anyone knows of the unit and advises the op thats its good or crap feel free i won't be offended as took judgement from internet.
also if anyone knows of a fair price to ask for this then please post.
also if anyone knows of a fair price to ask for this then please post.
I had a Civic Type R, with a good headunit the speakers are not that bad. They are not good at playing bass, but are pretty clear otherwise, so I went for a Kenwood h/u and then got a JL 8" sub for the bass, it worked perfectly. Door speakers did not need doing at all. At the very least, do the speakers last, especially if you are buying a sub. This will then allow you to decide whats the best way to go.
Fitting yourself is easy, the Type R comes to pieces with ease if you're not doing the door speakers. So you can run all the cables down each side of the car.
Fitting yourself is easy, the Type R comes to pieces with ease if you're not doing the door speakers. So you can run all the cables down each side of the car.
^^^ As above if you are looking to buy new and get them fitted.
Second hand and get someone to fit the kit, or buy new and fit it yourself, but even then the new gear will be on the lower end.
I have always steered clear of Halfords, although some of the ICE guys are proper sound engineers etc.
The Hertz kit is a good entry level bet - I have their mid level components / amp and sub in a custom enclosure (to fit under the roof stow - not a fibreglass monstrosity!) and am really happy with it, despite being a soft top.
Sound deadening is a must though – nothing worse than vibrations over powering the sound and from the outside it can sound particularly bad!
Second hand and get someone to fit the kit, or buy new and fit it yourself, but even then the new gear will be on the lower end.
I have always steered clear of Halfords, although some of the ICE guys are proper sound engineers etc.
The Hertz kit is a good entry level bet - I have their mid level components / amp and sub in a custom enclosure (to fit under the roof stow - not a fibreglass monstrosity!) and am really happy with it, despite being a soft top.
Sound deadening is a must though – nothing worse than vibrations over powering the sound and from the outside it can sound particularly bad!
Jakg said:
Original Poster said:
You will simply not get half decent audio and fitting for your budget, either save more or don't bother IMO.
£450 may not give you world beating performance, but it will be a *massive* upgrade over OEM.Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff