Well, my brother in law offered to install a new stereo system in my car if I got all the parts together. I have figured that I have about a 500-600 dollar budget for the whole thing and am hoping to get a good system regardless of the rather small budget.

I will be installing the system into my 1995 Nissan Maxima (it's a sedan and currently has two speakers up front with tweeters on the A pillar and two large subwoofer-speakers mounted by the rear window (pointing straight up).

The only things that I am sure about are my own tastes in music and music delivery. I listen to a lot of rap but also a lot of rock and some softer stuff (basically, everything from Eminem and Bone Thugs 'n Harmony to Coldplay, Radiohead and the Beatles) and in the past I have found that I really appreciate the delivery of a single or dual 10" subwoofers. I am obviously not concerned in having the very best system, but I would like to have a good system regardless of my budget.

Here is what I was thinking:

Deck: ~150-200
Speakers: ~250-300
Sub: ~50-60
Amp: ~70

My dad and I will be building a custom box for the trunk and I will worry about expenses like dynamat and stuff after the install... but the basic problem that I have is that I don't know what equipment to buy. I would like, but do not need, a deck with MP3 playback and would like ample control of the treble, bass, and mids of my system. I think that I will go with only one 10" sub (I want 10" because it seems to have a shorter response time than the 12"... I have heard this has something to do with the size of the magnet or something) and all I want from the sub is the ability to hit when I need it to.

As for the speakers, (which, to me, are the most important purchase) I was thinking I might go with a brand called CDT Audio that has been getting a lot of praise lately. I will probably buy from this site for the speakers.

And this site for everything else.

If you have suggestions that aren't on those sites, by all means point me in a better direction please.

Thanks for any help, but I'd also like to warn you that I am not the most knowledgable people when it comes to this because I have simply never bought a car system before... so when you're suggesting things like speakers it would be great if you could explain the simple things like whether you put the really good speakers in the front or the back of the car and what sizes to use and all that hoopblah. Thanks again.

Wassup use to work in a car audio shop for 3 years.

Here are some choices for a deck.

Some Pioneer choices at WAL-MART

If you don't like it you can return with no fuss with a sales ticket. And you can get it local as long as it's in stock.

HERE

Even cheaper at best but it's on sale. $149.99

Pioneer 50W x 4 Satellite Radio-Ready CD Deck with MOSFET Power and MP3 Playback Model: DEH-P3700M Listen to CDs, MP3s or satellite radio on this versatile CD receiver. With so much music to choose from, you can listen to what you want, when you want. MOSFET amplifier delivers 50 watts peak power (22 watts RMS) x 4 channels with minimal distortion Satellite Radio-ready: compatible with XM and Sirius Satellite Radio (XM or Sirius tuner, antenna and subscription required for activation) Plays back CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA and WAV formats; Apple® iPod™-ready (adapter not included) HERE

I didn't really say this before, but I don't particularly care for Pioneer decks, or Walmart.... or for that matter retail stores in general

Hit up a BestBuy store and check out their returned/open items stock. This is the rundown on my wifes system and where it came from:

Deck - Pioneer dont remember the model number. Does the fancy full motion animations, remote, flip-down face, built-in crossover.....this deck has TONS of adjustments. Was originally $240 got it for $139 at BestBuy. It was broken, someone returned it and they sent if off for repairs. I have had no troubles with it since I bought it and they still gave me the full warranty.

6 1/2s - I just picked up some 3 way Pioneers. Normally I shy away from Pioneers but my wife liked the way they sounded and they were fairly inexpensive. They came from Wal-Mart and were somewhere in the neighborhood of $60 - bought the 2 way versions for the rear speaker locations, they were like $40.

Sub/Amp - straight from Crutchfield. This is where I would have gotten the other speakers had my wife not went to Wal-Mart. Picked up a Polk db 12" sub that was last years model for $60. Last year it was $160. Rubber surround, 180 watt RMS - nice looking sub. Also grabbed a box from there as well, it was more than the sub at about $75. Then I grabbed a Profile 200x1 @ 4 ohms / 360x1 @ 2 ohms amp. This amp was on sale for $100.

What I ended up with was a damn decent system that costs less then my CD player did in my other system (in my truck).

So I want to make sure I understand what you're saying AaronKelly, it's better to put a set of really good speakers in front, and slightly inferior speakers in the back? Also, when I am installing, will I just mount the new speakers in the door where the old ones used to be? And if so, how do I know what size speaker to buy? Geez, sorry guys, I know I'm a pain in the a$$

[add] thanks for all the help so far, i'm liking the possibilities that I'm seeing. And walmart and best buy are beginning to seem like more likely possibilities afterall.

I actually prefer a front sound stage only - therefore in my truck I dont even have any rear speakers. I have dash speakers and front door speakers. I had a cavalier once and used door and kickpod speakers but for most people using the stock locations will be fine.

When adjusting your speakers you want to adjust all the sound to the front then start fading it to the back until you cant tell where the sound is coming from (or as close to that as possible). You basically use the rear speaker for fill........for that reason I spend alot of money on front speakers and buy cheaper speaker for the rear. For instance go component speakers up front and then 2 or 3 way speaker in the back. Do whatever your budget allows but in general practice the rear speakers are not near as important (unless maybe you spend alot of time in the backseat of your car).

Go to www.crutchfield.com and you will find all the information about what fits in your car. I really like Crutchfield, if you buy from them they will send you a Master Sheet that tells you exactly how to take apart your car and mount speakers/deck etc. They will also send you the necessary wiring harness for speaker and your deck including mounting kit etc. If you buy from them you WILL have everything you need in the mail and the moutning/wiring harness stuff is free.

I highly recommend the Alpine 9827. I have it running in my system right now and it's a great deck. It's great for a budget system and gives you room to grow into it as well.

i second the alpine deck, i have the high end 9833 that is absolutley amazing (even tho i still wonder sometimes why i sent so much money on a deck, every time i turn it on i remember cause it sounds so sweet). in any case, alpines whole line is incredibly clean.

my advice tho, if youre gonna upgrade do it right, a 60$ sub with a 70$ amp is gonna dissapoint i fear, i would save just a little more cash before springing for that. as far as those speakers, what i saw looked decent but im always wary of brands ive never listened to. i could care less about reviews i gotta hear first. as such, i refuse to use anything but boston acoustics or mb quart speakers in my car (right now i only have bostons but mb offers a similar sound for similar cash) and it sounds amazing. of course i spent ur entire budget on my front speakers alone but it really does offer a TON of satisfaction and i am admittedly a hardcore audiophile and spend a lot more money than i should on speakers.

but for that money i think youre on the right track, try and get component speakers up front with seperate woofers and tweeters, the difference is huge and having the tweeters up on the a pillars also serves to raise the soundstage and it makes it sound a lot more natural. i agree that front soundstage is the most important but unlike a truck you really should have some back speakers too, the lack of something to fill out the sound from back is a lot more noticable in a car, especially a big one like ur max

Aaron hit the nail on the head, rear speakers are mainly for "fill". Personally I wouldn't skimp on them (being an audiophile) but the front speakers are more important and you can always upgrade the rears later.
I know you said you don't really care for Pioneer head units, but they do offer among the best price/performance ratio of any head unit out there...... and they AREN'T Sony.
As for "ample" control of the different frequencies, that is subjective to each user. Personally I don't think ANY head unit I have seen so far (there MAY be one available though) has ample controls for me, but I am a tuning/tweaking fanatic when it comes to freqs, you may not be.
Crutchfield's website is a VERY valuable tool, if for nothing else, finding what fits your vehicle (brand new vehicles excluded until they can be researched by Crutchfield) and the fact they generally have VERY good pics of the equipment. Their prices are steeper than many places, but for head units this fact is generally negated by the fact that you get the wiring harness and mounting plates/recepticles insluded with purchase which would cost you elsewhere. Only thing I would really consider buying from them is head units though for this reason, as I already know how to make other stuff fit and not look bad.
If you want to design this system for future upgradability, I would go with a head unit that has high voltage preamp outputs (preferably 3 sets) as the included amp in the head unit only adds to potential system noise. This is why many high-end units offer NO internal amplification and REQUIRE an external amp.
If you are REALLY SERIOUS about future tuning, you can always PM me and I will explain stuff so that you can understand it. If you are just an average consumer that wants "decent" sound, then all the advice already given will help you out tremendously.
I know that I have personal preferences for particular pieces of equipment but that is due to my being an audio fanatic. I myself cannot afford currently to buy what I REALLY want, so I still have a stock head unit.
The order in which you upgrade your components realy depends on your current budget and what you want from your system in the future. It also depends on what you are willing to sacrifice in the meantime for your long-term goals.

I've got an Alpine CDM-9801 (the base model aboutt 2 years ago) with a pair of infinity 6.5" 2 ways in the front and an MTX road thunder 12" sub with an MTX road thunder 2 channel amp, and it sounds AWESOME.

I would have to go with the audiophiles on this one. I like having decent speakers all the way around. As far as decks go, I have to say I like the Sony choices. I use a Sony CDX 5000 (no, not a wal-mart version ). It's not super flashy, but it's in a truck. It does play the CDR and MP3s VERY well. I also use a Rockford amp pushing a single 12" Kenwood DB+ sub. The dual voice coil subs seem to be able to handle both the hard "punches" you normally get from a 10", and they can take the low booms of stuff like DMX, etc. As for speakers, I LOVE Memphis Audio. I run them all the way around. The Sony decks have the DSO that saves you the trouble of relocating your speakers. Speakers in the floorboard will sound like they're in the top of the dash if you like. The Memphis speakers have aimable tweeters, so you can have the sound flowing through the car any way you want.

Do try Crutchfield to see what fits your car. That'll save you a little time. And in true modders' fashion, be sure to change SOMETHING. Here's a little sample of my ride, Fusion painted dash panel.

I feel I have to state that Sony does make some good audio equipment (not the best, but good for the average consumer), but I am on a personal boycott of their products for my own reasons (and I am not alone here). If you don't mind, then by all means they are adequate.
I am in agreement with 4rm4g3dd0n on the MB Quarts for mid-range speakers as well (heck, I used them in my competition car years ago) but mainly ONLY for mids. IMO, if there were component sets available that matched Quart mid-bass drivers with Infinity Kappa series tweeters, I would be all over it, but that is not a reality as far as buying in a set. Of course, MB Quart does not come cheap. Their reference series is somewhat affordable, but not their top-o-the line.
If you want my opinion on what I would buy (not gonna be in your price range, but consider for future expansion if nothing else), I would go with MB Quart components for the front, some MB Quart coaxials for the rear, and JL Audio subs, all powered by Precision Power amps. For head units, this is kinda up to personal preference as only you know what features you want, but as I stated earlier, for future expansion possibilities you will likely want one with 3 sets of high voltage preamp outputs for better quality sound.
Personally, in the affordable price range I like the JVC Arsenal KD-AR560 for the fact that it has 3 sets of 4 volt preamp outputs and a front panel aux input (for say an mp3 player). It goes for $199 at Crutchfield and includes everything you need to install in your car. For $20 more though, you could get the KD-AR760 which ups the preamp voltage to 5 volts, but the aux-in is in the rear rather than the front. They both come with wireless remotes as well.
Any other questions and I am just a PM away.

...and begins the madness known as "personal preference." lol


All kidding aside, you're getting some good feedback here. The JVC and JL Audio are good stuff. I'm kind of a shallow pocketbook fellow myself from time to time, but I think I'd choose Memphis for my speakers, nonetheless. As far as subs, amps, and decks go...you have to find one you like for whatever reason and go with it. Definitely keep godfoot's comments in mind. Make sure you have enough inputs/outputs to handle what you anticipate connecting.

I'd like to thank everybody for all the help. I seem to know a lot more about car audio than I did before reading your responses. I might go with that JVC Arsenal deck as it appeals to me on a visual basis... however, I would kind of like the deck to be able to display mp3 track titles... oh well, I suppose I can't have everything. I am still not sure which speakers I will buy for sure but based off of what you all said I will probably go with components up front and cheap speakers in the rear.

Thanks alot everyone, I will update with future questions or with my final purchase details.

[add] I was thinking maybe this deck (although 100 dollars more) would be even better for me... it has mp3 and CD track titling abilities and has this "PICT" thing that is pretty cool. What do you all think? http://www.crutchfield.com/S-LfMdp6f...2700&s=0&cc=01

Well, it is still in the Arsenal product line which has been impressing me more and more lately. I finally got to play with one just yesterday a little bit (talked my brother into getting one with his tax refund, he got the KD-AR760) and the feature set is awesome. Of course, he isn't using it to it's full potential yet and probably never will, but it kicks ass nonetheless. If you do decide to go with the 960, I am sure you will be happy with it.
I haven't gotten the opportunity to answer your PM yet (still packing and moving stuff) but will hopefully get to it tonight.

Edit: PM answered

Ah thanks alot. It looks like Crutchfield put the Aresenal 5000 deck on sale today for even less than the 960. I am hoping that it is a good choice of deck because I can't seem to get any input on it from you, Godfoot... and I am just going to go ahead and order before they're sold out. Hope this is the right choice. (It has all the other things like 5V preouts and really cool looks.. I know I'm a complete nub).

You all will have to tell me if this is the wrong choice so I can cancel/change my order.