faithful_lothario

I have a 1995 C280 with the bose system. I wanted to upgrade it and need help in deciding if i need to replace my stock speakers or if they would be fine. My budget is $600 dollars. here is what i was thinking

Speakers: Keep the stock ones since they are bose and sound really clear.

Subwoofer: Get 2 10" kickers subs in a boxed enclosure for my trunk. I heard kicker was good for bass, do you guys have experience with anything better?

Amp: Get a 400W kicker amp with the wiring kit.

head unit: replace my stock bose cassette player with a alpine unit.

Does this sound about right, or should i replace the stock speakers too?

Benzonline

Keep stock speaker system and add a sub.

faithful_lothario

should i change the head unit? or would the stock one work?

Benzonline

Sounds good with stock unit. I purchased a Infinity Basslink and dropped it in the trunk....added more low end without shaking the whole car.

faithful_lothario

would my stock unit have outputs for subs?

ldangeli

No.

eclipsed

You definately should get a new cd player, with mp3/ipod integration inputs as well.

ldangeli

What is your ultimate goal? Sound, bass, what? Where are you located?

faithful_lothario

i wanted my ultimate goal to be good sound with a little bit of bass if i ever needed it. Im located in houston,texas.

ldangeli

Start with a new headunit. The increase in power over the stock may be enough for you. Then add a powered sub or amp and sub to the new headunit.

slowrey

I'd recommend starting with the least intrusive thing like adding an Infinity Basslink II. After you get that if you're still not pleased with the low end response then replace the HU. The HU is probably not going to make the impact as a dedicated subwoofer.

faithful_lothario

so would it be okay to get something like a alpine head unit with kicker amp and sub? Would i get a good bass response with kicker amps and subs?

ldangeli

Yes. Adding a headunit with sub outputs will make a huge difference, plus if it has a highpass filter, you can remove the bass from the stock speakers and send it to the sub only. This will increase over all sound qualilty.

faithful_lothario

whats the best amp and bass to get? and can i install it myself?

ldangeli

Best is relative. I would stay away from kicker, Pioneer, mbquart, sony, diamond audio and the like.. Stay with a higher end brand, JL, Alpine, RAC, Audisson. It all depends on what you want to spend. Anything you do will be above and beyond what is "factory" installed.

If you are good with wiring and pulling apart you car, yes, you can do it. If you don't know how to wire the power wire with an in line fuse, terminate a ground, open the dash, pull up the door sills, then no, I would say have a good local shop do it.

faithful_lothario

So i think i am gonna go with the alpine subs, head unit, and amp, with stock speakers. Does that sound good?

jbondox

sure, because tomorrow you willbe doing pioneer, the day after will be sony...

it is all in the install. $10k pair of tweeters will sound like poop if not installed properly...

but your question with alpine, it is pretty good, I use a lot of it, mostly JL though

ldangeli

Which Sub, Head unit and amp?

faithful_lothario

I was gonne pick any type of alpine equipment.

What company has audiophile quality speakes?

slowrey

When did MB Quart become crap? They used to be very good when I was competing in IASCA events.

faithful_lothario

would a high end JL audio setup give me audiophile sound quality?

ldangeli

When they were sold to maxsonic they became crap. When they became the #1 brand peddled on the internet, they became crap.

ldangeli

No, the amps yes, the speakers no. Define Audiophile for me, in your own words. Sounds is relative, and if you are looking to save money, you aren't going to get "high-end", audiophile goods.

Seas Lotus, Alpine F1, Alpine X-Type Pro, Among others, but for aroun 1000-2000 bucks a set, thats cheap, thats audiophile.

faithful_lothario

can i just get a JL audio amp and use it with the existing speakers and stock head unit?