Hi, I just wanted to get some expert opinions on the setup I want to get for my 99 cav. sedan. I currently have a worn out Alpine head unit ,so I shouldn't have much trouble switching it out, aka shouldn't have to rip the whole dash off again.
Here it goes:
Head Unit:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8869_--+CLOSEOUT--+--+Kenwood+eXcelon+KDC-X591.html
Front door:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_9109_Polk+Audio+db6501+6-1-2-+2-way+Component+System.html
Rear Deck:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_9111_Polk+Audio+db651.html
Ok now with the questions.
1) What does everyone think of this setup?
2) Anyone else ever ordered from this site. Every item seems to be 40% off what every other site ( aka crutchfield ) prices these items at. Seems too good to be true. Any good/bad exp. with Sonicelectronix?
3) Any better sugestions, in the same budget area?
4) The rear deck set is not the low profile set ,that the site suggests for my car, anyone know any reason why they wouldn't fit? I can't see why they wouldn't fit in the rear deck.
5) Anyone own these speakers have any insights?
I can't afford an amp at the moment, but later on I might be able too, just a heads up in case someone says get an amp. I think the total for this setup was around $330 which isn't bad, hence the reason I'm kinda ify about the site. Thanks for all your help and insights with my quesitons. Great site and nice write ups btw.
First ill start by addressing question number 2. Sonic electronics is legit, i have ordered from them many times in the past with zero issues. Next, ill address questions number 1 &3. I think you can do better for the money, but thats just my opion. These are my suggestions with your budget, first i say loose the rear fill. With the money you save from not doing rear fill i suggest getting an amp and deadner for the front stage.
Head Unit: Eclipse
CD4000
Front Stage:
Phoenix Gold RSD65CS
Front Stage Amp:
Kicker ZX350.2
Grand Total: $366.49 + Shipping
Its $26.52 more then what you listed, and imho 10x better set up for the money. When you get some more money save i suggest dropping some money into a Cascade Audio door deadner kit. You could also save a few bucks on the head unit and componets by ordering them off ebay, but im not sure how you feel about ordering from there.
Just my 2 cents
Corey
Sundown Audio
SPL Cell
Kicker
Cascade Audio
Some people acutally like rear fill in all your post you say ditch the rear fill i think if he wants it he should get it
(i have no rear fill btw
but some people like it )
With his budget, its senseless to do rear speakers. He is gonna have 10x better sound and out put with an amped front stage.
Sundown Audio
SPL Cell
Kicker
Cascade Audio
Hey that sounds pretty good I'm going to look into that setup a bit more thanks for the input. That way I get an amp too lol. What is the door deadner kit is that hard to install, or is it just like dynamat?
I have to tell yall my recent story about when I just went to my local car audio store to listen to speakers. I was just going to see which ones I liked the sound of and the sales manager came up to me and of course starts sellin. I tell the guy what I'm doing and that I'm lookin into upgrading my cav. , and that I want to do 6.5s in front and rear. His first response was " 6.5s in the front door your going to have to do some serious door work to get that to fit." My response " You mean like making a few mdf adapters not a problem." His response lol there wasn't one. Next, He tried to get me interested in a set of boston 6x9's for a whopping $300. He said listen to the base on these, I said yea the base is good but it's coming form the two 12in subs on the opposite wall lol not the 6x9's. Just how stupid did he feel ,I wonder, must be how he makes his cash trying to trick people into buying over priced crap. Tried to trick the wrong one today lol.
If anyone else want to chime in be my guest looking for all opinions before I make my mind up.
The Cascade door kit, is just a bulk pack of sound deadner, yes similar to dynamate. Its extremly easy to install, just basicly peal and stick, lol. If you have any more questions lmk.
Corey
Sundown Audio
SPL Cell
Kicker
Cascade Audio
thats a good set up above, if you do want rear fill leave the stocker in hooked up to the radio.
Ok, got another quesiton now that I'm looking at amps. Probably a noob question too. I have never installed an amp, hell I have never owned an amp, is it better to buy the amp install kits for ike $60 or just peice it together yourself? I'm good at figureing things out ,so I don't think I will have trouble installing an amp. Anything I should know specific to cavaliers and amp installs ,or is there a sticky I should read? I was thinking 8 guage for a little leeway if I add more stuff later.
if yo uwant leeway go with a 4 ga kit, kits are not bad but jsut watch out what kit you get alot of then have smaller wire in them.
a great kit to get is the kicker 4ga kit CK4 its $104 from sonic but if you buy the rockford kit for $64 they upgrade it to the kicker one for free. the only other thing yo uwould need is a GM side battery post.
gm side post
amp kit with free upgrade
8GA will be fine for the amp i listed. If you plan on adding another amp, say for a subwoofer in the future, i suggest you got 4GA and you have room for upgrade.
Kicker 8GA Kit
Kicker 4GA Kit
So if you think you might be adding another amp in the future, i suggest you send the extra and get the 4GA kit, and save you some money in the future.
Sundown Audio
SPL Cell
Kicker
Cascade Audio
The kenwood headunit is excellent. I bought a X492..I've ordered from sonic too. No problems. I've also owned an eclipse..can't aske for better sound shaping. But I would own one again. The motor on the face dosn't last long. Def go for the kenwood. I also own some polks in my opinion..there isn't anything out there thats better for the money.
on the above post...I wouldn't own one again.. I owned an Eclipse CD8443 I got it free...loved it...while is lasted.
get a kicker 4 gauge kit off ebay im sure there are tons more. and i love my kicker wire
oh so flexible
I have owned many Eclipse h/u and i have no complaints at all, besides the fact they dont have a pause. I have owned, a CD8445, CD3000, CD4000, Couple CD3100's, CD7000, and i currently own a CD3200. Never had a SINGLE problem with any of them.
Sundown Audio
SPL Cell
Kicker
Cascade Audio
Yes the eclipse head units do have a pause..on my CD8443 all you had to do was push the # 6 button. I heard that stats on the warranty and returns on eclipse last year..it wasn't very good..sounds like you got lucky.
RedlineZ wrote:Yes the eclipse head units do have a pause..on my CD8443 all you had to do was push the # 6 button. I heard that stats on the warranty and returns on eclipse last year..it wasn't very good..sounds like you got lucky.
Correct, the old units did have pause on the head unit its self but i need a unit that has a pause on the remote (bass race). The new ones dont have a pause at all. I guess i just dont abuse the @!#$ out of my stuff, and thats why i never had a problem. Not saying you abused yours, im talking about the average Joe.
Sundown Audio
SPL Cell
Kicker
Cascade Audio
