system question, suggestions? Options

[Rider]

I will soon replace my front speakers b/c they're shot and I'm also gonna get a couple subs. My friend will do the installation for me . I just wanted to ask for your opinion on what brands are best. Should I change the stock head unit, too? Thanks

This post has been edited by Rider: Oct 19, 2004 - 4:42 PM

[Scarrell]

ok wow this is has gotten out of hand. ANY stock stereo is crap. (i.e. Bose, Infinity, Infinity stock systems are different than their aftermarket products). all stock must go. Period. for headunits. go with Alpine, Clarion, Eclipse and Pioneer Premier. for speakers, look into JL, MB Quart, Focal, Rainbow, CDT, Infinity(remember stock Infinity systems are totally different than what you see in say Crutchfield, dont buy from them either). for component sets look at the same brands for speakers, for amps look into JBL(awesome quality at cheap prices), JL, Kicker, MTX(not that thunder BS, total crap), Arc Audio, Xtant, Memphis, Zapco, US Amps. do not look at HiFonics, it is complete **** just like Audiobahn. for subs. look at JL, Memphis, Adire Audio, Resonant Engineering, Kicker(Comp VR, L5's and L7's have horrible SQ, but can/do get loud), Orion, and MTX 8000's and up(anything below is ****) and Rockford Fosgates best products were in the 80's and 90's, but their newer line of subs and amps arent bad, but not as good as their older products, HX2's arent bad subs. your aftermarket cd player will put out around 10-25rms, not 50. it will be good enough to power speakers, but not components. you are better off getting a 4 channel amp to power your speakers or components. a 75rmsx4 channel amp would good for this. when looking at anything. look at the RMS or continous power handling, MAX WATTS doesnt mean anything. if you have two 12" subs that handle 250rms. look at a 500rms amp, but remember the OHMS law. also a line out converter will work, but all in all, you are better off replacing it with an aftermarket HU. no matter what you think. your stock stereo sucks.lol. also no HU will power 8 speakers, your HU is not an amp and you do not bridge a HU. if you want to use your stock speakers with your new HU (god forbid) get a 4 channel amp. but yet again, replacing your Entire stock stereo is your best bet. as i always say "no one ever said this was going to be cheap" also. think twice buy once. good products will last, while crappy products will not last.