The $1000 Audio Challenge!!!!!

15" mmats jugg, paid 300, mmats 1200 watt d300 amp- paid 300 it was rebuilt, built the box with a friend of mine, so just the cost of wood which was like 30 bucks to make the box, pioneer 6400 head unit whic was 150, wiring i got free from a local shop.
 
Ok, here's my contribution. All prices are from http://www.sounddomain.com unless otherwise noted. SoundDomain is an authorized dealer for all the products I chose.

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This is a SQ budget setup. The cash is spread evenly between all the components so there is no obvious weak link. From the list I am obviously choosing to keep the stock unit. The signal will be converted using the OEM adapter and sent to the first amp over the 12-ft RCA. the 3-ft RCA will go from the line out of the first amp to the line-in of the second amp. The Wiring kit has everything necessary to power up both amps. I chose 5 1/4" speakers because they would be easy to drop into the stock 5x7 holes. The single 12" sub will be wired in parallel and powered by the mono amp, the components will be powered by the second amp, and the stock rear speakers (if necessary) will continue to be powered off the stock head unit for additional rear-fill.

I guessed about the price of materials, most likely it will be less than $50 leaving room for additional shipping charges.

I contemplated just running speaker wire to the amps (which have line-level inputs) but that doesn't leave the option to upgrade the head unit in the future. The distribution block can easily handle another amp (it has 4 outputs) so the owner could add rear speakers and a third amp as an upgrade also.
 
damnit craig..i see the thread..and i know exactly what to do with a 1000$..haha working at tweeter corrupted my mind..1,000$ is easy to do..maybe i'll make a list..but is this for SQ vs SPL vs DB? what are you trying to attain? just best bang for your buck system? btw..US Acoustics..umm. ANYTHING..will drop your SQ off the face of the earth
 
The goal is a typical street ystem with good SQ and SPL. Its basicly just a "what would you build" with $1000. If you like SPL then make it for that, SQ, then make it all SQ.
 
Im interested to hear spicy's suggestion for a budget SQ system. Picking up my new Pro tommorow, and need to start putting together my system. Ive got 2 10" MTX 6000's in a sealed box and listen to a lot of heavy music, so I want something where the double bass comes through crisp and clear. TIA
 
Okay,

HU - Rockford RFX9120 cd/mp3 $229.99

Amp - Rockford Punch 501X 65x4 $349.99

Front - Rockford FRC 4206U 6.5 Coax $99.99

Rear - Rockford FRC 3269 6x9 Coax $79.99

Sub - Rockford RFT 3101 10" enclosed sub $199

Wiring kit - Rockford Cp8PO $29.99

RCA - Rockford - $9.99

total - $974.93

Brand loyalty, probably could get some big Rockford stickers for the windsheild with the left overs.

Source - Crutchfield.com

Britt
 
Good thing you used crutchfield other wise you'd be $5 over for the dash kit and wire harness. :D
 
Here's what I did, a budget SQ sys:


Alpine HU (used) $80 shipped
-awesome unit, the no-internal-amp kind (forgot model #), a few years old but in perf condit. Bought from guy off from trading forum (orig $699!)

CDT 10" sealed sub w/ box, $120 shipped
-New, awesome SQ. I really like it, clean & tight. Even better price :D

Avionixx 440.4 $205
-clean & powerful 4ch, great value!

Crystal Cpe60t 6.5" components, $120 shipped
-was going to use CDT CL-61a's ($150,) but got stolen off door step when UPS morons left them there w/o permission (see rant elsewhere) Crystals are nice, but was excited about the CDT's :(

2x rolls Raammat sound deadener, $200 shipped
-still waiting on this, hurrrry UPS! (and don't leave it outside again tards!)

wiring kit, and other assorted bits and pieces need for install ~$60

Grand total: $785

Not too shabby! Was hoping to go under $500, but the deadener (should) be worth it. May go for a MP3 player someday, I like the JVC digifines, maybe another alpine. Best deal I got was the HU and Sub, awesome combo for $200. ($1000 new retail)

Screw the rear speaks, sounds better w/o them (for me at least!)


EDIT: Actually read rules;
No ebay? :wtf: Well i didn't use ebay... but a private seller for HU & sub. Everything else within rules.

I don't care, its my money and I'll save if I want to!!! Change it to a cheap (but much crappier imo) HU, and for sub...dunno, surely some room in there!
 
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Well put together but the point is to use all new equipment at the price a retailer sells it for and it must come with warrenty. Thats what makes it a challenge.
 
Here's what I did or will be doing:

HU: *got it today*
Panasonic HR1003U ~ 169.00 after $30 rebate
5v preouts, ghost face for a clean look, decent rms pwr for rear speakers

Front components: *got it today*
CDT CL-61a ~ 150.00
Heard nothing but great things. 90watts RMS

Rear fill: *got it today*
CDT CL-6x ~ 48.00
inexpensive rear fill from a great company

Front amp: *will be getting*
JBL 180.2 ~ 140.00
90x2 RMS would be ideal for the CL-61's. price is nice too

Sub amp: *will be getting*
JBL 600.1 ~ 185.00
600x1 @ 2ohm would be ideal for eDesign e10-O .44

Subwoofer:
Elemental Designs e10 O .44 ~ 185.00
10" SQ woofer in a 1.25cuft enclure with 500-600watts = :eek:

Total: 907.00 all new equipment.
 
YOu guys are loosing the point of this.
Its not to see if you can do but to create a lkarge info database of sorts.
The rules where so anyone could buy the same product at the same price.
1. As most people want to have a warrenty the vendor you are purchasing form must be a authorized vendor and pass on a factory warrenty to you.

2. All shipping charges have to be included as they are part of buying the system on the net.

3. Every product should have the sight or store you bought it form listed so others will know where to find it.
 
Here's my addition to this:

Headunit:JVC Arsenal KD-SX9350 MP3/CD player 230$ shipped from crutchfield.com (with harnes/install kit)

Front Stage:
Boston Acoustics RC620 Rally 299.99$ @ tweeter

Sub:
Elemental Designs Kx series - e12Kx.22, 85.00$ + 15 shipping -direct from eD

Amp For Front Stage/Sub (fronts get 50W each, Sub gets 140W):
Eclipse EA3422 249.99$ @ tweeter

Wiring: KnuKonceptz Karma Kable 4 chan RCA -(2M), 8ga Blue power wire(15'), 12ga Klear Kable (25'), 18ga Primary wire (10'), Fuse holder and 50A Fuse, Install accessories (terminals, etc.)
~60$ shipped.

Box: Enough 3/4" MDF to feed a termite colony for a week, (4'x9') is 20$. Get all the other supplies you need (glue, carpet, etc.) This will all come to about 60$ (this is enough to make either a seled or ported box...you decide!!)

HU: 230$
Front: 300$
Sub: 100$
Amp: 250$
Wiring: 60$
Box: 60$
--------------
Total: 1000$

Here's the install notes:

The amp is installed under the seat. This saves you some cash by being able to use less of the more expensive power and RCA wires. It also lets you spend more on better RCAs, and thicker speaker cable (though 16ga will do for the fronts). It also allows you to get a HU that costs more, but has 3 preamp outs at 4 volts, and two inputs for expandability (even though it ain't pretty). You want looks, there's a Panasonic which I was gonna use, that's 220$, but doesn't have the same amount of features, etc...but it looks a metric ass-ton better.

Now...the amp is running in 3 channel mode, with the sub (rear) channel haveing the LP EQ set down low, and the High pass eq on the fronts.


My estimates for this system:

We are talking majorly cheap kick ass machine. The Eclipse is, in my opinion the finest low price 4-channel amplifier available today. The BA components should warm up it's transparent signal nicely. The eD sub is designed with efficiency in mind, to pound with minimal power...make it a ported box, and you can boom all up and down town. i bet the sealed would even sound excellent. I think this whole set-up is pretty damn sharp sounding for about 1g...Hope it helps somebody!
 
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This in one of the systems i could come up with...have lots in mind...for the money this one is hard to beat and it comes from a retail store and all products have warrenties!!! warrenties are the most important part...

HU: pioneer premier dehp350 - $199 2 year warrenty...deck has 3 sets of RCAs and HP and LP filter...perfect for the money

Front: memphis power reference 5x7s - $99 lifetime warrenty
Rear: memphis power reference 6x9s - $119 lifetime warrenty...can't beat a lifetime warrenty and the sound really good, rubber surround, plastic cone, and swivle tweeter

Amps: pioneer gmx374 on the highs - $179 one year warrenty
pioneer gmx972 on the sub - $179 one year warrenty...here again, pioneer is hard to beat for the money. lots of power for the sub(s)

Sub: pioneer premier 10" tsw105c - $99 one year warrenty and they slam in a ported box.

Total is $894...that leaves over 100 to buy wood and wiring...
You could replace the 10" with a 12" for $20...i would like to room the 10" would leave...

what do you think of this one 1st? i'll think of some more and post them
 
I'd kill myself if I got stuck listening to a pair of memphis 5x7s for a lifetime. The rest seems ok.
 
both pairs of memphis speakers can be swapped for pioneer for the same price. i personally think the memphis aren't that bad. they are our best selling speaker in that price range, for the fact that they have a lifetime warrenty.
 
I have never listened to memphis speakers so I can't comment but they can't be much worse then stock.
 
check out my sig...my system kicks ass and it cost about $1000,
everythin is from crutchfield. Oh and i have a q-logic box...u can count the ipod or not...with it though its hard to say since i have an old one and i a new one is $400. Streetwires wiring kits also and all other equip was included by crutchfield....damn they are soo ****** sweet.
 
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