Upgrading... Ideas, suggestions, opinions??

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 2:38 pm

Ok, so last week when I was driving my car I started to get the awesome sound of a blown out speaker cone in the front passenger side door... I decided I was going to upgrade when they stockies blew out. I'm no audio expert, but I did a little research and have a few ideas, but want your opinions. I'm not positive about upgrading the stock H/U... but I guess it's a possibility.

Sooo if I do get a H/U, my criterion is that it have some sort of iPod interface. I want to be able to run a cable to my center console to hide my iPod in it and connext this to an aux so I can control the iPod from the H/U. As for brand, I have no clue... It seems like a lot of people have Alpines and love them. Suggestions on this??

As for the front doors and rear deck, I'm thinking Infinity Kappas. The dash... Idk what to do with those. Are they tweeters currently?? Is there a good replacement for them??

Thanks in advance people!

excon · Post by **excon** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:18 pm

I've still got my factory head unit because I love it. It's easy to use and you don't have to go through 12 options to get to trebble and bass... and we all know of times when we've needed bass quickly...

...anyway, if you decide to do the head unit upgrade all you need on it is an AUX output jack (hole). Get a cord from the apple store to go from your headphone jack to the AUX jack and select AUX. It's better than an itrip because there's no static.

...but that was probably obvious...

I changed the front speakers on mine since my front passenger side started rattling about a year ago. Strange... My stock rear deck 6x9's are fine and I'll probably keep those until they go.

I would suggest that you get the same brand of speakers all around. I've heard that the subwoofer doesn't matter, but if you have pioneer in the front and alpine in the back it will sound strange. With my stock rear and aftermarket fronts it did take some getting used to. It had a completely different sound (for the better).

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:50 pm

Yeah, I agree with the H/U statement, and I like the clean factory look of it but I'd really like to have better functionality out of my iPod and unfortunately that's something I can't do with it.

Yeah, I know I could just hook the iPod up to an AUX with the cable, in fact I have one that came with my iHome, however what I'm saying is that I want to be able to control my iPod from the H/U. I don't think that is possible unless it has an iPod interface, but what do i know?

Yeah, my rears should be fine but I see no point in only switching out the front speakers. I'd rather change them all at once. And as for brand, I agree. They should be same all around. That's why I'm thinking Infinity Kappas. I just don't know about the H/U... if I do in fact upgrade it. Although like I said. I was thinking Alpine.

Jeremy M · Post by **Jeremy M** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 4:24 pm

Alpine makes a solid headunit...i currently run a alpine 9887 in my car. Asfar as getting all new speakers, infinity are good speakers but they do lack on the mid bass area, but they play fairly detailed on every other level.

If u do decide to brand match everything, i'd suggest going with some type R or X components upfront and just leave yoru stock rears in there. Perhaps amp up your fronts later downt he road.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 4:26 pm

Cool, thanks for the input. Do you think it would be bad to run an Alpine H/U and Infinity speakers? I just don't want to run different brand speakers is all.

nineball · Post by **nineball** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:09 pm

you will have no problems running them other than lack of power.

there are many options of a hu with direct ipod control, the most popular being the newer alpines. pioneer, jvc, kenwood and several others all make models that can control an ipod but most require an additional cable.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:22 pm

just a standard auxiliary audio cable, I'd assume right?

nineball · Post by **nineball** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:03 pm

not if you want full control. they use either an ipod connection or a usb port.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:21 pm

ohh ok. I gotcha. either way, that's not a big deal.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:49 pm

If the stereo you get has RCA in ports on the back of it, let me know, I have an iPod to RCA adaptor that I'll send ya for 10 bucks. Same basic setup I have on my car.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 11:02 pm

Ok cool. I'm still figuring out what I want to do. I'll let you know though.

slow2.0ts13 · Post by **slow2.0ts13** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:23 am

I would get new rear speakers IMO. With a HU that puts out any decent power, all your speakers will be blown. I upgraded my HU this weekend and not even an hour later my tweeters blew as well as the rears. I got new rears but I need tweeters now.

Graphite SRT · Post by **Graphite SRT** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:13 am

keep the factory radio and add an amp if you want sound plus you can still use the ipod

http://www.srtforums.com/forums/f40/how ... ost6041357

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:26 am

wow, that is damn cool...

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:24 am

nice that is sweet, but $150 for the adapter? damn.. I'll have to see If I can find one cheaper somewhere. Thanks for the info though! Very useful!

The only problem I have with my radio is that I think the previous owner spilled pop/soda whatever you want to call it... on it, because I found brown sticky stuff on the bottom of the silver bezel, and presets 1 and 2 on the radio stick...

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:26 am

You could buy a stocker cheap as a replacment if you decide to go that route too...

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:28 am

Eh, if I do yank it out I'll try to clean it. I know stock replacements should be cheap, but I can never find them anywhere for a good price. Maybe here, idk. eGays prices on them suck for one that isn't trashed. But I'd still like to go this route as I hate the look of aftermarket radios, and I hate butchering things up.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:30 am

Well, as it happens my ebay sale failed on the stocker I have so...

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:32 am

haha, well that's nice to know. Well... bad for you... good for anyone needing one

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:54 pm

Sooo I was looking and I like the Alpine IDA x-100 a lot, buttt It doesn't have a cd player... wtf?

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/ ... 00&tp=5684

soo, the next best option seems to be the Alpine CDA 9886

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/ ... 86&tp=5684

nineball · Post by **nineball** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:02 pm

the x-100 is a digital media hu - ipod, mp3, wav, satellite radio, etc. it was never meant to have a cd player. one of the main features was the built in direct control of an ipod via the usb port and the large screen to display the album art. it is a very nice unit and i almost bought one.

if you are willing to spend $300 on a hu why not add 25% more and get the 9887? if offers burr-brown, 6 channel ta, 5 band parametric eq and so much more. that could quite possibly be the last hu you buy for the next decade, but then you would have to learn all about building an active system to upgrade

in the end you will be happy with either, but cds are going the way of the record. sure someone will always use them and say they are better but the majority of people will have switched to digital.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:55 pm

i know i know! but I like my cds! now you're just starting to make me feel old ....

Even though most all of them are on my ipod anyway. I still feel like it's nice to have the option.

It wouldn't be possible to run the x-100 along with a factory 4 or 6 disc cd changer would it??

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:30 pm

You guys seriously like the Dodge OEM head unit? It's freaking hideous. I can't believe they put that thing in the Viper...it's the same damn thing in a minivan. Way to go Dodge!

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:37 pm

I don't know anything about the Viper stereo, but I find it hard to believe this exact head unit was in it... Come on, even the first generation Vipers had their own that would automatically adjust the volume as you gained speed. I can't imagine it not having one of the GPS integrated radios.

Well I like the fact that it looks like it belongs there and is easy to use while you're trying to drive... I don't like that I cannot easy or inexpensively have any useful way to play my iPod through it.. I have a Griffin wireless adapter, but the reception is mediocre at best unless my iPod is right up next to the radio.

By the way, since you hate it so badly, what setup are you running?

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:44 pm

My moms Caravan had the same radio as my neon and those above.

I am running a Jensen

I too have an Ipod I hook up to it. It's pretty nice not having to burn CD's anymore. Just throw it on there and go. My last CD player before it was stolen had an SD card slot so it was even easier than this

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:50 pm

Fascinating... I know pretty much everything has that radio, but I figured I Viper would have something better... Looks different than mine, but I guess just a newer version.

I guess I only use cds in the car anyway, since it's all I can use... Otherwise I play my music through iTunes or my iPod anyway, so I guess it wouldn't really be a huge deal.

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:02 pm

My friend with an SRT was in my car the other day and I threw the screen up to change my playlist and he's like...."What the hell, a badass screen in this cheap ass neon"

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:05 pm

sidepipe87 wrote:Come on, even the first generation Vipers had their own that would automatically adjust the volume as you gained speed.

Well, I haven't check to see if this will work in our cars, but part #82210253 is the Variable Speed Volume Control kit for 2003 and up Vipers. MSRP $154.00.

I so want to get one for my loud ass car

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:07 pm

So how does that work? The volume gets louder as you accelerate? I can see that getting bothersome if the music is already loud

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:46 pm

Yeahh, a screen like that would be nice, but I think the one on the Alpine x-100 would be pretty nice too since it's practically identical to the iPod itselfs screen.

I'm kinda curious how that works too... My buddy has a 4 door '05 Cobalt... stripped and even it has this feature!