I'm thinking of upgrading my head unit and front speakers.

I looked at an Alpine CDA-9807 and some JL VR650-CSi. Tweeter quoted me 720 USD installed for a floor model head unit and floor model speakers-which was only 50 USD less than their retail. I promptly told the saleman to go pound sand.

What do you guys think is a good price for NEW components installed?

Originally posted by Murry

What do you guys think is a good price for NEW components installed?

depends completely on the components
you can do a LOT better than a 9807 and some VRs for 720. What's your budget?

Originally posted by 2001 SE #2
you can do a LOT better than a 9807 and some VRs for 720.

That's what I thought.

I'd like to keep this round of mods less than $800.

Later I would like to replace the remaining 3 speakers and get an amp to enhance sound quality at higher volume.

for under 800 you could get an amp right now

a good headunit, 100x2 amp, and a good set of components will only cost you 700 or so plus wiring. Installation is very simple, we can walk you through it if you want. If you want to check out some brands:

headunits:
Alpine
Pioneer
Eclipse
several others are good too, this is just what I would stick to

speakers:
JL XR
CDT classics
Focal Polyglass

amps:
Avionixx AXA 400.2
Soundstream RUB500-2
DEI Viper 400.2
HiFonics Nemesis NX400

You can run the rears off of headunit power and get a second amp to run your sub later, or you can get a 4ch amp later on to run your rears and sub (or fronts and rears, then move this amp to your sub).

I think I'll stick to an alpine deck. I've had good luck with them in the past. One feature I don't want is a motorized faceplate. It takes too long to load a CD with those things and they charge more for it.

Whats the difference between the XR and VR JL's?

Where would you recommend I purchase components? Online...Local Store?

I highly recommend you not getting a motorized face plate, on top of them taking too long, they also get jammed more frequently and have a tendancy for the motor to break down after a while, which blows

Yeah I would hesistate on motorized faces too, they'll never sit right with me.

The XRs have higher power handling, better frequency response (they play lower), and just generally sound better. If you aren't worried about warranty issues, then ebay would work for components. Other than ebay these are the sites I normally stick to
www.woofersetc.com
www.sounddomain.com
www.thezeb.com
www.onlinecarstereo.com
and probably more that I can't remember right now

I was really hesitant about the motorized faceplate as well, and I told the auto parts guy that. He was showing me the Eclipse models with that feature, and told me about how they have a three year warranty on them, I believe? So, basically he was explaining that they wouldn't be giving that warranty unless they were highly dependable, which kind of convinced me. However, I'd be wary of it on most models still, especially anything under like $300/350.

I checked all of those sites and I couldn't find Alpine HUs on any of them. Who sells Alpine online?

Originally posted by Murry
I checked all of those sites and I couldn't find Alpine HUs on any of them. Who sells Alpine online?

???
both woofersetc and onlinecarstereo sell Alpine head units....I don't know how you missed them

Crutchfield sells authorized (warrantied) Alpine HUs (and, you get installation instructions...

...Personally, I'd sooner look around your area for a decent car audio shop and check them out. Usually if you're spending a decent amount of dough they'll work with you and give you a good price below retail and you can work a deal out with having the **** installed. If you're going to buy decent stuff might as well have it installed right, unless you're the kind of person who is comfortable doing that work. Then I'd just go with mail order/online.

Originally posted by 2001 SE #2
???
both woofersetc and onlinecarstereo sell Alpine head units....I don't know how you missed them

Yeah. I can't explain it either.


woofersetc has the JL 650 CSI XRs for way less than the 380 tweeter wanted.

I'd like to buy my gear online but, I don't want to do the install myself because I don't really care much for wiring. I can turn wrenches and write code. When given a soldering iron, I represent a danger to myself and to others.