I have recently decided I want new speakers and everything for my 99' Ford Explorer. I want the whole package; all new speakers, sub roofer, amp...whatever it takes. In other words I want a kick *** sound system that will last me for years, and I will spend around $700-800 on it…(but I have a friend of a friend who works at best buy and I maybe able to save ALOT of money, so maybe a bit more)

But...

I know very little about this stuff, but i would like to learn, and install myself.

I have a few friends that may be able to help, but I would prefer to do it myself.

I am looking for advice from you "experts" on what exactly I would need to get a good system for my price range.

I am a visual learner so is there any free installation informational videos anyone knows of online? I’ve looked at a quick one at crutchfield but its minimal info. Because I assume if I were to get new speakers and stuff I would need better cables to connect the speakers? again im new at this stuff and any information and advice to help start me out would be greatly appreciated.

Also what brands should I look at Alpine? Pioneer? Sony?

 

The best prices are going to be online. Bestbuy has limited products they stock and the buddy deal will still be highier then online. Your $800.00 will buy $1400.00 worth of the samething online.

"Kickass for $800.00" is lowend for HU, Amp, Speakers, Sub, Box, and assorted wiring and mounts. To last you for years is hard to pin down. There is just to many things that companys come out with every year with new features and upgrades. So choose quality over anything that has that one "Cool" feature that does nothing for sound.

Apline, Kenwood, Pioneer, all make great products. Look for Units that have Preouts and XM or Sirus connections. RCA cable Input, Output will keep wiring easy for beginners.

Don't let your eyes focus on one thing like total Watts. These are company hooks to get you to buy. Take "your cd" to a store and listen to all the units. Don't let a store sells man talk you into anything. Just listen and look for placement of speakers then turn around while your eyes are closed. When was the last time you had a set of 12" woofers pointed at you or rear 6x9's at ear level pointed at your face? Look for crossovers and controls that can be adjusted to "Your Car or Truck" cause no two sound the same with the same components.

 

"Your $800.00 will buy $1400.00 worth of the samething online."
what sites would you recommend for buying online? Ebay?

and I think a package deal would be easiest for me, are their many good deals that would come with all the speakers I would want, or should I buy individually? There are just so many damn choices and so many sizes/types of speakers I get lost when trying to find EVERYTHING I need, which is why I would prefer a package.

Im thinking this maybe harder then I had hoped for, because I don’t even know where to begin in installing any of this stuff, I may ultimately be forced to get some help…Before I do so, is there any informational sites/books that could help me out? Would the speakers come with good mounting info? And I could also come into problems covering up the wires…

Most of all, what would you RECCOMEND I get?

 

Here are a few to get you started

http://www.bcae1.com/ Basics of installing and what all those numbers mean.


http://www.hookedontronics.com/index.jsp


http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?icatid=306&stk_code=alpmrvf540&svbname =48


Places to buy that I know are not refurb sites. All of it is new unused with full factory warranty.


You will learn that rushing in is a bad choice. Make informed choices and you will enjoy every second of your system. I draw everythink out on paper where the wires will run, Amps will be placed, and how I will hook all that power to them. How many fuses and what size wire to get for each. Where are my holes coming in from outside and what bushing's to get. Just plane it out and it will fall in place when you install it.

 

I prefer SQL "Quality" over SPL "Loud" so I use Apline 9833, with a F540 amp for speakers SPR component front and rear and a M501 amp for bass Apline 12" R series Ported box 4x4 ohm which is a DVC "Dual Voice Coil" speaker. All of the systems are protected by Tsunami fues blocks and distribution blocks and wiring.

One think to remember is upgrade your Alt and wiring to support all this stuff. A good 150 amp will be good.

 

How to install head unit...
http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/FLM/PDF/356007.pdf

I recommend giving this site a COMPLETE readthrough...
www.caraudiohelp.com
It gives very good, easy to understand info on car audio basics, including how to install amps.


This is the online bible for car audio, but can be extremely technical at times...
www.bcae1.com

www.crutchfield.com and www.sounddomain.com are two extremely reputable places to buy online who sell alot of good brands. Crutchfield will even include install instructions for ALL items, which will be helpful for those new to car audio. Of course, their prices are not "cheap." eBay offers the best prices, but IMO is reserved for those who know exactly what they want.

Click here to see what sound system I have...
http://www.sounddomain.com/memberpage/621380/3

 

First thing...When looking at Watts, IGNORE the MAX wattage. Look at the RMS Watts.
I believe those package deals are junk, but if they fill your needs, go for it.

For Headunit, I recommend Pioneer.
How many subs are you getting? The subs and amps are what will really drain your money.

 

I looked at alpine.com and found a good setup that fits my truck under "build a unit"...
However I think I can get this separately on ebay for almost half…

it recommends :
HU-CDA-9827(Suggested retail $260)---see below
Front Speakers-SPR-136A($250) ebay-$120
Rear Speakers-SPR-694A($200) ebay-$115
Subs-2 SWR-1241D($200 each) ebay-$220 for 2, w/o Enclosure
Sub Amp-MRD-M301($330) ebay-$180

MSRP- $1440
Ebay-$530 +HU +Enclosure (all ebay prices I listed included S&H)

= around $900 on ebay…

I think I will upgrade from what they recommend to an XM ready HU (CDA-9831 ) its MSRP is $400 on ebay for about $270 (including S&H) or CDA-9833 (msrp-$450) for $320 on ebay.

All this puts me about where I was looking to spend, would you consider this “kick ***” or a moderate system? Do you guys think it would be a quality system for my 99 ford explorer ? Would this system produce more quality or loudness? Im with you, I would prefer quality but still want a lot of volume. so if this system wouldn’t provide that ,what should I swap to make it more for my taste?

I guess just buy a box w/2 12’ wholes for my subs? I found a nice looking one for $75 on ebay, w/ a Plexiglas window, 2 chrome ports, and 3/4" MDF wood


BTW, I have decided since I will be spending so much on this I don’t want to install it wrong, so my friend will help me do it.

 

If the prices are right you got a good deal. The 9833 and 9835 have over drive to boost performance to 17.0 volts which is a great increase in RMS watts. "It does work I know"

You will get loud and Quality with this setup. If you want super loud and Quality just add a F540 down the road for the front and rear.

 

so whats the most important things to compare between HUs? Besides RMS watts. Right now im looking between

Pioneer-DEH-P9600MP
Alpine-CDA-9833
Alpine-CDA-9835

I've gone to best buy and curicut city and I didnt see these models (best buy didnt carry ANY products by Alpine)

I have 1 more question...
Im not sure if you guys know much about my 99 Explorer but it has a small HU and has all the buttons below it...So will this effect the installation process? I typed everything in on crutchfield and it said they would work but...

and I check this stuff on ebay and it says something like "will this size fit my car" and it always says no..is their system wrong or what?

Thanks,
Dan

btw, I've decided to get the HU and front/rear speakers soon but wait a few months on the amp & Subs to make sure it will be worth it,and so I dont burn all my money in 1 day ;( ...(im still in High School, but working 40 hrs a week)

 

Best Buy is not a Apline dealer yet. They will next year. The 9833 and 9835 have 6 preouts four for the front and rear and a set for Woofers. The Aplines have more features that are usable down the road for add-ons. V-Drive, 5 EQ settings, MP3-Wav, Amp linking, Data Download, Bass Engine Pro, Muticolor, I-Personlize, MediaXpander, Swing Face, Remote with case "Pioneer never has given away a $2.00 Case" with there units. XM Ready or Sirus, Ai-Net, Ipod, just to much to type.

They will fit your SUV like crutchfield says.

 

A 99 Explorer has bigger than DIN size radio, not DIN. I think you can buy kits to make DIN stereos fit. I dont know about the Alpines, but that Pioneer 9600mp is DIN.

 

I have a 99 Ranger which has the exact same dash as your Explorer. The vehicle specific dash kit, required for installing an aftermarket head nit, will fill in the "extra" space created by the relatively narrow aftermarket head unit.

I have and highly recommend the Alpine 9835. Of the 5 head units that I have previously owned, it is by far my favorite. Pics can been seen in my homepage.

Here is a review that I wrote on the 9835...
http://www.epinions.com/content_156310736516

I got it on eBay for around $400 delivered.

 

Whats the differnce between the 9833 and 9835? Is the 35 worth the extra money(around $50), I can find little differnce between the 2 and I've read a number of good reviews on the 33 and I've seen it on Ebay (after looking around longer) with BIN for $300(including s&h).

and I am just shocked with people on ebay, I see this unit from a power seller, 99. something positive feedback, thousands of sales, etc. for $300(including S&H) and there are 7 people bidding on the same item USED for $275 (including S&H) with 7 days still left!!!

and this is true with a number of items, the used ones go for $10-20 less than NEW...Granted they are "Like-New" but still, why take the chance to save $20(half a tank of gas)?WHAT AM I MISSING HERE???

but I guess this goes well for them keeping their value if I ever wanted to sell it...i have seen some amps for alot less than new, but i think i will stay away from that because ive heard alot of things can go wrong with those, especially if mounted on the sub box...

 

Here’s one review I’ve read of the 9835...Kontai69:do you agree with anything this reviewer says? One thing that may worry me that I haven’t thought of yet was the clock, so its only on when the radios on? I cant see the time and have silence at the same time? I would seldom come across this situation but im not always alone in my car

" have been through many head units in my days and this is by far the worst one I ever purchased. All I can say is make sure you try it out extensively in the store before you buy it! Read on...

1) Setup is terribly complex - the way the unis is setup is very poorly laid out and extremely difficult. It was so difficult that Alpine created the i-Personalize web site so you could configure the unit online and then program your radio. They try to make the online setup a feature but they really did it cause the radio complexity is terrible.

2) Bass and Treble controls - There are none. You have to fumble around a parametric EQ and the layout doesnt even make sense. Take my word for it and try this out before you buy! I guarantee it will change your mind.

3) The clock - If you turn the radio off you dont get any clock or display. Also, the idiots at Alpine made the clock a 24 hour clock instead of 12 hour. Dont know about you but Im not in the military and all my clock are 12 hour.

4) The display - You have to have the graphics turned on to get all the information displayed (clock, date, FM Station, preset, etc...) If you dont want the graphics turned on you loose parts of the display. Horrendous.

I called tech support for all these issues and they told me I was out of luck. All the things I want to change I cant and their is no firmware upgrade of any kind. It seems like most of the newer Alpine units have these same kinds of issues. The tech even laughed on the phone!!"