Need some help with putting an ok system together...PLEASE

Hi, this is my first post here. I guess I'll get right to the point. My truck was broken into and my system was stolen :disappoin . I have an extended cab ranger. My system was ok, nothing to write home about but i was happy with it. i had a top of the line kenwood excelon receiver, crunch amp, kenwood boxed components. I've got $500 from the insurance company :biggrin: to spend, plus maybe a little more. I don't have much cash. I don't want to put in really nice stuff cause it will probably just get stolen again, all i want is something decent with some good bass. Here is what i was thinking of putting in, Sony, Stingpro, and Power acoustik (i know it isn't a great brand, but is it at least ok for how cheap it is?):

Sony CDXM630 cd receiver puts out 52wx4 (i'm sure that's max not RMS, it is probably closer to 23 RMS). i'd really like an mp3 reciever but i haven't found a nice one that is pretty cheap. ($174.99 at etronics.com)

P.A. PS573t 3 way 5x7 speakers for rear fill which supposedly handle 150 watts (i don't believe that for a second, not for the price) ($19.99)

P.A. XP2K50C 5.25" components for in my q-forms (which didn't get stolen) These also supposedly handle 150 watts ($39)

P.A. Fubr-10 Sub RMS~600watts, 160oz magnet, with dual 2 ohm VC's (i'll wire them to get a 4 ohm load) ($59.99)

P.A. Lt980 2 channel amp 560watts bridged into 1 channel at 4 ohms. ($99.95) I'm willing to go up on the price of the amp to about $130-140

Stingpro CA150XB 1.5 Farad digital capacitor ($59.99) (my alternator is stock and is pretty low amperage, so i figured this would keep my lights from dimming)

All of these are from the same place, i'm trying to save a little money too by combining shipping. I know this stuff isn't the greatest. If anyone knows some better things to get at close to the same price i would really appreciate the advice. I just want the best i can get for the small amount of cash, but nothing that is going to really make it worth while to break into my truck again.
Again, any help would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot guys

IF you have AIM, IM me at: quackquack2x

I can help you with he audio stuff, and get something much better than the stuff above.

I'm sorry but I'll never trust a sub that's actually called "FUBR". I mean that's like the Chevy Nova in Mexico....what were they thinking?

so now after talking to GSteg, i'm thinking of going higher end. what does everyone else think? CDT components, Avionixx amp, and Elemental Designs sub.

look at all the options on high end... look around at respl.com also Tsunami makes some good amps too

so now after talking to GSteg, i'm thinking of going higher end. what does everyone else think? CDT components, Avionixx amp, and Elemental Designs sub.


I own 2 of those 3, and wouldn't hesitate to buy the third if CDT had something that fit my needs.

i checked out resonant engineering. they aren't actually sold yet in the US from what i can see. i went to a british distributor, and they are wayyyy out of my price range. the cheapest sub is 99 pounds which i then went and converted, is about 180 bucks. if they were cheaper, maybe i would consider them, but since i am on a relatively tight budget, there is just no way.
for those of you who have bought elemental design subs, are you really happy with them? i've read that some people have tested them and have rated them better than JL subs. If i get one, and i think i probably will, i am planning on putting it in a sealed enclosure. anyone else have one done like that?
Thanks, Haibane. I have one question for you though, i noticed that elemental designs/avionixx makes some of tsunami's amps, so wouldn't they be basically the same? I mean, if i bought either one, i would be getting the same quality so i could just go with whichever i find cheaper?
thanks again everyone for the responses

Buying a good sub is important but just remember that a proper box is just as important as the sub. A radio shack sub in a properly made and sized box will sound better than a JL sub in a poorly made, and improper volume box. Dont forget the sub enclosure in figuring prices for your equipment.. If I were you trying to put a sub in on a low budget, then i would look into getting bazooka tubes. There are amplifed versions too. They are some of the best sounding subs on the market and by far the most efficent around. Factoring in a 5dB boost for a car installation, the sub can reach 128 decibles with only 100 watts. Here is a link if you want to look at them..most bang for the buck.. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-s4jHXtmvGxf/cgi-bin/prodgroup.asp?s=0&cc=01&g=510&est=&search=bazooka :sunglasse

i'm not putting the sub in a bought enclosure. i have pretty extensive knowledge of materials, so i am going to build i nice fiberglass box. i've built boxes before. i used to be into car audio a lot then i kinda just fell out of it (too busy, too poor, etc.), so i'm not a total newbie, but things have changed a good deal since i was into it before (brands & power).
i'm not super worried about the number of decibels. i want it decently loud but i would rather better imaging and clarity to actual volume.

oh, another thing, what does everyone think about MB Quart and Soundstream? MB quart vs. CDT? and Soundstream vs. Avionixx?

RE subs are most definately sold in the US, they just don't list prices on their site


RE 8 $49
RE 10 $59
RE 12 $69

SE 10 $149
SE 12 $169
SE 15 $199

HC 10 $249
HC 12 $259
HC 15 $279
HC 18 $329

XXX 10 $359
XXX 12 $369
XXX 15 $399
XXX 18 $439

There is a $25.00 charge to upgrade the HC line to a quad 1ohm voice coil configuration

There is a $25.00 charge to upgrade the XXX line to a dual 1, dual 4, or quad 2 ohm

We do offer a 2 Ohm SE as an upgrade for SPL competitors. It is an extra $25 to upgrade and comes with a new coil (out of the XXX) as well as suspension upgrades


Tsunami is made by Avionixx, it's their lower line. However neither are being produced anymore from what I understand. Avionixx has teamed up with Elemental Designs to make a new line of amps, made by Avionixx with the eD logo.

If you want decent SPL but are really concerned with sound quality then RE isn't really the best choice. The XXX line are some of the best sound quality subs money can buy, but the other lines are more SPL focused. eD is the opposite really, though they do have the ability to get very loud. The Kx and K lines both have excelent sound quality, and pretty good output to back it up. What kind of price range are you looking at?

i'm lookin at max of 200 for the amp and about 100 for the sub. so the avionixx amp and the elemental design sub would fit great into my budget. i just want to make sure i know what i'm getting for my money
i was at the elemental designs and avionixx websites, and i didn't see anything about a new line but i could have missed it. do you have any clue when they are going to put out the new line?
i'm also looking to get a set of 4 or 5" coax's for some rear fill (buget there around 50) and a set of 5.25" components for up front (budget max about 160)
with head unit and all the speakers and such i'm lookin to spend around 5-600 with a max of about 700 total.

i've heard WAY TO many bad things about avionixx, i would definitely look elswhere for the amp........but i would not hesitate for a second on getting an ed sub, and for speaders since its a truck i would say fuck the rear fill get a set of components and amp them.......and for head unit much better for the money, i'd suggest looking around on ebay for a pioneer or maybe an alpine........

loismustdie, you are the first person that i've talked to that has anything bad to say about avionixx. What kind of bad things have you heard? I am actually thinking of waiting to get my amp until the new Elemental Designs amps come out. They are the product of ED and Avionixx teamed up.
I can't actually afford another amp to amp the components, but i can afford one pair of 4" coax's for the rear.
for the head unit i'm thinking of getting a Sony M850-MP ($219). It has the mp3 capability that i want and it DOESN'T have a detachable face plate. From all my experience detachable faceplates are just a hassle, and you eventually start leaving them on after a while. so why not just get a head unit with the faceplate permanently attached?

i've heard alot about their unreliability, and their tendency to get hot, from all of the EXPERTS that i have talked to that have had something bad to say, i would definitely choose something else(but thats just me), and from the looks of it you could afford a set of 6.5" components and an amp(would run u about 200$), i think you would be much happier.

i didn't say anything about faceplate convieniency, and i don't care about it, but sony is just all around crappy, there build quality is much worse than other head units for less money........

There aren't too many cases where avionixx amps goes out. There are thousands of amps that were sold, and less than maybe 50 had problems. People usually complain on the forums because well, that's where they hang out. You usually see bad things in a forum than good things because that's what forums are for. To help fix problems ;)

Kinda like how many people had problems with the ED E15A. :p

well i will check out some alpine and pioneer decks, might fine one i like, might not.
as for the components, i think i am going to go with the MB quart reference, 5.25" cause that is what i can fit. that is $100 there, so what decent amp can i get for another 100 bucks to power them, or should i say what amp could i buy with the $42 i'd save not buying a set of coax's? maybe it looks to you like i have mad cash, but i don't, the $595 i have is from the insurance company for all the stuff i used to have that was stolen. 595 is what i have to work with for components, head unit, speakers, sub, amp, shipping, wiring and installation kits. anything else comes out of my pocket like my stupid 40 amp alternator that needs to be replaced with something that can support my new system without dimming my lights constantly. just because i'm looking to buy a new system, does not mean i'm rich.

Get the MB Quarts. If you're just looking for replacements, those will be nice. Their midrange is awesome. :)