Advice on car stereos?

[Hollywood]

I know slim to none about car stereos, I don't want anything special - just a radio in my car, and maybe some new speakers. Right now, there's just open wires there, I don't have one at all. I went to Circuit City, and I think I'll get a $100 radio, which comes with free installation, then they charge for car kits and stuff too though, which will be $40. Also I just want some cheap around $50 front and back speakers, though I'm not sure how to connect them.

Thoughts? Any advice for a beginner?

[G The Resurrected]

Sorry bro cant help you. Thank god my gelopy has a tape deck in it.

[mikesphat]

if you know next to nothing about setting up audio... just buy the speakers and have them installed with the radio... im sure a salesman at the store can help you select an affordable set...

[BlueTsunami]

For $100 you may only be getting a refurbished one (I know thats what I opted for two years back). Make sure to get the best quality speakers you can. The cheapo ones can blow out quickly and your stuck with speakers that sound like paper flapping in the wind.

I would have said that maybe you could install it yourself but since it comes with a free install, thats cool. The installation of speakers probably would have been tricky though, since you have to mess with the wire routing. But anyways, yeah, stereos are cheap nowadays but get the best speakers possible.

[captainbiotch]

get something with an aux line in.

[Mupepe]

i got some sony xplodes put in my truck and they've been doing nicely.  not too expensive either.  i'll upgrade later of course.  but for budget, they're not bad. 

DO NOT get a sony xplode sub though.  they're awful.

[BlueTsunami]

get something with an aux line in.

Oh shit, yep, definitely get that. My lack of foresight makes it so I have to use a fucken tape deck with the line in on my car

[G The Resurrected]

get something with an aux line in.

Oh shit, yep, definitely get that. My lack of foresight makes it so I have to use a fucken tape deck with the line in on my car

Question about that where can i get those? they arent in local stores nowadays. The tape has gone the way of the dodo. But i wonder how it works and if it works well. In my car i'm stuck with the Tape deck cause its all built into a wood cabinet. Damn this LS 400 its old and shitty.

[BlueTsunami]

get something with an aux line in.

Oh shit, yep, definitely get that. My lack of foresight makes it so I have to use a fucken tape deck with the line in on my car

Question about that where can i get those? they arent in local stores nowadays. The tape has gone the way of the dodo. But i wonder how it works and if it works well. In my car i'm stuck with the Tape deck cause its all built into a wood cabinet. Damn this LS 400 its old and shitty.

You should be able to find them at Radio Shack for about $20 or so. It basically uses the tape to transfer any music you got coming off another source (for instance, like a PSP that I use for MP3 playback). You use the line that coming off the tape and put into the Headphone port of the device yoru using. Put the tape in and start using your device. It works real nicely and the sound is pretty good (a notch below an actual CD). Just remember to turn up the devices sound (like the PSP) to the max since you may get line interference if your car radio sound is pumped up.

Its like, the only alternative if you don't have a "AUX" port. Also, its cool using it with a PSP since you can put vid files on it and you get full stereo sound from yoru speakers while using the PSP. I remember playing Wild Arms on it and having the sound come through the car speakers.

[Hollywood]

Blue - CC sells a lot of radios new for $100 installed. They're pretty good value if you check them out, with aux outs and stuff. I'm thinking Pioneer or whatever is what I'll get. They have JVC, Jensen, and Sony also.

As for speakers, there's two lines that go into the speakers, each one. Front left and right, and then the rears, so I don't see what is too complicated about taking those two wires and putting them in the new speakers, I think someone could easily guide me on how to do it.

[BlueTsunami]

Blue - CC sells a lot of radios new for $100 installed. They're pretty good value if you check them out, with aux outs and stuff. I'm thinking Pioneer or whatever is what I'll get. They have JVC, Jensen, and Sony also.

As for speakers, there's two lines that go into the speakers, each one. Front left and right, and then the rears, so I don't see what is too complicated about taking those two wires and putting them in the new speakers, I think someone could easily guide me on how to do it.

Ah ok, cool then I'll have to look into a newer Radio then (with AUX out).

Yeah, its pretty much just making sure the wires on the back of the radio are spliced correctly. Your going to have a bunch of color coded wire heads corresponding to Right, Left, Center etc (some wires will be unused depending on your setup).

So your saying 4 speakers? So I'm assuming thats Right Front, Right Back, Left Front, Left Back? If thats the case then the wires (with the manuals showing which color leads to what) should be easy to put together. The other aspect is slipping the speaker wiring under the actual padding on the car floor. In actuallity, if the car already has speakers oriented like that, you may be able to use the wires that are already there. If not, you'll have to do it yourself. But yeah, a little reading into the manual and popping out the speakers should be easy enough. All cars are different though and sometimes taking out the speakers from their alcove can be tough.

[Hollywood]

Blue - CC sells a lot of radios new for $100 installed. They're pretty good value if you check them out, with aux outs and stuff. I'm thinking Pioneer or whatever is what I'll get. They have JVC, Jensen, and Sony also.

As for speakers, there's two lines that go into the speakers, each one. Front left and right, and then the rears, so I don't see what is too complicated about taking those two wires and putting them in the new speakers, I think someone could easily guide me on how to do it.

Ah ok, cool then I'll have to look into a newer Radio then (with AUX out).

Yeah, its pretty much just making sure the wires on the back of the radio are spliced correctly. Your going to have a bunch of color coded wire heads corresponding to Right, Left, Center etc (some wires will be unused depending on your setup).

So your saying 4 speakers? So I'm assuming thats Right Front, Right Back, Left Front, Left Back? If thats the case then the wires (with the manuals showing which color leads to what) should be easy to put together. The other aspect is slipping the speaker wiring under the actual padding on the car floor. In actuallity, if the car already has speakers oriented like that, you may be able to use the wires that are already there. If not, you'll have to do it yourself. But yeah, a little reading into the manual and popping out the speakers should be easy enough. All cars are different though and sometimes taking out the speakers from their alcove can be tough.

Look at Circuit City's website. There should be 3 there (not counting the ones that say "online only"), all for $100. A pioneer, JVC, and Jensen - and all have their ups and downs - louder voltage outputs, different radio station sensitivity (surprisingly enough I found out that the LOWER the number the better, I'm glad I looked that up), then the Aux out and in - someone just told me about aux in here, I'm glad someone told me about that because I think the Pioneer didn't have any aux in's - and I guess thats what you would plug your MP3 player or whatever into to be played in the car. Aux outs are for amps and stuff. I have no clue wtf amps and subs and all that is.

I haven't repalced wiring before, and I'm not sure how to splice wires, but it should be simple since only two wires go to each speaker. The wires are already there since they're connected to the speakers there currently, so I won't have to manuever them to the speakers I don't think.

[BlueTsunami]

Blue - CC sells a lot of radios new for $100 installed. They're pretty good value if you check them out, with aux outs and stuff. I'm thinking Pioneer or whatever is what I'll get. They have JVC, Jensen, and Sony also.

As for speakers, there's two lines that go into the speakers, each one. Front left and right, and then the rears, so I don't see what is too complicated about taking those two wires and putting them in the new speakers, I think someone could easily guide me on how to do it.

Ah ok, cool then I'll have to look into a newer Radio then (with AUX out).

Yeah, its pretty much just making sure the wires on the back of the radio are spliced correctly. Your going to have a bunch of color coded wire heads corresponding to Right, Left, Center etc (some wires will be unused depending on your setup).

So your saying 4 speakers? So I'm assuming thats Right Front, Right Back, Left Front, Left Back? If thats the case then the wires (with the manuals showing which color leads to what) should be easy to put together. The other aspect is slipping the speaker wiring under the actual padding on the car floor. In actuality, if the car already has speakers oriented like that, you may be able to use the wires that are already there. If not, you'll have to do it yourself. But yeah, a little reading into the manual and popping out the speakers should be easy enough. All cars are different though and sometimes taking out the speakers from their alcove can be tough.

Look at Circuit City's website. There should be 3 there (not counting the ones that say "online only"), all for $100. A pioneer, JVC, and Jensen - and all have their ups and downs - louded outputs, different radio station sensitivity (surprisingly enough I found out that the LOWER the number the better, I'm glad I looked that up), then the Aux out and in - someone just told me about aux in here, I'm glad someone told me about that because I think the Pioneer didn't have any aux in's - and I guess thats what you would plug your MP3 player or whatever into to be played in the car. Aux outs are for amps and stuff. I have no clue wtf amps and subs and all that is.

I haven't repalced wiring before, and I'm not sure how to splice wires, but it should be simple since only two wires go to each speaker. The wires are already there since they're connected to the speakers there currently, so I won't have to manuever them to the speakers I don't think.

As far as connecting wires, yeah its essentially taking two wires and twisting them together (you might need a wire cutter or something to cut back the sheath). The Radio bracket itself might come with some type of wire heads to help with the connecting of the wires (depends on the radio).

Its basically as simple as setting up speakers for a sound system at home.

And yeah, as you said Auxiliary Out is for amps and subs. Essentially Subs for that big bass sound and amps to get louder sound out of your stereo. You also got equalizers but you don't' have to worry about all that shit...its enthusiast stuff.

The Auxiliary In is when you take like a headphone wire (with both male ends) and connect one end to your devices sound out (MP3 player) directly to the Radio. Its extremely handy.

[Hollywood]

Who's the chick in your avatar blue.

[BlueTsunami]

Jeniffer Connelly when she was younger

[G The Resurrected]

Ok so i've got a problem. I've been shoping around town to get a new system install in my lexus. I've got a 1991 LS 400 sedan.

And this is what i got right now:


Note it might say cd but there is no CD hookup for it in the car anywhere.

i've been trying to read up on what i need to get and do but the sites i keep finding are down or require you to pay to get info.

What you guys think? The speakers are freaking great in the car but the stereo is old and the cassette deck doesnt work. Only thing that works is AM radio. I'm going crazy i wanna listen to my tunes

[Mupepe]

Just take it somewhere and have them replace it.  They'll take care of getting the right kit to make it look right.

[G The Resurrected]

I was hoping to save myself the money and do it myself. Cause both bestbuy and circuit city do not carry the kits around here. I've got access to shit thats fallen off the back of trucks. I just need to find the kit that fits my center console and looks nice.

[Bloodwake]

i don't dknow anohting abouit car stereos soirry