stereo upgrade, where to start?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=131145
Printed Date: May 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM

Topic: stereo upgrade, where to start?

Posted By: davidh_r
Subject: stereo upgrade, where to start?
Date Posted: April 08, 2012 at 2:22 PM

Are there any good write ups that can help me start making decisions on what i want to spend? I'm looking at doing a full upgrade, and I have about $1.7-2k to spend, but i want to make sure I know what I'm getting and why I'm getting it so I don't regret what I bought sometime in the future.

I have a 08 Mercury Milan and I want a HU with streaming media via Bluetooth. I listen to a lot of dubstep, so I want a LOUD sub. If I cant find something that has a small footprint (e.g. 1/4 of the trunk) than i need to have something that i can remove when i need the trunk space.

Replies:

Posted By: boson
Date Posted: April 19, 2012 at 8:02 PM

The basic parts of a stereo upgrade:
1. Head Unit (Brains of the Stereo Operation)
~You will need an installation kit so that you can remove your factory stereo
2. Speakers/Tweeters (Duh.)
~If you have the budget, spend the money on high quality speakers
3. Amplifier(s) (To power those speakers)
~Proper powering of the speakers is important
4. Sub/Sub Enclosure (For that bass)
~I'm a dubstep fan too! (Still a fan of Skrillex :] )

P.S. Got some good dubstep recommendations? :)

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'97 Lexus ES300
(Expertise Level: Recently gotten into working with cars)

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: April 20, 2012 at 10:02 AM

And don't forget that proper installation can make any system perform to its best. I recommend allocating at least 25% of your budget to installation costs, for such things as labor, wiring, harnesses, sound dampning material, etc. Some installations can cost more than the gear being installed to get it done correctly. Shop around at your local car audio shops and see if you can find one with people you feel comfortable working with.

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