Building a Quality Stereo System, Suggestions?

I'll be building a quality stereo for my own listening pleasure, (no competitions) and have little real world experience of the such. I am however an EE student so I do have general knowlege of how things SHOULD work. I'll start out with 2 simple questions, although I'm sure many more will come.

It's looking like I'll be using Focal Utopia 16W3 components for the majority of the sound reproduction. I'm looking at the Sony CDX MP80 source unit for the system. Am I wasting money putting those components outside of a Sony source (they will be run off the amp line outputs, not the source's internal amplifier)? Meaning, in order to get the full benefit of an 800 dollar set of components, do I need a Nakamachi or Eclipse source?

Second question... I've toyed with the though of "building my own" component set using only the components I like. The reason for this: I like the looks of the Morel 6.5s better than the Focals. If I went this route I'd also probably fill the upper range with Rainbow components. Is this a horrible idea? I've read that I'll never be able to get as good of a combination of speakers with as well configured of a Xover as I would get just buying a pre-setup component set. I have a list of tentative Xover's processers/equalizers to be included, but not with me. If you find this important please just say so.

I have hords of ideas, with little to no basic direction. I'll make a "picture" of what I want to do and post it if anyone's interested and think they have good ideas as to where I should head with this.

Thanks
JR

Thank god we caught you in time, the most important decision you can make is the head, I will recommend an Eclipse as the first choice, probably the CD8443 model for you (I don't think I'll be alone here, watch the replies add up). Be careful about eq's and processors, alot of the time you do not need them, especially if proper installation methods and placement is used. Post up your ideas so we can see and combined we can point you in the right direction. We need to know the vehicle, make, model and year. Yes you can mix component speakers together and alot of people do, I prefer not to as it does not appeal to my ears for tone and timbre matching. Focal are amzing speakers as well you should look at Diamond and MB Quart.

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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

wild thing wrote:

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Am I wasting money putting those components outside of a Sony source (they will be run off the amp line outputs, not the source's internal amplifier)?

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Hold on there, are you saying that you are going to use the low level outputs and not the internal amplifier? I hope you mean that you are adding your own amp, if you didn't mean that then there will be little if any sound coming from the speakers.

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Certified Security Specialist
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I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

That's correct, I'll add my own amp. Looking in the direction of Linear power for component amps.

For HU i would go Nakamichi all the way over Eclipse,any time.

anything but sony,,,,go Alpine, Eclipse, Pioneer, or i hear Nakamichi is good too.  Stay away from sony,,they make far to many products to be able to put quality and time into any 1 of there products.   If you go with the brands i listed, its a good choice.  Basically all they do is stereo products, so all there knolwedge is just that.

id go with eclipse all the way.  Rainbows are good speakers, expencive.

MB Quart, CDT, and Focal are the best components out there.

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I need quality equipment, feel free to donate.

MB Quart, CDT, Focal better than Morel? Rainbow?

I'm not a huge fan of the styling of Eclipse's HU. Nakamichi's don't please me much more. The Mcintosh looks nice, but no one has any opinions on them. I know eye candy doesn't make good sound, but when you spend that much on a HU, I think you should get the best of all worlds. Also, I do understand that the appearance is just in my opionion, and I dont' need to hear how hot everyone else thinks the Eclipse looks and that i'm stupid for thinking they're not attractive.

Eye candy costs $ and most manufacturers build to hit a price point with eye candy not sound quality as the most important factor, have a look at all the Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony, JVC, Panasonic .... and blah blah blah that you do like because of how they look and then install one and have a listen. Then compare it to a bottom of the line Eclipse and you'll understand why the higher end manufacturers do not cater to the eye candy crowd, they cater to the sound quality crowd. Once you do this comparison I doubt you will return to the meat and potatoes brands, you'll stay with the ice cream and sprinkles. You are not stupid to think they are unattracive, you have an opinion based on what you see instead of what you hear. If the high end guys built sq and eye candy (maybe one day they will) the price of the cd player will skyrocket, and with all the consumers wanting something cheaper in price all the time, very few people will be paying the dollars that the high end eye candy  would ask. Marketing 101 - build it to look like this at this price point and you will sell more.

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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

Well put "forbidden",to be honest with everyone when i installed my Nakamichi HU in my BMW a few guys have asked "what else does it do...?,it plays music only...!"what else was it suposed to do...my laundry ?
In my case anything else would have just wrecked the car's interior and Euro sophistication.
Thank you
Dan

reliable cd-r playback with the ability to decode MP3s and display ID3 tags would be nice. Something of which a Mcintosh, nor a Nakamichi will do :-(

The Regular kenwood deck may not be the greatest, but the kenwood excelon deck is very nice, I have 2 the kdc - x859 and x869. There displays aren't even that nice, I've nicer displays for even cheaper
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I have the deh-p6500 pioneer, other than the low rca output voltage- 2 volts- its workin really nice.  plus that lil screen entertains the passengers.lol

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I need quality equipment, feel free to donate.

But then with Kenwood and Pioneer it seems as though you get back on par with Sony. I wish I could just borrow a bunch of headunits and compare their outputs on the scope.

Kenwood and Pioneer, are better than sony.  I would go with the Kenwood X969.  Offers internal crossover and is a MP3 and WMA player.  You can also add screensavers if you want something to entertain your passengers with out adding a screen.

HOLD UP... lol ... pioneer, schmemwood? Get an alpine deck, mine cost me just below 500$ and it plays mp3's and it has a great display, doesn't look half bad, and i has a fully adjustible 5 band eq , with adjustible band freq, width, and level. SOUNDS GREAT. just go alpine or eclipse if you dont relly want to do that relly high end stuff

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everything stolen :(
Workin on a new system :)

Peace in the middle east

Stay away from sony!!!! They really don't make the quality products that the othe guys would make Pioneer, alpine, and kenwood make way better products than sony.   You would even have better sound quality using a jensen or clarion. I'm in the mode now where every component has to "match". So if you were to ask me, I would go with an eclipse mp3 head unit (model 8053), eclipse amps, eclipse components, with eclipse subs. But if you don't want to use eclipse speakers and amps. I would use an eclipse head unit, with jl audio amps/subs and MB Quart components.

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Duane...

If you think you're confused, imagine how you feel.   

All this hype about head units is oh so true. Take a ride to the stereo shop listen and look at all the HU's. Consider your budget. Get what you think suits you. I've used kenwood HU's for 15 years the only problem I had with them is the inside lights on a cassette HU went out. Pioneer CD HU sucked. Alpine has good quality. Have yet to experience Eclipse but would probably be my next purchase.


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2003 Silverado Ext. cab
Kenwood mp922
Kenwood kgc6042a EQ
JL Audio xr650-csi
MB Quart PSC 213
JL Audio 300/4
pair of JL Audio 12w6v2
JL Audio 1000/1

Money, not a question. If Mcintoshes decoded MP3s and displayed ID3 tags, I'd already have it. As it stands... I don't believe all the knock on Sonys. My current deck is a Sony, and it's driving a pair of alumapro subs and Infinity Kappa perefects all the way around. I'm VERY satisfied with the sq of it. However (like I said, money is not of question) I'm stepping it up a notch. I'm going with the best of the best components, the best of the best amplifiers, the best of the best electricals (by the way, the equalizer on the deck is absolutely unnecessary). This is intended to be as good as it gets maintaining factory location and stage in a car. With all the conflicting opionions (except everyone seems to agree Sony sucks) I've decided to go with a Sony. I've managed to scrounge up an older model CDX C90 new in box that I will use. It doesn't decode MP3s onboard, but Sony makes MP3 decoding changers that will display track titles. Other than that, no frills, no fancy displays (still very elagent and stylish), no onboard amp... it's perfect.
thanks for everyones advice, sorry I didn't use any of it :-(

CDX C90 isn't a cheap unit. Also, I live in Fairbanks, AK. The ability to listen to much of anything around here doesn't exist.