OK I think i've finally decided what i'm going to get. I was hoping I could get some opinions on things i could possible improve on without spending too much more money.

HU: Alpine 9815 $395
front components: DEI Studio 6.5 $120
Front amp: US Acoustics USX2100(2x100rms) $123
rear: nothing or use stock speaker for rear fill
Sub: Elemental Designs 12K.44 DVC $139
Sub Amp: USX600D(375x1rms @ 2ohm) $158

 

are set on that HU
don't get me wrong its a awesome HU, but you could save some money or put it some more somewhere else.

 

I'm not totally set on the head unit. But I do want one that plays mp3s and isn't too flashy(pioneer). I also thought the time correction on the 9815 might be of some use for tuning the system.

 

Let's see, if it were me I would pay between $250 and $300 on a head unit (and you can get a really good Alpine in that price range), concentrate on a pair of good sounding front speakers (I never listened to the DEI, but if you say they are good then that is all that should matter), and finally a decent little amp (perhaps even Alpine's budget amps). I would wait (and you are going to hate this) on the subwoofer and mono amp, but at least you would be getting the important stuff first and doing so in stages means you can get overall quality sound that is both loud and clear. Kenwood has a nice mono amp for around $200 that could push a 10 or 12. Hope this helps. You are smart in holding off with the rear spkrs. because your front soundstage is most important.

Michael

 

any alpine HU that has the bass engine plus has time correction on it i would get this one http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...=1&cc=01&avf=Y

i believe you can get it for 225 from www.ikesound.com but it will cost your another 30 bucks in hardware to mount it. so for 30 bucks, you would get factory warranty from alpine. its is mp3 and has 4 channel time correction. us acoustiks makes good stuff. EDESIGNAUDIO subs and amps are just plain awesome, good choice of sub BTW. what is the RMS and SPL of the DEI???

 

Well it's not that I can't afford everything at once. I'm trying to keep total cost under $1000 and some change. I'm trying to impose some sort of spending cap on myself.

 

DEI Studio Neodymium Component 6.5” 2-Way Speaker System (Model 3065)

Power handling 100 Watts RMS/175 Watts peak, 4 ohm nominal impedance, Frequency response 40 – 22kHz, Efficiency 90dB @ 1 watt/1 meter, Woofer mounting depth 2.5”, Magnet diameter 1.88

 

i would cut back on the HU and spend the extra money on a set of rear speakers and get the 85X4 rms usacoustiks amp along with the ed sub and us amp this will slightly over budget you, but it will be well worth it.

 

There's nothing wrong with saving money there (esp. nowadays). You know yourself better than me and whether you are the type to get something, listen to it for a while and then go out and get something better. I am notorious about that! I guess that is the audio bug in me. As much money as I spent on stereo equipment before getting something I could stick with, I would be a rich man <not really>. But you get the idea.

Michael

 

Yeah I know I should probably cut back on the head unit. The 9813 would probably be a better choice and it's almost a $100 cheaper. The 9807 doesn't have time corection but the 9813 at 299 does. (only the bass engine pro has time correction)

About the rear fill. Is it really necessary? I was under the impression that you could send most of the low frequencies to the subs and be done with it. I know it might **** off ppl riding in the back but i rarely have ppl ride in the back.

 

the bass engine pro has 6 channel time correction, bass engine plus has 4 channel time correction the 9807 has bass engine plus

 

on alpine's web site it has the 9807 having just the standard bass engine.

alpine 9807

 

i like rear fill b/c it help in the mid bass dept

 

Im gonna talk apples and oranges here, but I just purchased a Pioneer DEH-550MP, plays mp3's the works. I use to have an Alpine CDA-D852. This pioneer HU blows that Alpine away, I dont mean to be an *** about it, just my observations. Like I said, its kind of comparing apples and oranges, I did however save almost $200 going with the Pionner, its not real flashy and the sound quality is AMAZING on the stock speakers.

 

but equally, i can go and say that it'd be comparing apples and oranges, but i jumped up from a $179 Pioneer DEH-3400 cd-player, all the way up to an alpine 7894, but i'll tell you what, it blew my pioneer out of the water, but i spent $100 dollars more (closer to $170 if i paid full retail value for the head unit) and the difference to me was night and day. to each his own, however, i will say this, while no pioneers that i personally know of have time correction (some premier units do however), i can vouch, that whether pushing stock speakers or aftermarket components or coaxials, pioneer head units are good head units. when my rca's DID work (amp positive grounded itself to the ground terminal thanks to a milk crate in my trunk), the sound was pretty clean, didn't have any alternator whine or electronic noises in my rca's. i'd like to think i'm a SQ guy, but i don't have the knowledge as to what is better ... alpine or pioneer. and pioneer units aren't flashy, hell, when i first saw one, i thought alpines were the tackiest pieces out there, but i'm quite impressed with my 7894... definately good and reliable units, but to each his own.
peace