Stereo/ good sound freaks

[Fourlex]

Stereo time! Okay so to you all of you that are good with this, I need help! Getting my subs soon, but as my 07 lib has the inbuilt nav the facia is all one piece, where as on the newer libs there is two separate parts for the air conditioner and stereo part. I need to get a head deck ideally and don't want to spend an arm and a leg on just the stereo as I have other things on the way - so I'm wondering to all of you that have either done it or thought about this yourself, what is my best option?

Anything helpful will be great; Pictures especially so I can show some sound guys when I go to take the car in or even buy the stuff myself. Thank you!

[mihai]

1. What subs are you getting?
2. Have you got amps sorted yet?
3. What is your budget?
4. Are you installing yourself?
5. Have you factored in a fascia kit? Everyone's Liberty has the climate control integrated with the headunit. Requires the fascia kit from Japan to replace the climate control and allow installation of an aftermarket headunit.

Not 100% sure what will happen to the navigation if you replace the headunit though as I'm pretty sure there are some connections that go to the back of the factory headunit. I could be wrong though.

[Fourlex]

1. What subs are you getting?
2. Have you got amps sorted yet?
3. What is your budget?
4. Are you installing yourself?
5. Have you factored in a fascia kit? Everyone's Liberty has the climate control integrated with the headunit. Requires the fascia kit from Japan to replace the climate control and allow installation of an aftermarket headunit.

Not 100% sure what will happen to the navigation if you replace the headunit though as I'm pretty sure there are some connections that go to the back of the factory headunit. I could be wrong though.

WELL, these are the questions I ask myself!

I'm looking at fusion, and clarion also.
My amp is 1500 watt Rockford fosgate amp OR 800 watt boss audio am, which ill use whatever one is more practical.
my budget is grim, but around 1g hopefully as I'm getting the amp from a friend cheap and just need subs/ possible head deck. If I need to spend more I will.
installation I have many options, either by my friends or just take it down to our Audio Indulgence stereo place to get them to install.
And no I haven't even thought about the fascia kit? how much is it and where can I find them? Ideally I'd need one to get my head deck... thought they were just for the better models then my car. *idiot alert*

And likewise, I'm worried that if I have a dvd monitor head deck I'll lose my sat nav which I wanna keep! so I might just go with a simple head deck so I only lose my actual stock audio fascia not my nav.

thanks

[blacktop™]

The say nav is on the upper part of your dash and is not affected by your stereo so you can replace your factory stereo with a DVD player without problems with the sat nav. You will just have 2 screens, one above the other.

The fascia kit cost ~$400 (brand new).

I dont think your budget of $1k is going to get you very far.

Stay away from boss audio.

[Fourlex]

The say nav is on the upper part of your dash and is not affected by your stereo so you can replace your factory stereo with a DVD player without problems with the sat nav. You will just have 2 screens, one above the other.

The fascia kit cost ~$400 (brand new).

I dont think your budget of $1k is going to get you very far.

Stay away from boss audio.

yeah 1k is the budget, it's going to go over like everything else did I don't like the fact of having 2 screens so I was just going to maybe get a head deck unit? something simple. But the problem is if I wasn't to get the fascia kit what else could I do... have the head unit in the glovebox/ boot/ beside my seat/ under it??? what do you think...

boss audio is crap?

hmm decisions! I think i'm going to just take it to the professionals to install, I just will buy all the stuff then get them to install it.

[andy85]

Spend a few hrs reading here
http://www.mobileelectronics.com.au/

You will soon know what a REAL system should be like and why we do not prefer brands like BOSS.
My best advise for u is to RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH... Then AUDITION all u can and find the best installer in your area. Gear is nothing without a top class install.

G'luck and hope come back soon with a KILLER system

[mihai]

yeah 1k is the budget, it's going to go over like everything else did I don't like the fact of having 2 screens so I was just going to maybe get a head deck unit? something simple. But the problem is if I wasn't to get the fascia kit what else could I do... have the head unit in the glovebox/ boot/ beside my seat/ under it??? what do you think...

If you are going to get the pro's to install it, allow $300-400 for installation (possibly including wiring etc).

In regards to mounting the headunit in a position other than the factory location, its a bad idea. How do you expect to change input sources/tracks/radio stations etc if it is mounted in the boot? Or glove box? Sure you COULD do it, but it would mean taking your eyes off the road.

Honestly, listen to andy85. Research as much as you can, and save up some more cash while you are researching. I mean, 1k isn't a whole lot and by my math its already gone on headunit alone. (ie $400 fascia, $200-300 mid level headunit, $300-400 installation) Leaves nothing for amps, subs or speakers.

The worst part is getting cheap gear, paying for it all and installing it and not being happy with the final result.

[rooby]

It really depends how good you want it to be and how much you are willing to spend.

I would say more realistically you are looking at $2k to get something that sounds decent.
half for install labour and parts and head unit as mihai said and half for speakers and amp.
That's probably the minimum I would spend to make it worthwhile.

Not sure what your car is but if it has the macintosh then that's probably already as good as or better than an entry level system.

[zch91]

Following from Rooby's post, my question is WHY do you want to upgrade your sound system? Sounds like you just want more bass, ie bigger/better subs?

A budget of 1k will probably land you with a fairly average system/similar quality to your stock McIntosh!

[Fourlex]

Following from Rooby's post, my question is WHY do you want to upgrade your sound system? Sounds like you just want more bass, ie bigger/better subs?

A budget of 1k will probably land you with a fairly average system/similar quality to your stock McIntosh!

mine doesn't have the macintosh system, thus why i need to upgrade! I love my music and right now it doesn't sound as nice as i'd like, so asking the pro's on here to see what I can do, thanks everyone!

[mihai]

mine doesn't have the macintosh system, thus why i need to upgrade! I love my music and right now it doesn't sound as nice as i'd like, so asking the pro's on here to see what I can do, thanks everyone!

OK. Be prepared for a long post!.

I had the same setup as you. Stock headunit, stock speakers and no underseat or parcel shelf sub.

What I did was I said I didn't want to spend cash on fascia. (I already had a decent headunit at the time, so I sold it). Ended up getting a small 4 channel underseat amp (4 x 50W RMS, gave 150W RMS when bridged across channels 3+4). Installed some clarion speakers in the front and then I got a 8" sub to install in the stock location on the parcel shelf. All of this was going to run off the stock headunit.

Yeah, it was OK. But the problem I had was the amp wasnt providing enough power to the sub. So I swapped the amp for a PDX4.150 (4x150W RMS and 300W RMS when bridged). This was perfect for the sub. But now the front speakers couldnt keep up. So swapped them out too. Replaced them with what I currently have (Hertz HSK-165's).

System went well for a while, and then my mate was selling his Liberty. So I scored his fascia kit. Picked up an Alpine IVA-W502 pretty cheap second hand off ebay and when testing it out I blew my 8" sub. From there I went through 3 12" subs in the space of 2 weeks because I didn't like them. Ran with an Alpine Type R 12" for a while. Problem was my 4 channel amp wasnt giving it enough power. So I ended up getting a PDX1.1000 for my sub. This was a good setup. Then I found a great deal on a JL Audio 12W7. Got that and have never looked back, and have not changed anything since, I'm that happy with the sound system at the moment!

The BIGGEST difference was when the headunit was changed out. The sound compared to the stock headunit was just so much more clearer. Everything sounded smoother and much nicer than with the stock headunit. Not to mention the fact that the added features of the aftermarket headunit was great!

The point I'm getting at is set yourself a goal of what you want. And save up or do it in stages!

My recommendation is to get the fascia kit and a decent headunit. Get that installed and you may be happy with how it sounds. From there, if you feel as though you want more bass, you can easily install an amp and sub. If you then feel you want louder speakers, you can replace the factory fronts (forget about the rears, wasted money there) and possibly install a 2 or 4 channel amp to power them.

Alternitively, you can save up 2-3k and get it all in one hit. Up to you.

Also, hit up Mobile Electronics Australia. There are GREAT deals to be had there, and the equipment is top notch

[andy85]

mine doesn't have the macintosh system, thus why i need to upgrade! I love my music and right now it doesn't sound as nice as i'd like, so asking the pro's on here to see what I can do, thanks everyone!

OK. Be prepared for a long post!.

I had the same setup as you. Stock headunit, stock speakers and no underseat or parcel shelf sub.

What I did was I said I didn't want to spend cash on fascia. (I already had a decent headunit at the time, so I sold it). Ended up getting a small 4 channel underseat amp (4 x 50W RMS, gave 150W RMS when bridged across channels 3+4). Installed some clarion speakers in the front and then I got a 8" sub to install in the stock location on the parcel shelf. All of this was going to run off the stock headunit.

Yeah, it was OK. But the problem I had was the amp wasnt providing enough power to the sub. So I swapped the amp for a PDX4.150 (4x150W RMS and 300W RMS when bridged). This was perfect for the sub. But now the front speakers couldnt keep up. So swapped them out too. Replaced them with what I currently have (Hertz HSK-165's).

System went well for a while, and then my mate was selling his Liberty. So I scored his fascia kit. Picked up an Alpine IVA-W502 pretty cheap second hand off ebay and when testing it out I blew my 8" sub. From there I went through 3 12" subs in the space of 2 weeks because I didn't like them. Ran with an Alpine Type R 12" for a while. Problem was my 4 channel amp wasnt giving it enough power. So I ended up getting a PDX1.1000 for my sub. This was a good setup. Then I found a great deal on a JL Audio 12W7. Got that and have never looked back, and have not changed anything since, I'm that happy with the sound system at the moment!

The BIGGEST difference was when the headunit was changed out. The sound compared to the stock headunit was just so much more clearer. Everything sounded smoother and much nicer than with the stock headunit. Not to mention the fact that the added features of the aftermarket headunit was great!

The point I'm getting at is set yourself a goal of what you want. And save up or do it in stages!

My recommendation is to get the fascia kit and a decent headunit. Get that installed and you may be happy with how it sounds. From there, if you feel as though you want more bass, you can easily install an amp and sub. If you then feel you want louder speakers, you can replace the factory fronts (forget about the rears, wasted money there) and possibly install a 2 or 4 channel amp to power them.

Alternitively, you can save up 2-3k and get it all in one hit. Up to you.

Also, hit up Mobile Electronics Australia. There are GREAT deals to be had there, and the equipment is top notch

Oh god i remember this phase u went through. When u finally got the JLs i had a feeling this would be it and it was!!!
It's a real pleasure listening to SOLID & CLEAR music on the road.
Hope everyone reading this takes all of our advises.

[mihai]

Oh god i remember this phase u went through. When u finally got the JLs i had a feeling this would be it and it was!!!
It's a real pleasure listening to SOLID & CLEAR music on the road.
Hope everyone reading this takes all of our advises.

Listening to solid & clear music is AWESOME. Especially when the gear is installed the correct way and the car is sound deadened to the point it doesn't sound like its falling apart!
And just to be clear, I only have 1 JL. Plenty bass for me!

[LorrenK]

If you do want to go the hidden secondary head unit, there are some that have a remote control. Not the IR kind, a wired control that sticks on the side of the steering column (for example) that's like a stump with an assortment of rings and buttons that can control 99% of the HUs functions with twists pulls and presses. I had this on a Sony HU many years ago. I don't really see them nowadays, but back then I thought I couldn't live without it.

[Fourlex]

mine doesn't have the macintosh system, thus why i need to upgrade! I love my music and right now it doesn't sound as nice as i'd like, so asking the pro's on here to see what I can do, thanks everyone!

OK. Be prepared for a long post!.

I had the same setup as you. Stock headunit, stock speakers and no underseat or parcel shelf sub.

What I did was I said I didn't want to spend cash on fascia. (I already had a decent headunit at the time, so I sold it). Ended up getting a small 4 channel underseat amp (4 x 50W RMS, gave 150W RMS when bridged across channels 3+4). Installed some clarion speakers in the front and then I got a 8" sub to install in the stock location on the parcel shelf. All of this was going to run off the stock headunit.

Yeah, it was OK. But the problem I had was the amp wasnt providing enough power to the sub. So I swapped the amp for a PDX4.150 (4x150W RMS and 300W RMS when bridged). This was perfect for the sub. But now the front speakers couldnt keep up. So swapped them out too. Replaced them with what I currently have (Hertz HSK-165's).

System went well for a while, and then my mate was selling his Liberty. So I scored his fascia kit. Picked up an Alpine IVA-W502 pretty cheap second hand off ebay and when testing it out I blew my 8" sub. From there I went through 3 12" subs in the space of 2 weeks because I didn't like them. Ran with an Alpine Type R 12" for a while. Problem was my 4 channel amp wasnt giving it enough power. So I ended up getting a PDX1.1000 for my sub. This was a good setup. Then I found a great deal on a JL Audio 12W7. Got that and have never looked back, and have not changed anything since, I'm that happy with the sound system at the moment!

The BIGGEST difference was when the headunit was changed out. The sound compared to the stock headunit was just so much more clearer. Everything sounded smoother and much nicer than with the stock headunit. Not to mention the fact that the added features of the aftermarket headunit was great!

The point I'm getting at is set yourself a goal of what you want. And save up or do it in stages!

My recommendation is to get the fascia kit and a decent headunit. Get that installed and you may be happy with how it sounds. From there, if you feel as though you want more bass, you can easily install an amp and sub. If you then feel you want louder speakers, you can replace the factory fronts (forget about the rears, wasted money there) and possibly install a 2 or 4 channel amp to power them.

Alternitively, you can save up 2-3k and get it all in one hit. Up to you.

Also, hit up Mobile Electronics Australia. There are GREAT deals to be had there, and the equipment is top notch

Ahhh thank you so much for that. You have really inspired me! I'll do that then, since you're the 'goto' guy can you supply me with the website I can get the fascia kit, so much money! And do you think the audio place I'm going would be able to install it?? I appreciate your post a lot! I do like bass, I'm from a V8 family so instead of engines I like my music, loud and clear like you said

Today I got my front lip and rims from ultrex. So satisfied. Next is springs and then saving for the audio I guess. Oh and need some bit and pieces. Money money money agh.

Thanks a million!