the way i always build my systems if first start off with anice headunit... thats the start of all the good music!
second... get the subwoofer and amplifier for it..
that way you can turn down the bass on the interior speakers and kick up the highs and turn the volume up even higher .... and your subwoofer picks up the bass almost fully!
bass is the largest killer of factory speakers... also makes em sound like crap! cause they just cannt handle it!


then i upgrade the speakers and a amplifier for the interior speakers......


thats preaty much how ive always upgraded my systems from stock........
still upgrading also.LOL still have to buy a amplifier for my interior speakers! but since my subwoofer amp is already pushen my alternator to its limit and alittle beyond....LOL i need to buy a highpower alternator BEFORE i can get another amplifier!

 

So what should I be looking for in a "good headunit". I have no intentions of getting HD radio or Satelite radio. Ipod intergration is a plus but not needed since i found my fm transmitter good enough. Basically just need cd/cdr/cdrw playback from it. All the other stuff I dont under stand like how some of them have amps in them already...

 

well the HD radio isnt a big thing to me... BUT if i was you id also make sure it plays MP3s... thats the best technology if ya ask me!
you can typicaly burn 7-8regular cds onto a single cd burned into mp3s! and lets face it who likes carrying around a ton of cds!LOL
and if ya dont have a cd burner....... your a cave man


dont settle on trying to buy everything all at once... cause 500bucks isnt much at all realy....
i spent 300bucks on my orion 1200watt amp, ruffly 250bucks for my 12inch REaudio SX, custom made my own box for about 50-100bucks in materials, my radio was ruffly 300bucks but it was about 3years ago but still works fine... tho i want to upgrade it to a sweet dvd indash double din monitor unit which is ruffly 1K bucks alone
then my wires i spent 100bucks just on battery conections under my hood within 2ft of my battery... another 100bucks in huge 1/0gauge wires,
about 150bucks in my 6x9s...... ruffly 200bucks in my REaudio 6.5component speakers, and when ever i get a high power alternator cannt remember how much that will cost... but the amplifier for my interior speakers eventualy ruffly 200bucks


its definatly something that it sbeter to be put together piece by piece and completly thought out before each purchase!
dont settle for crap just to put it all together quickly!

 

So any recommendations for a head unit? Or point me to the good brands

 

if u have enough money go with the following and u will rock ur city lool

front rear speakers Infiniti
head unit either Pioneer or Clarion
AMP Infiniti or MTX 4 channel both
Sub Pioneer or Infiniti or MTX
plus ground wiring power wiring
and other cables

i already have old system but it is so powerful i cant go too loud or ill go to jail for sure

i have head unit Clarion
front speakers Clarion
rear speakers Pioneer
Sub Pioneer
Amp is Audiopan
all are old except the rear which i bought a month ago

 

with the radio just go with a good brand name and dont get a sony! those suck with bass they skip cds like mad!



i love my clarion radio!
but id say some good names are clarion, alpine, pioneer, kenwood....
just go check em out at your local audio shop

 

Im liking this one... lots of reveiws for it too... http://www.crutchfield.com/S-dpMqdlF...isplay=Pioneer

 

Okay i think im gonna go with the 5800. So can anyone point me to speakers... And what I should be looking for in them?

 

another thing ya wanna think about is ..... HOW WILL IT LOOK IN THE CAR
not all radios look good

when i got my civic it has a grey/silver sony radio in it...
looks WAY OUTTA PLACE!


my chrome and black clarion looks SO MUCH BETER and smooth in the dash...


just something to keep in mind.....

 

hmmm well i see component and like 2 set speakers... wat are the pros and cons? And the ease of fitting them installing myself?