Let me show you what CAC did for me (old system---> new system)

[lotas]

Just to give you guys some idea of how much i've learned here..heres my system as of mid-late august that I was going to purchase before coming to CAC. By the way i was completely going for SQ.

Old System:
Subs: 2 12" Alpine Type-R's
Speakers: Infinity Reference 6x9's and Infinity Reference 6.5"s
Amp for subs: Alpine 350wrmsx2ohm (yes I have no clue)
Amp for speakers: Infinity reference (not sure of model)
Box for subs: 4th order Bandpass box

New System:
Sub: 1 12" Resonant Engineering XXX
Speakers: Infinity Reference 6x9's/ CDT Classic Comps 6.5" Faded to front
Amp for subs: Mtx 1501D or JBL 1201.1
Amp for speakers: JL Audio 300/4
Box for sub: Custom Sealed

Well there you have it. It may not look like much of an upgrade to the people who don't know a bunch about car audio...but should be pretty amusing for others...dunno what I was thinking at the time when I was gonna get that alpine amp for 2 subs. I knew there was something funny about it being 199$ :P

thanks CAC and everyone here.

[Dustin from Huntsville]

Looks sweet man, but this post is worthless without pictures... j/k :P

[Justin from Detroit]

This is a fun thread! Post what you first had, as opposed to what you have now!

HU : Rockford Fosgate
Speakers : Kenwood
Subs : Legacy Red
Amp : Legacy Red 1800 watt (max of course)

Estimated Value : $450

and 5 years later.....

HU : Pioneer AVIC-N1 DVD/Navi
Speakers : Adire Koda Components
EQs : ARC Audio ARC XEQ, AudioControl EPIC-160
Subs : Pair of 10" RE XXX's in custom aeroported box
Amps : 2 ARC Audio 1500XXK's, ARC Audio 2100XXK

Estimated Value : $5700

Quite the step up huh?

[SiriusBlack]

OLD
HU: Pioneer DEH-14
Fronts: Pioneer 4x6's
Backs: Pioneer 6x9's (cheap white and blacks)
Amp: Sony Xplod 444 Watt
Subs: 10" Sony Xplod, 10" Lightning Audio

Estimated Value: $200... On a good day

New:
HU: Clarion DXZ435
Fronts: Kenwood Excelon Xr71p 6 3/4" Components
Front Amp: Eclipse 3155 (I think that's the numbers)
Subs: 2 Resonant Engineering RE8's - Ported 30hz
Sub Amp: PPI Precision Power PC275 - Older Gun Metal Paint (USA Made)

Estimated Value: Around here... $1100, no problem.

Yes my friends... Change is large. I went from a 1/4 thick plywood box with a 1" support frame, and made from guessing, to a 3/4" Particle Board box, made with calculated, precise cuts.

[Ryan from Ohio]

and 5 years later.....

Now there is an exageration if I have seen one :rolleyes:

Ive been around the CAC board for about 3 1/2 years or so. When I found the board it was only 4-6 months old.

;)

[Justin from Detroit]

I didn't say my system came around when I came to CAC, Ryan. I HAD my system 5 years ago.

[Littletarheel401]

OLD...

JVC Headunit
Stock Speakers
12" Orion HCCA
Kicker 600.1

Year Later...

Eclipse Headunit
Cerwin Vega Highs and mids
4 tweets
15" Kicker L5
Kicker 600.1

Not to big of a step up..but it hits..so im happy

[puckstpr]

I "think" this is what I had when I started at CAC, which Chris may be able to guess better than I am, about 2 weeks or so after he opened the board. The only steady members were Chris, Xmax and I. Shortly afterwards Ryan found a home. Damn, that really does feel like a long time ago. I think Renegadesrun was not too long after that...

HU: Pioneer Premier 3200
Front: 5 1/2 MTX mids Altec Tweets
Front amp: MTX 4 channel???
Subs: 2 - 10" Pioneer Premier
Sub amp: RF 200a1


Now,
HU: Kenwood, had Sirius satellite but quit paying for it.
Fronts: Dynaudio mids / Morel tweets / custom x-overs
Front amp: Helix
Subs: 2 - 10" Lunar
Sub amp: MMats 200HC

Michael

[6three6mafia6]

old

HU:stock
front stage:infinity reference components
rear:kappa 6x9
speaker amp:fosgate 801x with one bad channel
subs:2 10 bazooka el's
sub amp: bazooka el, then a xplod

estimated value=around 600

one year later

HU:panasonic
front stage:arc audio components
rear:kappa6x9
speaker amp:arc 4050
sub:RE xxx 12
sub amp:fosgate power 501s(temporary actually looking for new amp)

definently a step up

[William from NOLA]

Old:
HU: Sony cdx-4000x
speakers: stock with crossovers and tweeters out of old home stereo speakers
amp: Pioneer GM-X364
-estimated value: $250


now: (2 years later)

HU: Pioneer DEH-P9600MP
mains: Infinity Kappa 5x7's
mains amp: JBL P180.2
sub: Adire Brahma 15"
sub amp: JBL BP600.1
alt and battery: 180A alt; Optima Red Top
-estimated value: $2073 (does not include previous HU, amp, and unlisted sub) which is about $1000 away from the kbb value of my van

[GlassWolf]

first few systems?
1977 plymouth volare station wagon
factory chrysler AM/FM radio, digital out of an 86 van
2 sparkomatic surface mount speakers screwed to the ceiling of the wagon's plastic trim rails.
1979 Datsun 280ZX, Kenwood tape deck, Sony 4" speakers, and sparkomatic 6x9" speakers in enclosures

now,
1966 dodge charger
Alpine CDA-7990
Orion 300PSW
Orion Concept 97.2
(3) Orion XTR2250 amplifiers
DynAudio System 360 front stage
(2) RE XXX 12" subwoofers
Compustar alarm system

[6three6mafia6]

wow^^^ am i the only one supprised to read this?damn kiki you probably had the worst equiptment out of all of us, yet youre like car audio genious, wow that must have been a long time ago, cause that new set up is beutiful, know that noobs is inspiration :rolleyes:

[GlassWolf]

well, the wagon was the first car I ever drove. The one dad tossed me the keys to. I was 15, and wanted something better than the factory one dash-speaker and analog dial AM radio haha
The 280ZX was the first car I bought myself, when I was 17, and all but the 6x9s came in the car. Just after that was when I really started to get into audio for cars, but hey we all started somewhere. One reason I know all about crappy gear is because I've been there myself, and I know the process of learning what to do with a car..
how folks over-do it at first, then eventually learn that "KISS" approach and figure out how to make a simple, clean system that pounds. :)

It's a fun journey.

[Dustin from Huntsville]

So when did you get all of that new stuff for your Charger? Are you using the stock passives for the Dyn's or are you running them all active?

[GlassWolf]

using the Dyn crossovers for the time being with the 3 way set.
a lot of the stuff like the amps I bought used. A good portion of the rest I got from a friend who owns an audio shop and sells alpine, dyn, etc so I get it at a pretty good discount.
usually employee cost.

most of the system is sitting on the bench right now though as I'm about to tear the car apart to rebuild the motor and tranny and strip and prep it for paint

[Livinloud]

My first system
3 10" Boss RIP
Boss Riot 1035


Current System
Digital Designs 9512e
Kicker KX 1200.1

Pretty crazy I went from spending 300 bucks for my whole system to spending double that just for my sub.

If it wasnt for CAC I highly doubt I would have realized the difference between crap and decent equipment. :) :) :)

[Ryan from Ohio]

What Compustar Alarm did you get?

Im thinking about getting the new alarm, just not the one with the "spread spectrum" feature. Thats a little $$$ overboard for me.

[William from NOLA]

Current System
Digital Designs 9512e
Kicker KX 1200.1

Very nice!

[jonnyb]

old:
headunit: JVC lower end model=$100
mids/highs: Pioneer Walmart brand=$50
subs: really crappy kenwood 10"=$50
amp:jensen=$50

new
headunit: Alpine 9827=$230
mids/highs: CDT Classic Components=$150
subs: (2)Arc Audio 10d-2=$250
amps: JBLbp180.2=$100 kicker 400.1=$300

you bastards made me spend more money than i should have!! :D

[Justin from Detroit]

you bastards made me spend more money than i should have!! :D

But hasn't it all been worth it? :sub:

[GlassWolf]

I chose the Compustar 2WSS-AS with some add-ons like power window modules, electronic hood bolt, battery backup, etc.. It's a pretty nice system.

Here's a funny one for ya. the head unit in my car cost more than my first car did (the 280ZX) and as much as my present car cost new off the lot.
now that's nuts. hehe