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10-06-04
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#1 |
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Master of My Domain
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Brand Ratings- Is this Brand Any Good? Good, Bad and Ugly
The below lists are the property of Car Audio Central. They may not be reproduced in any form, in part or in whole, without express written permission from Car Audio Central's administration, or the authors. Please contact:
Chris from Washington GlassWolf Ryan from Ohio or William from NOLA for permission, or note a link to www.caraudiocentral.net with credit to the authors when reposting this information (giving credit as per MLA stipulations.) Posting this list in part or whole is not permitted without express permission or credit given. This is the infamous Good, Bad, and Ugly list. These are very subjective. We've simply stated our experiences with the products whether they are direct installs, personal property or through extensive research. You should always physically audition a product before purchase because you are the one who will determine whether or not an item "sounds good." The overall groupings are based on performance, reliability, and build quality, without regard to price. This topic, while being controversial, is simply a generalized guide meant for beginners in the hobby. Many brands specialize in certain items, ie. better amplifiers than speakers, better mids than subs, etc... Also almost all manufacturers offer entry level products as well as high performance lines. Good luck with your decisions. We've broken this into 4 catagories: 1: Bad (avoid) 2: Questionable (mixed reviews, disputed, unsure, or depends on the item) 3: Good (just about always worth consideration) 4: Highly Recommended (considered audiophile grade) Last edited by GlassWolf; 03-08-08 at 11:09 AM. |
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05-28-05
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#2 |
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Master of My Domain
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This should help out many of you. Each category is sorted alphabetically. Remember, not all of the brands on here are still being manufactured.
*BEFORE YOU PROCEED* This list is generally a concensus opinion of members of this forum, and online communities in general. It is a ranking generally reflecting the overall build quality, business practices, warranty practices, and bang-for-the-buck performance that enthusiast such as ourselves typically seek. This is by no means an objective list - no independent testing was performed on any products by any manufacturers within the list, and any manufacturer in the list may make some mix of products, some of which would individually fall into the "good", while others would fall into the "bad", making lists like this difficult... and further, many products are application-specific... good for one application, bad for another. That responsibility falls on you. We highly advise readers to independently research any products they are considering purchasing, simply using this list as a helpful tool in the beginning of that research process. To restate the above, this list is here to steer newbies in the right direction. Not every product under every manufacturer is equal. There are still quite a few brands missing. If you would like to make corrections or additions, please post in this thread: http://www.caraudiocentral.net/forum...ead.php?t=1076 Please voice yourself in the above thread! Head units ---------------------- Highly Recommended Alpine Clarion ProAudio Eclipse Pioneer Premier Sony Mobile ES (from the early 1990's only, rare) Valor Multimedia Good Clarion Nakamichi Panasonic MXE Pioneer Sony Budget - Bang for the buck Jensen (newer models only) Phase Linear Pioneer Questionable Blaupunkt JVC Kenwood Panasonic Avoid Audiovox Boss Dual Jensen (older models only) Sanyo Amplifiers ---------------------- Highly Recommended Arc Audio Audison Brax Eclipse Esoteric Audio Genesis Harrison Labs Helix HiFonics JBL (Crown made models) JL Audio McIntosh Laboratories Memphis Audio Orion (pre-DEI) PPI Art series Rockford Fosgate (early 90s, Punch and Power series) Tru US Amps (old models only) Xtant Zapco Good Alpine Autotek Avionixx Cadence Cerwin Vega Concept Crossfire Crunch Diamond Audio Directed (DEI) Elevation Audio JBL Kicker Massive Audio MTX Audio Phoenix Gold Planet Audio Rockford Fosgate (Power and Punch series) SoundStream US Acoustics Budget - Bang for the buck Interfire Kole Power Acoustik SPL Questionable Alphasonik Audiobahn Coustic Earthquake Lanzar Lightning Audio MA Audio Phoenix Gold Tsunami US Amps (newer models only) Avoid Bazooka Jensen Kenwood Legacy Optimus Pyle Pyramid Sony Visonik Volfenhag Main Speakers ---------------------- Highly Recommended Adire Audio Alpine (F1 Status components) Arc Audio Beyma Boston Acoustics Bravox (component sets) CD Technologies (CDT) Diamond Audio DLS Dyn Audio Eclipse Focal HI-VI Research Illusion Audio Image Dynamics Infinity (Kappa Perfect series) JL Audio (XR components) JL ZR component line LPG Max-Fidelity MB Quart Morel Rainbow Resonant Engineering Scan-Speak Seas Vifa Visatron Good Alpine Boston Acoustics (lower model lines) Bravox (coaxials) Cerwin Vega Crystal DB Drive Earthquake Fusion Infinity (Kappa and Reference series) JBL Kicker Massive Audio Memphis Audio Pioneer Polk Audio Rockford Fosgate Budget - Bang for the buck Infinity (Kappa and Reference series) Interfire Pioneer Quantum Questionable Kole Phoenix Gold Planet Audio Power Acoustik Powerbass Soundstorm SPL Avoid Audiobahn Boss Audio Crunch Dual Jensen Kenwood Sony Subwoofers ---------------------- Highly Recommended Adire Audio Alpine (Type-X series) Alumapro Arc Audio Ascendant Audio Boston Acoustics Crystal Diamond Audio Digital Designs (DD) DLS Dyn Audio Eclipse Fi Audio Focal Funky Pups Image Dynamics Inhuman Audio JL Audio MB Quart Memphis (Mojo series) MMats OZ Audio Rainbow Resonant Engineering Treo Good Alpine (Type-R or S series) Autotek Bravox CD Technologies (CDT) Cerwin Vega Concept Coustic Crunch DB Drive Fusion HiFonics Infinity (Kappa series and up) Massive Audio MTX Audio (8000's and up) Onyx Audio Pioneer Polk Audio Rockford Fosgate Xtant Budget - Bang for the buck Alpine (Type-R or S series) HiFonics Interfire Kicker (CompVR series) Planet Audio (all but Zetar series) Powerbass Quantum Soundstorm Questionable Coustic Earthquake Elemental Designs Elevation Audio Kole Phoenix Gold Power Acoustik SoundStream SPL Avoid Alphasonik Alpine (Type-E series) Audiobahn Bazooka Boss Audio Dual Jensen Kenwood Lightning Audio MTX (6000's and under) Pioneer (lower models) Power Acoustik Pyle Sony Volfenhag
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-Ryan www.caraudiocentral.net - Your #1 Car Audio Resource on the Net! Last edited by GlassWolf; 03-08-08 at 11:05 AM. |
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02-27-06
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#3 |
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Vroom!
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Please refer to the disclaimers in the post above before continuing.
This section is new and needs some additions. Don't hesitate to voice yourself! Refer to: http://www.caraudiocentral.net/forum...ead.php?t=1076 Wiring ----------- Highly Recommended Audiopipe Audison Connect Hooker Audio Kicker Knukonceptz JL Interconnects Streetwires Tsunami Budget - Bang for the buck (none placed here yet) Good Directed Phoenix Digital Scosche Questionable American Bass Audiobahn (RCA cables didn't last long) MA Audio Raptor Avoid (none placed here yet) Batteries --------------- Highly Recommended Deka Interstate Kinetic Northstar Optima Scosche Stinger Tsunami Budget - Bang for the buck (none placed here yet) Good Die Hard (sold by Sears) Duralast Eagle Picher Everstart (Maxx battery only) Exstatic Questionable (none placed here yet) Avoid (none placed here yet) Alternators ------------------- Highly Recommended Excessive Amperage Ohio Generator Budget - Bang for the buck (none placed here yet) Good H/O alternators Iraggi Alternators Motor City Reman Questionable (none placed here yet) Avoid (none placed here yet) Dash Kits/Install Accessories --------------------------------------------- Highly Recommended Metra Budget - Bang for the buck (none placed here yet) Good American International Scosche Questionable Scosche (the ones found at Wal-Mart only) Avoid (none placed here yet) Last edited by GlassWolf; 03-08-08 at 11:04 AM. |
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