[greenhorn]

for sub 10k installs, which do you suppose is the best way to go?

Requirement of the majority is . decent bass, reasonable clarity, and USB compatiblity

Option1
Decent HU (grey market pioneer HU ~6k)
Cheap speakers(Pioneer (fake?) coaxes) 6.5"+6x9" ~4k
Total~10K

Option 2
Average HU (sony Xplod ~4K)
Average Speakers(sony Xplod/Blaupunkt entry level) 5~6k
Total~9k

Option 3
Cheap HU (Chinese USB model) ~1K
Good speakers (JBL/hertz) ~7k
Total ~8k

My opinion is that option 3 is the cheapest & best way to go.

Do post your opinions

[CrackedHead]

Depends, I'd keep future upgrade's in mind.

If one is keen on upgrading then Option 3 would be my choice (since the chinese HU will probably die of natural causes soon enough).

OR

Option 4:
Good HU (10K)
Decent coaxial's (2K)

[phamilyman]

Option 3. Crap speakers will sound total crap.

Playing audio CDs or 320 kbps mp3s for non-audiophiles (else the budget would've been 4-5x min!) with decent speakers should suffice imo.

[navin]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

Option 2
Average HU (sony Xplod ~4K)
Average Speakers(sony Xplod/Blaupunkt entry level) 5~6k
Total~9k

A chain is only as strong as teh weakest link, besides you can get a JVC for 4K that wil run circles around the Sony and JBLs for 5-6K that will run circles around Sony too.

[naru]

how bout this:

Kenwood 5539 (5k grey) + JBL 608c (4k grey).

That's the ultimate combo for 10k

[Sankar]

Option 4: Other
Average HU (Sony for eg) + Decent Speakers (Auditor RIP Comps at 6k MRP)

What kind of a system are you looking for in this 10k budget? See, a comp in the front is not really a requirement of the majority.

[alpha1]

The speakers make the most impact in sound quality.
Get those right first.

[navin]

Originally Posted by alpha1

The speakers make the most impact in sound quality.
Get those right first.

You forget that a HU also has mechanical parts (CD platter for example) and hence a good HU also is needed.

Any chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

[greenhorn]

navin, folks these days need just the USB bit and no CD player.

these Chinese USB HU's are USB/SD card only.

there is one USB/SD card decode board, one LA4440 Amp board thrown into the HU enclosure with some controls. Since there is no CD Drive, it can be a lot cheaper.

and at 1k, it sounds quite decent, and a risk worth taking

[navin]

fair argument you forget that a HU must also have a decent DAC (HUs under 5K do not - see JVC R205) or the SQ of the Kenny 345 or even the Pioneer 2200.

[DocG]

An average HU- Sony, JVC or Kenwood for 5K
Speakers - DLS R6A for 6K in the front

That would work wonderfully if the car is self driven.

Else a decent HU + Speakers from Mutant, surprisingly good for the money.

[spyking]

Umm, pretty much a newbie to ICE, but what about


Option 5:

Ipod/mp3 player
A decent amp that can use the Line-out from the player
Decent speakers

I dunno how feasible it is or the costs involved, but wont it make sense for people on a budget and who already own high capacity portable players?

[Bass&Trouble]

Originally Posted by navin

A chain is only as strong as teh weakest link, besides you can get a JVC for 4K that wil run circles around the Sony and JBLs for 5-6K that will run circles around Sony too.

I agree. My vote would be for

1. JVC/ Sony/ Kenwood entry level head unit - 4k
2. Front Coaxes - JVC makes some decent ones again - 1.5k
3. Rear 6x9s - JBL/ Auditor - 3.5k
4. Misc - wiring harness, parcel tray, spacer rings, installation, antenna etc. 1.5k