Heya,

Just bought a new Holden, obviously all the factory car audio is leaving much to be desired.

I already have a decent Clarion 400w amp and a 12" sub.

I'm looking at replacing the front splits (6" and tweets), WOW and Autobarn recommended these : http://www.sony.com.au/product/xs-gtx162

If I'm going to the trouble, Ill also need a reasonably decent head unit, my minimum requirements are just two RCAs, aux and mp3cd. I also want something thats compatible with whatever device makes it work with the steering wheel controls. Does anyone know what thats called?

At this stage Autobarn has given me the best install price at $250 for everything, so I just want to shop around to get decent equipment at the best prices - front splits, head unit, whatever the steering wheel device is and a face plate given that the new car has the stereo integrated into the dash.

So having just bought a new car, I dont have thooouuusands of dollars to spend, so far my research leads me to believe I could do it for about $800-$900, but at this point anything is an improvement on the factory audio, and Im dying without having good sound.

So, any recommendations, suggestions, direction, advice would be VERY MUCH appreciated :)

Thanks!

http://www.thecat.net.au/home.htm

Replace your head unit first, you will get way more improvement for your money doing it this way. Getting a descent HU with plenty of EQ will usually be enough to bring some of the stock speakers to life, even more so if you have a sub to add already. I've done this in 2 commodores now and not bothered replacing the splits in either because i was happy with the sound post-HU replacement.

If you do want to replace the splits have a look at the Polk Audio range, sound less 'smiley faced' than the Hertz HSK's and also are a 6" LF driver so no modification to the door mounts is required. Generally i can tune any premium split to sound good but the Hertz and Polk's have the best response out of the box in my experience.


edit: just read your post in full, dont bother with sony's. Honestly you will get better results buying a good HU than buying mediocre HU & splits.

last edited by SquarkyD at 14:20:46 20/Mar/10

Check out mobile electronics Australia site, tends to be some 2nd hand gear which is stillin great working order, top brands as well.

I recommend the opposite to Squarky :)

I replaced the stock speakers from our i30 with Focal Splits, keeping the stock head unit, and the difference was HUGE.

I got them from Northfield Moorooka, I wanted to spend less but the cheaper places (WOW etc) just seamed to stock crap and not be too interested. For the extra money I'd do it again no problem, was about $450 installed.

Highly recommended.

This is your new car that you just dropped a s*** load of cash on so make sure you do it right (ie: go to Northfield or similar specialist place). I bought speakers from wow for our last car and they were idiot and did a s*** job. And ended up with a very average result.


last edited by mission at 15:30:05 20/Mar/10

I was gonna go focal then also looked at Dynaudio 242GT 6.5"..big difference..

Focal were very cold and no depth to them..

don't know what lower models are like. But goto northfield moorooka, they'll give you best answer as to what you would need.

new headunit and never get sony car audio. they are the worst

I replaced the stock speakers from our i30 with Focal Splits, keeping the stock head unit, and the difference was HUGE

let me rephrase, in a Holden Commodore (and most other holden models with the blaupunkt OEM systems) that is the way to go. I got my berlina on stock splits sounding as good as the hertz system in my old car by only swapping the HU, and obviously tuning accordingly.

True, just depends on the quality of the stock stuff, but generally, the stock stuff in most cars is crap.

for that price i would recommend hertz. that what my bro got. while i have dynaudio in my car :)

I did 6x9's and 6" splits in the hirux a few months ago, factory headunit
it goes alright now, stock headunit is under powered for the speakers so i can have it at 100% volume and the speakers cop it fine

it could do with a new headunit but it's 10x better than it used to be

i used the jaycar range of kevlar speakers, 80wrms~

neighbour just swapeed a 10k system for a ride-on mower

I would go to Northfield and see what they have to say.. Make that Northfield Moorooka.

Another recommendation for Focal splits. Have the v2 poly slim splits in my car sound awesome.

I have focals, but keep in mind Focal is an expensive brand.

Its a LOT different to anything sony make/sell.

Focal utopia be is all I'd own from focal.. They are sweet speakers.. The show car at Northfield should b there with them in it.. Ford gt or something

Yeh focals are great but you are not going to get some with that budget.. plus if you buy decent speakers u wanna buy decent amp. was going to get focals but they dont fit in the subaru doors that great they why i had to go for dynaudio with audison amps

Thanks for all the suggestions, a chat with Northfield sounds like the way to go before I go buying anything.

lol Damo.

Focal kick the s*** out of most mid -> high range speakers / amps.