My nephew has just bought his first car - 1995 Renault Clio and wants
to add a meaty sound system to it. He bought an older car to save £500
for the sound system. He doesn't need a multi-changer but would like a
"flashy" head unit with sub, amp and speakers.

Any sugguestions greatly appreciated!!

PencilHead wrote:

My nephew has just bought his first car - 1995 Renault Clio and wants
to add a meaty sound system to it. He bought an older car to save £500
for the sound system. He doesn't need a multi-changer but would like a
"flashy" head unit with sub, amp and speakers.

Head unit : Sony CDX-F5500 (£105)
CD changer : Sony CDX-656 (£90) or CDX-757 (£150)
Subwoofer : JBL 10" (£30) and enclosure (£40) - Motorworld
Amplifier : Sony XM-4060 (£135)

This comes to £400 with the CDX-656 changer, or £460 with the CDX-757.
The more expensive changer is worth the extra if you can run to it, as
it has better anti-shock memory and can play MP3 discs. Both sound very
good, I can attest to this as I had a CDX-656 in my Fiesta and later my
A3, and I have a CDX-757 in my A4. In fact the only major difference
between the setup in my A4 and what I've recommended above is the head
unit - mine is an MDX-CA580, which is no longer available. (I also have
an MDX-66LP minidisc changer, but MD seems to be more of an enthusiasts'
format these days so I haven't suggested MD.)

Apart from the sub, everything can be obtained at MCS Direct. The
amplifier can operate in 3 or 4 channel mode - I would recommend running
it in 3ch mode to power the front speakers and sub, leave the rears
running off the head unit's own amplifier.

It's also worth spending some money on decent cables. Nothing too
esoteric, but a decent phono cable with gold plated plugs and OFC cable
will give quite an improvement in sound quality over the crappy one that
comes in the box.

There's no point however in going for anything purely on the basis of
how "flashy" it looks. As with home audio, the most important thing is
how good it sounds.

--
Glenn Richards Tel: (01453) 845735
Squirrel Solutions http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/

IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation

Glenn Richards wrote:

PencilHead wrote:

My nephew has just bought his first car - 1995 Renault Clio and
wants to add a meaty sound system to it. He bought an older car to
save £500 for the sound system. He doesn't need a multi-changer but
would like a "flashy" head unit with sub, amp and speakers.

Head unit : Sony CDX-F5500 (£105)
CD changer : Sony CDX-656 (£90) or CDX-757 (£150)
Subwoofer : JBL 10" (£30) and enclosure (£40) - Motorworld
Amplifier : Sony XM-4060 (£135)

This comes to £400 with the CDX-656 changer, or £460 with the
CDX-757. The more expensive changer is worth the extra if you can run
to it, as it has better anti-shock memory and can play MP3 discs.
Both sound very good, I can attest to this as I had a CDX-656 in my
Fiesta and later my A3, and I have a CDX-757 in my A4. In fact the
only major difference between the setup in my A4 and what I've
recommended above is the head unit - mine is an MDX-CA580, which is
no longer available. (I also have an MDX-66LP minidisc changer, but
MD seems to be more of an enthusiasts' format these days so I haven't
suggested MD.)

Apart from the sub, everything can be obtained at MCS Direct. The
amplifier can operate in 3 or 4 channel mode - I would recommend
running it in 3ch mode to power the front speakers and sub, leave the
rears running off the head unit's own amplifier.

It's also worth spending some money on decent cables. Nothing too
esoteric, but a decent phono cable with gold plated plugs and OFC
cable will give quite an improvement in sound quality over the crappy
one that comes in the box.

There's no point however in going for anything purely on the basis of
how "flashy" it looks. As with home audio, the most important thing
is how good it sounds.


Thanks for the advice - very helpful.

Is there any benefit to having dual subs?

PencilHead wrote:
Glenn Richards wrote:

PencilHead wrote:

My nephew has just bought his first car - 1995 Renault Clio and
wants to add a meaty sound system to it. He bought an older car to
save £500 for the sound system. He doesn't need a multi-changer but
would like a "flashy" head unit with sub, amp and speakers.

Head unit : Sony CDX-F5500 (£105)
CD changer : Sony CDX-656 (£90) or CDX-757 (£150)
Subwoofer : JBL 10" (£30) and enclosure (£40) - Motorworld
Amplifier : Sony XM-4060 (£135)

This comes to £400 with the CDX-656 changer, or £460 with the
CDX-757. The more expensive changer is worth the extra if you can run
to it, as it has better anti-shock memory and can play MP3 discs.
Both sound very good, I can attest to this as I had a CDX-656 in my
Fiesta and later my A3, and I have a CDX-757 in my A4. In fact the
only major difference between the setup in my A4 and what I've
recommended above is the head unit - mine is an MDX-CA580, which is
no longer available. (I also have an MDX-66LP minidisc changer, but
MD seems to be more of an enthusiasts' format these days so I haven't
suggested MD.)

Apart from the sub, everything can be obtained at MCS Direct. The
amplifier can operate in 3 or 4 channel mode - I would recommend
running it in 3ch mode to power the front speakers and sub, leave the
rears running off the head unit's own amplifier.

It's also worth spending some money on decent cables. Nothing too
esoteric, but a decent phono cable with gold plated plugs and OFC
cable will give quite an improvement in sound quality over the crappy
one that comes in the box.

There's no point however in going for anything purely on the basis of
how "flashy" it looks. As with home audio, the most important thing
is how good it sounds.


Thanks for the advice - very helpful.

Is there any benefit to having dual subs?

More bass , but unless you are fitting some damn good component speakers in
the front and amping them then a single 10" sub will be more than powerful
enough to provide all the bass you will need.
--
Alex

YZF 600

"I laugh in the face of danger"

"Then I hide until it goes away"

www.upce.org.uk
www.drzoidberg.co.uk

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

PencilHead wrote:
Glenn Richards wrote:

PencilHead wrote:

My nephew has just bought his first car - 1995 Renault Clio and
wants to add a meaty sound system to it. He bought an older car to
save #500 for the sound system. He doesn't need a multi-changer
but would like a "flashy" head unit with sub, amp and speakers.

Head unit : Sony CDX-F5500 (#105)
CD changer : Sony CDX-656 (#90) or CDX-757 (#150)
Subwoofer : JBL 10" (#30) and enclosure (#40) - Motorworld
Amplifier : Sony XM-4060 (#135)

This comes to #400 with the CDX-656 changer, or #460 with the
CDX-757. The more expensive changer is worth the extra if you can
run to it, as it has better anti-shock memory and can play MP3
discs. Both sound very good, I can attest to this as I had a
CDX-656 in my Fiesta and later my A3, and I have a CDX-757 in my
A4. In fact the only major difference between the setup in my A4
and what I've recommended above is the head unit - mine is an
MDX-CA580, which is no longer available. (I also have an MDX-66LP
minidisc changer, but MD seems to be more of an enthusiasts'
format these days so I haven't suggested MD.)

Apart from the sub, everything can be obtained at MCS Direct. The
amplifier can operate in 3 or 4 channel mode - I would recommend
running it in 3ch mode to power the front speakers and sub, leave
the rears running off the head unit's own amplifier.

It's also worth spending some money on decent cables. Nothing too
esoteric, but a decent phono cable with gold plated plugs and OFC
cable will give quite an improvement in sound quality over the
crappy one that comes in the box.

There's no point however in going for anything purely on the basis
of how "flashy" it looks. As with home audio, the most important
thing is how good it sounds.


Thanks for the advice - very helpful.

Is there any benefit to having dual subs?

More bass , but unless you are fitting some damn good component
speakers in the front and amping them then a single 10" sub will be
more than powerful enough to provide all the bass you will need.



Makes sense!

My nephew is intent on more bang and glitter then a good sound system -
I now turn my back and let him get on with it.

Just a thought, if he points the subs backwards and cranks up the
volume, will the car move faster on impluse power?

PencilHead wrote:
Dr Zoidberg wrote:

PencilHead wrote:
Glenn Richards wrote:

PencilHead wrote:

My nephew has just bought his first car - 1995 Renault Clio and
wants to add a meaty sound system to it. He bought an older car to
save #500 for the sound system. He doesn't need a multi-changer
but would like a "flashy" head unit with sub, amp and speakers.

Head unit : Sony CDX-F5500 (#105)
CD changer : Sony CDX-656 (#90) or CDX-757 (#150)
Subwoofer : JBL 10" (#30) and enclosure (#40) - Motorworld
Amplifier : Sony XM-4060 (#135)

This comes to #400 with the CDX-656 changer, or #460 with the
CDX-757. The more expensive changer is worth the extra if you can
run to it, as it has better anti-shock memory and can play MP3
discs. Both sound very good, I can attest to this as I had a
CDX-656 in my Fiesta and later my A3, and I have a CDX-757 in my
A4. In fact the only major difference between the setup in my A4
and what I've recommended above is the head unit - mine is an
MDX-CA580, which is no longer available. (I also have an MDX-66LP
minidisc changer, but MD seems to be more of an enthusiasts'
format these days so I haven't suggested MD.)

Apart from the sub, everything can be obtained at MCS Direct. The
amplifier can operate in 3 or 4 channel mode - I would recommend
running it in 3ch mode to power the front speakers and sub, leave
the rears running off the head unit's own amplifier.

It's also worth spending some money on decent cables. Nothing too
esoteric, but a decent phono cable with gold plated plugs and OFC
cable will give quite an improvement in sound quality over the
crappy one that comes in the box.

There's no point however in going for anything purely on the basis
of how "flashy" it looks. As with home audio, the most important
thing is how good it sounds.


Thanks for the advice - very helpful.

Is there any benefit to having dual subs?

More bass , but unless you are fitting some damn good component
speakers in the front and amping them then a single 10" sub will be
more than powerful enough to provide all the bass you will need.



Makes sense!

My nephew is intent on more bang and glitter then a good sound system
- I now turn my back and let him get on with it.

Indeed.
I have a pair of good quality kenwood components fed by a reasonably high
end Sony HU in the front and a 10" JBL sub in the rear powered by a Kenwood
amp and it does me very nicely. A clear sound with meaty bass that stops
just short of ear splitting volumes. IMO for personal use while driving you
don't need much more than that unless you want to show off while parked up

Just a thought, if he points the subs backwards and cranks up the
volume, will the car move faster on impluse power?

Yes , but only while the speaker cone is moving in the right direction.
Once it starts to head back the car will slow down again.
Get big enough speakers and you'll effectively wobble back and forth :0)
--
Alex

YZF 600

"I laugh in the face of danger"

"Then I hide until it goes away"

www.upce.org.uk
www.drzoidberg.co.uk

PencilHead wrote:

Is there any benefit to having dual subs?

99% of the time no. I have two subs in the A4, but only because the 8"
one is factory fitted in the parcel shelf. The 10" JBL does most of the
work.

One thing I forgot to mention - the A4's factory fit speakers are
actually very good, so I haven't bothered changing them. The speakers in
my Fiesta (M-reg, MkIII) were appalling, so I replaced them with Sony
custom-fit units, coaxial rears and component fronts, with tweeters
flushed into the top of the dashboard. Whether or not you need to do
this will depend on how good the factory fit speakers are.

Most cars now have fairly decent speakers fitted, but M-reg your mileage
may vary. My Fiesta's were appalling, my friend's Astra had fairly
decent speakers and sounded good when the head unit was replaced. Best
bet is to try it. If it sounds bad even after replacing the head unit,
upgrade the speakers.

--
Glenn Richards Tel: (01453) 845735
Squirrel Solutions http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/

IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation