First off, I'm married with a baby on the
way. Now that we have established the fact
that I don't have any money, here's my
question.
Has anyone out there tried the cheap
Mosfet(sp?) amps from Wal-mart? I just want
to upgrade my stock system so it doesn't
sound quite as crappy. The amps are only
about $40. I might splurge and replace the
front stock speakeres with some Pioneer
6815's also, but that's about it. I'm
trying to keep this under $150. Like I said,
I just want to upgrade the stock system a
little. Help!

 

Trapper,

First of all, congratulations on your baby!! No kids here but the 100-dollar-bills tree does not grow in my back yard either. My very personal opinion is stay away from cheap electronics, period. Granted I don't have the top of the line Rockford Fosgate or MTX but by saving for a full year I was able to come up with a decent sound system for my truck, see signature. If I were you, I'd put those 150 bucks in a savings account and put 20 here and there and before you know it you'll have enough for something better than a Wal-Mart sounds system. Hope this helps.

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2000 Silver XLT 4.6 Extended Cab

Stuff I Got:
- ARE Z-series color matched cap (for my Rotties...)
- Flowmaster 40 series with Edelbrock oval tips
- Airaid intake system
- 500 watt sound system (Sony CD player, Lanzar EQ, Profile amps, Polk speakers, Kenwood subwoofer)
- carbon-look emblems
- dropped 3/5
- clear corner lenses
- color matched Street Scene mirrors
- Superchip

Stuff To Get:
- 20s with low profile rubber
- SVT bumber cover
- Cervini's hood
- supercharger (twin screw type)

 

I'm with Alf on this one. It's better to do it right the first time than to do it over. You get what you pay for usually. Save a little here and there and you will be able to set up a decent sound system in no time. Also check the different threads for good sites to look at or even on ebay.

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97 F-150XL 4.2V6, 5 spd, 2wdlb, Kenwood cd, MTX 4ch amp, MTX 12"sub, MTX components in doors

Future 16x8 Daytona wheels, 265/75 tires, rhinoliner, perf stuff

 

Listen to the guys. I've tried the cheapo no-name walmart amp route before and good grief they suck. Wait a month or two and get a little better stuff. I'm on a budget too but with a little looking you can build up a decent system.
Try Ebay for some inexpensive stuff.
Pyramid 4ch amp, 600 watts about U$90.
Pair of Blaupunkt component speakers for the front for U$ 100.
Pair of blaupunkt coax speakers for the back U$60.
Blaupunkt is not very popular so you get a decent sound without paying for a fancy name. I got a BP am/fm/cass headunit with CD changer for U$185 on ebay. Other good bargains can be kenwood, pioneer etc.
Add U$25 for wires, plugs and fuses and have fun installing it. Buy one item at a time to spread out the cost.

Fritz

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2000 F150 XLT 4x2 ExtCab Styleside 4.6l Auto in Island Blue.
Dark Graphite interior, White face gages, Superchip, K&N air filter,
Airbox Mod, Front window tint, PowerAid, Flowmaster 50 SUV,
LeBra soft tonneau, LineX Bedliner, Ford Bugshield, B-Quiet Sound Shield,
2 in lowering shackles, Hellwig Swaybar, Monroe Reflex Shocks,
100w Head and Fog lights, Clifford Alarm, Blaupunkt CD, Pyramid Amp,
JBL comp speakers, Punch subwoofers, Escort 8500 Radar Detector,
ECM Jammer Pod, some nice floormats and lots of payments.

 

Like the others, I think you are better off building a system with name brand stuff. You can go in stages and notice improvements each time. Shopping around and waiting for bargains, you can get a nice sounding system w/sub for $700 - $800. If you skip the sub and go with a 2 channel amp, you could do it for $500 or so.

Here is how I would do it on a budget:

1) Component front speakers, bottom of the line from a name brand, 5.25 to 6.25" rounds with adaptors. Around $100 -$150. Your stock HU will struggle to power them, but they will still sound better than stock. Leave the back speakers alone - not worth $100 upgrading in a budget system.

2) Upgraded head unit. Lots of options available in the $200 - $300 range. More power than your stocker. If you plan on adding a sub and amp later, it may be worth spending a few extra $ for something with a non-fading pre-amp out.

3) Amplifier - plan on spending $200+ if you want a 4 channel to power a sub (2 channels bridged) and the front components. Don't bother amping the rear speakers. You can spend $100 if you just want to power the fronts with a 2 channel. The cables and wiring for the amp will be another $50 - $100.

4) Subwoofer, $50 - $150 for the sub and $50 for the box and wiring, even if you build the box yourself.

have fun!


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1999 XLT S/C, 4.2 V-6, auto, 3.55 rear, dark torreador red/harvest gold, Ford bed liner

Clarion ARX8570z Head Unit, Sony 10 disc CD, Infinity 610cs components & JBL GTO7520 speakers; USAcousitcs 4065 amp and Polk 8" subwoofer

Edelbrock IAS, Energy Suspension anti-sway bar bushings, Steeda Rear Anti-sway bar, 2" rear drop.

Superchip, Airaid FIPK, Flex-a-Lite Black Magic electric fan