For the car audio know it alls, any recommendations?

Question

I have a 2000 Jetta GLS 4 dr. I want to get new deck, amp and sub...but I got rid of my old system and just starting new from scratch. In your opinion does it make it better if you were to use, for example, a phoenix gold amp and sub than opposed to a MTX amp but then a phoenix gold sub....in other words, using the same brands together, does this help, or not at all. Just any random facts you may know aboout systems, throw it out there....also what kind of brands are good and maybe not so good....any recommendations appreciated.

Answer 1

look for a deck with 4v preouts and that have atleast 13-18W RMS( usually 50 x 4 W Max)

MTX is a renowned audio brand, and does make a difference since it is usally able to pump out more power than rated.

Alpine HU, MTX amp, w/ kicker or JL subs is a good setup.

Make sure you get an amp w/ atleast 300W RMS for good bass response

Answer 2

no it doesnt matter if you mix brands. just make sure when you wire your speakers up that your amp can achieve the same ohms that the speakers are set to. also my personal favorites are kicker and jl audio. if you want clean but not so powerful bass, go with jl. but if you want glass shattering but not so clean bass, go with kicker. mtx is also a pretty good starter out speaker

Answer 3

I wouldn't put MTX in my car if you paid me.  It's fine to mix and match.  There are tons of great brands out there you can use, none of which are MTX.  lol.  In fact, you'll be better off if you mix and match.  Some companies make great amps, but nothing else.  Some companies make great speakers, but everything else sucks.  Etc.  So don't be afraid to mix and match.  Here's a list for you.  Yes, MTX is on the list.  :(  Not my list.

Head units

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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

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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

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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

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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

Wiring

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Highly Recommended

Audiopipe

Audison Connect

Hooker Audio

Kicker

Knukonceptz

JL Interconnects

Streetwires

Tsunami

Budget - Bang for the buck

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Good

Directed

Phoenix Digital

Scosche

Questionable

American Bass

Audiobahn (RCA cables didn't last long)

MA Audio

Raptor

Avoid

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Batteries

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Highly Recommended

Deka

Interstate

Kinetic

Northstar

Optima

Scosche

Stinger

Tsunami

Budget - Bang for the buck

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Good

Die Hard (sold by Sears)

Duralast

Eagle Picher

Everstart (Maxx battery only)

Exstatic

Questionable

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Avoid

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Alternators

-------------------

Highly Recommended

Excessive Amperage

Ohio Generator

Budget - Bang for the buck

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Good

H/O alternators

Iraggi Alternators

Motor City Reman

Questionable

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Avoid

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Dash Kits/Install Accessories

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Highly Recommended

Metra

Budget - Bang for the buck

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Good

American International

Scosche

Questionable

Scosche (the ones found at Wal-Mart only)

Avoid

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