ICE Upgrade - Splitting the budget

[seat_rich]

Hi peeps!

Although I haven't actually got an Ibiza yet, I've always been one for forward planning and I'm looking to upgrade the standard ICE kit once I've got it.

At the minute I've got two plans:

Plan 1:

• Head unit (DAB, iPod connection & MP3 CD)
• Front components (6.5")
• Rear co-axials (6.5")

Plan 2:

• Head unit (DAB, iPod connection & MP3 CD)
• Front components (6.5")
• Rear co-axials (6.5")
• Subwoofer (and amp if necessary), but I'm loathe to lose any boot space

As I've never touched on car audio before, my question is how to split the budget out by component? I want a nice well balanced system, so I don't want to spend more than I need to on speakers, leaving me less to spend on a decent head unit.

For reference, my budget is probably going to be around the £600 mark, so how do I best split this down into the separate parts?

I'm not really down to selecting the actual components as yet, I'm really just looking for someone to say "with that budget, I'd set aside £250 for the HU, £150 for the fronts, £100 for the rears..." etc.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Reposted this in the right section now (ICE etc.), so if a mod fancies deleting this, I'd be most appreciative!

 

[R1ch85]

Probably best off leaving the topic here, the ICE section isn't that well read in comparison

£600 should get you some decent kit. Firstly, I wouldn't bother with rear speakers at all. They drag the sound stage back.. have you ever gone to a gig and stood with you back to the stage?

I'd probably spend up to...

£150 on a head unit.
£150 on a 4 channel amp. Front channels for front speakers, bridge the rears for a sub
£150 on a set of components for the front
£75 on a sub

That would leave £75 for wiring, sound deadening, and building a sub box.

I appreciate that you don't want to lose boot space, but you could always have a shallow sub. Or do a fibreglass build in you spare wheel well and have a false floor. If you have a 3dr Ibiza, you could fit an 8" free air sub in the space where the standard rear speakers go. One on each side should give some decent bass. Loads of options

 

[seat_rich]

Probably best off leaving the topic here, the ICE section isn't that well read in comparison

£600 should get you some decent kit. Firstly, I wouldn't bother with rear speakers at all. They drag the sound stage back.. have you ever gone to a gig and stood with you back to the stage?

I'd probably spend up to...

£150 on a head unit.
£150 on a 4 channel amp. Front channels for front speakers, bridge the rears for a sub
£150 on a set of components for the front
£75 on a sub

That would leave £75 for wiring, sound deadening, and building a sub box.

I appreciate that you don't want to lose boot space, but you could always have a shallow sub. Or do a fibreglass build in you spare wheel well and have a false floor. If you have a 3dr Ibiza, you could fit an 8" free air sub in the space where the standard rear speakers go. One on each side should give some decent bass. Loads of options

Lol, I got a response in the ICE thread first!

Maybe worth merging the topics wherever a mod feels appropriate....?

Are you suggesting I don't have ANY rears, or just to run the rears directly from the output of the HU just for fill and using the amp to power the fronts and subs?

I'd like to leave a little bit of the budget free to get someone to do the install for me if possible, especially if I'm going to have to fit stand-offs to get deeper speakers to fit in the door cards.

 

[R1ch85]

Lol, I got a response in the ICE thread first!

Maybe worth merging the topics wherever a mod feels appropriate....?

Are you suggesting I don't have ANY rears, or just to run the rears directly from the output of the HU just for fill and using the amp to power the fronts and subs?

I'd like to leave a little bit of the budget free to get someone to do the install for me if possible, especially if I'm going to have to fit stand-offs to get deeper speakers to fit in the door cards.

Well I don't run any rears myself, but if you'd still like them for rear fill then you'd probably be best of using the standard speakers off the headunit. That way you can spend the rear speaker budget on a better set of fronts or sound deadening or whatever.

It's not overly difficult to fit speakers yourself, more time consuming than anything. An ICE shop will charge a fortune to do an install. I went to my local one to get my A-pillars trimmed. No builds or anything, just trimming and they wanted £50 so I bodged it myself. Looks ok, but I'll have another go one day

 

[MattBennett]

Razzle, take a look at my install thread, I had done pretty much every thing you asked for

Sub £120 from america about £50 tops to make the box
Component speakers were £50 a pair for front and back
Amp was £100 ebay job
£50 for wiring screws ect
I havent sound deadned but want to I think you could easily spend £200 on this

Im not to far away from you in Woodhall Spa just near Coninsgby so if you wanted to take a look listen some time you will be more than welcome, can also help out when and if I can if you like!

 

[seat_rich]

Razzle, take a look at my install thread, I had done pretty much every thing you asked for

Sub £120 from america about £50 tops to make the box
Component speakers were £50 a pair for front and back
Amp was £100 ebay job
£50 for wiring screws ect
I havent sound deadned but want to I think you could easily spend £200 on this

Im not to far away from you in Woodhall Spa just near Coninsgby so if you wanted to take a look listen some time you will be more than welcome, can also help out when and if I can if you like!

Yeah, I saw your install thread, but in all honesty I'm not confident enough to attempt that kind of work myself!

Haven't actually got the car yet, but when I do I might pester you with some questions!

 

[MattBennett]

Mate, its not that difficult honestly! Just need to take your time.

 

[seat_rich]

Mate, its not that difficult honestly! Just need to take your time.

Hmmmm, you're starting to persuade me....

As I said though, first job is to get the car! Then I can start to price things up.

I suppose I can do it in stages to give me the confidence, maybe start with the front components?

 

[MattBennett]

Good place to start I would say, door cards are easy to get off, i would sound deaden the door inside and out, Seat seem not to have bothered sound deadening the car. I would go for the component speakers that I used again, their ease of installation and the sound that the make would sway me that way again!

 

[cupraajy]

having to upgrade my front speakers due to one of the being cracked.......anyone got any recomendation for speakers?? i take it ill have to fabricate a mount for them? or can i just buy one of the fitting kits for the mk4 ibiza u see for sale on car audio sites?

Cheers