Can you build a decent sound system for a 1990 coupe for $500-$600?

[PBnf]

This has probably been rehashed a thousand times, but it'll be new to me, so please bear with me. I have the above car. It has the Delco/Bose Gold system in it. The head unit won't play CD's any more, and only one speaker works. Obviously I need to do something. I'd like to replace the whole thing as opposed to fixing it, but my funds are somewhat limited. I've look at Crutchfield and Cardomain for systems, but not being totally immersed in audio technology, it only confuses me more. I don't know what an amp would do to help me. I don't know if a sub is better than rear speakers or not. I wouldn't know where to place amps or subs if I got them, and lastly living in NW Arkansas there is only Best Buy and Circuit City. What should I do if I only have $500 to $600 to spend? Thanks to anyone who can help Paul

[Shawn_65]

I'm pretty new to the Vette world, but I too have a '90 coupe. It used to have the bad bose system with the tape deck. heres what I did:

Went to best buy and bought:

1x Dual 220 Watt system. 3 knobs flip screen. not mp3 compatible=$150.00 (it saved me $100.00+)
2x Alpine 6 1/2 inch. speakers for the back.(not 6x9, wont fit well)
2x Dual 4 inch in the front I believe.

Bought the alpines without the box for a discount at $70.00 i think. duals were like $40.00. and the system itself was 150.00 about.
so thats $260.00. It cost me $100.00 even to install once they figured out how to take the panel off they cut a black peice in the back so my particular system didn't stick out. Make sure they do the speakers to so they can rewire the car. Then they added a 3 cd case holder on the bottom to fill that giant bose space. The flip screen has about 1 millimeter of clearance when out and in park. Just barely made it, but i couldn't be happier with my system. It has all the bass I need and I didn't need an amp/sub. The flip screen LCD display makes it look high-tech and the red lighting meshes well with the A/C orange and other interior lights.

Because I lived quite a ways from Lombards Auto Center in San Luis Obispo, I couldn't get this done very quickly. This is why I believe they gave me a little discount. but still, this setup is way under $600 and The sound is awsome. First thing my friends said was: "wow that sounds really nice!". They all said that when I showed the 5 friends individually. However, i couldn't get the Dual system to raise the antenna. Seemed to recieve radio stations perfectly without it up and I never really liked the look of the antenna. I just got it done this morning and I have gotten so many compliments! I couldn't be happier. Good luck with that bose system, I wish I knew how to get pics on here sry.

I'm not an expert, but thats my opinnion.

[PBnf]

Thanks Shawn:
That really sounds like a good system for the money. I especially like the way you integrated the head unit into the dash. That's one of my concerns as is matching the color of the lighting on all the other instruments. I'm going to print your responce out and go check price, availability and installation costs this Saturday. Once again, thanks a lot.

Paul

[Shawn_65]

Awsome, keep me posted