GolfGTIforum.co.uk

General => Car audio => Topic started by: Dec on 21 October 2007, 12:17

Title: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 21 October 2007, 12:17
http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/

They seem cheaper than anywhere else but have never herd of them before.

Just wana know if theyre good and reliable?

Cheers
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk
Post by: Heyho on 21 October 2007, 20:17
I've not used them personally, but have heard via other ice forums that they do not come recommended, and are usually known for pedaling in-phase tat.

What is it you're after?  Is www.caraudiodirect.co.uk that much more expensive?  Their customer service is well rated.
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk
Post by: Dec on 21 October 2007, 20:26
Im just after some cheap 6x9s to tide me over and a CD Head unit really (preferably one i can plug my mp3 into) :)

Hadnt herd of that site and they arent much more expensive on most things :) Cheers

Im willing to pay more for good customer service and such :)

Currently looking at this head unit - http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/sony-cdxgt212-p-5495.html

and these 6x9s - http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/kenwood-kfc6960ie-p-4805.html

Already have a sony xplod w/ amp
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk
Post by: vr4000d on 22 October 2007, 10:01
i have heard of a lot of people being scammed by caraudiocentre advertising low prices on good kit then calling you back to say out of stock and they will do you something with a lto more power for the same price (inphase) usually.

caraudiodirect have excellent service and i have never had a problem with them :D
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk
Post by: Dec on 22 October 2007, 10:03
Cheers for the heads up :smiley:

Planning on getting speakers and head unit from there now.

Are the cheaper Kenwood speakers/head units any good
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk
Post by: vr4000d on 22 October 2007, 15:54
there not bad :) what sort of budget have you got?
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk
Post by: Dec on 22 October 2007, 18:02
Not sure really. Was thinking about £70 for a head unit and was looking at about £70 for some 6x9s and 6.5" to put in the front
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Len on 22 October 2007, 20:30
kenwood's are fine.
But maybe stick to all Sony gear?
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 22 October 2007, 20:32
Yea did think of that but couldnt find anywhere else that do audio stuff :embarassed: and Car Audio Direct dont have any sony speakers :sad:

Can anyone point me in the right direction at all?  :smiley:
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Len on 22 October 2007, 20:40
Bass Junkies
Oh there are loads! Just Google Car Audio!
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 22 October 2007, 20:41
lol thats how i got to caraudiocenter so not sure to trust google :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: ...joe on 22 October 2007, 20:44
caraudiodirect are pretty good, but saying that i'm sure i bought my headunit from car audio centre! they advertised the one i wanted but in a different colour so i called them up to ask about it, they said "how much have we advertised it for?" so i told them and they let me pay then and there?! i probably should've tried to blag it but seemed ok to me, they gave me free delivery as well as i'd bought from them before!
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: vr4000d on 22 October 2007, 20:46
for budget kit jbl takes some beating but if looking on caraudiodirect then look at there spl dynamics range of speakers ;) very good speakers at silly low prices  :smiley:

and i have recently been playing with the vibe swat HU and must say for £70 you get good features and it works well.
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Heyho on 22 October 2007, 20:53
It's well worth researching the good budget brands such as JBL and SPL dynamics as already mentioned.  Often the brands you may never have heard of are better value than those you have.

I know that Sony used to have a reputation for making very high quality headunits, but much of their current stuff is just "bling".

Do you want component fronts or co-ax speakers for the front?
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 22 October 2007, 20:55
Not sure what i want up front tbh ive just been reading some MK2 audio threads and it seems its 13cm front speakers i want not the 6.5" :embarassed:

I dont really know the difference between component or co-ax either.

 :embarassed: :embarassed:

Cheers
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: vr4000d on 22 October 2007, 23:27
components have a seperate tweeter crossover and mid where the coax is all in one so the tweeter will be in the middle of the mid.

if your not bothered about amping them then coax`s will be fine and you will get a bit more for your money but if you intend to amp then i would get components
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: dannythomas752 on 23 October 2007, 08:19
I ordered a head unit from car audio centre and everything was fine, for the same kenwood head unit that you can plug your ipod directly into and control from you head unit would have cost me 150 in halfrauds only cost me 95 quid from them and was next day delivery straight to my door :grin:
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 23 October 2007, 08:29
components have a seperate tweeter crossover and mid where the coax is all in one so the tweeter will be in the middle of the mid.

if your not bothered about amping them then coax`s will be fine and you will get a bit more for your money but if you intend to amp then i would get components

i wont be amping them just yet so should i go with components so i can upgrade in the near future or should i get coax's and upgrade the lot to better stuff and get an amp at the same time?
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 23 October 2007, 12:04
My mate just pointed some of these speakers out on ebay for about £40. Anyone know if they anygood? Seem too cheap and never herd of the make.

http://www.theloudest.co.uk/?sectionid=2&page=view_product&product_id=81

Cheers
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Len on 23 October 2007, 12:55
Not heard of them but quoting such a difference between RMS and Peak wattage is NOT a good sign.
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Heyho on 23 October 2007, 18:07
My mate just pointed some of these speakers out on ebay for about £40. Anyone know if they anygood? Seem too cheap and never herd of the make.

http://www.theloudest.co.uk/?sectionid=2&page=view_product&product_id=81

Cheers

Wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.  That particular company is well known for quoting high RRPs on their site, then knocking them out at a bargain price on ebay.

If you intend to get an amp in the future, get some comps now - no point having to buy twice.  Components will run ok from a headunit, but will really come alive from an amp.

Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 23 October 2007, 18:17
ahh right thanks for the heads up.

Well i was talking to my mate today and hes given me a set of JVC 6x9s he had laying around to get me started. So now ive got these (theyre okish, linked them to my home stereo to try them) im planning on getting an amp and headunit.

Im proberly going to get this sony head unit based on what LensBlue said about sticking to all song stuff. Sounds sensible enough to me.

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/sony-cdxgt212-p-5495.html

not sure about an amp yet so im just going to look around and see what i can find :)
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: vr4000d on 23 October 2007, 20:10
theloudest.com is absolute rubbish you can spend your money far better.

if you think oyumight amp in the future then get components as it gives you more flexibilty with your system design.

as for HU i would still avoid sony they were once a good brand but they dont really do much now.

look at things like the fli or fusion HU`s for budget kt they are surprisingly good for the money :)

and you dont need to stick to a brand there is no 1 manufacturer that does good everything;)
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Heyho on 23 October 2007, 20:35
If you're prepared to stretch a little more, there is an alpine in the CAD special offer section:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-cde9871r-p-5638.html

I know it's another £30 on top of the Sony, but it's likely to be a much better unit.  Lots of features too.
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 23 October 2007, 20:42
Awesome cheers mate ill just wait and get it once ive saved up abit proberly in 2-3 weeks (my insurance is going to be £2200 which is more than i anticipaited :sad:)
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: vr4000d on 23 October 2007, 20:43
how much :laugh:

yep the alpine would run rings round the sony unit :D
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 23 October 2007, 20:45
yea 17 sucks :angry: complete mug off. I rang up Quinn Direct earlier and got a quote for £1212.27 with a provisional but the guy said id have to pay the difference between a provisional quote and full license quote and thats an extra £1000 :sad:
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 23 October 2007, 20:54
Ok its more like £1345.17 more :angry: and its only a 1.6 driver lol

Top is provisional, bottom is full uk manual

(http://www.tunergolf.co.uk/pics/grr.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: vr4000d on 23 October 2007, 20:56
ouch thats a lot of money.

Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 23 October 2007, 20:59
yup thats why i proberly seem like a cheapo going for budget audio and not getting a gti lol
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Heyho on 23 October 2007, 21:13
Blimey, that's alot of money!  You probably don't want to know what I pay to insure my 1.8 8v GTi, but I'm going to tell you anyway. 

£130 :grin:

One advantage of being older!

Don't despair - build your system 1 piece at a time.  A headunit is a good start - at least you'll have some sounds.  Upgrade as you go.
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 23 October 2007, 21:20
 :sad: thats lower than my mum on her Seat Ibiza with max no claims :tongue:

and cheers :smiley: Ill buy a head unit to get me going... not sure cd's are backwards compatible with tape players :wink:
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 19 November 2007, 20:45
Sorry to bring back this old thread but has anyone used http://caraudiosecurity.com/ they seem pretty cheap and look ok to me :undecided:
 
cheers
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: gribsymk3 on 28 November 2007, 00:13
car audio security are quite good and try confused.com for your insurance, i had a 16 driver when i was 18 and it was £1050 through confused.
Title: Re: Anyone used www.caraudiocentre.co.uk and Budget Speakers/HU
Post by: Dec on 28 November 2007, 07:13
car audio security are quite good and try confused.com for your insurance, i had a 16 driver when i was 18 and it was £1050 through confused.

nah confused.com is quite expensive for me :sad: in another thread someone suggested LV and they came out cheap..er still £2100ish but that was fully comp at least!