car stereo automobile sound system

I gave up on car audio so many years ago. when comparing the top car audio systems of the world and competing with competition cars. Not for spl but for sound quality and installation. I have never heard a car recreate a soundstage of a modest home system(Thiel 2.3’s). After winning a few car stereo competitions in wattage class, and creating a center channel in the air vents and door panels and dynamat throughout. The are a lot of musical sound systems and even a few headunits containing dsp creating a center channel; The older units by pioneer and Rockford fosgate. The jl audio in large sealed enclosures are great for subs. Speakers by ADS and MB Quart and Boston Acoustic Pro series are very musical and accurate. Amps from Alpine Pro Series for the front section and a RF punch series or phoenix gold amp for the subs. If you put a lot of wattage to the car make sure you use a large capacitor from the engine. If you don’t get a head unit with dsp. Another very musical head unit is an older nakamichi cd player.

Enjoy
dave

I recommend using a separate DAC. I have a SONY CD changer with digital output. The DAC is a Theta Pro Basic IIIA preceeded by 10 jitter filters. Speakers are Dynaudio which are tri-amped.

I tried for many years to approach the sound achievable in the best of home audio.I could get a few key metrics,high volume,dynamics,low frequency.
However image palpability,dimensionality,that reach out and hold it quality eludes.
Closest I could get was Dynaudio mid/tweeter combo in fabricated kick panels with no center channel.Just straight stereo no DSP tricks and you had to lean in to the middle for best focus.The interior glass boundaries always color the sonics far too much.
Even 5.1 sounds artificial...so much processing in close quarters just shy of natural.In the end you'll settle for dynamics,low end,and volume...but motor started going down the highway it's all downhill.

Holly cow, I hope I am not around you guys when you are "listening" to the nuances of audiophile equipment while driving! There is a time to listen and that is not while driving, therefore no need or possibility of having audiophile quality system in a car.
Of course you might be using the car system as a portable "boom box" to disturb fellow picnickers!
If you must drive while listening to an audiophile system, install a driver simulator in your listening room.
Salut, Bob P.

I'll Second Key_metric's point of view, and add my own.

Head unit: Eclipse or Macintosh

Amps: Precision Power (PPI), make sure you get the good ones, not the lower line (I can't remember how they are distinguished, except by the specs).

Speakers: MB Quart. No question. Go top of the line and go for the competition crossovers and with proper installation, nothing (IMHO) can touch them.

Subs: JL Audio.

Head units to avoid like the plague: Sony, including the ES line and Alpine, unless you like severe digital glare.

Kenwood, unless you like ridiculously bloated bass and

Pioneer, unless you like having the midrange scooped out of your music.

I realize a lot of this is subjective, but at least it will give you a refence to start with. With these brands, expect to spend in the range of $4-5K including install to get top of the line with excellent sound. Hope that helps.