Recommended systems - components for Car Stereo

with a 2 seat sports car, that is a convertible, you need to give up on quality and go for quantity if you want to hear it with the wind noise. You need spl's to enjoy music with a top down. Dynaudio speakers and McIntosh amps are available, but won't sound any better than Alpine or top of the line Sony.

I would suggest looking for an MTX Thunderforms sub to fit in your trunk, if they make one for your B'mer. JL Audio makes the same type enclosure for about 3 times the cost, but in a convertible the additional speed that you are getting for the price will not be noticed.

I would then get some Alpine digital amps (the 4.150) to drive both your sub and your speakers. For speakers, I would look at the higher end, and power handling Polk, Alpine or Boston Acoustic. JL's are great, but won't handle the volumes you need with wind noise.

For a head unit that you want, I would suggest a high end Sony, Eclipse or Alpine, and I would blow off the disk drive and just make sure it has a good iPod interface. If your iPod is loaded with AppleLossless or Wav files, the DAC in the headunit will sound fine.

Good luck!!

PS - if no trunk subs will work, there are some really cool below the seat sub modules that really work for convertibles.

I've seen Mark Levinson car amps and matching bass drivers on e-bay.
Usually pulled from a written-off/parted out Lexus.

Go here http://www.car-part.com for those levinson toys.

Great information from you all since I am novice at this. I now know where to start. I forget about the wind niose so good catch Macdadtexas. The subs in the Boot (eh I mean Trunk) would just about leave me with enough room for a tooth brush so I will look at the seat sub modules.
Thanks audiogoners
Russell B

Russellb - 90% of the quality of sound you get in a car is the installation, 10% are the products chosen.

You could drop in some new drivers and a head unit for $1,300, and this will be a starting point, but will likely still have huge problems with the sound, and will leave you wanting more.

If you are used to high end home gear, trying to even get acceptable sound in the car (especially a small one with a soft top) is going to be a challenge, and likely cost much more money than anticipated.

Your best bet is to try and find someone with lots of experience making cars sound good. Make sure you only believe what you hear IN CARS (not in a soundroom), and also don't believe car audio dealers claims until you hear results, as many that I have run into are snakes.

How the drivers are mounted and damped in the door panels is of extreme importance. If they are mounted to a floppy piece of plastic or vinyl then the sound will be dreadful as would any home speaker. MDF pieces mounted to the door frame, with fiberglass and other absorption in the door panels is a must.

Ideally, you will want to take the drivers out of the doors, and put them in kick panels so they can be more angled towards you.

Anyway, good luck!