What is your favorite car stereo system and where would you go to get it?

If most of your music is coming off MP3s or streaming from some websites on your phone, than all you need for a head unit is something with front/rear/sub outputs in at least the 4v range. The D/A converter on your phone is going to do most of the heavy lifting.

Spend your money on quality amplification and speakers. You won't find the really good shite at Best Buy. You can look and listen at local audio specialty shops, but if you find something in one of them you really like, just take note of the brand and model number and you should be able to find it for no more than half list price online.

Unless you're capable of doing your own installs, budget for that too. Don't skimp on the incidentals. Make sure stuff has the correct circuit protection and use quality hardware, which again you can find much cheaper online than in a store. But on the other hand, if you're not good at working on your own stuff, it doesn't hurt to throw some business at a trusted local shop for some installation hardware. In those cases, you'll usually get decent customer service and knowledgeable answers to your questions in return.

Don't let someone at a shop talk you into speakers that don't fit the kind of music you listen to. I find that goes mostly for subs. Trust your own ears for what sounds good to you. For example, if you listen to a wide range of musical styles, don't get subs that are only good for rap thump and have no subtlety to them.

$1500 will get you decent sound, but something really stunning will cost double that, just to start. But at the same time, if you spend money on really good equipment, it will last a long time if you take care of it. I've been building my own systems since the mid-80s, and have been surprised to find that some things, like really good amps, are really no better now than they were 25 years or more ago. In many cases, they actually used better internals in them back then than they do now. All you have to do is look at the prices for some of the quality amps from back then on places like eBay to see how in demand it still is.

I find that the gear I replace much more often than anything else are door and rear deck speakers, whether separates or not. Good head units, subs, and amps last a really long time and are a worthwhile investment that will transfer to many different platforms or vehicles. Hell, the head unit I have now is in it's fourth car and the subs are in their 6th. But the head unit has been nothing more than a slave to an iPod or my phone for quite a while, and I wouldn't spend near the money on one today that I did on the one I have now. Like I said, all I really need is front/rear/sub outputs at a decent voltage to push the amp and bluetooth or a 3.5 mm input. I can't remember the last time I actually listened to an actual CD. My subs were quality pieces when new. I'd be stone deaf by now if I consistently put enough power to them to actually hurt them. And anyway, they're there for a good, full range sound, not some bump contest in a high school parking lot.

For a basic setup, I always suggest Infinity Kappa stuff. Good quality and won't break the bank. I have a Pioneer touchscreen radio that I like. For amps, all kinds are good and some are excellent. I guess I'd suggest Rockford amps for that because they are cheap and work well. You will be under budget with all of that installed. Another thing that youve got to watch for is if the speakers will fit depth wise. Buy from sonic electronix. Get the shop to set it up to the music you listen to most.

I've got a solid system, but have about $1k worth of highs, $700 worth of amps, and a $45 6.5" sub in a custom console box that I made (sounds pretty damn good IMHO). I completely rewired my whole truck also. Did it all myself over three days because I had to do A LOT of custom fitment for stuff