Help me please, dash kit suggestions

[Renesis07]

I've been reading up quite a bit on here, as well on other sites. The amount of information is a little overwhelming, mixed, and a lot of threads are simply out dated.

One thing I've read are these screens for the HVAC controls crapping out over time. I'm guess I'd like some updated feedback from guys using these kits so I can be sure I'm making a good decision.

My car is a base 2012 GT, no sync, just base 4 speaker stereo. In my last car (2006 w/ Base 4 spkr stereo) I upgraded the headunit and front 2 speakers, and added a sub/amp and really liked the way it sounded. For a minimalist stereo, it packed a nice punch while providing great clarity, lightyears away from the Shaker 500 (IMO)

So now I'm definitely missing my old sound quality, and want it back rather quickly. Here's my two options I'm considering.

1) Keep OEM headunit, upgrade 4 speakers, possibly amplify them, and install my sub/amp with a LOC

2) Buy one of the below kits, install my kenwood double din, upgrade speakers, install sub/amp.

Through research, these are the two kits I came across that people are using:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MUSTANG-SIN...012|Model:Mustang&hash=item4612b4832b&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scosche-FD1...012|Model:Mustang&hash=item5af882560a&vxp=mtr

I'm an audio person, however I'm not looking to go all out with my stereo. I do cruise a lot and use my stang' for roadtrips and vacations, so having a nice stereo is a must. I'm not looking to spend more than the two above kits, which is why I'm checking to see how they hold up. IN all honesty, I'd prefer to pay less. However by the time I spend the coin on a decent Line Out converter and amps to use with the OEM headunit, I feel I can just get one of these kits and use my Kenwood and get the sound I want.

Any opinions are welcome, thanks for the help in advance.

 

[Wicked GT]

depending on how you want to run your system you might not need an LOC. I ran my amps directly off the speaker outputs behind the stereo. This maintains L/R & fade/balance as well as saves you $100+. most amps today will have "line-in" wiring which is what you would connect too. I did a budget build on mine but I have the Shaker 500 so you would only be able to use some of the info in my thread.

 

[Renesis07]

depending on how you want to run your system you might not need an LOC. I ran my amps directly off the speaker outputs behind the stereo. This maintains L/R & fade/balance as well as saves you $100+. most amps today will have "line-in" wiring which is what you would connect too. I did a budget build on mine but I have the Shaker 500 so you would only be able to use some of the info in my thread.

Does the base HU have the same outputs as the Shaker 500?

 

[Renesis07]

I've had a ton of luck with Kenwood products over the years, I have yet to be disappointed. These are the speakers I stumbled across, they seem to have awesome reviews and are 3-ways

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KFC6894/Kenwood-KFC-C6894PS.html#overview-tab

I also came across this amp in a thread on this forum while doing research:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500MRPF300/Alpine-MRP-F300.html

I don't remember the model numbers, but I also have a Kenwood amp & sub from my last car I'm going to be bringing over.

With all the above, can I get decent sound quality from the OEM headunit. idk, the more I research the more I lean towards keeping the OEM stuff in tact and avoiding the metra solution. That and my headunit is getting outdated (Kenwood DPX701) and I really don't feel like springing for a new touch screen unit.

EDIT: Jumped on crutchfield again, just looking at photos I'm pretty sure this is my sub & amp:

Amp:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113X5001/Kenwood-Excelon-X500-1.html

Sub:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113XW12/Kenwood-Excelon-KFC-XW12.html

 

[Renesis07]

After further research, it seems that the idea of running 2 amps off the OEM headunit will probably be more trouble than it's worth, and cost about the same as it would to 'do it right'.

I'm leaning towards the Scorche kit at this point, seems to have the least amount of bugs. My current headunit (Kenwood DPX701), while a few years old and not the most visually pleasing, does have the correct number of outputs to make the setup I want work. Probably going to piece together the system over the winter months with hopes of getting it all installed come Spring. The amp I listed above is on sale right now on Crutchfield, and the speakers I listed are on sale on Amazon for like $30 a pair. Any further opinions are welcome, I'll hold off on buying for a couple days just incase someone has something better to suggest. Thanks guys!

 

[irishpwr46]

I would go with the scosche as it is much more aesthetcially pleasing

 

[Renesis07]

I would go with the scosche as it is much more aesthetcially pleasing

Yea, it seems to have less issues too. There was a battery drainage issue initially that supposedly they worked out. The metra kit has issues with the Display cutting out, that's definitely not something I want to deal with.