I was wondering which brands are the best for function/style/durability? Please explain your choice of the best system for the Lancer.

 

I am a big fan of Alpine (you forgot that one). Great quality and a good sound. Steep price but worth it. Really just depends on you. I cant stand the way paper subwoofer cones sound.

 

I have tried all of those brand before, but nothing sounds as good as JL audio speakers with a Rockford Fosgate amp. The JL sub sounds smooth and deep in almost any box. The component sounds great too for its price.

 

you forgot to mension Boston Acoustic and MB Quartz. The have awesome seperates.

 

I'll have to say that overall, if I was to pick only one brand for a system, I'd go with alpine, hands down, every time. they make some of the best head units on the market, and teir high end speakers, subs and processors are in the upper 1% of car audio equipment.

that said... alpine F#1 status CD/DVD head unit, with the F#1 status processor and DLS TA2 tube amps with DLS nobellyum speakers would own anything on the market. (or at least did at the ISQC and european sound quality finals)

 

I have been stomping on a kicker amp for 9 years now and I bought it used! Its industructable. I also have an old Orion under the seat for the insides which is 6 years old. I've blown fosgate, ppi, phoenix gold, and a mess of cheapie amps in my life but Kicker is rock solid for amps.

I've blown plenty of kicker subs so I'd stay away from that. I've had the same 15"dvc pioneer for about 6 years now also. Best sub i've ever had.

 

Missed the option for MB Quarts. Guess I'm just bias...

 

None of the above!

Oh, you need to be a bit more specific? Are we talking about just HU's, speakers, amps? Or Everything put together under one brand?!

 

MB Quart (Q-series) or Focal (Utopia). They are about as good as it gets when it comes to component speakers.

 

Everything under one brand. Im looking to drop a sick *** system and I wanna make sure im paying for the best quality system.

 

If you want to go with the best quality of everything you have to look at more than one brand. Most companies that make the highest quality speakers don't make the highest quality amps.

 

Good amp:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MCINTOSH-MCC404-...QQcmdZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/ZAPCO-COMPETITIO...QQcmdZViewItem
bulletproof, awesome amp, highly underrated

Good speakers:
http://cgi.ebay.com/focal-utopia-165...QQcmdZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/MB-QUART-Q216-SI...QQcmdZViewItem
both sets are of the highest sound and manufactured quality

Good sub:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JL-AU...38092314QQrdZ1
there are better subs but none worth the extra money over the JL in my opinion

 

^^^Though McIntosh is awesome, I still have heard a couple systems with them and they're overrated/overpriced. Other picks are good...

 

It all depends on how they are set up. They don't blow unlike just about any other high quality amps. The ten year old models still demand a premium and are still kicking hard. That speaks for their quality. But as I said, this is all in my opinion. There are always other options, but you can't get the best and stick with one brand was my point.

 

Equally important is frontal staging, speaker placement, in other words take it to a professional that competes in IASCA or a very high end shop.