if you are really looking for a system that is going to blow all your buddies off the street.....take your $500 and put it in the bank and start saving your money.....then come back and start looking for options when you have about $1500 to spend on your system.
I for one would hate to see you go out and spend $500 hard earned bucks only to be disappointed with the system you got...and have your buddies tell you how bad it sounds...or worse yet....tell you it was crap. Nothing worse than to have spent your hard earned money, only to be dogged buy your buds about what you got for it.
What do you REALLY want out of your system? do you ONLY want killer base that will rattle your car ? or are you wanting a well rounded system that will give you some of everything....highs, mids, and lows?
one thing you can do to ensure you are fully satisfied with the end result....do NOT buy cheep equipment....buy quality...sure it will cost more....but you will be a lot happier with the result.
I upgraded my system a while back....kept the stock headunit, added a 5 channel Alpine amp that is ONLY 40 watts/channel RMS, AND 125 watts RMS to the sub, upgraded all the door speakers (used rockford fosgates all around) and added a single 10" sub in the back (a JL Audio 10W0 Powerwedge) and with the wiring kit....the total came to just shy of $700.....and I did all the install.....
so you see.....$500 isn't going to get you far in the BIG THUMPIN world of sound.
(stash)