don't worry too much about brand.
As long as you buy from a reputable dealer you'll be fine.
(No flea markets!!)
Keep an eye out for knockoff flea-market junk like "Cervin Wega" and "Kentwood"....knockoffs of the real thing, and just garbage.
Also, be weary of companies like Pioneer and Jensen (Walmart, etc) These brands make some great gear, but they also make total junk, so you need to do research before commiting to these brands.
If you are melting amps and blowing subwoofers, you have a problem with your wiring and/or installation anyways.
Having said that, my personal biases are as follows:
Headunit : ECLIPSE
Speakers: Image Dynamics
Amplifiers: MEMPHIS and SoundStream
Subs: Image Dynamics