Speaker upgrade?

[Propflux01]

Originally Posted By: naphthoylindole
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Or rate these 1-10
http://goo.gl/tmL3J
http://goo.gl/ghbVW or http://goo.gl/eZYs1


Not sure on that AMP, looks too Chinese-Cheapy. As for Speakers, Teh JL's will do, but I much prefer the Focals.

 

[naphthoylindole]

http://goo.gl/g8SuA
?

And what about letting the Best Buy "geek squad" install the speakers? They have a base price of like $45 if you bring your car in, but I'm guessing real # will be $80-100. I'd have to buy spacers still for the speakers, I remember reading about those on NASIOC.

 

[JOD]

A cheap 4 channel amp is fine. First off, they're almost all Chinese unless you're spending on obscene amount of money. Even Zapco and other high-end companies are made overseas. While there are differences, you don't need an amp with many of the features on the more expensive ones--and most high-end amps don't have line-level inputs, which you'll need if you're using the factory head unit without a processor. This one looks fine: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_44455_Crunch-P1-650.4.html

There's no sense obsessing about the specs, as the bottleneck will be the line outputs from the head unit. This is just fine for your needs.

The Lanzar one won't work, no line-level inputs.

Sonix Electronics and Amazon are both good. Diymobileaudio.com is the bitog of car audio, but unless you're really into car audio, it'll be like reading Greek. There are guys putting unity horns in their cars and crazy stuff like that... I assume you just want better sound, not to dedicate your life to car audio...

As far as the install, I'd talk to an independent if you have one in the area. Their rates may be cheaper than you think. With Best Buy, you very well may get a decent installer, or you may get some smoked-out 16 year old kid. If you do decide to DIY, there are plenty of resources on the interwebs to help.

 

[mechtech2]

Guys in the know usually agree about upgrading speaker wire size for home or automotive use when upgrading speakers or power.
Makes things much harder to install in a car that already has skinny wiring, but it should be done.

 

[naphthoylindole]

@JOD I have an aftermarket head unit, if that's what you're talking about. Kenwood DDX719. I'm pretty much destroying my current speakers with it though, I started out at able to get to 24(/30 I think) without distortion, but it's down to like 22 or 21 now. Not important, just saying.

I'm probably going to be looking through and wondering about several different speakers; to avoid making a new post can you just name the brands to avoid when I'm looking in the $130-180 range for component speakers?

 

[Jimmy9190]

I like Kicker speakers a lot. Kicker makes a very good speaker. You can buy them at Crutchfield. A Google search will probably turn up a $20.00 off coupon and Crutchfield has free shipping right now. You could do a set of components up front and coaxials in the rear to save a bit on the price, and you won't have any negative aspects in the sound quality. Really the best way to select a speaker is to audition it for yourself in the store with music you prefer on CD or a thumb drive. When I bought my 2 pairs of Kicker KS62 coaxials I listened to them in a Best Buy store. I had a thumb drive with music I like on it. Best Buy sells the KS 62 for about $99.00/pair. Crutchfield had them at $75.00/pair with free shipping. Best Buy will not match an online price so I bought from Crutchfield, 2 pairs of KS 62's cost me $130.00 shipped after I used a $20.00 Crutchfield coupon from www.retailmenot.com.

Focal makes good speakers. So does JL. So do a lot of other manufacturers. You just have to listen to different speakers and get the ones that sound best to you that are within your budget. If you buy from Crutchfield they give you free speaker mounting adapter plates and free speaker wire harness plug connectors that will take the guesswork out of identifying the factory speaker wire polarity. Best Buy often runs free installation deals too. Their installers are usually very talented and conscientious. I should know, I used to be one myself but that was long ago, way before anyone ever heard of the Geek Squad.

Kicker also makes very good amplifiers, good clean strong power for a pretty good price. Best Buy sells Kicker amps too, and so does Crutchfield but for some reason Crutchfield does not sell any Kicker 4 channel amps. www.sonicelectronix.com does and I think they even include or offer a discount on the amplifier wiring kits. Sonic Electronix has great prices as well. I use an old Kicker KX350 amp in my system and it does a great job, sounds good both at low and high volume.

You can use a good 4 channel amp, use the front outputs for the front and rear full range speakers and use the rear channels bridged for your subwoofer. Personally I do not care for powered subs, especially in the trunk. A regular sub in a sealed enclosure with a good strong amp on it will sound better and may even cost less. Kicker and Alpine both make good subs that won't break the bank or require a monster sized enclosure. Again, with subs you need to audition them in the store. If a sub or full range speaker sounds good to you in the store, it should also sound good in your car.

If you don't want to do the installation yourself, you can try Best Buy or you may get better workmanship and customer service at a good local independent car audio store. Their prices may be higher, though. Best thing to do there is ask around and someone you know may know of a good shop. Crutchfield has a great staff of knowledgeable folks who can help you both with the purchase and any technical problems after the installation is done. I think they used to offer a Crutchfield preferred installer service where they refer you to a Crutchfield-approved car audio installer in your area. I have no idea if they still do that.

 

[AVB]

What kind of sound are you looking for? $300 doesn't buy much, but you may find some good deals on black Friday. Realistically $300 will barely cover installation and wiring for 4 speakers, an amp and sub. For your budget about all you can really do is buy 4 decent speakers and power them off of the head unit until you can spend more money to expand your system.

This is a pretty good write up of a Subaru stereo installation.
http://www.subaruaudio.net/installations/08-12-impreza/

 

[naphthoylindole]

$300 doesn't include installation.

 

[JOD]

In order, these would be my suggestions:

1) Pioneer TS-D1720C

2) MB-Quart PVI 216

3) IDCTX-65

4) Focal 165 A1

I didn't know those Pioneers were still available. I think they're the best deal out there right now for budget components.

As far as the amp, the Lanzar to which you linked will work fine. I didn't realize you have an aftermarket head unit. You don't need line-level (from the speaker wire) inputs, which is good. The Lanzar stuff is cheap and seems decent to run some components. I slightly more expensive option would be THIS. It's all Class D, which is a much better bet in a car, IMO. It runs cooler and has a smaller footprint. That amp and the first speakers listed will still get under the $300.00. Also, keep in mind you'll need a wiring kit. Sonix Electronics or Ebay have good pricing on that stuff.

 

[Norm Olt]

Crutchfield sends you a wiring harness/installation kit when you buy a new head unit: at least they used to...

I disagree about the head unit being less important than the amp: the other thing to remember is the nature of the source for that which you will be listening to: a better head unit may well include better amps. YOU WILL ALWAYS HEAR THE WEAKEST LINK IN THE SYSTEM, and that is typically the speakers.

If it is all compressed MP3's from an ipod or cell phone it'll only be as good as the system creating the file, whether it's digital to begin with or an analog/digital conversion.

Cheers!

p.s. Those Pioneers look to be a pretty good deal: you could always have a pair installed and then actually listen to hear if you can tell the difference. Most stock car audio systems are much better than they used to be. Take a look at what the charges are for an "upgraded sound system" for most new cars: typically runs a grand to + $5 LARGE to get some high-end factory system, and what will it co$t to "fix it out of warranty"?

 

[naphthoylindole]

The one thing that's keeping me from just buying speakers and an amp right now is that it seems really complicated to wire the amp. You have to go through the firewall, run it to the back (I doubt there's enough room under my seats to prevent a fire), then somehow get all the speaker wires there and back to the speakers AND back to the head unit... it's a little beyond me how to do that without making it look like a wire jungle in my car.