Ok, so I have the RS2 TC. I am not a big sound guy, but I still want a little more. If I replace the factory speakers, will that make a huge difference, or are the ones in there pretty good already?

 

The stock speakers are actually fairly decent, as far as stock systems go. Many will disagree, but I don't think it's worth upgrading them unless you're also going to move them to a better location, like the kick panels. It's easier to get good sound from a poor speaker in a good location, than with a good speaker in a poor location, imo.

 

apparently many people say the stock speakers sound a lot better with simply getting an aftermarket HU.

 

Or maybe leave the HU stock and try an amp to distribute power, but the stock speakers can only put out so much

 

x2! After putting in an Alpine HU and Audiobahn 8" Powered Sub the stock speakers sound SO MUCH better! The front speakers are actually pretty good. The rears are not. I'll replace those (and the fronts) eventually with some Polk dbs. If you can afford it, I would try a new HU before replacing the speakers. (Unless you plan to just get an amp.)

Have you tried the "Settings" easter egg? When I had my Stock HU, I found the "xB' setting on "feel" packed more of a punch than the "tC' setting. The easter eggs should be in your audio system manual that came with your tC.

 

I'm no expert on this, but if someone is going to do a real system upgrade, I wouldn't bother wasting money with the an aftermarket HU as the only purpose that the HU serves once an amp is powering the speakers, is to control the music and nothing more. I am putting in polk dbs in both front and rear (6500, 650). Since I now have a 4-channel amp for the system, i'm leaving the stock HU where it is. Anyway, I really only listen to my sirius radio which is on the windshield, so I just leave the radio door closed anyway. In turn, I never even see the HU.

As the stock speakers have an RMS handling of like 20 watts and 40 watt peak (I believe), 40X4 is 160. The pioneer system is 160watt HU. So what is really the point of upgrading it? Again, i'm no expert, so someone can correct me if i'm wrong, but it just seems pretty straight forward!

 

a little more... bass? top end? midrange? id say replace the headunit before you spend money on new speakers all around. or maybe even just add a sub and recurve your EQ for the speakers. the stock speakers produce pretty decent highs, especially for a factory setup.

 

ok spect2k3. lemme answer that for u. granted the stock HU is a pioneer it still doesn't compare to an actual aftermarket pioneer HU. all an amp does is "amplify" the signal coming from the HU. so if u put an amp on the crappy signal coming from the stock HU ur still getting an amplified version of that same crappy signal to the speakers. BUT, if u put an amp on a better signal from an aftermarket HU you'll be getting an better amplified signal to ur speakers which translates to better sound. don't get me wrong, the sound WILL be better wif an amp on the stock HU but nowhere close to comparable to an aftermarket HU. there is a reason y that aftermarket car audio costs so much. u get whatcha pay for. aftermarket HU's have stuff like eq's and crossovers built into them so that u can adjust the sound before it is even amplified that it sounds so much better. i would replace a HU before the stock speakers anyday. you'll get better sound that way. because in the end a high end speaker putting out a crappy amplified signal is still gonna sound crappy. my .02

 

+1 I have a Kenwood KDC-MP532 and the factory speakers and it sounds great. Not alot of BASS, but that will be changing soon!!

 

If you want "pretty good" speakers, then just keep the factory ones.

If you want great speakers, then swap them out.

 

I have an RS2 too and was in a similar situation. I thought that the system that came with the car was kinda lame but I didn't want anything too extreme. I replaced the HU and the sound was much much better