I have installed a AVN5435 Navi but want to replace my hurting stock speakers with something real nice. What route should I take? Also what should I expect to pay.

 

you can really get anything for your budget. 95 bucks for components to 1500 for a set.

just remember you'll need to power them with an amplifier. if you're looking for something inexpensive that will sound good go with a nine.2 and a set of ed[i]6000 v.2's from elemental designs

nine.2: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=45
edi 6000's: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=49

now if you want some great stuff go with the DLS ir 6.2's: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...roducts_id=507

and a nine.2x: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=47

but as you can see the price goes up dramatically. it really depends what you want. the DLS is a great set but the ed 6000's are a good set as well. if you're looking for something in the middle check out that site at the ed 6500's. thats a big step up from the 6000's. If you have any more questions feel free to ask

 

The local folks said go with Boston Acoustics Z series but the are expensive as hell....

 

i'm assuming a local shop?

 

Yep Local Shop

 

of course they said go with them, they make more money that way haha.

but seriously expect around 300-500 for a pretty basic setup and if you want to go a little more intense you'll be about 500-700.

check out the 6500's. i think that'd be a great choice for you

 

the 6500 by what company

 

elemental designs

link : http://www.scikotics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11546

 

Elemental Designs

Direct Link to the components:
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=50

Direct Link to the amp:
2 Channel:
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=45

4 Channel:
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=46

Or what id recommend, the 5 Channel (the one I just got):
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...roducts_id=550

 

he has no use for the 5 channel.

 

4 channels for the component sets, and the 5th that is dedicated for future sub upgrade

 

No need to amp the rears, ever. I'm feeding 270w into each door, and my rears run off of HU power. It's just fill for the backseaters. I don't care what it sounds like back there.

 

lol guess its just me then, I like to have all 4 powered by the amp. In my mind its "easier" but I also used to be the main car to ride in so I wanted to be sure everyone enjoys it like I do.

 

It's money/power best used elsewhere. I advise people to not even replace the rears-- there's really no need to do so. And that $75-100 you save not buying a set of coaxes for the rear can go toward a better comp set.

 

yep or just take out the rear stockers. thats what i did. i have no speakers back there

 

how u like the sound stage without the rear speaker??

 

i love it. of course i went from stock to high end so it sounds better. but the subs take up the rear sound as it is.

 

Thought I'd answer that too, since mine have been disconnected for months. It's a definite improvement, because now there aren't any rear speakers to detract from the soundstage.

However, the sound still sux with the speakers mounted in the doors. Because of the location, it still sounds like you're on the stage, rather than in the front row or further back as it should be. It still sounds like there are rear speakers in place, due to the front speaker location and interior reflections.

This is why I don't really understand so many people spending major money to upgrade their front speakers with a high-end component system, when they're going in such a poor location. It'd be better (from an SQ perspective) to spend the money on custom kick panel pods and move the stock speakers there.

I'd rather hear an average speaker in a good location than a great speaker in a poor location, but maybe that's just me (?).

 

X2 Well said, sir! I thought you were building some kicks nodsetse? The tC is a pretty easy car to build kick panels for IF you're willing to do a few things...

*Remove the bulky plastic phenolic connectors in each of the kickpanels. You will have to extend the wires about 8", and be sure to use high quality ("environmental") butt-connectors! I think there's a total of 52 wires...36 or so on the driver's side.



*Cut the thin kickpanel metal to allow you to install a 6.5" driver flush with the door sill - WIDE!

Here are some install pics of mine:

 

I know, I know...really should do so, but I've just been too tired. You're right, as your photos show how it's much easier than in many other vehicles, although I don't look forward to extending & repositioning all those blasted wires. I'm a bit paranoid about it too, as I can just imagine the dealership attempting to deny some unforseen electrical warranty claim, by blaming it on the kick mods, when they've nothing to do with it. Oh well, guess I'll have to build them sooner or later regardless, if I want to have a decent soundstage in the tC.

Have you ever thought about locating drivers in the tC's dash? Considering your installation resources, you might want to take a long look at the car's dash-windshield shape, with a set of HLCDs in mind. Not sure of any/everything that might be in the way (difficult to determine from the service manual drawings of the dash removal procedure), but a set of horns mounted inside the dash with the mouth flaring to the windshield and dash, such that they effectively become an extension of the horn, might produce the best possible soundstage in the tC. Imagine how nice it'd be with a flush grille between the A-pillar and defroster vent, so people wouldn't even know what was there, and soundstage height would be excellent. Just a thought, too much work for me to seriously consider at this point, but maybe you & Matt would be up to it. Not implying your system needs anything, just mentioning it since that's the type of change a serious SQ competitor such as yourself might like.