I know pretty much nothing about car audio, but nonetheless, I've just spent the last few hours cruisin through the net trying to find a good setup that I may or may not go through with. I'm lookin at subs and speakers.
I went over to overstock.com and they had these 6.5" speakers for like $20: SDAT SD-604. Anyone know if they are any good? I read that they have virtually no bass at all, but would subs take care of that or would it just sound funky? Not sure if stock would just sound better.
The Pioneer 6.5-in. 220-watt Car Speaker System (TSA1671R) look promising. Maybe?

Any other suggestions or recommendations with what to do?

 

I recommend you save a little bit more and go for the Kenwood (KFC1669S) 6.5's.

I have these and they sound great and also get high recommendations wherever there are reviews.

 

Don't buy $20 speakers unless you want $20 sound. You get what you pay for. Spend some cash and get good front speakers. They are the foundation of how your system will sound and subs can't make up any deficit they have.

 

im with /\/\/\/\/\/\/\ you get what you pay for my gf has a little accent and she jsut got a ipod so i saved up about 400 bucks and got her a new HU and new RF speakers all around... yeah its not the best but for what she was looking for it worked out... i would def save unless you willing to waste time and money in 20 dollar speakers...

 

$20 isn't worth it....I buy $20 speakers to do dumb things like make gravy

If you want good sound that's better than stock, spend a little green

 

I 2nd this idea too.. the kenwod KFC-1669S speakers are great.. i just put some into a friend's civic.. they sound great.. whenever i upgrade the tC's speakers they are what i'm going with.. and yeah stay away from the ebay $20 speakers, not worth it..



here's a link to crutchfield that has the kenwoods 1669s.. plus they'll give you the wiring harnesses to connect to the factory wiring (just clips in). and they'll give you the adapter plates, so you don't have to make your own to have the speakers fit perfectly..
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-33lCb5c...0&I=113KFC1669

 

Hmm, in that case. I'm lookin at 3 different speakers that I am considering.
1) Kenwood KFC1669S 6.5
2) Alpine Type-S SPS-171A 6-1/2" Component Speaker System
3) Kicker KS60 6-1/2" 2-way car speakers
On crutchfield it shows that only the Kenwood and Kicker speakers fit the tC, but will the Alpines fit? and is it even worth it to upgrade the tweeters in by the door handles?

 

mmmmm. Infinity Kapaa series. :D

 

the other thing you need to look at are the sensitivity ratings.. the higher the better.. it says they're at 90db.. the alpine and kenwood are both 92db for sensitivity.. you'll end up getting more volume with lower wattage with a higher sensitivity speakers.. i would go with either the alpine or the kenwood speakers.. what's funny is that the show car alpine put together had those sps-171a speakers in them!! i think it might require modification.. someone else might have install the 171a's and they can tell you what happened..

you'll also have to take into account how you like your sound.. the aluminum tweeter on the alpine will have more brash, crisp sound.. the soft dome on the kenwood will have a smoother and detailed sound.. depends on what you like.. i've heard the alpine's and for my liking they were too harsh for the treble.. but like i said it's what your ears like..

 

Wow, thanks for that reply. I think I'm gonna go into Cartoys or Magnolia Hi-Fi or some car stereo system place and check out those speakers, the Alpine and Kenwood, to see which ones my ears like more.
Anymore suggestions/recommendations are more than welcome. Thanks again everyone.

 

Don't listen to Crutchfield....

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=65149

I'm putting 6.5" subs in my doors...you can fit the Alpines ;)

 

Will upgrading the door speakers significantly improve the sound? Percentage-wise, how much does it increase?

 

Hard to quantify better sound in a number...I'd say though....500% for me At least.

 

let me explain "soundstage" to you.. when you listen to a car stereo the closest speakers will create a stereo soundstage for your ears.. it's like being at a live concert where you can locate (with your ears) where the drums are, the singer, the lead guitar, etc.. the front speakers are responsible for creating that "soundstage". so they have the largest impact on the music you hear. The rear speakers are for "fill".. "fill" is creating a stereo effect behind you. If that fill is too detailed or loud, the soundstage for the front is lost because now the effect of music in front of you is now being dragged behind you..

Usually the rule is to create the most detail up front, with components since the tweeters (the part that creates treble) are up high in the doors and closest to your ears, and the woofer (creates bass) is lower in the door, since those frequencies (tones) are more omni-directional (goes anywhere) than with treble which is very directional.

Simple put, you'd want a simple speaker in the back, maybe a kenwood 1669s would be nice.. it would create a detail rear fill without being overly strong, causing the soundstage to be pulled to the rear. The front's you could actually get away with the stripped down version of the 1669s,

edit : it's the 1659.. here's a link http://www.cartoys.com/cartoys/showd...duct_ID/62102/

cartoys had them, it was without the tweeter, that way you can use the tweeter that is already in the tC's door.. that's what I was thinking would be a good setup for the stock headunit

Hope that explains the "how much better would it sound" scenario.. but yes upgrading the front doors would do the most.. i was looking at cartoys and saw the basic version the 1659s, was $29.94, not too bad.. then the 1669s for the rear were $49.99.. so for $80 you could upgrade all the speakers, keeping the factory tweeters in place.. not a bad upgrade for an affordable price.. (talking kenwood speakers here).

 

Alright, so I went into CarToys today to hear how some speakers and subs sounded. I was bummed to find out that they don't carry Rockfords. The guy showed me some Alpine, MTX, Eclipse stuff and he looked at the trunk space in my tC. He said the 12" wouldn't fit unless they made a custom enclosure, which would mean more cash.
I ended up purchasing:
Alpine Type-S SPS171A Speakers
2 x Alpine TYPE-S SWS-1022D 10" Subwoofers
and some Alpine amplifier, I think it was the MRD-M301 V12 AccuClass-D Mono Amplifier
You guys think this setup will sound any good?
I spent way more than I really wanted..

 

he is totally full of it if he says a 12" sub won't fit in a tC.

I had 2...in a 2.5 cube box...it fit fine.

 

Dammit!