So, I have purchased a new XB about a month ago and love it. I am an huge Arizona Cardinals fan (gotta support the home team through thick and thin, mostly thin with AZ right?) and I plan to deck my ride in Cardinals colors.

However, I would like a bit more output out of my stock stereo system. I do not want to change the deck. Would changing just the speakers to something a bit better still produce a noticable difference? Is BestBuy, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics, the best place to buy such speakers? Is it as easy as removing the panels/grills and replacing the speakers?

I am not one for getting the neighbors angry at me for blasting my car stereo, I just want quality sound while I am in the car, and I wouldn't have to worry about blowing my speakers.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Changing the speakers would make quite a difference. Try www.crutchfield.com and enter your info. They have good prices and give you all the details on installing the equipment yourself. Good luck.


John

 

What are the stock sizes of the speakers? Anyone know this?
I tried searching the forums but no luck!

 

dash - 3.5'' or 4''
doors - 6.5''
rear - 5.25''(6.5'' will fit with adapters)

 

I changed the headunit but kept the speakers the same. i did put an amp to them. i have had it for about 2 and 1/2 years and it still sounds great. they keep up with the subs and are clear.

 

You really need to amp the in car speakers, the stock HU doesnt really put out enough power

 

When I originally started replacing my audio, I went with a Pioneer REV series component set in the front doors and dash. Removing the stock speakers was a pain, mine were just riveted in.

A week later I replaced the back speakers with Pioneer TSA series

I didnt really notice a lot of difference with the sound until I replaced the head unit.

I was originally using the 04-05 6cd changer.

The sound really stepped up with a new head unit.

Hope that helps.

 

if you want more power you will have to put an amp in the car

...different/better speakers might give you a better sound but no more power...

an amp will be a must and should be the first thing you consider or a stronger/more powerful head unit...I'd go with an amp, would be the cheapest fix to do first

 

If you dont replace the HU, then your no going to receive the benefit of higher quality speakers. I would first replace the HU, and see if the difference in SQ suits your needs.

The speakers are not necessarliy a pain to remove but you do need to make sure you have everything to replace them. You will need a drill to get the rivets out, some baffles either out of MDF of plastic, some screws to install the baffle onto the car and some time and patience.

I honestly dont understand how people can say changing only the speakers will make a difference. It does nothing, and the $200 you spend on speakers wouldve been better spent on a new HU. The speakers are only as good as the signal that the HU/Amp gives them. As much as people want to beleive that the stock HU is great, the power output is minimal and subpar.

Just get a new HU...

 

I rather not change the HU, but am quickly learning that that might be the best way. But some say just add an amp. I have heard that an amp can be easily added to the stock HU, would an amp make a noticable difference? What size amp? Again, I don't want to wake up the neighbors, but I would like it pretty loud and nice sounding for myself and friends while in the car.

Thanks,
Chris

 

you would prob blow the speaker if you amped them. they are not meant to be amped but rather work as a combo with the HU. this is why changing speakers does no good because the HU was designed for those specific speakers. upgrading your HU will give you mroe power to the speakers but not even close to what an amp will give you. that is why they sound better with a new HU. i would suggest starting with a new HU and see if that satisfies your needs.

if you still want more, then get new speakers and amp. and already having a soild HU will make everything much easier during install and will make everything sound even better.

i would advise against running an amp with the stock HU. i did it for like 2 months and was fed up with the sound quality. i went out and purchased a new HU and it made a world of difference.

 

Crap. Some might call me crazy, but I like the look of the stock HU. Fills the space up nicely. I always hate replacing them because you have to use an adapter and it is half the size, almost throwing everything out of balance (visual balance).

Cool, Thanks for the info...

-Chris

 

My advice: Start with the HU. Contrary to popular belief, the stock HU is not that clean and does not provide a decent amount of power. For a couple of bills, you can get a great HU that will provide more power and a cleaner signal that will make a dramatic difference in your stereo setup, even on stock speakers.

 

I could probably spend an hour or more on the crutchfield.com site and not find the info I am looking for, or could go to a bestbuy and want to kill the punk kid that thinks he knows everything about MY car stereo setup.

BUt maybe you guys know. I have heard that not every HU will support the controls on the steering wheel. Do you guys know which ones will support them? Will they function differently? To be honest, I could care less about the mode button, just the volume and track/station controls are nice.

-Chris

 

thats what Ive been saying the whole time...

The higher end Eclipse models and the DVD/NAVI Eclipse models work right out the box because:

Eclipse = Fujitsu Ten = Toyota = Scion

 

L4rry B1rd, you rock. Thanks, I will take a look at those HUs.

I just checked out your pics, very cool audio setup.

-Chris

 

no matter what you change or add there will be a difference it may not be a huge difference....... sometimes less is more

 

geez a lot of professional experts on this thread

DOn't listen to all of them yes changing your speakers can make a differeance just go to a very effecient speaker an example
Some Infinity 6.5 door speakers put out 95db@1w1m..this would be a great choice and will make one hell of a difference
I use MA Audio's in my dash they put out 92db @1w1m and go down to 100hz!
2 examples of how just changing speakers will make a diferance

 

A large part of the reason an aftermarket speaker might not sound so good is that the stock radio is setup to work with the stock speakers in terms of pre-programmed EQ/DSP settings and what not. The stock speakers are better than some OEM's I've heard but are far from great. Adding an amplifier to the stock unit is fine provided you defeat the factory EQ/DSP settings, ala JL Audio Cleansweep. I can't say it enough that the most important component in your sound system is the speakers, buy good ones and it will sound good. Mark

 

lol yep