I have a question for all you audio gurus. I would like to moderately upgrade my audio in the xb. I have a premium head unit and I would really like just a fuller sound.

I know there will be endless sub-woofer solutions coming very soon, so I am just going to try and be patient in that regard.

My question regarding the stock speakers. If I replaced these, and did not add an amp, would it even be worthwhile?

Would you do components or like a three-way. If you did three-ways in the doors, could you use the stock wiring or is there some sort of crossover built somewhere to support the tweeters in the doors.

Basically I want moderately better sound, but don't want to spend a fortune on this.

Thanks in advance for the help.

-Mike

 

The tweeters in the door have a small passive crossover built into them.

I replaced all 4 speakers with Polk Audio db651 speakers and the sound is better and the bass response is much better.

 

I'm doing all my research on this right now as well. Look these up:
http://www.edesignaudio.com
http://www.icixsound.com
http://www.scioncaraudio.com/

Enjoy!

 

bigfieroman...did you use the stock wiring harness? You got yours through crutchfield right? Did you just use what they gave you?

So with the DB651's do the stock tweeters no longer work?

 

bigfieroman...did you use the stock wiring harness? You got yours through crutchfield right? Did you just use what they gave you?

So with the DB651's do the stock tweeters no longer work?

uberspeed - thanks for the links. Would love to find out what you decide to do.

Thanks!

 

mikemann, right now what I'm leaning to do right off the bat is sound deadening. I want to do the doors immediately, using edead v1² and edead v4 on top.
This is something that I feel I will need to do regardless and I might as well eliminate roadnoise now. Give the stock system at least a fighting chance to sound half-decent lol it will also hopefully buy me some time with the stock system.
After the doors I'm looking at the floor and tailgate area. When I finally do go **** out I'm eyeing these: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=49 with a NINe.5 amp and some sub (probably a 10") in a small, out of the way (no loss of trunk space) design. The amp will already have the capability of powering it so no biggie. I'm also looking to do a Big 3 wiring kit in 0 gauge wire and 0 gauge wiring amp kit. Probably 16 gauge for the components and 12 for the sub.
How's that for a peek into what I'm thinking?

 

Yes, I just used what Crutchfield gave me.

The stock tweeters still work fine.

 

I've already deadend the whole floor, wheel wells and the hatch with second skin and overkill. I didn't do the doors yet because one I was too intimidated to do them at the time and I figured I would just wait till I decided on speakers and do them then.

Bigfieroman - thanks for the reply. Wonder how that works...So you essentially have two tweeters? or is the tweeter in the db651's not really working?

 

All of the speakers work. All 6 tweeters, the 4 full-range, the subwoofer I added, and even the warning buzzer when you leave the headlights on.

Strangely enough, the ringer speaker on my cell phone stops working as soon as it enters the car.

 

So you are saying that you can replace the stock speakers with aftermarket ones leaving the stock tweeters connected? And the head unit was still happy?

Thanks,

Jim

 

*Contemplates a calm, blue ocean lapping at a white, sandy beach*
*Performs yoga in complete peace and harmony*
*Breathes deeply and evenly*
*Answers question*

Yes, everything worked great.

 

"goes from down dog and rolls into cobra"...

thank you

 

Did you have to remove the door panels or do the grills come out?

 

sorry to keep the pestering going...
is that the db651 regulars or slim?

 

I just picked up 2 pair of the 651 regulars. I'm planning to install this weekend so I will post some pics and descriptions of the install process hopefully

 

Hey! I had better show up on the "Works Cited" pages, and it better be in proper MLA or APA format! J/K...good luck!

Regular.

You have to remove the door panels.

 

That what I did and it worked fine.

 

LMAO!

Hmmm... This is the info I was searching for. Good thread.

 

the UPS guy should be delivering my Polk db6501 and db651 sets tomorrow. I guess these are popular speakers... I will be running them straight off the SNS head unit. I expect them to sound better but i'll probably put an amp to them in the near future. I'll try and post about how it goes.

 

the db6501 and db651 are in my car! they are a marked improvement over the stock speakers without a doubt. I might not even try to amp them as they sound pretty clean. I'll have to live with them for a while before I decide.