Some speaker recommendations please!

[DaveS]

I've been told the single best upgrade I can do to my stock stereo (non-RF, 6-disc, 8-speaker) is to replace the speakers, so I'm going to do so. I know very little about modern car stereo systems, so can anyone out there recommend a brand and model for me and let me know about what I should pay for installation? I'd like to do all 8 speakers, but if there's a better way, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

- Dave

[bestatchess]

If you want good speakers & sub(s), you would also need a couple of amps to drive them.

[DaveS]

I can live with that. Can you suggest a spot to mount the amps that: 1) requires the least amount of dismantling of the car, and 2) keep them out of the way. (I fold up my back seat and put stuff back there often).

Thanks!

[DesertTitan]

Originally Posted by DaveS

I can live with that. Can you suggest a spot to mount the amps that: 1) requires the least amount of dismantling of the car, and 2) keep them out of the way. (I fold up my back seat and put stuff back there often).

Thanks!

I would recommend either mounting the amps under the front seats or on the back wall. If you search this forum you'll find a few different amp installations on the rear wall.

[hurricanefan1]

I am currently upgrading my stock speakers to Audiobahn. I am partial to these as they have performed very well for me in competitions. To go on the low end, or entry level as we would call it, you would not need an amp, unless you plan to put in some subs. You can go to www.audiobahninc.com to check out all their products, and search for a dealer in your area. Also, you could check out www.crutchfield.com, find speakers that fit, and compare all of them together. If you order from Crutchfield, they send all the stuff you need to do it yourself, and offer Tech support for as long as you own the equipment.

[Timba24]

it really depends on your price range jl, mb quartz, kicker, phoenix gold all make pretty good component sets

[MaxPowers]

I have diamond audio components and they sound great.

[lizardking]

It really depends on what your needs are and how much money you want to spend.. I have learned through experience and still learn that it requires money to get good car audio. There are allot of big names out there that you may see at your local Best Buy or Circuit City that I wouldn't take for free.. If you do a audio upgrade I'm a firm believer in doing it right and do everything. Some people will be happy with speaker upgrades and that might be all they needed to get the sound their looking for. There is no such thing as the "BEST" brand it all depends on the individual. Brands I like are as follows but no order of preference.

1. Rainbow
2. CDT Audio
3. Dynaudio
4. Focal
5. Eclipse
6. Diamond Audio
7. JLAudio (though very overrated and priced)
8. Adire
9. Elemental Designs (SmokeTitan recommends allot)
10. Cadence
11. Nakamichi
12. Image Dynamics
13. Kenwood Excelon (Audio/Video only)
14. Memphis
15. MB Quart (though owned by Rockford Fosgate still decent quality)

That about sums up my list! If you buy from these Manufacturers you won't go wrong.

Brands like Rockford Fosgate, Audiobahn, Sony, Kicker or MTX I wouldn't buy! I did have a really good Rockford sub a couple years ago that I put in a bazooka tube that hit really hard.

You will hear some people say buy from authorized dealers but the problem with that is mark up is horrific. You can buy from really good sites that give you the same warranty for allot and I mean allot cheaper.. Most problems in audio will present themselves in the first 30days anyway. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong from buying from dealers just learn to haggle.

[smoketitan]

Originally Posted by lizardking

1. Rainbow
2. CDT Audio
3. Dynaudio
4. Focal
5. Eclipse
6. Diamond Audio
7. JLAudio (though very overrated and priced)
8. Adire
9. Elemental Designs (SmokeTitan recommends allot)
10. Cadence
11. Nakamichi
12. Image Dynamics
13. Kenwood Excelon (Audio/Video only)
14. Memphis
15. MB Quart (though owned by Rockford Fosgate still decent quality)

nice list man wow

I recommend ed stuff as it is very good stuff at a learning budget: ) I always hate to see people spend serious money before they can really tell the difference in quality and the ed stuff is not jl, or eclipse but can hang with most other stuff especially there new line


having heard most, or owned most of that list

I say rainbow (all of it ) , dls (iridium line), ID (subs only), and Focal (K2P and there utopia subs are amazing 90-96db for a sub--wow) are all awesome speakers

Eclipse makes great HU, and very nice sounded subs that need and handle tons of power--but they srue are nice

no more adire for me xbl2 is not all its cracked up to be ( had re components and a koda10), and for some reason I had really bad customer service from them

and nakamichi stuff is great!!! the older pa series amps were very nice!!! and I love their stock looking Hu's, just wish they played mp3's


CDT--been there done that--cool, but nowhere near the other lines I mentioned


anyway good luck

[bestatchess]

Originally Posted by DaveS

I can live with that. Can you suggest a spot to mount the amps that: 1) requires the least amount of dismantling of the car, and 2) keep them out of the way. (I fold up my back seat and put stuff back there often).

Thanks!

I have seen posts regarding amp mounting under the front seats. This assumes you don't have the RF sub under the driver's seat or the NAV DVD player under the passenger seat. This may be the easiest thing to accomplish.

Others (including me) have mounted amps on the rear cab wall. The rear cab wall mounting techniques include (1) in an amp rack over the carpet extending along the bottom of the rear cab wall. If you search for the stereo install post by LordReed I think you can find pictures. Also, another guy installed a high power MBQuart system in the same manner. (2) on a carpeted board secured to the rear cab wall by brackets attached to the car seat holder bolts on the rear cab wall (3) I saw one post with two big amps mounted higher up on the rear cab wall, with the amps inclined and secured to a board under the carpet (4) I posted pics of an amp mounting board secured to the OEM bolts found under the carpet on the rear cab wall.

I followed smoketitan's advise and bought two TRU amps, two 6.5 component sets, and one 11KV2 sub from www.edesignaudio.com and I am quite happy.