Hey Guys, I'm looking to upgrade my speakers. I currently have the stock ones in my LS Sport and I'm looking to improve the sound quality. The only drawbacks I have are not replacing the factory CD Player, I want to keep that the same just for the fact that I dont like the look of an aftermarket Player, also not having a big box in my trunk. I'm looking to have better quality than factory but can also handle some bass (more so that the stock ones). Is it possible to replace the factory 6x9's as well as the front speakers with a higher quality speaker and get a better sounding stereo? What do you reccomend? Thanks
of course it is, and what i would recommend will require you to tell me your price range. now if you wanted you could add a 4 channel amp, that takes high inputs. That would help your sound alot and leave you with a stock headunit and now big assed box. I would recommend you get a component set for your front setup. Going with a 5.25 or 6.5 inch speaker and the 1" tweeter. If you would prefer to keep it simple, then you cant get a coaxial speaker, (basically has the midbass and the tweeter built into the same speaker.) This is what most big name stores will carry, very few will sell component sets. Now as for the rears, 6x9 will give you better bass, but they also will distort sooner than a perfectly round speaker. If you dont listen to your music extremely loud then 6x9 would be perfect. (They still go pretty loud before they distort depending on brand of course), for a mint system, drop some money into it. You can have a VERY good sounding system with a package of MB Quart RCE-164. They sound amazing and with the high sensitivity, they will put out very good sounding sound (for lack of better words) off of your stock headunit. Dont go cheap, I would recommend Polk Audio, MB Quart, Pioneer Premeir <<sorta overpriced tho, alpines arent that bad if you wanted somehting cheaper. If you really want to spend your money you could go with JL Audio, I personally have never used any JL as i have my system designed from day one. But yea a price range would be fatastic. O stay away from Pheonix Gold, Pyle, and sony xplodes, they are not worth the ground you walk on. (No offence to anybody that has these)
If Possible I would like to keep it in a 3-400 range, does thatt help?
Matt is right. Components give you the most bang, and the most bang for the buck. You can get OK sound with oval speakers and replacing all four with better ones will cost you around $200. Spend a little more and put 5.25" in the front with prefabricated adapter plates.
If you are against any custom work like fiberglassing or putting small subs in the rear deck, I'd suggest putting low-pass filters on the rear speakers and isolating the rear with a baffle of some kind. That way you can get the best imaging and sound quality out of the front ones, and still have some semblance of bass coming from the rear.
2002 Cavalier 2200 5spd
