So I have an 06 with BOSE/NAV. I have a JL Stealthbox with a 250/1 amp, but the rest of the system is factory. It's alright, but after having upgraded the system in my wife's xB, I'm really noticing the flaws in the factory Bose. In her car, we replaced all the factory speakers, powered them by a 300/4 amp as well as added a sub with an amp.

Now back to the C6. With the sub, I have great bass, but I really notice the lack of clear, crisp highs that balance things out. I didn't really notice as much with my previous C6 w/o Nav, so I'm not sure if the Nav headunit just doesn't sound as good as the Bose 6disc headunit or what, but I've started to notice.

Anyways, I'm trying to figure out where to begin when it comes to replacing the factory speakers.

If I'm understanding this right...the doors have some kind of odd Bose 10in speaker/sub thing and a 3.25 speaker in there...also I think there's a 3.25 in the center of the dash too???

So would I just want to replace the 3.25 in the doors (and maybe the one in the center dash???) and the 5.25 in the rear, and leave the 10in speakers in the doors...or would I want to use some kind of bracket and put something else in there as well?

I'm also thinking, after seeing the door kit from Pipedreams, that I could run a 6.5component in the door. The 6.5 in the space where the 10in bose is, and then the tweeter in where the 3.25 in the door is. I could then replace the rear 5.25 and just get a 4way amp to power those, leaving the factory 3.25 bose in the center dash and not worrying about it. Does that make any sense?

Please point me in the right direction here...

Thx in advance...

 

I've read some things where folks think the non-NAV stereos sound better than the NAV, but I don't have any experience with them so I can't say for sure. But to my mind as long as you have the Bose or Delco in the mix then it's only how relatively crappy they sound!

You have the config of the factory speakers correct. My recommendation is that since you have the stealthbox there already you should concentrate on the front soundstage.

To that end I'd recommend removing the 10" & 3.5" speakers in the doors and installing a good 6.5" component set and an outboard 2 channel amp to drive the components. Or perhaps replace the 250/1 with a single 4 channel amp that you can use to drive the front & sub to save space. In our cars the rear speakers are of very little benefit so I wouldn't worry about spending money on them. Leave them connected to the Bose to provide some rear fill. If you find them distracting you can always disconnect them.

Here is a how-to I wrote up for getting the low-level signal from the back of the head unit to feed the amp/amps:

http://www.lazyassgeek.com/c6-stereo...-unit-harness/

I will throw the disclaimer out that I'm the guy that makes the door kit that Pipedreams sells. That honestly doesn't change my opinion of what to do, but I sure wouldn't mind your business.

 

Thanks for the tips. I think what I'll end up doing is getting those door kits you make and go with a 6.5 component in each door. That way, I'll replace the 10in and 3.25in currently in the door with nice 6.5in and a tweeter.

Like you suggested, I'll probably leave the rears as is. I guess if the doors are greatly improved, that's where I'll hear most of the definition in the sound, with the bass coming from the Stealthbox. I suppose I can leave the center dash 3.25in as is also.

Then I'll just get a JL 300/2 to run the doors, or like you said perhaps sell the 250/1 and get something that can run the doors and the sub.

Here's my current rack:



To fit another amp in there, would have to either use the side where we made a little storage bin, or sorta rearrange things, but either way it will fit somehow.

Thanks again, I'll probably end up ordering that kit from Pipe once I talk to the shop and figure out on speakers and whatnot.

Any recommendations for speakers for the doors?

 

or you could move to a tiny amp like the pdx

 

Deff would do the componets up front like you said. I would personally unhook the rears and the center channel. And the cleansweep is deffinetly a waste as stated above

 

Whoops, forgot to mention to unhook the center, absolutely. Good spot Greg, thanks.

 

What exactly does unhooking the center accomplish?

Is that just to eliminate the crappy/muddy sound of a underperforming speaker?

Why not get a replacement 3.5 for it? Would it help add something to the mix considering the BOSE is already powering that, just to replace it and improve the quality of the output?

 

What exactly does unhooking the center accomplish?

Is that just to eliminate the crappy/muddy sound of a underperforming speaker?

Why not get a replacement 3.5 for it? Would it help add something to the mix considering the BOSE is already powering that, just to replace it and improve the quality of the output?

Also what do you guys suggest as far as components go?

My wife has a set of Focal 165 A1 components in her xB and I think they sound quite nice.



Think they run about $170 for a pair. Then of course I'd need that kit from NakidParts.

Any other speaker suggestions?

 

The dash speaker is of dubious benefit. I had it disconnected for a short time using the stock system just before I replaced everything and I found even the stock system to sound slightly BETTER without it. That speaker seemed to muddy the front stage a bit and you got a better sense of separation without it. The more practical reason is that you're not going to find a single speaker out there, you have to buy in pairs, and then you'd also need another channel of amplification. That speaker serves no reasonable purpose so just disconnect and move on.

I'm a huge fan of Focal, though I haven't heard the A line. The Polyglass and Kevlars are excellent sounding speakers. But recommending speakers is VERY difficult because they're the most personal choice in a system. Speakers sound different to each person and each person prefers a different sound. You know you like the Focals so that's a good place to start. Stop in at a brick & mortar near you and listen to a few other things, see how you like them in comparison. No, you'll never know exactly what they will sound like hooked up in your car, but you should at least get a relative idea.

 

So tell me this...

I went to the local shop where I usually get the work done, and the guy who has always done all my installs no longer works there.

Their new installer wasn't there on Sunday's but the one sales guy or whatever told me something I think is fubar.

He said that with the BOSE factory head unit and speakers, everything is proprietary and that I'd have to replace the head unit in order to replace the speakers.

Is this true or is this just some sales guy not knowing what he's talking about?

No way I'm going to pay for a new headunit, considering i have the BOSE NAV. I just want to get those component Focals, a 2way amp and be done with it.

 

guy was talking out of his rear end

Tap the low level outputs at the back of the radio and install your goods, done and done

 

That's what I figured...but what exactly do you mean by "tap the low level outputs"

You cant just use whatever the speaker connection is on the factories?

 

Scroll up and hit the link in Komoman's first post.

 

Ok thanks...I figured the guy at the shop was clueless...

 

Instead of dealing with messing with the speaker inputs on the head unit...would this work?

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Metra...oductDetail.do

A harness that lets you plug aftermarket speakers into the factory connection...

I guess this would let me replace the speakers...but how would I use an amp to power them? Would just replacing the speakers without adding an external amp be worth it?

 

thats only good for replacing speakers not adding an amp.

Either splice the outputs like in Komomans link or get this harness http://sonicelectronix.com/item_5944_PAC+ADD-GM24.html to avoid splicing at all and either add rca's to the end or get this http://sonicelectronix.com/item_5942_PAC+AMP-RCA.html and splice the 2 harness together. Get the remote from the fuse box or get an amp with auto turn on and your done

 

Ok so after going back to Tweeter today and talking to the installer, he had a much better idea what was going on.

Basically said I should replace the front and rear speakers. He agreed that the Focals were the way to go and to use a JL 300/4 v2 amp to power them. So here's my dilemma. I'm trying to decide if the cost at a retail store like Tweeter is worth it as opposed to buying the gear on eBay to save a few hundred bucks, or to go with another brand to save $$.

So here's the options:

1) Tweeter:
Focal 165 A1 (6.5 Component Fronts) $299
Focal 130 CA1 (5.25 Rears) $199
JL Audio 300/4 v2 (Amp) $579

2) eBay:
Focal 165 A1 (6.5 Component Fronts) $194
Focal 130 CA1 (5.25 Rears) $152
JL Audio 300/4 v2 (Amp) $407

I realize that when you buy stuff on eBay you don't get any factory warranty...

Or to use a brand that's basically online. I've use their sub/amp for my wife's Scion xB and it's very nice. I've also used their eDead (Dynamat) product which is great. They are basically known for good quality at low cost.

3) Elemental Designs:
eD eDi 6000s v.2 System (6.5 Component Fronts) $135
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=49



eD NINe.4 (Amp) $245
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=46



Elemental doesn't have a 5.25, so I'd probably just pick up the Focals from Tweeter for $199.

So the total for each option:

1) Tweeter: $1077 + Tax
2) eBay: $753 + No Warranty
3) Elemental Design w/Focal 5.25 from Tweeter: $579


Thoughts? Would you guys just stick with the retail stuff from Tweeter, using the Focal speakers and new version of the JL amp or would you buy the same stuff on eBay, or go with the not so big name brand to save almost half the cost?

Thanks again...

 

If it were just a question of money & warranties then it would be an easy question to answer. From what I've heard (reputation and my ears) and seen JL Amps are nothing special, they're solid but unspectacular. I have no personal experience with either the eD amps or their component speakers. Pentavolvo and DPG do installs with their speakers and amps frequently and say good thing about them.

The one thing I'd say not to discount - you've heard the Focal A1's and you know what they sound like and that you like them. That means alot. What that's worth to you is something only you can answer. Getting to hear the ED's is problematic, unless there's someone near you that has 'em.

 

Let me preface this by saying Im no expert by anybodies opinion, but I like having quality speakers as rear fill. Its so easy to swap them out with same size 5.25 coax and power them with an aftermarket four channel. I think you will be happy you totally remove the Bose.

 

While I haven't measured a ton of ED stuff, what I have measured has been far from spec and far from anything special. I won't recommend anything from ED until I get my hands on something from them that performs as claimed. Focals perform well across their spectrum. JL amps are nothing special (not bad either), and the price is the JL badge tax.

There are 15-year-old amps on ebay that outperform much of today's good stuff and at an enormous savings. It's worth considering.