Once I get my car back from the body shop I will get my new stereo installed. While at the body shop my pioneer dvd player was stolen...crazy huh! But it will be replaced along with some interior items. I'm a professional musician so I like clarity, but the bose system actually isn't so bad. I've had professional level sound systems in previous cars, and the bose isn't as bad as people complain about. Its all about tuning the system...but person taste is just that, personal.
Anyhow, I wanted to see some ideas from this forum about what speakers are good replacements for the stock ones. I don't want to add a sub because I need to keep as much space as possible for my congas in the cargo area. I could do an amp behind the passenger seat if need be, but this system isn't really to blow the roof off like my old systems. But I still like to feel my bass LOL, who knows may do a sub at one point. One idea is to use pioneer or another thin profile sub on the passenger side so but still under the floor mat. Hardly ever have anyone in there, but just something that popped in my head. But right now, the most important thing is something for the speakers. I would like to use JL audio because the audio shop recommended them big time. Plus they've been around a long time. But I'm spending some big cash on the car upgrades so I cannot go ***** out on the audio department. Its the least of my concerns to be honest. Sounds crazy coming from a musician but after rehearsals or teaching lessons all day, sometimes I just want to hear the engine. I would like it to be an easy install so any ideas some of you have had let me know. The head unit will probably be the Pioneer AVIC z130. Amp or no amp?
Thanks!

 

Amp it now if posssible. Pioneer also makes that low profile sub that will fit behind your seat for around a 129 bucks or so.

 

Any ideas on the front speakers? Just seeing if I should do components or coaxials. I've had both before in other cars.

 

If you want to go with components you really need to get an aftermarket amp, oem is just too weak to make them worth it.

 

Wow, your Bose must have sounded much different than mine. Are you sure you have the stock speakers? Mine sounded SUPER muddy and had horrible clarity. I just added an AVIC-Z140, Alpine 5-channel amp, components in the doors, coax in the back, and a small sub to the trunk. The sound quality is infinitely better. I am not into crazy sound systems in cars, but my Bose sounded so incredibly bad that I had to replace it. I am very happy with the sound now, but I am still fine tuning it to sound even better. I am try to decide the perfect fade right now.

PS: The maps are much better in the Z140 than the Z130. But supposedly you will be able to upgrade the Z130 to Z140 firmware sometime this summer. But I am not sure how much you will really save going with the Z130 unless you are going used. The shop I bought mine from charged me under $1K for mine. And if you buy pre-owned, make sure you get all the antennas! You don't want to miss out on HD radio and real rime traffic updates.

 

Maybe the speakers in the C6 were a little better then the C5. Assuming that is what you have from the picture. They are ok, not perfect speakers but ok. I will probably do the component and amp when the head unit comes in, then add a sub later this summer when i get an idea of what I want to do. If no one buys my Boston Acoustic then I will try to make it work. I have to do the 130 because insurance finds the parts at a lower price. I tried getting an upgrade to the 140 because I'm the victim (of the car break-in while at the body shop!) but they couldn't do that. If I can upgrade the firmware that would be awesome. It will be a new unit though, just from the company where they get it at cost. Since so many don't like the rear speakers maybe I'll keep those on the head unit and then buy the components and put those on the amp and the other channels go into the sub when I add it. We shall see.

 

Yeah I was thrown off since you never said what generation you had. My automatic assumption was a C5, since that's what I own. When you get your Z130, start following the AVIC411.com forums from time to time on upgrading the firmware. Some people seem to prefer the Z130 firmware because there are additional voice commands. Voice commands are useless in my car, even with the windows up....
"Call Home"
"Sorry, I didn't understand that"
"C-A-L-L----H-O-M-E"
"Sorry...."

I think you need to be driving a Mercedes S-Class to get these to work correctly. And I don't have an accent or anything.

But if you are never going to use voice commands (like me), then the Z140 is vastly superior with much better navigation/maps.

 

Well most will tell you to do components. From my personal experience I don't see a lot of difference for the difference in price. It sounds like you're not interested in a kick your butt stereo for now, so coaxials would be fine so long as they are quality. But if money is not a big deal I would most likely do the components for possible future upgrades.

I spent the weekend installing a double Din Pioneer, the 700 series, and an alpine amp and sub, older models but pretty nice, 900 watt amp and sub, in my son's car and to tell you the truth, I didn't notice much difference in his and my stereo. I have a simple Alpine HU, JBL 6.5 triaxials in the front and 6x9 triaxial JBL in the back with an Alpine KTP 445 power pack hooked up to it all.

Except for some of his music that thumps, the sound quality was about the same when playing my music through his system.

I think some of these over the board systems are way overrated unless you're into thumping, competition, or showing off.

 

One of the things to think about is how good your hearing is, and how attuned you are to differences in sound.

The main issue in a C6 is the placement of the speakers. Components, or 4" coax speakers will allow you to put the high frequency reproduction higher on the doors, which results in less blockage of the (easily blocked) high frequencies, and brings the soundstage higher up, so you're not sitting above the band. As we get older, we start to lose high frequency hearing, so that may not matter to some people. And some people wouldn't be able to tell you which direction sound is coming from, as they never notice it. It all depends on how sensitive your hearing is.

If you're replacing the stock speakers (10" woofers) with aftermarket components (6.5") you're bound to lose low frequency reproduction. If you're not planning on adding a sub, I wouldn't recommend replacing the stock woofers, maybe just upgrade the 3.5" "twiddler" with a good 3.5" or 4" coaxial (4" will fit with custom installation). But you can add a sub in the rear without taking up much space - the corner cubbyhole subwoofer boxes many of the forum vendors sell don't take up much real estate.

 

My ears are still pretty good luckily (percussionist) and I pick up on a lot of details. I listen to a variety of things from Latin to rock to R&B to Rap to symphonic works and instrumentals so I have a lot of sound situations. I might look into the sub thing, and maybe even use my old boston acoustics. Someone asked about buying my amps which would be fine because I don't need as much power for this set-up. Would it be possible to put a 10" aftermarket sub in the doors? Then I could work on some other speaker setup ideas. Many years ago people would get custom component enclosures near the foot area angled up, haven't seen that in a while. Have to be careful in the rear cargo though because I must have the space for congas. So what speaker sizes do you all recommend if the 10's won't fit in the door?

 

You could do something like this: http://shop.doubledmods.com/JL-Audio...r-Box-JLC6.htm

 

Dennis at DD will be able to suggest a number of custom setup options to suit your budget, and sound quality requirements

 

Placement is everything. That's what makes the components stand out.

I have a C5 FRC that had the basic non bose so anything was a step up. I will never understand why they put 5.25 speakers in it when they didn't have to. With 5.25 in the rear and the 6.5 in the doors the sound struggled to get to listening height. But I fixed that.

But I still may get one of those small pioneer subs and mount behind the pass seat. I really think the power pack is sufficient though as far as amps goes.

 

Do you have a link for the power pack and the pioneer sub for behind the seat? I'm sure the audio shop won't like it because they want me to spend the JL money, but they can still make money and sell me what I want. I had competition level car audio for many years in te 90's and early 2000's. But its not as important to me now because for car shows you have to put down serious money to compete with other stereo system installs. I'd rather have clean sound and inconspicuous but make the exterior and interior stand apart from the pack. Putting money into that right now which is why I can't drown a lot of money into a stereo right. Is. But I do the amp install I have options for later. We will see, on the fence. More excited about bumping up to an Optima battery.

 

Here's the link for the Power Pack. http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ktp-445

But if you just insert KTP-445 at Ebay you will find better deals. I paid about a hundred bucks. But it will only work with Alpine Head Units. But it's a simple plug and play unit. Plug into the HU and then to the wiring adapter from your stock wiring, so you will also need the wiring kit. Also it won't fit behind the HU like they say, in a vette. Not enough room. I put mine under the pass seat and I had just enough wire to make it reach. I screwed it in with very short screws as close to the console as I could get it while allowing room for the seat mechanisms.. Then slit the carpet about an inch and ran the wires up through the console and into the HU location.

Here's the link to the Pioneer sub, but it won't plug into the Power Pack. The power pack simply increases the power on your HU up to 45 Watts per channel. So if you get a HU that has 50 or so "RMS", not max, watts it's not necessary.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...ount/TS-SWX251

Again go to ebay and punch in the numbers and you can find one much cheaper than the Pioneer website.

I sent the manufacturers websites to you so you could read up on them.

This system is not for everyone, but it suits my purposes for the music I listen to which is mostly classic rock, and contemporary country and country rock. and it's compact so I don't have amps and subs in the way anywhere.

again I have a C5 FRC so i'm not familiar with anything C6, so it may not be the thing for you. I don't know.

PS, Dennis at DD Mods also sells the Pioneer subs but I found them less expensive on ebay as well. But he has great CS so he may be the best person to deal with.