Audio upgrade? Which direction first??
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Puyallup WA
Audio upgrade? Which direction first??
Looking to upgrade the stock Bose system in my 04' coupe. Estimates for doing the whole system seem to keep creeping over the $5k mark. I'm not looking to spend that all at once so my question to the forum is ...
As a first step is the more gain from replacing the head unit and retaining the existing Bose speaker setup or to keeping the head unit and replacing the speakers?
Down the line it will all be gone but for a quick fix, what is the best value?
As a first step is the more gain from replacing the head unit and retaining the existing Bose speaker setup or to keeping the head unit and replacing the speakers?
Down the line it will all be gone but for a quick fix, what is the best value?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 0
From: China Grove N.C.
Headunit first , get rid of the bose
kenwood headunit
JL mids an tweets in doors an 6.5 in back,
IMG]http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/xx286/corvettedad/Vette019.jpg[/IMG]
JL 12W7 An it will shack tha hell out of you!!!
Got about 3K in mine,i want a flip out screen next Apline to match my Amps!!
kenwood headunit
JL mids an tweets in doors an 6.5 in back,
IMG]http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/xx286/corvettedad/Vette019.jpg[/IMG]
JL 12W7 An it will shack tha hell out of you!!!
Got about 3K in mine,i want a flip out screen next Apline to match my Amps!!
Last edited by corvettedaddy11; May 12, 2010 at 01:15 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 1
From: Ok! So you don't believe in conspiracies, but will you acknowledge the possibility of there being coordinated activities in secret places? Texas
If it were me in your shoes - Depending on your taste, you could start off spending $500. For that you can replace the head unit and front speakers. Run the new fronts and old rears, if you'd like, off headunit power. Next I'd add an amp, then a sub. At this point, you can start powering your front speakers off the amp along with the sub, if money allows. Add on from here as you see fit.
As for what you can get for the money, look in the audio section. There is a "what do you run in your system" thread at the top of the page. In it some people, including myself, tell how much their system cost them for parts and labor. I did my own install, so I only have $3200 in what I consider to be a high end system. HTH
As for what you can get for the money, look in the audio section. There is a "what do you run in your system" thread at the top of the page. In it some people, including myself, tell how much their system cost them for parts and labor. I did my own install, so I only have $3200 in what I consider to be a high end system. HTH
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 929
Likes: 45
From: Wayne NJ
There is no way that the Bose speakers are going to cut it.Get yourself a good head unit,a good 4 channel amp and good quality speakers.Then later you can get a sub and amp.I have an Alpine head with Ipod and satilight radio.Also a small self powered sub.Get componet speakers for the front with speaker plates and two way speakers for the rear.You can do all of this for around 1800.The sub will add to it later on if you want.If you like your sounds loud and clean,then this is the way to go.The Bose system in no way can compare to a quality aftermarket system.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 18
From: Santa Fe TX
I'm pretty happy with the stock bose speakers and headunit, with just the tweeters replaced in the front two speakers. The lows were always fine, it was the mids and highs that sucked with the bose. You can try that for $100, and if it doesn't work you can replace more.
Now if you listen to only hardcore rap and want to wake the neighbors, you need more, but for most of the music I listen to, this does just fine.
Now if you listen to only hardcore rap and want to wake the neighbors, you need more, but for most of the music I listen to, this does just fine.
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 648
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
I think the first thing you need to determine is your short term budget, say for this year, and then your long term budget, say for next year. Then you have to determine what size headunit you're going to want, 1 or 2 din.
I went with a double din which is gonna run you $1000, $1500 if you want navigation...
this includes the headunit and a stock black looking bezel that's been reworked.
I kept the BOSE speakers and very happy with the sound. Later on, I might swap out the mid/tweeters in the doors and swap out the rears which is not that expensive.
Of course, a lot of headunits like my Pioneer, can be upgraded to add sat radio, hd radio,
navigation, rear cameras, blue tooth, etc. but you can do this in stages depending on your budget and needs.
If you're looking for more volume and bass, you're gonna need to run an amp and a sub.
Jerry
I went with a double din which is gonna run you $1000, $1500 if you want navigation...
this includes the headunit and a stock black looking bezel that's been reworked.
I kept the BOSE speakers and very happy with the sound. Later on, I might swap out the mid/tweeters in the doors and swap out the rears which is not that expensive.
Of course, a lot of headunits like my Pioneer, can be upgraded to add sat radio, hd radio,
navigation, rear cameras, blue tooth, etc. but you can do this in stages depending on your budget and needs.
If you're looking for more volume and bass, you're gonna need to run an amp and a sub.
Jerry
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Looking to upgrade the stock Bose system in my 04' coupe. Estimates for doing the whole system seem to keep creeping over the $5k mark. I'm not looking to spend that all at once so my question to the forum is ...
As a first step is the more gain from replacing the head unit and retaining the existing Bose speaker setup or to keeping the head unit and replacing the speakers?
Down the line it will all be gone but for a quick fix, what is the best value?
As a first step is the more gain from replacing the head unit and retaining the existing Bose speaker setup or to keeping the head unit and replacing the speakers?
Down the line it will all be gone but for a quick fix, what is the best value?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: SW FL
I replaced my headunit with a sweet Kenwood & Polk components up front, coaxials for fill in the rear and a small amp to power the front components for around $600. Sounds MUCH better than stock!!
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 505
Likes: 6
From: Dover De
The sky is the limit with Stereo, by listen to Pentavolvo, he knows his stuff. You need to get a speaker plate to fit 6.5 components in the doors. Pull your rear speakers, get a 4 ch amp Alpine PDX, JL are great amps or Elemental Design and then you can add a sub in the rear cubby later if you dont have the money now, a good single din headunit you can do all the above for around $1000.00 if not a little less.
Good luck check out the audio section lots of ideas there.
Good luck check out the audio section lots of ideas there.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
I second the motion on Pentalvo up there :-)
To answer your question, I read a lotta these posts back when I was going to replace mine (although I never did replace them, Im half deaf and they sound fine to me
). The concensus was that the stock speakers were the weak point. It was true then (and probably now) that if you wanted to do it incrementaly you could replace the speakers first (would cost less even with the adapter to work with the oem head unit) and get way better sound and most bang for the buck at that small change.
To answer your question, I read a lotta these posts back when I was going to replace mine (although I never did replace them, Im half deaf and they sound fine to me
). The concensus was that the stock speakers were the weak point. It was true then (and probably now) that if you wanted to do it incrementaly you could replace the speakers first (would cost less even with the adapter to work with the oem head unit) and get way better sound and most bang for the buck at that small change.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I replaced the wife's entire setup and added sound deadener at the same time. I spent under $2K easily and did the install myself to save even more and had fun at the same time. Here's what I put in:
Head unit: Kenwood DNX7140
· In-dash Navigation Receiver with DVD, CD, MP3, WMA playback
· iPod and iPhone USB direct connectivity
· Motorized flip-down face
· Full color LCD monitor
· 6.95" Touch screen display
Amp: Infinity 5350a
Front speakers: Elemental Designs 3.65i with door speaker mounting plates
Rear Speakers: Polk DB 651
Sub-woofer: Elemental Designs 11kv with custom NVTHIS hidden sub box in center well
HD Radio tuner: Kenwood KTC-HR200
Rear view camera: Kenwood CCD-2000
This system sounds really great and I added a Classic iPod to make it even better. This weekend I moved the tweeters to the A-pillars for a substantial improvement in performance.
Double Din Kenwood HU
Navigation
Front door speakers and crossover
Rear speaker
Sub in rear
Bluetooth mic
iPod hookup
Backup camera
Tweeter in A-pillar (looking to have them molded in)
Head unit: Kenwood DNX7140
· In-dash Navigation Receiver with DVD, CD, MP3, WMA playback
· iPod and iPhone USB direct connectivity
· Motorized flip-down face
· Full color LCD monitor
· 6.95" Touch screen display
Amp: Infinity 5350a
Front speakers: Elemental Designs 3.65i with door speaker mounting plates
Rear Speakers: Polk DB 651
Sub-woofer: Elemental Designs 11kv with custom NVTHIS hidden sub box in center well
HD Radio tuner: Kenwood KTC-HR200
Rear view camera: Kenwood CCD-2000
This system sounds really great and I added a Classic iPod to make it even better. This weekend I moved the tweeters to the A-pillars for a substantial improvement in performance.
Double Din Kenwood HU
Navigation
Front door speakers and crossover
Rear speaker
Sub in rear
Bluetooth mic
iPod hookup
Backup camera
Tweeter in A-pillar (looking to have them molded in)
