I am looking to replace the stock nav system and bose speakers with an "upgrade". the stock system is just awful for such a beautiful car.

anyone got any recommendations on which speakers, amps, subwoofers work best?

i'm going to use the pioneer avic 90 as the in dash receiver.

thanks in advance.
mjm

 

Try posting in the audio forum and you'll get more results than in the Tech/Performance forum.

San

 

thanks san

 

No problem. I agree that the stock system is pretty lame.

San

 

Make sure that your avic 90 has three sets of RCA outs, Front, Rear, & Sub if you are going to do this "right". Without them, you will have to use a high level signal converter which just introduces one more peice of equipment into the mix, and a little bit more noise.

For speakers, I would recommend a nice set of silk dome tweeters, and a 6.5" or 8" mid base driver combo like the DLS UR6.2, or the Iridium 8.2 component sets. You'll have to contact CF member TheKomoman about the mdf baffles he sells to make your new speakers fit the OEM holes. He's offering a very good deal on some high quality baffles plates. DO NOT buy a titanium tweeter component set. They are very harsh on the ears.

As far as amps go, don't buy the JL Audio, of Rockford Fosgate stuff they make now days. If you want it to sound better than your Bose, your going to have to spend some coin. Tru Technologies, Braxx, Sinfoni, & Butler are exceptional car audio manufacturers now days. Their stuff is all hand made with only the finest boards & components available. Problem is, your going to have to spend big. I have a couple of Sinfoni amps on auction right now @ fleabay as well as a Butler Tube Driver Blue 4 channel. All are mint condition, and are at the top of the food chain with respect to sound quality equipment. Let me know if you are interested.

As far as the Sub goes, JL audio makes a stealth box for the C6. A couple of members have them in their cars, and for sale. I will buy one as soon as I'm ready to start my Vette sound system. Other than that, I'm sure you can have a custom box made if bass is what moves you. A "complete" sound system ABSOLUTELY has to have a sub-woofer. You can't get premium sound without one, period! The problem with many set-ups is that the installer (usually the younger crowd) sets the cross-over points too high, as well as the gain, and you end up with a "boom" machine, sounding like the kids in their rice rockets.... The key to a good sub install is to use it just to fill the lower register, and to provide a bit of rumble & growl to your set-up. This is done by setting the cross-over at about 55 Htz and below. That way you get that deep thump of a kick drum, without the boom (unless you like the boom). I personally like the Infinity Kappa series subs. They are made for the sound quality guys vs. the little kids with their 75 lb. 3000 watt speaker. The Kappa series are very precise & fast, and would be my first choice in woofers for a custom box.

Hope this helps a bit, PM me with any questions I can help you with.


Keith

 

Don't know why you don't like JL amps but I have two(450/4v2 driving JL components and JL rear fill and a 300/2v2 powering my JL Stealthbox). JL Slash amps are known for their proven output at all voltages and the quality of the amps. You dont find to many complaints . Everyone who hears my system is impressed.

 

Keith
very helpful. thanks.

 

NYC6
is your car a convertible? if so, can you describe what speaker configuration you have?
thanks

 

hey man i work at an audio store in La and in my 08 coupe i have the stealthbox and it sounds amazing... the convertible stealthbox from jl audio is even better. i also put jl audio components in the door and used a rockford fosgate amp. as far as the head unit that is a great pic but right now im just using the stock deck... but yeah if u need any help or have any more questions feel free to ask

 

Coins (as in very little $$, maybe a few quarters) would be all you would need to sound better than Bose. Everyone has different taste in audio, but almost everyone agrees that Bose (car audio especially) is overpriced junk.

San

 

No, I have a coupe. I have JL C5-650 components in the doors and JL XR-525 in the rears(which you cant do in a vert). JL does make subs specifically for C6 Verts that are 8" and fit in the locations behind the seats. I havent heard them myself but Ive read reports that they sound good.

 

JL is speaker company, not an amplifier company. They make some of the most decent stuff available today as far as the "Made in China" manufacturers go.

I don't doubt that your system sounds good, and I'm sure it craps all over your stock system, but it could sound a hundred times better with the proper components. I'm not trying to make it sound as if you've installed rubbish, all I'm saying is that if you want competition grade sound quality (SQ), not just sound pressure levels (SPL), as in just being LOUD and sounding decent, you will have to spend a lot more $.

As far as a factory Bose system is concerned, they do sound pretty good. I HAD one in my truck, but that only lasted a couple of weeks as I am an AUDIO FREAK, and couldn't stand it anymore. The Bose sound is decent at any volume, and does not distort, but it lacks a ton of detail.

Here are a couple of pics from my last install (my truck). I go through amps like crazy, so you will see a few change outs...



A vacuum tube CD player only made in Japan....



Details fellas, it's all about the details. I always deaden the entire vehicle, two side of the doors plus the fiberglass panels as well. It make for much cleaner sound, and ZERO rattles....





Rear doors with DLS Iridium 8.2 separates. 8" drivers, and the tweets.



Front doors with DLS Nobelium 8.3 separates 8" drivers 3" mids, and the tweets up high.



Tweets up high for front stage imaging.....



I was running two TRU Bullet 4100 amps for the 8 channels I had going. Six Channels to runs the front stage, driver, mid, tweets, and the last two through a passive crossover to the rear doors. The little box in the middle is a TRU 5 way active crossover. Very rare, and VERY expensive... I'm running a couple of Butler 4x75 Tube driver amps right now.








Being the audio tweaker that I am, I replaced the TRU crossover for an ALTO Mobile Processor that had loads of capabilities. Time alignment, signal processor, EQ, Crossover (6way), Noise gate, you name it.... All of this can be tuned from the front seat, in real time.



Last, but not least is the TRU technologies HAMMER. The single best sub-woofer amplifier ever made, EVER. This thing has ULTIMATE dampening (speaker control), and extremely clean signal. The sub is in a JL stealth box under the rear seat next to the amp. Sorry no pics of that.

If you guys want to see more installs, PLEASE let me know.

Total cost for my trucks sound system without labor (I'm free) was about 8500.00, so when I say "coin", I mean COIN!