Aftermarket Speakers, Amp, LOC? HELP

jc21 · 07-08-2006, 05:05 PM

Ok so I want to upgrade my speakers and maybe down the road add a small sub if the speakers aren't to my liking.

I want speakers that have really nice bass but still have good high's. I don't want components because I don't want to drill anywhere to mount the tweeter... Trying to keep everything looking stock.

I've done some research and seen that aftermarket speakers don't sound as great as they would if I used an amp to power them. I also read in order to keep your stock HU you'll need an LOC to hook up the amp? I'm kinda confused on that part.

So Ultimatly my questions are.

1. What kind of speakers should I look to get?

2. Which LOC should I get (besides the JL cleansweep)

3. Do I really need an amp and an LOC or will my aftermarket speakers sound just fine without them.

4. I hate doing electrical work so how much am I looking at to have a shop to everything?

jc21 · 07-08-2006, 05:06 PM

oh and if I need an amp what kind should I get and how big does it have to be to just power speakers?

rba46 · 07-08-2006, 07:13 PM

Everything I've heard about adding aftermarket speakers with the stock HU has been to the tune of it sounding like crap. Why not go with a set of components up front and use the stock location for the tweets? If you don't have people in the back very often you don't really need anything there and could just use the stock HU to power the stock rears. For regular speakers you probably only need 50 watts rms per channel or less. For components you may want a bit more like 75 to 100 rms depending on which set you have. I prefer Infinity brand speakers but to each his own so just listen to some wherever you plan to buy them from. I'm getting ready to do LOCs for the first time and since I'm trying to keep all channels from the stock HU I will probably be using the audiocontrol LC6i but I'm not sure if they make just a 2 or 4 channel unit. As for install costs, in the Kansas City area it looks like a small 2 channel amp should run 50-75 and a 4 channel should be about 75-100. Coax speakers are generally only 25-45 and components about 75-100.

My setup will soon be Infinity reference 6.5" components in front in the stock locations, Infinity reference 6.5" 2-way coaxs in the rear, and a single 10" Infinity reference sub in the trunk. I'll be running a US Acoustics USB-4085 to the regular speakers and a USB-600D to the sub (a second matching sub in the near future). I used the 4 channel in my old car with the same components up front and bridged the rear channel into the sub and just used the aftermarket HU to power the stock rears and it sounded pretty good.

Hope some of that helps.

Ryan

jc21 · 07-08-2006, 11:03 PM

Since my car is an LX I don't have any built in tweeters.. To my knowledge. Perhaps the EX and SI have them. If so where are they located. I could always mount them in the same spot where those are mounted.

ballplaya4237 · 07-08-2006, 11:31 PM

The tweeter mounts are there, it's right at the base of the windshield on both sides.

But if you get components don't put the tweeters in the factory location. If you mount them more than about 8" from the actual woofer your going to having timing issues, lose your imaging, ect.

However for your needs, I'd get a good set of coaxils. Depending on the ones you choose will determine if you need an amp to power them. I heard a set of JL coaxils that sound great powered only by the stock HU.

If you get an amp, I'd suggest a David Navone LOC. Mine sounds great. (N7V,N-777,NE-7V)

http://www.DavidNavone.com

If you don't get an amp there will be no need to get a LOC.

Summary, go to your local shop, ask questions, get answers, fit within your budget and needs, make a decision.

07-08-2006, 05:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
jc21 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago/Lincoln Park Age: 23 Posts: 1,211 I Like Cheese iTrader: 2 / 100%	Aftermarket Speakers, Amp, LOC? HELP Ok so I want to upgrade my speakers and maybe down the road add a small sub if the speakers aren't to my liking. I want speakers that have really nice bass but still have good high's. I don't want components because I don't want to drill anywhere to mount the tweeter... Trying to keep everything looking stock. I've done some research and seen that aftermarket speakers don't sound as great as they would if I used an amp to power them. I also read in order to keep your stock HU you'll need an LOC to hook up the amp? I'm kinda confused on that part. So Ultimatly my questions are. 1. What kind of speakers should I look to get? 2. Which LOC should I get (besides the JL cleansweep) 3. Do I really need an amp and an LOC or will my aftermarket speakers sound just fine without them. 4. I hate doing electrical work so how much am I looking at to have a shop to everything?

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07-08-2006, 05:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
jc21 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago/Lincoln Park Age: 23 Posts: 1,211 I Like Cheese iTrader: 2 / 100%	oh and if I need an amp what kind should I get and how big does it have to be to just power speakers?

07-08-2006, 07:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
rba46 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Everything I've heard about adding aftermarket speakers with the stock HU has been to the tune of it sounding like crap. Why not go with a set of components up front and use the stock location for the tweets? If you don't have people in the back very often you don't really need anything there and could just use the stock HU to power the stock rears. For regular speakers you probably only need 50 watts rms per channel or less. For components you may want a bit more like 75 to 100 rms depending on which set you have. I prefer Infinity brand speakers but to each his own so just listen to some wherever you plan to buy them from. I'm getting ready to do LOCs for the first time and since I'm trying to keep all channels from the stock HU I will probably be using the audiocontrol LC6i but I'm not sure if they make just a 2 or 4 channel unit. As for install costs, in the Kansas City area it looks like a small 2 channel amp should run 50-75 and a 4 channel should be about 75-100. Coax speakers are generally only 25-45 and components about 75-100. My setup will soon be Infinity reference 6.5" components in front in the stock locations, Infinity reference 6.5" 2-way coaxs in the rear, and a single 10" Infinity reference sub in the trunk. I'll be running a US Acoustics USB-4085 to the regular speakers and a USB-600D to the sub (a second matching sub in the near future). I used the 4 channel in my old car with the same components up front and bridged the rear channel into the sub and just used the aftermarket HU to power the stock rears and it sounded pretty good. Hope some of that helps. Ryan

07-08-2006, 11:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
jc21 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago/Lincoln Park Age: 23 Posts: 1,211 I Like Cheese iTrader: 2 / 100%	Since my car is an LX I don't have any built in tweeters.. To my knowledge. Perhaps the EX and SI have them. If so where are they located. I could always mount them in the same spot where those are mounted.

07-08-2006, 11:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
ballplaya4237 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 19 Posts: 569 iTrader: 1 / 100%	The tweeter mounts are there, it's right at the base of the windshield on both sides. But if you get components don't put the tweeters in the factory location. If you mount them more than about 8" from the actual woofer your going to having timing issues, lose your imaging, ect. However for your needs, I'd get a good set of coaxils. Depending on the ones you choose will determine if you need an amp to power them. I heard a set of JL coaxils that sound great powered only by the stock HU. If you get an amp, I'd suggest a David Navone LOC. Mine sounds great. (N7V,N-777,NE-7V) http://www.DavidNavone.com If you don't get an amp there will be no need to get a LOC. Summary, go to your local shop, ask questions, get answers, fit within your budget and needs, make a decision.