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Car speaker recommendations?

post #1 of 15
10/10/09 at 3:02pm
Thread Starter 
Does anyone have any car speaker recommendations - either specific models or even just brands? I recently realized that my car's speakers have either blown out or have just merely degraded, so, at times, it's tiring listening in the car. As I have a fairly brutal commute, I'm mainly concerned with good sound quality for listening to audio books, rather than a system that plays music loudly. Also, are there recommendations about whether to replace the door and rear speakers (which are 6x9's) or just one set? I have a decent home system, but I'm totally lost when it comes to car audio. I tried doing a search on audioasylum, but I didn't find much. Any suggestions would be great.
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post #2 of 15
10/10/09 at 3:46pm
Honestly if you will be running speakers off the deck just get some infinity kappas. I would replace all 4 but if you want to upgrade a bit and actually do a new deck and amp, just buy a nice set of components up front and f the back.
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post #3 of 15
10/11/09 at 12:54am
I am running MB Quart components in my kickpanels. Powered them with a cheap Rockford Fosgate amp.
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post #4 of 15
10/11/09 at 2:23am
MB Quart is very good. What kind of car do you have? If you have anything high end it is going to be a nightmare to upgrade.
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post #5 of 15
10/11/09 at 3:06am
MB Quart. Boston Acoustics is good too, cheaper. But I really liked the MB quarts I had in high school. Now I just go with stock. both need amplification though....its a complex process with matching the input/output...even cheapo ones on a stock deck would sound better than underpowered high end speakers.
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post #6 of 15
10/11/09 at 4:12am
I dug CDT.
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post #7 of 15
10/11/09 at 12:20pm
If you're just running them off the stock deck, Infinity Kappas are a great suggestion.

MB Quarts can sound awesome, but can be really harsh if you don't pair them with good amplification. Eclipse used to make stunningly good coax speakers that sounded fantastic off factory amplification, but I have no idea if this remains the case.

I used to be really into this stuff, my old Jeep had the Alpine with Toslink out to a digital processor that did the d/a conversion post-crossover, and then to 5 channels of Tru Tech/Zapco amplification driving DLS Ultimate Reference components and an Elemental Designs 12" sub. It sounded great, but was worthless when I started listening mostly to iPod.

If I were doing it today with lots of funding, I'd convert the Wadia 170i and one of the Rane digital processors to 12V. I still think Tru Tech makes some great freaking amps, but old school Zapco is my favorite by far.
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post #8 of 15
10/11/09 at 1:17pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm looking to replace the speakers (maybe the system?) in my 2003 Corolla. I'm assuming that's relatively a simple and straightforward operation. I guess the bigger question is how good an iPod can sound in a car. Both my wife and I use the car for our long commutes (alternating days), so it gets close to 1000 miles a week on it. We find our iPods great for the ease of audiobooks/podcasts, but lately the sound quality is getting worse and worse. I'm not sure whether it's that one of our toddlers was playing with the radio and blew out the speakers, or whether they've just degraded over time. Anyway, we're not looking for any powerful music system, but something that puts out a clean sound. I used to be knowledgeable about home audio, but car audio is baffling (especially as many of the names of the speakers imply qualities that I'm not interested in, such as Sony's "Xplode"). Thanks again for the suggestions.
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post #9 of 15
10/11/09 at 5:29pm
A Corolla should be simple. Upgrade a Mercedes or Lexus sound system will be a nightmare because every speaker has its own amplifier. You should be able to get good sound quality if you have the system set up properly. I would avoid places like Best Buy. You want a shop that specializes in car stereo. The only car I have that has an aftermarket radio is my old 911. I have a Nakamichi CD player and I would definitely recommend one.
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post #10 of 15
10/11/09 at 7:59pm
if you're just doing audiobooks, you don't need really high end speakers.

I would replace the deck with something that has a line-in Ipod input (do not go through FM modulators). You should get a deck where you can see the song titles on the stereo itself and control the functions of the ipod from the stereo. That way you can just leave the ipod plugged into the glove box and lock it, then control everything through the stereo itself.

As far as speakers go, if you upgrade the deck first, the additional power from the deck may actually make the speakers sound much better. I would do it in stages if possible...then probably if the speakers are really blown, then go with something like a set of Boston Acoustics coaxials. MB quart makes coaxials where the tweeters are pointed up.


http://www.crutchfield.com/S-UkrmqUy...car/mycar.aspx

you can see what fits your car there (hopefully it saved the car selection) but:

2003 Toyota Corolla Sedan
with 4 speakers

* Factory Stereo Installed [change]

Factory replacement info:

In-dash stereo
9-1/8" depth; Size code DD,E

Front speakers
Front Door: 6-1/2" factory speaker note

Rear speakers
Rear Deck: 6x9" factory speaker note



Make sure they fit, some speakers have some protrusion and they won't fit properly behind the speaker grills.
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post #11 of 15
10/11/09 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by arced View Post
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm looking to replace the speakers (maybe the system?) in my 2003 Corolla. I'm assuming that's relatively a simple and straightforward operation. I guess the bigger question is how good an iPod can sound in a car. Both my wife and I use the car for our long commutes (alternating days), so it gets close to 1000 miles a week on it. We find our iPods great for the ease of audiobooks/podcasts, but lately the sound quality is getting worse and worse. I'm not sure whether it's that one of our toddlers was playing with the radio and blew out the speakers, or whether they've just degraded over time. Anyway, we're not looking for any powerful music system, but something that puts out a clean sound. I used to be knowledgeable about home audio, but car audio is baffling (especially as many of the names of the speakers imply qualities that I'm not interested in, such as Sony's "Xplode"). Thanks again for the suggestions.
Before you replace the speakers, replace the head unit. I had an 03 Corolla and stuck a great Alpine unit in there that dramatically improved the sound. Of course, I caught the bug after that and ended up putting in Infinity speakers all around along with an amp. Like Xericx said, get one with a line-in input.
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post #12 of 15
10/11/09 at 11:08pm
if you have the budget, I suggest getting separate component speakers, or at least a pair of mids and tweeters, rather than integrated speakers. in my experience the difference in sound between integrated speakers and separates is worth the price.
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post #13 of 15
10/11/09 at 11:28pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I tried poking around the Crutchfield site, but there's so many options. What's a reasonable budget for a decent system (as in appropriate for a 6-year-old Corolla with 100,000 miles on it)? Is it much easier just to go to a store and have it done, rather than trying to figure out something on the net only to find out that it doesn't fit?
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post #14 of 15
10/11/09 at 11:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by arced View Post
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I tried poking around the Crutchfield site, but there's so many options. What's a reasonable budget for a decent system (as in appropriate for a 6-year-old Corolla with 100,000 miles on it)? Is it much easier just to go to a store and have it done, rather than trying to figure out something on the net only to find out that it doesn't fit?
I'd spend about $300 for a stereo head unit. $150-200 for each pair of speakers. You could go $100-150 too. depends on how fancy you want to go. Components get to about $250-$400 though and its a bit more for installation and you'll have a tweeter sticking out somewhere. go to a reputable car audio shop in your area. they'll charge you maybe $50-75 to put in the deck and $20-40 for the speakers. makes it much easier.
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post #15 of 15
10/12/09 at 12:17pm
Good advice on here, and I agree with only going with the higher end speakers if you have the amplification to support it (i.e. the mb quarts)

Honestly, Crutchfield was great back in the day before i had the resources to have installs done for me (and they exceeded my skill level). Changing out speakers should be something you can handle.

Eclipse CD5000
Diamond D6 Components
1x Treo SSI10''
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