new speakers?

[Fat Boy]

has anyone just replaced their stock speakers and nothing else? if so, how much did that cost and which did you go with, which are the best?

also, ive heard about a JBL sub woofer system for explorers, is that as good as i hear it is?

thanks!

 

[aldive]

Replacing stock speakers with aftermarket ones ( matched to stock power output ) can indeed make a sound quality difference.

Price is variable; depends on brand, model, and dealer.

 

[explortainment]

few things i think about this subject
1)careful you don't turn your stock radio up too loud, the new speakers will get damaged from the crappy signal.

2) i would highly recomend a new head unit or an amp, new speakers will not make a whole lotta difference, unless the stock ones were damaged...i am giving my stock front speakers over 50 watts, and they sound great...for now

3) stock speakers generally sound better because they produce better sounding bass, aftermarket speakers have better highs and mids

4) if you get 4x6or 5x7, i would recommend switching to 5.25 or 6.5, i think speakers should be round.

5)try to get speakers for the front that have tweeters that you canmove and direct towards your ear i think infinity does this, there is something to be said about music that sounds like it is coming at you from a stage

6) do some research online, listen to some other people's stereo's and if you enjoy music, spend the extra 100$

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by explortainment
4) if you get 4x6or 5x7, i would recommend switching to 5.25 or 6.5, i think speakers should be round.

The stock speakers are 6 x 8.

I am curious... why do you prefer round s[eakers?

Thanks....

 

[Hartman]

Modding the door panel just so you can say you have round speakers seems a little extreme to me...

 

[nosaj122081]

Oval speakers tend to distort easier with higher power inputs... A round speaker will stay linear throughout its entire range, whereas an oval speaker is physically unable to keep consistant linear motion. In my competition cars I always ran round speakers for that very reason, but for low-powered fronts (less than 100 watts) you shouldn't run into too much trouble.

 

[explortainment]

you don't have to modify the door to fit round speakers, there is a plate that you buy for like 6$(at any stereo store) that does this for you. Round is the way to go. Not only that, but you get a larger selection of round speakers, there is usually only one choice for 6x8's per brand...AND higher end speaker manufacturers don't even make oval speakers, maybe they know something too?

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

Originally posted by explortainment
few things i think about this subject
1)careful you don't turn your stock radio up too loud, the new speakers will get damaged from the crappy signal.

Most aftermarket speakers are designed to handle way more power than factory ones. I don't think they can be easily damaged from the "crappy signal".

2) i would highly recomend a new head unit or an amp, new speakers will not make a whole lotta difference, unless the stock ones were damaged...i am giving my stock front speakers over 50 watts, and they sound great...for now

New & efficient aftermarket speakers WILL make a big difference even with the stock HU. How can stock speakers powered at 50 watts (I'm assuming you are talking about PEAK power here, your RMS output probably isn't much different from factory) sound "better" than aftermarket speakers powered by stock HU? They might sound lounder, but certaintly not "better".

3) stock speakers generally sound better because they produce better sounding bass, aftermarket speakers have better highs and mids

Uhh...sure Can you please explain how stock paper cone speakers "generally sound better" and produce better sounding bass than aftermarket? You must have really sh*tty aftermarket speakers.

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

Originally posted by aldive


The stock speakers are 6 x 8.

I am curious... why do you prefer round s[eakers?

Thanks....

Round speakers produce generally better sound than comparably priced oval ones, simply because of their design. Round speakers are able to produce better bass & mid-range. Why? There's less distortion. This is the reason why high-end manufactures stick with round speakers for their top line models

 

[stormchaser]

The stock speakers (even with the Pioneer 'audiophile' system I have now) have paper cones and foam surrounds. Almost any name brand aftermarket speaker (Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, etc) with polypropylene cones and rubber surrounds will sound much cleaner.

I had a '99 Sport previously with the premium HU (cass/CD 20W/ch) and replaced the 4 speakers with Pioneer 6x8 3-ways and the improvement was dramatic. The highs were crisp and the muddy bass became very sharp and pronounced.

I purchased the speakers from Crutchfield, $99/pr, and that included detailed instructions and wiring harnesses so you can just plug them in. If you're just replacing the 4 door speakers, it should take you about an hour.

The stock HU sounded/performed fine with the new speakers, and had plenty of power. I think you'll be very satisfied with just replacing the speakers.

 

[mike dilbone]

i agree w/stormchaser,i replaced all 4 stock speakers
with pioneer 5 x 7's and they sound great.on the
advice of a local custom shop i added an amp to power
one 8" sub in a custom enclosure in the right rear
the amp and sub cannot be seen and it's amazing how
hard that little sub hits.

 

[explortainment]

Kontrol-Trac:

>>>>quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ME:
1)careful you don't turn your stock radio up too loud, the new speakers will get damaged from the crappy signal.

YOU:
Most aftermarket speakers are designed to handle way more power than factory ones. I don't think they can be easily damaged from the "crappy signal". >>>>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ME AGAIN: a stock radio will distort at a lower volumes than what most people like to listen to(especially the type of person trying to upgrade their stereo), turning the volume up past where the signal distorts will destroy any speaker, including your brand new aftermarket speaker.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ME:
i would highly recomend a new head unit or an amp, new speakers will not make a whole lotta difference, unless the stock ones were damaged...i am giving my stock front speakers over 50 watts, and they sound great...for now

YOU:
New & efficient aftermarket speakers WILL make a big difference even with the stock HU. How can stock speakers powered at 50 watts (I'm assuming you are talking about PEAK power here, your RMS output probably isn't much different from factory) sound "better" than aftermarket speakers powered by stock HU? They might sound lounder, but certaintly not "better".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ME AGAIN: I'm using a sony amp that puts out 80 watts per channel to amp my highs on my stock speakers, i can turn it up without distorting at all, this sounds 1000x better than simply replacing my stock speakers with aftermarket speakers and using my stock radio.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ME:
stock speakers generally sound better because they produce better sounding bass, aftermarket speakers have better highs and mids
YOU:
Uhh...sure Can you please explain how stock paper cone speakers "generally sound better" and produce better sounding bass than aftermarket? You must have really sh*tty aftermarket speakers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ME AGAIN:
anyhow...Uhh, sure i'll explain it to ya...Stock speakers on a stock head unit will generally sound better than a stock headunit powering aftermarket speakers with NO SUB..
Aftermarket speakers are made of thinner materials to produce better sound and to be more efficient...they are not gerenally tested at 12 watts with a distoirted signal, they are designed to be used with a lot of power and a good signal, stock speakers are designed to take the torture of someone turning up the volume past the distortion point on their stock stereo and not getting destroyed the first few times it happens. this extra thickness and rigidness of stock speakers will produce more bass from the stock power of 12 watts or so....aftermarket speakers in sizes less than 8 inches are designed for midrange frequencies and highs..not low frequencies(bass)

oh, and the reason I prefer round speakers? thats because of the shape of the ear drum and the way sounds and wave patterns are recognized.

 

[Fat Boy]

good stuff!

as for a new head unit im gunna go with the JVC KD - SH99, its the MP3 player, the top model for this particular series.

cost is $400.

im still a bit baffled about speakers and posibly subs, i dont know yet.

if anything, i would probelly go with 3 10's cause the kick quicker than 12's and would suit my style of music better. my guess would be MTX.

but still, as for speakers and an amp im still clueless, im gunna go to the store tommorow and have someone help me out.

thanks for all your helps fellas!

 

[leenjen]

thats a good headunit

Originally posted by Fat Boy


as for a new head unit im gunna go with the JVC KD - SH99, its the MP3 player, the top model for this particular series.

great choice

 

[nosaj122081]

The JVC MP3 player is a really good choice, thats what I'm going to be using, but keep looking, 400 clams for that deck is a pretty crumby deal, sounds like a Crutchfield price to me, I've seen them retail as low as $299... Check local places, they usually can give you a really good price on stuff plus you keep them in business.