Need Stereo Help, new and stumped Options

[TrdKing]

Ok I went and picked up some 6 1/2" speakers for my celica and came home only to find out about the front being 6 3/4" and the backs 5 1/2"?

What do people actually put in for speakers? size? power? brand?

I bought a decent deck and was just looking for some cheap speakers that sound good to go in with the deck.

After looking at the back speakers is there anyway to actually fit an aftermarket speaker in there they seem to mold to the plastic mounting piece. Could I buy a 5 1/2" and put that in their? Will it require any modification?

I read through the front 6 3/4" inch front speaker install and was wondering is that what everyone is doing? Is it that hard? What about the back?

I bought some Performance Teknique speakers for 150 CAD but they are all 6 1/2"
but heard they arent that great. I am going to bring them back and probably get some panasonic speakers to go with the panasonic deck.

Please help me out I dont want to buy crappy stereo stuff and I would prefer something I can put in myself.

[Scarrell]

where are you buying this stuff from? that could give us the chance to give you more options, and what kind of cash do you have to spend?

[TrdKing]

I picked up the deck from a bigger store (not a chain) called FM Audio Video. The speakers I got from a smaller local performance auto parts store. Im going to bring the speakers back (they dont fit)and probably buy panasonic ones. I am just looking to spend about 160 CAD on 4 speakers. I want something that sounds better than all the stock stuff. I probably wouldnt put any subs in the near future.

The bigger store can get almost anything

This post has been edited by TrdKing: Aug 21, 2005 - 5:08 PM

[Scarrell]

well adding new speakers wont sound Totally better... you wont get the same amount of "bass" from the new ones as the stocks had, because stock speakers are made to perform better at low volumes with the stock amp and all that jazz.. but if you want the best sound, get some components and a 4 channel amp.. that will give you nice clean sound all around...but that will cost around 3 times what you are looking to spend, but is essentially(to me) the best route..


edit:

http://www.thezeb.com/p-CDT-Audio-CL-61A-6...stem-101083.htm

two sets of these would be awesome... and a nice 4 channel amp.. such at the JBL 80.4 or some other amp that does 75-150rmsx4

This post has been edited by Scarrell: Aug 21, 2005 - 5:33 PM

[Abraxis64]

in reference to the above post, i agree that one set of those components would be a fine addition to your system, along with an amp. in fact, i have a set of those, myself, and am pretty satisfied for the 150US that i paid. however, since you live in canada, that 150US will probably be significantly more with shipping and customs and whatnot. also, you pretty much never want to put a component set in the rear of your vehicle--it is essentially a waste of money and amplifier power for various reasons (staging, imaging, etc)

if you simply want something better than stock then, by all means, pick up a set of speakers from a big-name brand (panasonics will probably make you happy, as would alpines, pioneers, infinitys). if you're not gonna run subs or an amp in the near future, you should look for a speaker with a lower rms wattage rating (~25-50), since you'll only be able to provide it with 20 or so off your deck. try auditioning speakers if you can, so that you can find some that suit your needs. if the place you're buying from doesn't have a soundboard or any other means for you to listen before you buy, then go to another place--you don't wanna waste your time with a low-class store like that, anyway.

peace

This post has been edited by Abraxis64: Aug 21, 2005 - 6:33 PM

[snadman]

Abraxis: Excellent!

This guy gave you an awesome explanation of what you should be looking for. Yes, ideally we would all love to have a decent 4 channel amp with some components in front and nice speakers in back, but not everyone can afford that. I know if I didn't have my Best Buy discount there'd be no way I'd have the system I do. I would recommend the Pioneer TS-A1681R speakers for the front and the rear you can upgrade if you want. Honestly, with how many installs I've done now, I can tell you that adding front speakers in two door cars makes a huge difference but on the flipside of that, when we then add-on new rears, it doesn't really add much to the sound.

I actually left my stock rears in, have an Alpine 2 channel amp bridged on each side of my fronts which consist of 8" Alpines and 5.25" MB Quart components. Then I just set my fade a little more to the front and the sound is amazing. I tried out having some Inifinity Kappas in the rear and it just didn't add much so I took them back out and returned them.

I guess here's my advice in addition to the excellent advice from Abraxis, you have to take your situation into consideration alone separate of what anyone else has done. First off, how much is your top limit you want to spend? Then how often do you actually have people in the back of your car? --> Because if not very often, then why upgrade the rears? Why not just spent that top limit on a small two channel amp, and some nice coaxials or possibly components if your limit provides enough funding? Otherwise, if you want to do all 4, make sure you don't get 4 way speakers in the rear as that much high frequency hitting your ear from behind hurts at even reasonable volumes. Also make sure you get some speakers rated around 20-30W RMS as abraxis said. No need to get any higher as your deck will underpower them and you risk distortion as well as damage to the speakers.

Sorry we couldn't narrow it down completely for you, probably just added to the confusion but yeah, good luck and post up what you think you're going to do. Good luck man!

This post has been edited by snadman: Aug 21, 2005 - 7:10 PM

[TrdKing]

From the looks of it this is a little out of my price range for now. I am going to hold off for a while but when I do go and buy stuff I should pick up: 4 Channel Amp, Components for front, (2-3 way?) rears.

Just a few questions:
What is the difference in how many channels an amp has? Does one allow and extra for subs?

What is a component speaker is that just a woofer style? No little tweeter in the center?

The more ways a speaker has means more higher notes does it not?

Thanks for all the replys and help!! Im learning a lot

[Abraxis64]

okay, i'll answer your questions seperately

1. the number of channels an amp has tells you how many speakers you can send individual signals to. for example, 2 channels means you can send one signal to the front left and another to the front right. if youw anted to send signal to the rear speakrs, they'd just get the same as whatever the fronts get (not really a problem, since 99% of all music is recorded in stereo anyway) but this will mean lowering the impendence of the amp (some amps can't handle it) and you can't "fade" between front and rear.

2. component speaker is pretty much what you said--seperate woofers and tweeters (and sometimes midranges). 2-way component sets have two separate components (woof and tweet) 3 ways add a midrange. a coaxial speaker (full range speaker) is one in which the tweeter is moutned coaxially on the woofer

3. not really. it simply allows each "way" or speaker to play only certain notes, allowing it to sound better. not the best explanation, but the simplest. for example, if i work in my own law firm, i can pretty much do contract law, criminal law, torts, etc....i'm like a full-range speaker. components are like a firm in which one guy specializes in contracts and the other does divorces and stuff. breaking up the speaker allows each "way" more precise control over what it does (sorry, i'm typing this from the law school library lol...i'mo get back to studying now)

peace

[runriot95]

Obviously you have to do what's best for you and your budget but I would like to make a suggestion on your stereo set-up.
After having spent some time configuring a set-up for my celi, I now have a system that has EXCELLENT sound quality and is very loud.
Here's my set-up:

Alpine 9815 head unit
Alpine 6 disc changer
Boston Acoustics Pro 5.4 components in front
factory rear speakers(faded heavily to the front)
Bazooka 8" passive bass tube
Alpine MRV-F345 4 channel amp

Now, you don't have to buy exactly the same stuff I have but I would STRONGLY recommend this TYPE of set-up - good comps up front, a sub and a 4 ch amp.

When you think about it, this really isn't a complicated system, yet it yields GREAT sound. Good luck to you and, if you have any questions, just ask.

[snadman]

^^^^ Some good advice. lol. You have a lot of good components in there with exception of the Bazooka.I was reading each one and liked it more and more until the Bazooka name. If you really need something such as that for extra bass, then get a decent product that won't throw itself into distorting such as Bazooka, Dual, Lightning Audio, etc. type products. Stick to your Audio-phile brands so you don't have to worry about upgrading unless you want to. Because if you do that type of setup, it will work for a couple years but think about 3 years down the line, do you want to spend more money again on a sound system that you could've just done right the first time?

[Abraxis64]

word. although i have to say that some of what lightning makes is pretty decent--good bang-for-your-buck....just not ANY of the lightning products that you're used to seeing at wal-mart or best buy/circuit city. the vc2 series and especially the storm series are actually pretty good...and the prices aren't ridiculous because nobody's willing to pay top-dollar for lightning good deal to be had

peace

[TrdKing]

So component are the same as a 2 way or a 3 way speaker right

[snadman]

No!! no no no. lol. OK the easiest way to explain it is a 2-way has a woofer and a tweeter all contained together so the sound projects out the same. 3-way will add a "mid" tweeter and 4 way is like a 3 way with extra highs. I think that's the right way of explaining it so it's understandable. A 2-way component system will have a crossover that divides signal 2 ways. One is just the highs and gets sent to the tweeter and one is the mids/lows which get sent to the woofer. A 3-way component system splits the signal 3 ways, high, mid, low and each to its own component (tweeter, mid-speaker, woofer respectively). Component systems are always ideal because you can actual plan out the sound image as it's projected from the doors.

[Abraxis64]

easiest way for you to understand, perhaps, is to simply go shopping. online at crutchfield.com, for example, is a good place because they have lots of pictures and explanations of everything. once you see a component (2 way or 2 way or anything) set and a coaxial (2-way, 3-way, 4-way or otherwise) you'll immediately see the difference.

in fact, here:

coaxial speaker. this one is a 2-way because there is only a woofer and a tweeter


this is a 3-way coaxial (sometimes referred to as a triaxial, but that's not entirely accurate...but nevermind) because it's got the woofer, a tweeter (the smallest one) and also a midrange (the mid-sized one). some 4-ways will add a "supertweeter" to the mix


and here we have a 2-way component set. component because all the components are seperate and two-way because there is only a woofer and tweeter for each side (no midrange). 2-way is "normal". those little boxes you see are crossovers and control what frequencies get sent to which speaker (highs go to tweet, lows go to woofer, super lows get phased out)

peace

[lazer_mjj]

Don't go out a buy speaker mounts, just draw around the original speaker onto some 8mm ply/mdf and make your own speaker mounts to fill the gap you have left. I did this with mine in the front and rear and have 6.5" speakers all round without have to trim any door pannels.

Head - Caska DVD/TV/AUX/TUNER 4x50W, 4 PRE OUT,
Front - Infinity Reference 6.5" componants
Rear - Velocity (Blaupunkt) 6.5" 2 way
Amp - Kicker 404
Sub - Alpine S Type 10"

Its not the most expensive setup in the world but its loud enough to make your ears ring. Just dont spend a lot of money on one thing and skimp on others, it won't sound right, better to spend a moderate amount across the whole range

[celicaST]

i posted this in another thread but here you go. dont know your budget, if your looking for a good system, alpine had the award at CES 2005 for the best sounding car system for under a grand. cda-9847 head unit (id go with the 9851 because the dot matrix screen looks so much nicer), sps 171a components for front, sps 170a coaxials for back, mrp 350 amp, sws 1022d sub, and the kca 420i ipod adapter. i have the 170a (which are 6.5's by the way and i got them for 89 US$ per pair) all around with 9851 (which was 280$) and it sounds nice. its all very easy to install yourself, and if you need any help just pm me. dont pay for installation, cartoys wanted to charge me 75 for the front and 50 for the rear! alpine rocks

heres some pics of what they look like





This post has been edited by celicaST: Aug 26, 2005 - 2:17 AM

[runriot95]

Another suggestion, if you're looking to save money, is go on Ebay.

The head unit you might wanna buy new but good comps and an amp can be had for pretty cheap. Plus there is very little risk of anything being wrong with them, other than being used.

[Abraxis64]

just as an aside, since somebody brought up alpines and i'm not sure how aware people in the celica community are about sizing issues:

the car that i reference when i look into my garage and say to myself "that's my car" is a 90 crx. hondas, as you may know, use 6.5" speakers, but not really. in fact, they use 6" speakers, which is a sizing term lost on most manufacturers (phoenix gold still gets it right). specifically, 6" speakers are 16cm/160mm and should be listed as such. there are also 6 3/4" speakers, like the alpines in the above picture. while alpine doesn't acknowledge this fact openly, there is a tacit understanding that they're speakers are not what many people would consider a 6.5" speaker (look, for instance at the product number--170a--and notice that there is nary a 6 in there). these speakers in fact measure 16.5cm/165mm and are rounded up to 17cm, hence alpine's product numbering.

not that a lot of this matters to us in this venue because, as has been discussed, we have quite odd-sized speakers in our celicas. but now you know...and you know what flint, duke and crazylegs used to say: knowing is half the battle

peace

[TrdKing]

ok so components are a "seperate" pieces system.

for everybody who has them do you just replace the tweeter with the new one.

also how would you wire everything in to go to an amp

[runriot95]

Yes, you should replace the factory tweeter with the new one from the component set. Depending on how the "new" tweeter is made, it might be easier said than done. I have Boston Acoustics comps and the tweeter practically dropped right in as a replacement.

As far as hooking everything up; the wires will go from the amp to the crossover and then from the crossover to the woofer and the tweeter separately.