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I just want a basic good stereo speaker upgrade, what do I get?

ScottyDsntKnow

Veteran CEG'er
Joined
Dec 24, 2008
Messages
994
Location
Brick, NJ
I've searched and searched but all I see is people putting component speakers in or modding the doors to take bigger 6x9s or putting in aftermarket amps or whatever... All I want is to replace the crap stock speakers(at least 1 is blown) with a good set that'll sound good and last awhile. I am not an audiophile by any means and I don't have some gigantic library of music like many do. I listen to satellite radio mostly. I am also going to put some 12s I have from a previous car in as well. I can do all the wiring myself and am decent enough with electronics.

Basically what I am doing is a pioneer head unit with whatever good speakers fit in the stock locations running off the headunit's amp and then the 12s in the trunk.

So what should I be looking at here? Basic Pioneer speakers as well or something else?

Thanks in advance.
 
got some Lightning audio(rockford fosgate) 6x8 3 ways that bolted right in and sounded good with the rest of my premium sound system:shrug::cool:
 
So what should I be looking at here? Basic Pioneer speakers as well or something else?

You can't beat the efficiency and sound from the cheap lower-end line of Pioneers ($35):
http://www.millionbuy.com/piotsg6841r.html

I you can swing it, their higher end ones sound fantastic, and have a built in crossover, so they are as close to a component as you can get in a 6x8 (they sound better than the old plates Pioneer used to make) ($76):
http://www.millionbuy.com/piotsd802p.html

The second ones are what I got for the rear, and while they are not going to be able to beat the component set I have up front, they definitely hold their own. Shipping was fast from millionbuy, it was well packaged, and was about $10.

edited to add: Anything more than a 2-way is a waste of money. I love Pioneer, but their 5-way 6x9 monstrosities (http://www.millionbuy.com/piotsa6992r.html) are a joke, and pure marketing. You can only hear to about 20,000Hz, so there is no need for 'super' tweeters, and regular speakers with only one tweeter produce higher frequencies that you can hear. The cheap 6x8's I recommended above, go to 22,000Hz. The only thing adding more tweeters will do is make the sound unbalanced and harsh; if this wasn't the case you would see $3000 sets of Rainbow speakers with 6 tweeters!
 
Just look around on millionbuy.com. They have a huge selection for anything you want. Thats where I got my infinity reference 6x8s. $60 a set. Sound is phenomenal. They reach over 100db in my car without an amp.
 
I went to WalMart, where they had a sale on Pioneer TS-A6872R 6x8 speakers that are made especially for Fords-Mazda's etc. It's a 3 way unit with a polypropylene woofer cone and for a small outlay (about $55/pr) they represent a major upgrade over the stock OEM speakers, need no wiring mods, can take substantial amounts of power (you can still look up the specs on Crutchfield) and needed no fancy defrosted vent mods or anything. They have good bass for door units (I don't have or want a sub) and sound great. It was as simple as removing and replacing the door panels, maybe 20 minutes each.

Highly recommended.
 
^^^^^^^I got the same speakers for the front of my 'stique with a kenwood HU. Their was a definite bass improvement over the stock speakers. Installation was relatively easy except I still am not sure If I have Positive and Negative from the speakers hooked up right. But they work :)
 
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As everyone has said, go for the pioneers. I have 4-way 6x8 in all 4 doors and they sound great for the price.
 
I agree with Contourspd98. The Infinity reference 6x8s are awesome! I put a pair of these in my wife's '98 Ford Explorer and they sound great!

I'm showing you a pair of these speakers off the Crutchfield website. But I'm sure you can get them elsewhere for cheaper.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1086822CF/Infinity-Reference-6822cf.html?tp=92

Just look around on millionbuy.com. They have a huge selection for anything you want. Thats where I got my infinity reference 6x8s. $60 a set. Sound is phenomenal. They reach over 100db in my car without an amp.
 
I need to give millionbuy a call since those pioneers are listed as "speakers" but I can't find a quantity. I don't want to go ordering thinking I'm getting 4 and then only have 2 show up...
 
I need to give millionbuy a call since those pioneers are listed as "speakers" but I can't find a quantity. I don't want to go ordering thinking I'm getting 4 and then only have 2 show up...

Both of the links I posted are for pairs (2 per box) :cool:
 
I have used Pioneers in our cars, great bang for the buck.

I also have Polk db"s, very nice sound, but they do cost more.

If you are looking for good sound for cheap, go with the Pioneers, IMO.
 
Ya I'll be getting the pioneers, I'm just not sure which ones. I also need to pull the amp and wiring out of my Cobra when it gets a little warmer and run it through the tour... Also need to decide if I want to upgrade to pioneer head unit with built in ipod controls(white plug not the blue one) or just go with the satellite radio as is and not worry about it with the good unit I already have and just stick with the cheapo evilbay hookup where you control the music from the ipod itself...

In the end all this will be is a good Pioneer head unit, 4 good budget Pioneer speakers, a kicker sub amp and two 12" old style 4 ohm Xplod subs.
 
Ya I'll be getting the pioneers, I'm just not sure which ones. I also need to pull the amp and wiring out of my Cobra when it gets a little warmer and run it through the tour... Also need to decide if I want to upgrade to pionner head unit with built in ipod controls(white plug not the blue one) or just go with the satellite radio as is and not worry about it with the good unit I already have and just stick with the cheapo evilbay hookup where you control the music from the ipod itself...

In the end all this will be is a good Pioneer head unit, 4 good budget Pioneer speakers, a kicker sub amp and two 12" old style 4 ohm Xplod subs.

Good choice. For the deck I would stongly recommend either the Pioneer 7800/780 (premier line) or the 9800/980 (premier line) as they are a couple years old. That being said, the 9800/980 is still currently their top of the line cd player, and isn't scheduled to be replaced until March 2010. The 7800/780 has been replaced, but can still be found very cheap online.

The reason I suggest these, isn't the price though, it's the sound adjustment they have, that even the 2009 decks DON'T have! The new decks may have more features, but they only have trebble/mid/low adjustment, and maybe a crossover for the sub on some models.

The 7800/780 can be found for about $280, and the 9800/980 for about $385. The only difference between the two is the Bluetooth on the 9800/980. The only deck that is better for sound adjustment is the Pioneer Premier PRS800, which is about the same price as the 9800/980, but it looses the Bluetooth, but gains EQ adjustment for left and right independantly.

Good luck!
 
Ah, this thread is timely for me. The OEM door speakers in my '99 CSVT have recently developed voice coil rubs, and are sounding a bit scratchy on the local classical station. I was looking for some recommendations of good replacement speakers, not crazy stuff, just better than OEM. Think I'll try a couple pair of the Infinity 6822cf's.

Thanks,
 
Good choice. For the deck I would stongly recommend either the Pioneer 7800/780 (premier line) or the 9800/980 (premier line) as they are a couple years old. That being said, the 9800/980 is still currently their top of the line cd player, and isn't scheduled to be replaced until March 2010. The 7800/780 has been replaced, but can still be found very cheap online.

The reason I suggest these, isn't the price though, it's the sound adjustment they have, that even the 2009 decks DON'T have! The new decks may have more features, but they only have trebble/mid/low adjustment, and maybe a crossover for the sub on some models.

The 7800/780 can be found for about $280, and the 9800/980 for about $385. The only difference between the two is the Bluetooth on the 9800/980. The only deck that is better for sound adjustment is the Pioneer Premier PRS800, which is about the same price as the 9800/980, but it looses the Bluetooth, but gains EQ adjustment for left and right independantly.

Good luck!

I don't even need anything this nuts. I just need something that has basic sound adjustment and a separate bass control for the subwoofer. Also preferably the white ipod hookup but it isn't required. My Cobra has an older DEH-6800MP which has all of that except not the white hookup for the ipod so I'll probably just use that one. I also have a spare way older 6400mp which I'd put in the Cobra since I'll hardly ever use the stereo in that anyways(full exhaust is nicer sounding).
 
Good choice. For the deck I would stongly recommend either the Pioneer 7800/780 (premier line) or the 9800/980 (premier line) as they are a couple years old. That being said, the 9800/980 is still currently their top of the line cd player, and isn't scheduled to be replaced until March 2010. The 7800/780 has been replaced, but can still be found very cheap online.

The reason I suggest these, isn't the price though, it's the sound adjustment they have, that even the 2009 decks DON'T have! The new decks may have more features, but they only have trebble/mid/low adjustment, and maybe a crossover for the sub on some models.

The 7800/780 can be found for about $280, and the 9800/980 for about $385. The only difference between the two is the Bluetooth on the 9800/980. The only deck that is better for sound adjustment is the Pioneer Premier PRS800, which is about the same price as the 9800/980, but it looses the Bluetooth, but gains EQ adjustment for left and right independantly.

Good luck!

I bought my 7800 for $150 off ebay with out a harness, and that was only another $20 or so. Honestly the sounds quality is vastly superior vs the 7400 that I had. I honestly wasn't expecting a sound quality improvement when I bought it, I just really liked the display. Right away I noticed the difference in sound. Like he said, I would strongly suggest it.
 
Kenwood KDC-MP238

Love it. Has 2 preouts and a control for SW, Bass, Mid and Treble. Also has a front auxiliary. It's rock solid as well.

KDC-MP238.jpg
 
Bringing back from the dead lol. I never did get around to buying speakers until now. Things kept coming up and then I got deployed. I got the higher end pioneer speakers mentioned earlier in the thread, $180 shipped to my door. As soon as they come in I'm going to install them and then maybe get around to fixing that pesky antenna...
 
Speakers in. Headunit from Cobra going in Sunday when I swap them. If I have time then amp and subs from the Cobra will too although keeping the subs from moving around all over the place is going to be fun... Why I'm trying to get a rear strut tower brace to bolt the box to in addtion to stiffening up the rear.


edit: Millionbuy does not sell those speakers listed anymore but I found a few other places via google. AFIAK Pionner has discontinued them so I'm glad I scored a pair. Hard to top these for the price IMO.
 
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