Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Need low cost audio upgrade ideas.

OK. I just ordered a new head unit, and found a good deal on a set of four 6x8 speakers on eBay. I was looking for just 2 for the fronts, but came across a really good price on all four that was only a few bucks more than just 2.

I know that people in a lot of areas are not fans of Pioneer equipment, but I have had good luck with them in the past, and again, this isn't meant to be as incredible as all of your great setups. I did go a little over budget, but oh well.

Ended up with a Pioneer DEH-P6700MP head unit. It will work directly with the Pioneer CD Changer I already have. I also grabbed four Pioneer 6x8 speakers (two 3-way TS-A687OR and two 4-way TS-A688OR). I know, I was supposed to get Alpines, but I couldn't find a really good deal right now, and my job is taking me out of town without internet access for 2 weeks, and I would like to get things ordered and on there way so that I can get it all installed when I get back.

Maybe in a few months I will drop some money on an amp and sub, but for now, this setup will work and should be a good step up from factory.

Thanks for all of your help. The tip about replacing the head unit first really drove the price range on the speakers. I hope that I won't regret it later.

Pioneer is still a good brand. You should be impressed! Good luck!

yes that is a nice headunit...i had one awhile back and it sounded really good....you should enjoy your new setup...

Thanks for the vote of confidence guys! I still feel like I am on the "low end" compared to the high end gear many of you have, but it should be better than what I had and I hope to be able to crank it up a little before having to turn down the bass (heck, even at lower listening levels, I have to turn the bass down a couple of bars because it muddies the sound), and even then it is still distorted with the factory equipment.

Nick

I'll tell ya what... Pioneer is great for the low cost of it.

I've never had any problems with Pioneer stuff (btw, my current setup is a Pioneer 7600MP with 4 Pioneer 6x8s... I have these on the HUs high pass. Sound good combined with the sub).

Only Pioneer thing I've had break was my 2001 series CD only player (2nd from the lowest end, had a detachable face). My negative to the car chassis came disconnected with my Walmart-special terminal... since the one to my MTX amp was still connected, guess what happend when I tried to start the car?! Internal amp on the HU fried... I was lucky that's all that happened. Sub still worked perfect.

So what happened was my negative was going from the battery to the amp, thru it to the rca cables, to the HU, thru it to the fuse block or wherever it gets it's neg from! Was real scary trying to start it with "POP POP POP..." going thru the speakers!

I ran the 6780's you have for about a year with an amp in my front doors. They sounded good. I have since upgraded to a set of polk db's, but I think you will like the pioneers.

Well today was the day. The speakers went in, and there was a noticeable improvement right away. Even sounded better when I replaced the head unit, and best when I bypassed the amp.

This will last me a while until I feel the urge to add a sub or something, but I am really liking the new sound, and I can really turn it up without hearing distortion (and I don't have to turn the bass down either)...

Now the problem is that the car has too many parts that rattle. I don't hear them while driving, but when sitting still I can hear the doors rattling if it is really turned up. I need to do a "walk around" when it is turned up to see if the trunk rattles or anything like that which, to me, is embarassing. Nothing like someone who has spent time and money on a powerful audio system, just to have it rattle like crazy.

My Contour was 3 years old when I put my first sub in it. I don't even want to think how badly a 96 would rattle this much later