Would like to replace speakers in the car...suggestions?

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 26 Jun 2004, 18:55

I own an 850GLT. The car has the stock stereo/cassette system. Volvo SC-811 Premium Sound System. The rear speakers are Volvo (8 ohms). And it has speakers in the front driver side doors, and a pair in the dashboard.

I would like to replace just the speakers. I don't need a powerful system. I am not looking to ride along in my car bouncing on sound hehe...I just want a more clear, rich sounding music coming from my stereo. I am NOT going to change the stock radio at all.

I listen to all sorts of music, but nothing with a TON of bass. I have found that Infinity's can't handle bass to well when I listen to techno/trance..so that brand is out.

So,..what speakers would people recommend for the front doors and dashboard?

Would people recommend a component speaker or not?

I don't need a subwoofer or an amplifier either, out of my price range.

Any ideas, and price ranges people would expect this to cost?

Thank you

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 26 Jun 2004, 19:20

you have very few options that meet your criteria. Ideally, I would recommend:

* new head unit. Something good, such as Alpine or Eclipse.
* amplifier for main channel. Around 50-85 Watts RMS
* new speakers up front. Braxial is ideal.
* subwoofer for bass. For a good blend, 10" is ideal. JL W0, for example.
* amplifier for subwoofer. 125 Watts RMS would be perfect

The above configuration is ideal. CDT makes *excellent* speakers, so they'd be my #1 recommendation. Infinity also makes excellent speakers, so that'd be #2. As you pointed out, infinity cannot handle bass well, but a properly-designed system would not have bass being played through the mains, anyway.

HOWEVER: On a stock head unit, there is not much you can do. Sound quality with the stock unit is quite sub-par. The lack of RCA pre-outs require you to use the built-in amplifier, which only puts out around 12 Watts RMS. And these 12 Watts are quite dirty in terms of quality.

Again, ideally, you should have an excellent front-stage with no rear-fill. However, due to your budget concerns, I would highly recommend:

* 10" JL W0 subwoofer ($100)
* 125 Watt JL monoblock amplifier ($150)
* Good head unit ($300)
* CDT CL-5x Coaxial speakers ($50) (front)
* CDT CL-6x Coaxial speakers ($50) (rear)

Out the door, you're looking at around $700 after you factor in the need of a box for the sub. There's also some miscellaneous expenses, such as wiring. But this would be for an *excellent* sound system.

If you wish to stick with your stock head unit, you can consider just adding the CDT CL-5x and CL-6x speakers on the stock unit. You will not have nearly as good of sound, however.

If you do not want coaxials, you can step up to CDT CL-61 components for around $150.

If the sound-stage is too low for your tastes (has been in my experience) you can do the CDT Image Enhancement Kit for around $50 -- but don't purchase this until you have decided you would prefer a higher stage.

FYI : the CDT CL-5x is a 5.25" speaker, which is required for the front door panels. The cDT CL-6x is a 6.5" speaker, which can be used in the rear, if you desire rear-fill. I would remove the volvo speakers in the dash, as they are a proprietary size, and no good speaker can replace it. If you would like to raise the sound stage, the grills on the dash make an excellent location to install the image enhancement kit.

Let me know if you have any more questions, or if you'd like to go another route. I definitely like planning systems, for any budget.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 26 Jun 2004, 19:34

Thanks for the information!! I appreciate it...Well I inherited the car from my Mom..she recently died..Soo at the moment..I just can't bear to change the head unit. I know...sounds a bit silly...but it's a bit sentimental at the moment oh well..

Well I just want to increase the sound quality I bit. The rear speakers sound OK..bassy enough for me. I know I would need a better head unit. I did all that initial stuff in my old Saab years ago.

I walked into a car audio store today..and the guy had me in a component MBQuart system, soon after that, he added an amp, and then the MBQuart Subwoofer...all in all...it came to $1,300 dollars (w/out Alpine CD changer)....I don't have that kind of cash at the moment...I won't for a while, that is not for audio purposes at least.

How about this..let's say I can spend $300-500..I know don't laugh...what would you recommend???

What do you mean by the words "fill"? and image? I am assuming you mean the space the audio waves would fill?

The store that had me buying everything in sight does carry JL.

You know, I just wanted to increase the sound quality a bit, and next thing I know he's got me at 1,300..that kind of bothered me a bit.

I had my Toyota Corolla...stock cardboard speakers..which suck..and I just changed to 4 Infinity speakers..and an Alpine CD/stereo..and I was really happy w/that (except for Infinity's inability to handle bass in that configuration).

Oh Btw on the tires...right now the car has a Yokohama tire..

Lastly..if I had just bought the car from joe nobody..Id change the head unit in second....I just can't do it yet

In the future I will change it to an Alpine that much I know.

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 26 Jun 2004, 19:45

okay, on a budget of $300-500, not swapping out the head unit, I would recommend this:

JL W0 subwoofer ($100)
JL 125W monoblock amplifier ($150)
CDT CL-5x coaxials ($50)
Good prefab sub-enclosure ($50)
High/Low converter ($10)
Amp wiring kit ($30)

Okay, out the door, you're looking at less than $400 for a pretty good system, keeping the stock head unit. The CDT speakers are excellent, and will match well in the front. If you want to replace the rear speakers, too, then add $50.

To keep the stock head unit, you need a high/low converter (I included it in the price quote) so that you can run the subwoofer amp off of the head unit.

So I think you can have a great-sounding system for less than $400. If later on you decide you want to spend more money, or want to swap out the head unit, you can expand on what you have.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 26 Jun 2004, 20:30

How do you think MBQuarts compare to the CDTs you are recommending.

I have never heard of MBs or the CDTs you are recommending to be honest.

Also I know everyones' music taste is different..and ears are different too...so in your most unbiased opinion what do they sound like.??

Mind you I have only heard Infinity's..and a Bose system in the Acura Legend ?? perhaps.

Second...is the JL subwoofer necessary???

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 26 Jun 2004, 20:41

well, you wouldn't have to have the subwoofer, but I do highly recommend it. I have a 12" W0 in my Volvo, and I do not have it set very loud. It is there to fill the sound out properly. With the sub, you will not need to send low frequencies to the main speakers -- which increase sound quality, and let you get louder without distorting.

As for speakers, MB Quart are very good. Personally, I like the CDT's more. I have several sets of the silk-domes, and they're my favorite brand for mains. MB Quarts are a little too "harsh" for my tastes. Again, this is all subjective, as some people prefer a more "sharp" image.

Go listen to some speakers and go with what you like. MBQ, Infinity, JL, CDT, Polk, etc are all excellent brands. It really comes down to personal preference.

Another point to consider is price. CDT sets in the $50-200 range generally are comprable to $200-350 sets from other manufacturers -- so they are an amazing value.

But I can't stress this enough : People can always help you design a system -- but you should always listen first... afterall, it's your ears that you want to please -- not someone elses.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 26 Jun 2004, 21:11

I see....this is very very helpful.....

What is the need for the amp....if I don't have a subwoofer then?

I am considering a subwoofer...but not totally sold on it..basically because I have only been in one car that had it..it was all Alpine, w/Bazooka...and man..it KICKED ass....but it the whole setup cost $3,000 too...so, I have always been, more of the mind like such things and such sound..are out of my price range...and thus never really listened to them.

Hey let me ask you this too...the guy trying to talk me into a 1300 dollar system...Showed me two type of speaker styles...one is component..the other has the tweeter on top of the speaker, 2 way system I believe...What is the advantage of the component setup in terms of speakers????...He had these MBQuarts for 230.00 dollars...

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 26 Jun 2004, 21:18

If you don't go with the sub now, you don't need an amp. If you want, you can do main speakers now, and then when you're ready to do a new head unit you can do the sub and amp at the same time.

There are 3 types of speakers : component, coaxial, braxial. The kinds you are refering to are component (all speakers seperate, and use external crossovers), and coaxial (tweeter and midbass share same housing). The third is braxial, which is really a component setup, but it is mounted like a coaxial.

Between components and coaxials, the components have higher sound quality, but coaxials image much better. That's why they make braxials. It gives you the sound quality of a component, with the image of a coaxial.

So besides having components naturally sound better than coaxials, they have external crossovers, which utilize better quality parts.

Again, you'll have to listen to speaker sets to choose what you like. However, I think $230 is a lot to spend on a set of speakers.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 26 Jun 2004, 21:26

Thanks a lot man....see I thought 230 was a crap load to spend too...esp when my Infinity's only cost 99 at the time..and they sound great , minus the bass issue

As for the type of speakers..that's helpful thank you...

Lastly.. 1. what do you mean by coaxials "IMAGE" better??
2...why are the rear Volvo speakers 8 Ohms? that's a bit strange. Is that going to be an issue at all if I change my front speakers?

And those dash speakers..NOTHING fits in them?? that sucks. I hope when I replace the doors speakers..I won't lose the capability of using the dashspeakers

I think you are right..maybe just the main speakers first..see how that goes..and when I ready to replace the head unit.andI willl too..then go w/the subwoofer/amp thing..I have the cash to do 500dollars of merchandise..that much I know. But maybe I should do it incremently..and see how it sounds first.

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 27 Jun 2004, 00:07

viper69 wrote:Lastly.. 1. what do you mean by coaxials "IMAGE" better??

"Image" is how the sound stage "looks" Or in this case, sounds. The best-sounding stage is hypothetically acheived by a full-range driver. However, a full-range driver cannot reproduce the entire frequency range as well as seperate speakers can. So the solution is to break the spectrum up into segments, with multiple drivers focusing on one segment. However, sound quality is best acheived when sound comes from one point. Because components require more than 1 driver, sound comes from multiple locations. Coaxials and Braxials minimize this effect by dramatically reducing the distance between the different drivers.

viper69 wrote:2...why are the rear Volvo speakers 8 Ohms? that's a bit strange. Is that going to be an issue at all if I change my front speakers?

They are 8 ohm because you have 8 speakers being run from a 4-channel amplifier. The amplifier requires a 4ohm net-load, so in order to acheive this, you need 8ohm speakers wired in parallel. If you replace a speaker with a 4 ohm driver, you must make sure you account for the change of impediance at the head unit. If you put new speakers in the door, do NOT use the dash speakers at all. Disconnect them. First of all, you want to increase sound quality, so you're getting rid of the crappy OEM speakers in favor of a better driver. Secondly, remember about imaging. You want the drivers as close as possible -- so the dash drivers are killing your image. You really are much better-off with a high-quality set of drivers -- and only one set. Despite what auto-manufacturers will tell you, an 8, 10, or even 12 speaker system is NOT going to be better than ONE set of high-quality drivers.

viper69 wrote:And those dash speakers..NOTHING fits in them?? that sucks. I hope when I replace the doors speakers..I won't lose the capability of using the dashspeakers

again, please stop looking at quantity over quality. You are MUCH better off with one good set of speakers in the door, and no dash speakers.