Any advice on upgrading OEM speakers?

[drayment]

Anyone got any advice on improving on the OEM speakers without breaking the bank?

I'm happy to try installing myself but have limited tools, and would need a guide from somewhere!

Some people suggest only upgrading the front speakers and using a sub.

Generally I like audiobooks, rock music and instrumental stuff so I don't need a portable Ibiza club, I'm looking for good midrange and sound quality rather than explosive power, and I'm not interested in those tiny little tweeters or buzzers or whatever they're called!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks, Dane

 

[Trespasser]

I recommend Alpine speakers. I think Focal is nice as well.
Changing the front speakers (mid+tweeters) will be a good upgrade, and will probably meet your demands.
Remember to power them with a good headunit

 

[drayment]

You think the tweeters are useful? I've only seen them in one friends car and they just seemed to hiss like a ear splitting miniature high hat!

 

[Trespasser]

You think the tweeters are useful? I've only seen them in one friends car and they just seemed to hiss like a ear splitting miniature high hat!

Well , you need tweeters for the high notes. There is allways tweeters in speakers
You usually buy a set of mids and tweeters. Component set it's called in Norway

 

[Mattyboy1]

What size speakers are in the front and rear doors of a Leon cupra t.

 

[285cupra-matty]

Just out of interest what Leon is it?

 

[gdjohny]

Dont change them mate.4
I hdls ave done it to my leon and I regreat it. I have installed Focal fronts and FLI rears. All hooked up to a DLS amp and a very good Alpine HU. The sound wasnt greatly improved over the original speakers powered by the HU alone.

 

[Mr OCD]

Unless you can amp the speakers seperately for the upgrade then don't bother ... the originals are very efficient for Headunit power.

I run Focal Access Components in mine but they are amp'd with a JL Audio amp... on headunit power they don't have enough grunt ...

Oh ... and if your going to go to all that trouble then soundproof the doors

 

[nd-photo.nl]

I went with MTX Thunder 6000 T6S652 and am very content till this day! Much better soundstage for a nice price (around €90,- for a set). In the back I have a Pioneer compo set, which is aight. I also have a Pioneer headunit (also around €90 ish).


MTX Thunder 6000 T6S652 by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr


MTX T6S652 Woofer closeup by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr

 

[Brettyboy]

Interesting to read comments,i've got a dead rear o/s speaker & was thinking of upgrading but i am happy with std speakers so think i'll find a std 1

 

[drayment]

Nice Nd-photo - did you soundproof as well?

Matty - it's a Cupra MK1 2004 TDi

Stuck with the originals in the end, originally bought a BEAT 485 DAB radio. DO NOT BUY THIS! Absolutely the most shoddily made piece of electrical equipment I have ever bought. Ugly, clunky, hard to use, hard to read, even a lot of the text is spelt wrong in the machine!

I bought the SONY CDX DAB - I had the same model minus the DAB in my previous car, much better.

 

[RaviR50]

i found that the standard speakers are pretty awesome, give good bass and if set right can get some good hi ranges too

 

[ben450]

I've got the Sat nav in mine so stereo is good I might get some bose speakers from an s3 for mine.

 

[LukeK]

Do people think the standard head unit is good enough ?

 

[gdjohny]

standard headunit in my opinion is crap. swap it for something else and see for yourself

 

[LukeK]

Will do at weekend fella. Need the facia insert for an aftermarket head unit first. What about the cd changer will that not be used then?

 

[Allan_84]

best upgrade to the sound is head unit and front speakers.
don't buy cheap head unit, remember this is where all your sound comes from.

i would all ways recommend 2-Way Component system to the front. you can buy 6,5" adapter rings to fit the 6,5" mid-woofer in the door. also the small tweeters mount them higher in the door like the black plastic inside of the mirror or on the a-piller.
if you think the tweeter is to hiss/high, some crossovers comes with 1 or 2 settings to compensate this "0db" "+3db" "+6db" or something like that. if this dont dont work try facing the tweeter away from you, like not pointing straight at your face.

if you want "more" then i can recommend upgrading with a 10" or 12" sub in the trunk and a 4channel amp.
4channel amp you have 2 channels for your front speakers and you can bridge the last 2 channels for more power to you sub.

 

[A nice cupra T]

That's the only thing that slightly disappointed me with my LC the OEM speakers and stereo are pish. My standard speakers in my almera gti are much better. The 6 cd autochanger is nice though. And I'm really enjoying the car.

 

[ben450]

My cupra R sounds good with standard speakers but I have got sat nav so obviously thats alot more powerful than the standard crappy stereo.

 

[Mr OCD]

That's the only thing that slightly disappointed me with my LC the OEM speakers and stereo are pish. My standard speakers in my almera gti are much better. The 6 cd autochanger is nice though. And I'm really enjoying the car.

Nothing wrong with the standard speakers if they are operating correctly... in fact they are very good all things considered.

In fact I'd say don't bother upgrading them unless you have a decent amplifier (I don't mean a Headunit amp either) as the standard speakers are very efficient so uprated speakers will sound quieter at the same volume used on the HU.

Most aftermarket HU's put out a max of around 12-14rms @ 12v so sticking 150w rms speakers in the doors with a 90db efficiency rating is pointless

Change the Headunit first... then put a sub in to remove the lower end from the mid range drivers for a cleaner signal at higher volume.

After that you want a decent 2 channel amp and a component set for the front doors and a LOT of sound deadening... I did mine on both the speaker panels and the inside door skin for added effect... the doors clunk well now