headunit or speakers

[VPower]

Ok,

here we go: should I change the headunit first or change the doors speakers?

I want to keep the car clean. No amp if it's possible. Money is important to me.

I heard alot of ppl say that the oem speakers is crap.

How much will cost a set of 4 speakers? Installation?

Just trying to get some info before I made any foolish move.

Thnaks all for your inputs.

 

[azeli73]

I want the same thing. I upgraded my speakers to Infinity's all around and noticed a slight difference. And sound damping is a must. That s*** vibrates all over... I don't plan on a sub or amp either. I just want a head unit that can supply the the speakers with enough power and play my MP3's... I say get a good headunit first. I'm looking toward an Alpine-9807 unit... mmxpress.com has it for $250. The speakers is your choice. Lots of options. And the install is easy if you stick with the factory size.

 

[ELEmental59437]

Between a head unit and speakers, I belive a head unit will give you the most noticable increase in quality of sound of the two. However, a small sub and amp along with the proper adjusting of EQ on your current head unit will sound better than both of those choices (plus still look stock). If you have the cash I would say change the speakers and the HU and get a small sub and amp. Nothing that will shatter windows or anything, just something to fill out the sound.

Hope that helps ya out.

 

[1sty]

For Clarity - Speakers
For Volume - radio or amp

Thats as easy as it gets.

For good speakers with install you will be spending $300.
P.S. best buy doesn't have good speakers

Only get a new radio if there is a feature you must have. Otherwise they are not a neccesity for good sound.

Enjoy!

 

[VPower]

there's a guy on this or the "other" forum wich remplaced his headunit, and he said he was amazed by the oem speakers "performance"

and there's other ppl wich say the oem speakers is crap and all the rest.

and about sound damping, is it so important? I mean, i'm just looking for a "basic" upgrade..nothing hardcore

 

[1sty]

Vpower, if you have aol look for Eight PSI MP3,
Thats me and I will go through this with you.

 

[YlowP5]

I agree w/ 1st MP3 (afterall, he is THE MAN when it comes to car audio)... If you want a clear sound, upgrade the stock speakers first. The ones that came w/ our cars were paper (that sux). The stock stereo is actually pretty good quality (as far as sound quality is concerned... it's a Nackamichi!) I just upgraded the whole system at once... bought a set of Infinity Reference 5x7" for $54 (including shipping) from ebay, a set of 6 1/2" Infinity Reference for $55 (including shipping) from ebay, a Sony CDX-L600 for $132 (52x4 Watts and an integrated 7 chnl EQ...shipped) from ebay, and a Schosch Dash Kit and wiring harness for $18 (shipped)... http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8940 (for model #'rs)...from Sounddomain.com. The sound quality is sooo much better (I do have an amp... but w/ a good HU, I don't think it's neccessary). AND it only cost me a total of ~$260. I'm very hapy with the SQ now. (I do need/want to add some sub to it though.)

 

[Melkor]

I just swapped out the factory deck for an Eclipse CD 5423 and couldn't be happier with the dramatic improvement in sound quality. If changing out the speakers will make a larger difference in sq, I can't wait.

 

[VPower]

Vpower, if you have aol look for Eight PSI MP3,
Thats me and I will go through this with you.

Sorry man, i dont have AOL,

messenger? icq?

anyway, i'm going to shop around and ask for your opinion...

thanks!!

 

[1sty]

Replaceing the radio with a unit that has more power will make the audio appear cleaner at a higher volum eas there is less distorion but it is not actualy a better audio signal. The Pure signal from a factory radio is often better then an aftermarket radio. It just lacks power which at high volumes means it will throw dirstortion out.

 

[VPower]

Replaceing the radio with a unit that has more power will make the audio appear cleaner at a higher volum eas there is less distorion but it is not actualy a better audio signal. The Pure signal from a factory radio is often better then an aftermarket radio. It just lacks power which at high volumes means it will throw dirstortion out.

Ok...now i'm totally lost. I tough that oem is scrap. final.

going to keep you inform of my shopping

 

[1sty]

For Signal quality OEm is most often better. Just lacks power and features. If there is no feature you really want then just add an amp.

 

[Melkor]

Here's my experience with changing out the stock stereo in my mp5.

I listen to all types of music, but especially jazz and alternative rock. On the stock deck, the hi-hat sounded like it was extremely muffled, not bright and crisp like it should. This was at any sound level. The over-al sound level to me was extremely muddy.
After changing over to a new Eclipse head unit, the muddiness (is that a word? ) was gone, and the hi-hat was sounding like it should to me.

Now, not trying to disagree with anyone over the quality of the Mazda stock stereo, but to me it sounded like crap. But then hearing, like tastebuds and sight, differs from person to person. Again, this is just my findings on the stock head unit. YMMV.

 

[1sty]

Is that with the eclipses boosting cirsuits off or at 0 including treble?

 

[Melkor]

Is that with the eclipses boosting cirsuits off or at 0 including treble?

From what I can remember, even at 0 boost, the Eclipse still sounded way cleaner. Again, that's just going by memory.

The Eclipse does have the nifty Aux-In jack in the back so I can hook up my iPod. So that was a definatel bonus for the Eclipse over a stock deck.

 

[TheLedge]

I just picked up my '03 Protege a few weeks ago and the first thing I did was put new speakers in. I put Polk EX368's in the front and Polk EX3560 components in the back. They were pretty easy to install and what a difference in sound quality. The stock speakers that I took out were cheap paper cone/no tweeter and had virtually no magnet. The car came with the 6 disk in dash player and it sounds very nice with the speakers so I think I will leave that alone for now. My personal choice is that I really don't care about trying to blow the doors off my car with bass, I just like a nice clean sound. If you feel the same, do the speakers man.