P5 stereo: Sucks bigtime: Advice to improve

[dd123]

Guys,

I have 6 cd changer stock with stock speakers and the sound quality sucks big time.
Looking for advice to make it better without spending too much dough....

Thanks

Deepak

 

[fishdonotbounce]

Deck
http://cgi.ebay.com/BLAUPUNKT-BAHAM...ryZ18798QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Front speakers

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Pioneer...zaWNuBF9TAzk2NjMyOTA3BHNlYwNmZWVkBHNsawNlbGVj

Dash kit and harness (great price)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mazda-626-Miata...ryZ85806QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That's the set up that I have and it sounds a million times better than stock. You can actually adjust the color of the backlight on the deck to match the amber/orange interior lighting in our cars. 170 for everything with shipping. If you have any more money, get a set of rear speakers too.

 

[pasadena_commut]

I have 6 cd changer stock with stock speakers and the sound quality sucks big time.

Actually, I think it sounds pretty good - when the car is not moving. The P5 is so damn noisy once it gets up near highway speeds that I doubt anything you put in would sound much better. A set of noise canceling headphones would probably be the best investment in terms of sound quality at your ear. Not so good for hearing sirens though!

 

[KZsigBZ]

(iagree) The stock sub sounds pretty good. If anything I would get a new deck and speakers and call it a day. Anyways check out www.crutchfield.com see what you can find.

 

[kura808]

maybe change ur deck first? idk i had an aftermarket kenmore but then i changed to pioneer and i noticed a huge difference. i think the stock speakers sound pretty good.

 

[Tasty]

Actually, I think it sounds pretty good - when the car is not moving. The P5 is so damn noisy once it gets up near highway speeds that I doubt anything you put in would sound much better. A set of noise canceling headphones would probably be the best investment in terms of sound quality at your ear. Not so good for hearing sirens though!

Agreed. The only thing I really don't like about the P5 is it's deafening cabin noise at highway speeds. They could have done a much better job of insulating.

 

[speedracer]

I changed out my stock deck in my P5 for an Eclipse with
built in crossovers and it made a world of difference. I too
would start with the deck If I were you and see how you
like it first.

 

[Tasty]

Deck is definitely weak from factory. Change the deck and you will reveal how badly the speakers suck. It's neverending with car audio.

 

[fishdonotbounce]

sorry to be a little bit off topic, and no offense pasadena because from your other threads you seem like a very educated guy, but noise cancelling headphones are just plain stupid while driving. I mean you use your hearing a lot when driving and especially when hearing sirens and people honking at you and a bunch of other s***. Headphones + driving = not safe and a sure way to piss people like me off that see you driving with them on. sorry

 

[dd123]

sorry to be a little bit off topic, and no offense pasadena because from your other threads you seem like a very educated guy, but noise cancelling headphones are just plain stupid while driving. I mean you use your hearing a lot when driving and especially when hearing sirens and people honking at you and a bunch of other s***. Headphones + driving = not safe and a sure way to piss people like me off that see you driving with them on. sorry

I second your opinion. Headphones : complete no no

 

[dd123]

Deck
http://cgi.ebay.com/BLAUPUNKT-BAHAM...ryZ18798QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Front speakers

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Pioneer...zaWNuBF9TAzk2NjMyOTA3BHNlYwNmZWVkBHNsawNlbGVj

Dash kit and harness (great price)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mazda-626-Miata...ryZ85806QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That's the set up that I have and it sounds a million times better than stock. You can actually adjust the color of the backlight on the deck to match the amber/orange interior lighting in our cars. 170 for everything with shipping. If you have any more money, get a set of rear speakers too.

OK, would love to start with deck/harness and probably speakers but how tough is it to install it yourself.

How about resale value of stock used deck ?

Any "How to" for this" ?

Also, my previous owner paid $200 for subwoofer wirings which ends in the rear but I got no subwoofer with the car when I bought it used. How can I take leverage of $200 already spent by PO for wirings ?

 

[Tasty]

Resale value of any stock car deck is pretty much $0. To take advantage of subwoofer wiring that exists...add a subwoofer. Installing a new deck and speakers is not hard, you just need patience and time.

 

[Bozodeclown]

As for the cabin noise I dynamatted the doors, hatch, and floors.IMO it was a great investment a little expensive but worth it because it also improves sound quality.

 

[Tasty]

I second your opinion. Headphones : complete no no

I'm continually amazed at how many brain dead morons I see doing this in the Houston area. I guess they don't need to hear when they drive. They should probably put blindfolds on too!

 

[fishdonotbounce]

The front speakers are not hard at all to change out. You can do it yourself with no problems. You just take pop out all the clips and screws, and take it off.

as for the deck, that is even easier. when you get it, you will just have to match up the wiring harness' wires to the wires that come with the deck. It should be like black to black, white to white and all that good stuff. Just make sure to notice that some have a black stripe going down the side and they have the same corresponding wire. for the ends of the wires, you have to either strip the ends with a wire cutter or whatever it's called or do what i did and use a lighter to burn off a piece and use a pair of scissors to remove it. After you connect all the wires, you just plug the one end of your newly put together wiring dealio in the deck and the other one in the base in your car.

As far as the sub goes, I would just get a single 10 or MAYBE a 12 since it seems that you don't really want a huge setup.

 

[TreFlip999]

i was impressed with the stock system, it is not THAT horrible as you make it sound..I upgraded the deck and it made a huge difference..the 6 cd changer crapped out on me

 

[pasadena_commut]

A set of noise canceling headphones would probably be the best investment in terms of sound quality at your ear. Not so good for hearing sirens though!

Headphones are not intrinsically stupid, but to do it safely one would also have to mix in an outside microphone to pick up traffic noise. I agree that without that external input it would not be safe. (I implied as much in the second line.)

It isn't just headphones which are unsafe. They are no more stupid than many of the bass thumping, ear blowing, teeth vibrating sound systems that one encounters on the road, and which many people seem to aspire to own. At highway speeds if you can hear your music over the road noise in a P5 there's little chance you will hear a siren until it's right on top of you.

 

[BadKarma]

The P5's stock stereo sounds great.

 

[fishdonotbounce]

very true very true. Like with everything else, using common sense is the best solution.

Headphones are not intrinsically stupid, but to do it safely one would also have to mix in an outside microphone to pick up traffic noise. I agree that without that external input it would not be safe. (I implied as much in the second line.)

It isn't just headphones which are unsafe. They are no more stupid than many of the bass thumping, ear blowing, teeth vibrating sound systems that one encounters on the road, and which many people seem to aspire to own. At highway speeds if you can hear your music over the road noise in a P5 there's little chance you will hear a siren until it's right on top of you.

 

[dxaveP5]

yea i got the optional speakers with stock 6disc changer and it sounds great
but when added with the MOMO sub and Alpine Amp it is amazing.