Speaker Help? Once and For All

[Sir. SpeedALot]

Ok fellow 3 owners...I know this has been talked about before, but every thread I read, the more confussed I get. (uhm)

I want to upgrade the sound system in my 5-door but I don't have $1000 to drop right off the bat. I want to spend about $350 first and then wait till I get more funds to finish the job. I also don't want to put in a sub and amp first because there aren't too many shops around here that are familar with the Mz3. So, I'm primarly looking at speakers. Can I purchase, for example, the Infinity Perfect Components 6.1 and run them off my HU or will that damage them? Also, can I disable the rear speakers to provide more watts to the components? Please let me know what you guys think. Also, any advise on speaker brands would be helpful. I know everyone's perception is different, but I just want to know what brands other people have had good experiences with (i.e. warrenty, quality, and sound).

(band2) (nana)

 

[bluntman]

Just make sure that you don't play your music too loud until you get some amps into your system. Disabling the rear channels won't give you more power per say, the power isn't cumulative, that's why amps are rate in "watts per channel". It may be doing less work, but the circuitry for the rear channels is still powered up.

Infinity Perfects have been recommended by many people (Mazda 3 owners too). I've also heard good things about CDT (great price/performance ratio) and Focal (great sound quality). After lurking in the Sounddomain.com forums, I decided to go with the Alpine SPX-177a 6.5" component speakers for my fronts (SPR-134a coaxials in the rear, all of which running off of a 4 channel Alpine amp in addition to a mono amp running a 10" sub, but still using the factory HU).

 

[sndsgood]

chances are it may sound worse with aftermarket speakers. most good quality aftermarket speakers are designed to handle some power. being fed the small power from the headunit most will just sound dull and quiet.

brands i tend to like are
rainbow
focal
mbquart
oz

but most of those brands will take you over your limit.


i'd suggest to save another couple hundred dollars, get a good quality componet set, get a decent sized 4 channel amp and a single sub. this could be done in the 500$ range and will sound worlds better then just throwing some componets on your stock headunit, and any quality shop could install an amp or sub in there regardless of what car you have.

 

[Sir. SpeedALot]

Ok, I know the "can I unplug rear to get more watts" question was kinda dumb, but it was wishful thinking. Assuming I purchase the Infinity components and a 4 channel amp...can somone let me know how hard it would be to hook it up myself. I have seen the tutorial on making the custom frame to fit 6.5s in the 5x7/6x8 hole but that doesn't show the setup with an amp and a Hi Lo. The speaker installation looks pretty simple. How do I hook into the rear speaker wires with the amp? I know I need to purchase a quality Hi Lo coverter, but does anyone have a tutorial for this type of setup on the 3 (which includes specific details)? Or should I just take it into a perpitable shop? Thanks guys

 

[Sir. SpeedALot]

Is Hi Lo what those are called anyway. I may be mixing up the wrong names... (hand)

 

[bluntman]

Ok, I know the "can I unplug rear to get more watts" question was kinda dumb, but it was wishful thinking. Assuming I purchase the Infinity components and a 4 channel amp...can somone let me know how hard it would be to hook it up myself. I have seen the tutorial on making the custom frame to fit 6.5s in the 5x7/6x8 hole but that doesn't show the setup with an amp and a Hi Lo. The speaker installation looks pretty simple. How do I hook into the rear speaker wires with the amp? I know I need to purchase a quality Hi Lo coverter, but does anyone have a tutorial for this type of setup on the 3 (which includes specific details)? Or should I just take it into a perpitable shop? Thanks guys

Here's a great walkthrough.

 

[Sir. SpeedALot]

Instead of making the front adapters out of wood, will these adapter work as well? http://www.sounddomain.com/sku/SCOSA68. Sure would save a lot of time for $8.

 

[YP5 Toronto]

chances are it may sound worse with aftermarket speakers. most good quality aftermarket speakers are designed to handle some power. being fed the small power from the headunit most will just sound dull and quiet.

Quite the opposite....adding aftermarket speakers (good quality) will do WONDERS for a stock system. Your Idea of starting with speakers then adding amps later is the perfect way to build up a system (when dropping $$$ all at once is not an option).

Good quality aftermarket speakers are more efficient and will take advantage of whatever the stock deck can send out. You WILL hear a big difference in sound quality going this route.

I love Infinity, they have always been my favorite but I have since gone with Clarion (sponsored).

I love the 3.

 

[Sir. SpeedALot]

See, now this is the kind of stuff that confusses me... (attn) . To buy speakers with stock HU or wait till I have all the $$$ to install the whole system. I want a really good system (hence the Infinity Perfects) but don't want to spend $1000 right now. To Wait or not to wait. That is the question! Also, can someone check the link 2 posts down and let me know if those adapters will work for the front speakers

 

[bluntman]

See, now this is the kind of stuff that confusses me... (attn) . To buy speakers with stock HU or wait till I have all the $$$ to install the whole system. I want a really good system (hence the Infinity Perfects) but don't want to spend $1000 right now. To Wait or not to wait. That is the question! Also, can someone check the link 2 posts down and let me know if those adapters will work for the front speakers

Yup, those will fit. If you can hold out, do everything at once.