Stereo Upgrade - Speakers or head unit?

[arkitek]

While the stock unit is decent, there's always room to make it better.

Which would be the better option out of the 2, replacing the speakers or replacing the Kenwood head unit itself? Which is holding the system back the most is what I'm asking. Anyone here have replaced the head unit only? Your input plz. Thanks.

Ideally, do both but there's that $$$$ issue.

 

[Dexter]

speakers.

 

[arkitek]

Dexter,

How did you come to this conclusion? Details plz!

 

[nattyboy513]

personally i would opt for removing the head unit, putting it in the small "cargo area" and replace the stock location with a flip out tv screen. i think thats what i am doing after the intake when funds become open... just my 2 cents

 

[night rider]

natural light boy, if he cant afford both the head unit and the components i dont think he has the money to spring for a lcd screen.

arkitek, the head unit isnt holding your system back as much as your speaker components are. the stock speakers arent able to take large watt output, as a result they will start to sound like crap when the system is at maxium capasity or "full blast". my advice, invest in good speakers such as mtx, they will be chrisper at higher volume levels and produce a deeper kick. then replace the head unit, then a amp for the speakers will make a dramatic improvment. and finally replace the factory sub as well as its amp. or u could replace the factory amp for the sub first and use the old one to power the speakers. IMHO the speakers have first priority.

 

[Dexter]

what night rider said.

 

[1sty]

Its not a matter of which is replaced for the best result as ADDING another component will be the best.
Get a good 4 channel amp to power all the speaker instead of the headunit. If you can still find it go for the Kenwood KAC-849 as it will match the sub amp. Next distch the small 8" sub for a 12 JL audio or Kenwood sub in a well build 3/4" MDF box.

The only reason to drop the radio is if there are other features you want. Ditch the speakers if you want it to sound different (not louder).

Oh and....

PUT AUDIO QUESTIONS IN THE AUDIO SECTION!!!!!!

.

 

[1sty]

natural light boy, if he cant afford both the head unit and the components i dont think he has the money to spring for a lcd screen.

arkitek, the head unit isnt holding your system back as much as your speaker components are. the stock speakers arent able to take large watt output, as a result they will start to sound like crap when the system is at maxium capasity or "full blast". my advice, invest in good speakers such as mtx, they will be chrisper at higher volume levels and produce a deeper kick. then replace the head unit, then a amp for the speakers will make a dramatic improvment. and finally replace the factory sub as well as its amp. or u could replace the factory amp for the sub first and use the old one to power the speakers. IMHO the speakers have first priority.

The Factory MSP speakers can take 3 times the power the MSP radio can dish out.

No radio other then an Alpine V-drive will get you more volume then the MP919. All of them pump less then 20 watts before distortion sets in.

Just as some proof I am using an Alpine V-12 Expert MRV-F305 50x4 watts rms amp to my girlfriends kenwood coaxles that are a lower seiers then the MSP speakers and they are deadly loud without distortion!

Audio is about power, use alot, more then even recommended for the best sound. Good clean amplifiers can not be matched for volume potential and clarity.

 

[night rider]

whoa dang, i didnt know the factory speakers could take that out put, just got my 03 es about 2 weeks ago, the last car i had was a 90 escort, and the speakers in that were toliet paper thin, do the ES models have the same components as the speed edition 1st mp3 ?

 

[1sty]

No they don't.
The MSP has aftermarket Kenwood speakers all around and a kenwood KDC-MP919 head unit.

I am assuming he has a speed form his picture.

 

[arkitek]

Mine is an orange MSP indeed, thus the question was posed here on this board. Seems there isn't consensus yet as to whether the speakers are indeed aftermarket Kenwood or just stock protege stuff.

I do have a Kaption 12/Fosgate 250 punch combo but I prefer to have some trunk space. I'll probably hook up the Fosgate to the sub and somehow wire the existing Kenwood amp to the speakers. So the Kenwood has to be in the front somewhere to take advantage of the existing speaker wires.

Not sure how good that Kenwood amp is either and whether it's a 2 or 4 channel amp.

Just trying to make it sound better without spending a wad of $$$

 

[1sty]

The MSP has Kenwood replacement speakers installed, they are not the typical OEM mazda speakers. Of this I am 100% and I have actualy listed their model numbers several times.
The amp is the Kenwood KAC-529 and will pump out 120x1.
It can run a pair of door speakers just fine too.

 

[trekv2]

the door speakers are rated at 250watts i could not belive it when i seen it i add 2 alpine type R 6x9 in the rear deck it sounds alittle louder

 

[1sty]

250 max, which is a bulls*** number.
50 rms is as high as I would go with them.

 

[1sty]

You would have achieved radicly more volume by buying a solid 4 channel amp instead of another pair of speakers.

 

[ARunto]

are the MSP tweeters run in series or parallel with the coax's in the front? do they have a passive x-over or run full range?

 

[1sty]

I have been trying to find that out too.
Take apart the doors and let me know .

 

[ARunto]

hehe...was hoping someone would save me the hassle...i'm thinking of completely chucking the stock stereo...."sigh" i told myself that i would leave this car alone when i got it and now look at me.

i have a previous stereo setup from my old integra that i'm probably gonna transfer over.

here's my plan please add some input

Alpine CDA-7894 (mp3, cd, etc)
Hifniocs Zeus Z700 50x4 200x1 RMS
Boston Acoustic Pro 6.4's (front)
Boston Acoustic Pro 6.4 midbasses (rear)
Boston Acoustic Pro 10.4
4guage power wire

I'm probably gonna pull the rear deck piece out and make my own amp rack using the stock mounting brackets.

my one thing though is a sub box...does anyone make one that can fit in the passenger side corner of the trunk?

 

[arkitek]

... i add 2 alpine type R 6x9 in the rear deck it sounds alittle louder

That's another option!
How did you feed the signal to and power the rear speakers?!
Do they fit well and did you have any issues with the exiting sub/amp underdeck in the trunk?
Is there an RCA signal line (other than the Sub out) in the trunk area? If not how can you do this?! Splice the rear channels RCA lines and run them to the trunk if there's no additional RCA output on the head unit? Or you can just bypass the stock rear side door units altogether and run the speaker lines to the back.