decent speakers for stock head unit?

IAMREX · 11-24-2007, 08:15 PM

Hi,
As many of you have no doubt realized, the stock WRX speakers are basically trash, and I'm looking to get something that sounds better.

What I'm hoping to find is a set of decent 2 or 3 way 6.5's for the front that will sound good when driven off the factory head unit, but that if I decide to add a mild system, will be ok up to at least 60-75 watts RMS, and have good sound quality.

I had been looking at the Polk db series 6.5" shallow mounts. Has anyone tried these, and/or are there some others that I should be considering? Also, with an 07 WRX, do you still need an adapeter to mount 6.5's?

Thanks!

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Daishi00 · 11-24-2007, 08:51 PM

The best speakers for the stock HU are the stock speakers. The sensitivity is quite high and can play ok with the extremely low power output from the HU.

Changing out to aftermarket ones won't get you a huge increase in performance, and depending on what ones you get might sound worse.

Warguy · 11-24-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daishi00

The best speakers for the stock HU are the stock speakers. The sensitivity is quite high and can play ok with the extremely low power output from the HU.

Changing out to aftermarket ones won't get you a huge increase in performance, and depending on what ones you get might sound worse.

+1 plus the stock HU is garbage anyway, i installed a pioneer the day i bought the car, im a car audio installer, get a new deck first. Pioneer or alpine in my opinion, if you talk on the phone alot get the pioneer 7900 its awsome and it has bluetooth built in, there really popular right now and there great for the new law thats going in to effect

Audiosavvy · 11-25-2007, 02:55 PM

Senor Daishi is right. A new head unit on stock speakers would make more of a difference than stock head unit to aftermarket speakers. If you do change them, I recommend ones like the Kicker KS, they are very efficient and louder for the power than any speakers in my experience. Expect to give up a little bit of bass, but gain a decent amount of midrange and highs.
-Brandon

hybrid gti 2 · 11-25-2007, 02:57 PM

I'd say infinity front speaker would be a fair speaker. As higher end speakers you start to loose bass in a big way. Forget the rear as I found it's not exactly needed as that's just fill sound. If you upgrade to new rears you might run into volume issues.

IAMREX · 11-25-2007, 08:25 PM

Right on... sounds like everyone is pretty much in agreement here... I guess maybe I'll just suck it up and deal with the stockers until they blow, or I decide to kick down some cash for a decent system. Thanks for the tips guys.

jakeachy · 11-25-2007, 09:02 PM

you have more of a chance burning stuff out with a stock unit compared to a larger amp/unit.

Daishi00 · 11-25-2007, 09:08 PM

Even if the stock HU was put into a clipping state the total output (as what CAN damage a speaker when clipped...not the actual signal) would most likely not exceed the max handling capabilities of the stock drivers.

zsimpreza · 11-25-2007, 10:54 PM

I just put in some Infinity Reference 5.25 component speakers up front. I'm actually impressed how they sound with the factory HU.

Uncanny · 11-26-2007, 05:02 PM

why would you put a 5.25 up front?

hybrid gti 2 · 11-26-2007, 05:35 PM

6.5 in speakers can be installed with adaptors. Yet some speakers rub causing damage to the speaker. Unless 06+ door cards are used. With newer door cards it's big enough to hold the bigger speaker with no problems. So 5.25 are safe in pre 06 cars.

Daishi00 · 11-26-2007, 06:23 PM

Small clarification... 05+ door cards, not 06+ and ljb2105 was asking why someone would want to run a smaller driver up front when it's easy to fit 6.5" even in pre 05 cars

hybrid gti 2 · 11-26-2007, 06:33 PM

yes but some 6.5 speakers can be damaged using pre 05 door cards. I had it happen twice.

Daishi00 · 11-26-2007, 07:07 PM

Which is why you run extension pins and your problems are solved

. It also has nothing to do with the width of the driver, just the depth. You can find 6.5" drivers that are more shallow than many 5.25" drivers.

I do know where you're coming from don't get me wrong, it just takes a bit more work to get them to function just as well in 04- doors.

zsimpreza · 11-26-2007, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijb2105

why would you put a 5.25 up front?

Because they were on sale for $89 (reg. $189) and I knew they'd sound better than factory.

Uncanny · 11-27-2007, 11:01 AM

its pretty simple to get a 6.5 to work on a pre-05 door card. simply space it out properly, use an extended door pin, and trim the ring on the inner door card that most usually causes that "buzzing" sound. simple as that. no damage to the speaker, no buzzing sound, no magnet hitting the window.

11-24-2007, 08:15 PM	#1
IAMREX Scooby Newbie Member#: 137568 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: western PA Vehicle: 2007 WReX OBP	decent speakers for stock head unit? Hi, As many of you have no doubt realized, the stock WRX speakers are basically trash, and I'm looking to get something that sounds better. What I'm hoping to find is a set of decent 2 or 3 way 6.5's for the front that will sound good when driven off the factory head unit, but that if I decide to add a mild system, will be ok up to at least 60-75 watts RMS, and have good sound quality. I had been looking at the Polk db series 6.5" shallow mounts. Has anyone tried these, and/or are there some others that I should be considering? Also, with an 07 WRX, do you still need an adapeter to mount 6.5's? Thanks! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-24-2007, 08:51 PM	#2
Daishi00 Scooby Guru Member#: 78952 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: BSG junkie Vehicle: 2005 WRX CGM	The best speakers for the stock HU are the stock speakers. The sensitivity is quite high and can play ok with the extremely low power output from the HU. Changing out to aftermarket ones won't get you a huge increase in performance, and depending on what ones you get might sound worse.

11-25-2007, 02:55 PM	#4
Audiosavvy Scooby Guru Member#: 150794 Join Date: Jun 2007 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Bakersfield, CA Vehicle: Qcab dakota 4x4 LT1 Formula Firebird	Senor Daishi is right. A new head unit on stock speakers would make more of a difference than stock head unit to aftermarket speakers. If you do change them, I recommend ones like the Kicker KS, they are very efficient and louder for the power than any speakers in my experience. Expect to give up a little bit of bass, but gain a decent amount of midrange and highs. -Brandon

11-25-2007, 02:57 PM	#5
hybrid gti 2 Scooby Guru Member#: 67004 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: (818) 300k+ ej205 ppg 5mt Vehicle: 02 vf30 pnp wagon silver and cf	I'd say infinity front speaker would be a fair speaker. As higher end speakers you start to loose bass in a big way. Forget the rear as I found it's not exactly needed as that's just fill sound. If you upgrade to new rears you might run into volume issues.

11-25-2007, 08:25 PM	#6
IAMREX Scooby Newbie Member#: 137568 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: western PA Vehicle: 2007 WReX OBP	Right on... sounds like everyone is pretty much in agreement here... I guess maybe I'll just suck it up and deal with the stockers until they blow, or I decide to kick down some cash for a decent system. Thanks for the tips guys.

11-25-2007, 09:02 PM	#7
jakeachy * Banned * Member#: 162893 Join Date: Oct 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Jargin-off Vehicle: 00 STM GC8	you have more of a chance burning stuff out with a stock unit compared to a larger amp/unit.

11-25-2007, 09:08 PM	#8
Daishi00 Scooby Guru Member#: 78952 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: BSG junkie Vehicle: 2005 WRX CGM	Even if the stock HU was put into a clipping state the total output (as what CAN damage a speaker when clipped...not the actual signal) would most likely not exceed the max handling capabilities of the stock drivers.

11-25-2007, 10:54 PM	#9
zsimpreza Scooby Newbie Member#: 157079 Join Date: Aug 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Ky Vehicle: 2007 Impreza 2.5i Obsidian Black Pearl	I just put in some Infinity Reference 5.25 component speakers up front. I'm actually impressed how they sound with the factory HU.

11-26-2007, 05:02 PM	#10
Uncanny Scooby Specialist Member#: 133012 Join Date: Nov 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Kansas City Vehicle: 2015 STi Lightning Red	why would you put a 5.25 up front?

11-26-2007, 05:35 PM	#11
hybrid gti 2 Scooby Guru Member#: 67004 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: (818) 300k+ ej205 ppg 5mt Vehicle: 02 vf30 pnp wagon silver and cf	6.5 in speakers can be installed with adaptors. Yet some speakers rub causing damage to the speaker. Unless 06+ door cards are used. With newer door cards it's big enough to hold the bigger speaker with no problems. So 5.25 are safe in pre 06 cars.

11-26-2007, 06:23 PM	#12
Daishi00 Scooby Guru Member#: 78952 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: BSG junkie Vehicle: 2005 WRX CGM	Small clarification... 05+ door cards, not 06+ and ljb2105 was asking why someone would want to run a smaller driver up front when it's easy to fit 6.5" even in pre 05 cars

11-26-2007, 06:33 PM	#13
hybrid gti 2 Scooby Guru Member#: 67004 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: (818) 300k+ ej205 ppg 5mt Vehicle: 02 vf30 pnp wagon silver and cf	yes but some 6.5 speakers can be damaged using pre 05 door cards. I had it happen twice.

11-26-2007, 07:07 PM	#14
Daishi00 Scooby Guru Member#: 78952 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: BSG junkie Vehicle: 2005 WRX CGM	Which is why you run extension pins and your problems are solved . It also has nothing to do with the width of the driver, just the depth. You can find 6.5" drivers that are more shallow than many 5.25" drivers. I do know where you're coming from don't get me wrong, it just takes a bit more work to get them to function just as well in 04- doors.

11-27-2007, 11:01 AM	#16
Uncanny Scooby Specialist Member#: 133012 Join Date: Nov 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Kansas City Vehicle: 2015 STi Lightning Red	its pretty simple to get a 6.5 to work on a pre-05 door card. simply space it out properly, use an extended door pin, and trim the ring on the inner door card that most usually causes that "buzzing" sound. simple as that. no damage to the speaker, no buzzing sound, no magnet hitting the window.