My Alero showing off with a new addition...

[Mischief007]

http://static.flickr.com/58/220227481_3bd26c923c_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/88/220326822_c44facbdd4_o.jpg

Yeah most of you people won't like what is in my trunk. But I can't listen to music in my apartment ;).

[lbjgh]

Mishief, d'ya know much about stereo stuff? I was thinking about a speaker upgrade on my Accord. The stock head unit is 120w w/ 6 speakers.

I don't want to add amps or anything and I figured better speakers might provide better sound across the board.

I was thinking leaving the tweeters and just replacing the door and rear parcel shelf speaks with 3-way speakers.

Opinion?

[Mischief007]

To tell you the truth, when I upgraded the head unit in both my cars (91 Cavalier and this Alero), I got a better sound from all the speakers overall. The headunit does all the driving and it improved the sound in both my cars. I have never replaced speakers yet because I never had the need to.

I've got a premium "8 speaker" system and the headunit gave the best sound improvement.

3-way are almost always a good upgrade. Depending on the brand of the speakers, you may see a drastic sound improvement or very little over your stock speakers. I find that most premium sound setups already use good quality speakers. I may not be a great example because all my speakers are amped from a stock amp that came with the car.

How much are you willing to spend?? Soundstream is expensive and has great sound coming from them, but brands like Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer are also good. Any brand name speaker would do you good though.

I plan on upgrading mine BUT my rear 6x9s are almost $300 each (thank GM for 2-channel speakers...sheesh). Yours shouldn't be that much. Again, it is a worthwhile upgrade because of the better build to them and the amount of power you can push through them safely.

[Mouse]

As long as you keep your windows closed I can suffer those beasts.

Otherwise you'll 'hear' from me. :tooths:

[Mischief007]

As long as you keep your windows closed I can suffer those beasts.

Otherwise you'll 'hear' from me. :tooths:

Just for you, I'll go drive around Oshawa ;).

[Mouse]

You assault my ears, I assault your car.

Simple, eh??

[Steve]

what amp are you running?

[MSE OP]

I've been into car audio for three years, still upgrading.
Just had my system metered at a dB drag event last saturday, 129.1 dB
I'm not into SPL so don't care that its actualy "quiet" compared to the other competitors. I'm more into SQ.
Putting in awesome speakers and running them off the head unit is bad, not enough power to those speakers can hurt them. You need to add a amp and replace the stock speakers for best results.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/447399/3
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/447000-447999/447399_30_full.jpg

what you see there is a JL Audio sub system, amp is the 500watts/1 and the sub is a 10" w6v2. Custome built ported box made just for my trunk. I never want to replace it, I've had larger amps and bigger subs in the past, this is by far the best I've had.

[sargpep]

Looks good.

[Mischief007]

what amp are you running?

Kicker ZX300.1 amp.

MouseMeat
I didn't know a mouse can run so fast?

MSE OP
I'm also into sound quality as well. My speakers are already amped from the factory Monsoon amp. I hate these systems that have nothing but bass coming from them and you can't hear the music.

[Mouse]

I didn't know a mouse can run so fast?
Silly, running is for cats.:rty:

I find out where they sleep at night.

:tooths:

[b00t]

looks ok.

Need to snazz it up a bit, make it more custom :D

[Mischief007]

There will be very little exterior modifications. I'm concentrating on suspension and brakes for now.

[Mouse]

As long as you stay away from those fat pipes, I'll be happy. :)

[Mischief007]

There's no muffler on the market that sounds good on a 4-cylinder. I'd like a deep sound that you only get on a V8. So stock muffler it is :).

[Rustynut]

There's no muffler on the market that sounds good on a 4-cylinder. I'd like a deep sound that you only get on a V8. So stock muffler it is :).

I wish someone would explain that to a neigbourhood kid, with a Honda Civic that has a "Sewer Pipe" for a muffler.

Somehow I just can't get it through to him that it sounds like a sustained high-pitched Fart!

[Mouse]

That why God made expanding foam, Rusty.

Just make sure it's well inside, and out of sight.

:tooths:

[Braddon]

I'm ordering a new header downpipe, and exaust with cat and res + dual 2.5" muffler soon.. It will sound nice on my Talon :)

[Braddon]

The subs look decent. What brand and how many watts per sub ?

[Mischief007]

I can't find anything that sounds good with the 2.2 L plus I don't want a 5 inch coffee can. I'd like to stick with my 2 2-inch outlets.

The subs are Kicker subs. They push 150 watts RMS each. More than enough to have a better sound in the car.

[Just Doug1]

Beats the hell out of the new addition to my Taurus... a rust hole in the door. :(

[Mischief007]

Beats the hell out of the new addition to my Taurus... a rust hole in the door. :(

I know that feeling. Had a 91 Cavalier where rust repair was number one next to engine maintenance.

[Mouse]

I like rust.

Rust says "Don't steal me, fool!!"

[Number6]

There's no muffler on the market that sounds good on a 4-cylinder. I'd like a deep sound that you only get on a V8. So stock muffler it is :).

You're right re the deep rumble of a V8....you'll never get that from any four banger but I used to run Abarth and Stebro exhaust systems on my Triumphs back in the 70's and they sounded great. No big sewer pipe just twin upswept tail pipes. I guess that's too old school these days, but it looked good and sounded much better than stock.

[Mouse]

I also had a mini-Porsche (a rare 912) in the 70's, with a 4-pipe Ansa exhaust system (that I managed to muscle-on by myself :eek: ).

Sweet sound.

[Mischief007]

I left my Cavalier open hoping it wasn't there but time after time, it sat there with the rust eating away at it. :)


I like rust.

Rust says "Don't steal me, fool!!"

Everybody these days wants a 5 inch coffee can. Every aftermarket muffler for 4-cylinders has a coffee can as an exhaust tip.

[Mouse]

Exhaust size envy.

[T_Totler]

Exhaust size envy.
On my way to work this morning, I came across a guy driving a 1970 Dodge Challenger with a 440 six-pack - mint condition.

Traffic was slow (as usual) but as we were both inching along, the sound emanating from that car would embarass any ricer.

It was music to my ears :)

[Glen]

On my way to work this morning, I came across a guy driving a 1970 Dodge Challenger with a 440 six-pack - mint condition.

Traffic was slow (as usual) but as we were both inching along, the sound emanating from that car would embarass any ricer.

It was music to my ears :)

I have a buddy who rebuilt 2 of them T. Great cars!!

[Mischief007]

On my way to work this morning, I came across a guy driving a 1970 Dodge Challenger with a 440 six-pack - mint condition.

Traffic was slow (as usual) but as we were both inching along, the sound emanating from that car would embarass any ricer.

It was music to my ears :)

Yeah. I love that sound. Any small block or big block Chevy, Ford, or Mopar will do it for me.

[BillD]

I had a ride in a Z06 the other day, and while it has an authoritative exhaust note, it is quiet. There is no questioning the power emanating from it. It has a switch inside that allows you to hear the exhaust better, but you can turn it off when you get tired of it. Done right, from the factory.

[Mouse]

Great idea.

I wish these ricers would just get an MP3 of the sound of their choice, and leave the rest of us alone.

;)