I've got a 97 Accord with the stock radio and stock 6 disc cd changer in it. I've got some Pioneer 6x9s in the back and the stock 6.5s in the front still. My speakers sound like **** and the left side keeps going out so I'm going to be buying some new speakers. I've already got some picked out but I was wondering if I would be able to hook up an aftermarket equalizer to the stock radio/cd changer to help the way the stereo soungs.

 

yes and no. Yes you can do it but it would cost more then what it would help. Get your self a new set of front speakers and a high power headunit. Install the front speakers correctly and this should help clear up your problems

 

I just didn't want to spend the money on a headunit. I actually used to have a really nice Pioneer deck but I sold it because I wanted to have the stock radio and cd changer instead. I'll just get some new speakers and call it a day.

 

Its your call on how you want to spend your money. you asked for advice and your gonna probaly going to get this answer over and over. You can change your front speakers but you only going to gain a little more clarity and sound. It will be a big inprovement or stock thou. But what going to hold you back it that 10watt stock headunit. Its not going to sound as good as a aftermarket headunit. hell the pioneer 2700 will sound better then the stock, even the 1700. Or you can add a amp to your factory headunit to power your speakers. This will be a big improvment over your setup now.

 

what he said .... the issue is lack of power

 

Ditto all the above. 94

 

spend the money on a 2 channel amp and run your new front speakers off of that, it will sound better than any head units power and you will be able to keep your factory radio (provided you also purchase a line level converter)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by incubus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">spend the money on a 2 channel amp and run your new front speakers off of that, it will sound better than any head units power and you will be able to keep your factory radio (provided you also purchase a line level converter)</TD></TR></TABLE>If you mean ANY HU, I disagree, IMO there are more then a few aftermarket HUs that will have much better SQ then a stock HU using "high level", [speaker] outputs to drive an amp, it may be louder but it will not "sound better then any head units power".

It is my opinion the replacing the stock HU is the single best improvement you can make to a stock system, [assuming your not replacing it with a POS blister pack $59.95 Walmart "rollback" special] with proper speaker installation a close 2nd. 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you mean ANY HU, I disagree, IMO there are more then a few aftermarket HUs that will have much better SQ then a stock HU using "high level", [speaker] outputs to drive an amp, it may be louder but it will not "sound better then any head units power".

It is my opinion the replacing the stock HU is the single best improvement you can make to a stock system, [assuming your not replacing it with a POS blister pack $59.95 Walmart "rollback" special] with proper speaker installation a close 2nd. 94 </TD></TR></TABLE>

ditto that, louder doesn't mean its going to sound better. But if he is going for loudness go for it. I thought he wanted his car to sound good.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wrx-killer-Sti eater &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

ditto that, louder doesn't mean its going to sound better. But if he is going for loudness go for it. I thought he wanted his car to sound good.</TD></TR></TABLE> Because he said his speakers "sound like ****" I assumed he was looking for SQ not SPL. 94

 

notice I said using a line level adapter, not high level inputs. I agree with u if we were talking about high level. Audiocontrol makes a piece called the LC6i which is fantastic for the price for integration with factory HU's. It retails for about $249 and has 6 channel output.
Lets face facts, pieces like the LC6i, rockford 360, and JL clean sweep are increasingly becoming an everyday seller in the field, while HU sales are headed the opposite direction.

When I say a 2 channel amp of course I dont mean crap like jensen or dual. I mean something of at least decent quality. Comparing a Nakamichi headunit power to a walmart special amp isnt even fair.

 

What I noticed was what you said was... <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by incubus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> (provided you also purchase a line level converter)</TD></TR></TABLE> and a high level inputs, line level converters, speaker level inputs, LOC's and hi/lo converters are all the same thing, they convert speaker level output to preamp level output, an OEM integration unit/adaptor is a different animal, and it is great way to go if you want, [or have] to keep the stock HU, in this case, for the price of a good integration unit, he could get a very nice HU, with all the benefits of features an aftermarket HU will have that the stock one does not. 94

 

Well, thank you guys for all the input. And yes, I was looking for something to make stereo sound better. Don't really care about loudless, I just want to make it sound good. I think I'm just going to have to settle with what I have for now because when it comes down to it, I'm ******* broke, and don't have the kind of money to throw down on some stereo equipment.

I will probably end up getting an aftermarket HU in the near future and some new speakers up front.