I have a 97 Honda Civic Coupe DX that I have recently started trying to install a stereo system on. So far all I have done is taken the stock stereo out and connected an Ipod through the axillary connection in the back.

Now I'd like to get a new set of speakers for the front doors and the rear deck. From what I've read on these forums, Kicker speakers are good quality and generally worth investing in. I am considering purchasing a pair of Kicker KS69's for the 6X9's in the rear deck and a pair of Kicker KS60's for the 6.5"'s in the front doors. These are the speakers, respectively, with specifications:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-j...5KS69

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-j...5KS60

I'm not currently planning on using a sub or an amp, and my car didn't come with anything more than just the stereo (no tape deck, cd changer, ect). Since I assume I can get just as high quality sound from these speakers using the Ipod and the stock stereo, I haven't planned on replacing the stereo.

I just wanted opinions from people far more experienced than me before I ordered anything. Am I buying speakers of unnecessary quality? Am I going to need an amp for decent sound?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lucide &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a 97 Honda Civic Coupe DX that I have recently started trying to install a stereo system on. So far all I have done is taken the stock stereo out and connected an Ipod through the axillary connection in the back.

Now I'd like to get a new set of speakers for the front doors and the rear deck. From what I've read on these forums, Kicker speakers are good quality and generally worth investing in. I am considering purchasing a pair of Kicker KS69's for the 6X9's in the rear deck and a pair of Kicker KS60's for the 6.5"'s in the front doors. These are the speakers, respectively, with specifications:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-j...5KS69

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-j...5KS60

I'm not currently planning on using a sub or an amp, and my car didn't come with anything more than just the stereo (no tape deck, cd changer, ect). Since I assume I can get just as high quality sound from these speakers using the Ipod and the stock stereo, I haven't planned on replacing the stereo.

I just wanted opinions from people far more experienced than me before I ordered anything. Am I buying speakers of unnecessary quality? Am I going to need an amp for decent sound?</TD></TR></TABLE> There will be little ot no improvement in SQ if you replace the speakers, in fact it can get worse, depending on the speakers you install, the limiting factor in SQ is the oem HU, the oem speakers are low power but they are also very efficient, [take very little power to make then "work"].

You will be way better off if you replace the HU and keep the oem speakers, SQ will improve, you will have more dynamic head room, [loud parts can get louder without distorting] and because the aftermarket Hu has more power, [watts] there will be more SPL, and bass responce will be better. 94

 

If I bought an amp for the new speakers would it be better SQ than buying the new HU for the new speakers, or am I pretty much stuck buying a new HU even with a new amp?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lucide &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I bought an amp for the new speakers would it be better SQ than buying the new HU for the new speakers, or am I pretty much stuck buying a new HU even with a new amp?</TD></TR></TABLE>The amp will help with power, but SQ will not be, and can really sound like "kaka", if the amp was for a sub I would say go ahead, but because its for the highpass/fullrange speakers, and there are no preamp outputs on the oem HU, you will have to take a speaker level signal, [high level] step it down to a preamp level, [low level] using a built in or off board step down converter, SQ suffers when you do that.

Is there a reason you don't want to replace the oem HU? There are many advantages to doing so.

If you are dead set on the oem HU, what we have done a few times is take the stock HU to a good repair shop, and have them install a set of RCA pig tails on it, so it bypasses the HUs amp, you would then need a 4ch amp to run the speakers, SQ is a lot better then if using the stepped down speaker signal.

In the long run the most cost effective way to do it is to replace the HU, just pick a HU with an AUX input for your iPod, and if you want to get the most out of your iPod, pick an Alpine and add the Alpine iPod adpt. and control and charge your iPod from the Alpine Hu. 94

 

The only reason I'm a bit reluctant to replace the HU is because I don't think my AUX ipod input would fit in a new HU. But then again, like you said, if I got a new HU I could just control it on the interface and charge it as well. I have 30 days to return the AUX input, so no money lost either.

Seems like the best thing for me to do is to save a little more and buy a nice Alpine HU, get those speakers, and it would sound pretty decent while I waited to buy a sub (and an amp for it). Would that be a good choice?

Here's the HU I was looking at:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-j...A9847

 

It's an Alpine, what could be wrong?, although it's one of Alpines "enrty" level HU's it will do everything you need it to do. 94

 

You could also get the type of HU that has an aux-in on the front, as I'm going to get. Then, just run a cable to your iPod in the glove box (or wherever you plan to put it). Nice and easy. Detachable, too :D