I'm looking todo a straightforward upgrade to ~200W peak for two Hondas but keeping the stock headunit if possible - hopefully using the stock wiring runs but replacing the speakers and adding a little amplification to match.

The two vehicles are a 2000 Civic (which I know has no Aux outs from the HU) and a 2008 CR-V.

I do posess a Honda service manual for the Civic.

I want to keep the stock look both for security and style (in both vehicles). I figure if the CR-V has a factory accessory to put a (admittedly crappy) amp under the pasenger seat, there should be aftermarket ways of doing the same?

Also, does the keyless entry system on the CR-V still reside in the factory HU?

I look forward to hearing your opinions - specific speaker suggestions are also welcome. The priority here is fidelity, not bass.

--Stephen

 

If you're set on keeping the mediocre factory head units, you'll want to look into a premium interface like the JL CleanSweep or one of the Rockford units. Feed the processed signal into a good quality 4 channel amp; and yes, you can reuse the factory speaker wires.

My speaker suggestions would be to run a good set of components up front. Most of the seasoned installers will tell you to run only fronts, but alot of people simply just like rear-fill. So you could get a set of 2 or 3 way coaxials for the rear.

What's your budget looking like?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shorthand &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm looking todo a straightforward upgrade

</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shorthand &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The priority here is fidelity

--Stephen</TD></TR></TABLE>

These two statements do not mesh. High fidelity systems take some time.

Also, if you are truly looking for a high fidelity system, you need to ditch your stock hu.

 

Let me clarify a little. I am not truly looking for a high fidelity system - just a decent stage one upgrade - like I said, to land in the ~200W peak range.

So the equivalent of putting in a decent ($100-$150) HU and 4 similarly decent (say $50 a pair) 2 or 3 way speakers - in other words a $250 system - which is what we did for her last car. A 200W peak Aiwa (Sony) HU with an Aux in for the iPod and 4 2 or 3 way xplod speakers to match (she eventually blew one of the fronts, but no biggy). (This is a Buick Century - so the rear deck took 6x9's - the CR-V is of course somewhat more limited.)

For the Civic (my car) adding bluetooth capabilities would simplify my life substantially as my mp3 player is my phone is my nav system is my PDA - and I plan to keep it that way. So a Sony MEX-BT2500 or a Jensen MP6612i + 4 appropriate speakers is starting to look very attractive - plus both units keep the flash at a reasonable level. I guess I just need to shove the old HU up in the dash somewhere as is typically done to retain key fob functionality. (Can someone punt me in the direction of the correct wiring kit / antenna splitter?)

In the CR-V, the stock HU needs to stay for aesthetic reasons. However, the thing that really has me scratching my head is what to do with four 5.25" openings and a couple of tweeters.

a - What can I really fit in those openings? (Crutchfield has the Boston Acoustics XS65 as fitting in the rear door just by drilling new mounting holes.)
b - Should the tweeters be replaced? Immediately?
c - Can I get away with just putting in some good, high sensitivity speakers and skip the DSP and amp on the stock 160W system?
c2 - Are there speakers I can get that should work well driven by the stock amp but also be good if the decision is made later to go ahead and put in a DSP and 4-channel amp?


Thanks again for your help with my newbie questions.

--Stephen