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Old 24 June 2018, 10:30 AM
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adamobie1
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Question 2015+ wrx sti speaker upgrade

Hi all,
After some advice, what speakers do people recommend as standard fit for my car? It’s running standard headset, which I don’t want to change. Just want to make it sound better.

I hear they do a kicker upgrade for the speakers. But not sure where you’d get it in the uk?

Any advice is appreciated

Cheers

Adam

Last edited by adamobie1; 24 June 2018 at 10:31 AM. Reason: Spelling mistakes
Old 24 June 2018, 07:38 PM
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nikon-man
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I took the standard head unit out of mine and fitted a pioneer sat nav one and the speakers sound amazing
Old 24 June 2018, 08:49 PM
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Don Clark
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Originally Posted by adamobie1
Hi all,
After some advice, what speakers do people recommend as standard fit for my car? It’s running standard headset, which I don’t want to change. Just want to make it sound better.
I hear they do a kicker upgrade for the speakers. But not sure where you’d get it in the uk?
Any advice is appreciated
Cheers
Adam
Not knowing the full spec of the UK cars, I can only say that premium speakers are listed in the parts database (as used by models fitted with navigation) which also has a sub woofer component. All years have a power amp as standard.

Standard speakers (by FOSTER with tweeter by PANASONIC)


Premium speakers with subwoofer (by HARMAN)


Power amp for all model years
Old 28 June 2018, 12:02 PM
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adamobie1
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The kicker upgrade kit for door speakers can that be purchased in the uk? Or USA only?
Don’t want to land loads of import fees

Cheers for everyone’s advice
Old 28 June 2018, 01:35 PM
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Don Clark
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Originally Posted by adamobie1
The kicker upgrade kit for door speakers can that be purchased in the uk? Or USA only?
Don’t want to land loads of import fees

Cheers for everyone’s advice
It's a US available accessory package suitable for MY08 onwards (Subwoofer pictured for Saloon models only)


2015 US WRX STI accessories brochure pdf
2017 US WRX STI accessories brochure pdf

Listed here on UK Ebay using global shipping programme so no extra charges ??
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-12-14...-/192196354713
Old 16 September 2018, 06:04 PM
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adamobie1
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Still cant decide, whether to go upgrade kickers or take an audio option from a local audiecentre!


Fancy the Kickers but cant find in the UK?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


Any help would be welcomed
Old 16 September 2018, 07:09 PM
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Any car audio will only be as good as the weakest link. The weakest link will almost always be the OEM Head Unit.
Speakers can only reproduce the signal that they receive. If a HU is sending a low quality, low power signal, it doesn't matter what speakers you use, it's still going to sound poor.
So changing the HU will have a far greater effect than the speakers. If you are determined to keep the HU, then fit an external amplifier. Depends how much you want to spend.

Also, 4 speakers for £145? They aren't going to be great.
Old 17 September 2018, 09:22 AM
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I've got the factory Pioneer satnav system in mine and the sounds is excellent to be honest. I've upgraded the speakers in all my other Subarus but not sure I need to in this one.
Old 17 September 2018, 09:29 AM
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That said, if you find a UK supplier of the whole Kicker upgrade pack I could be interested.

I've imported a few bits from the US for mine already, it's not as bad as you think.
Old 17 September 2018, 10:42 AM
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The issue is usually that OEM HUs have small, underpowered internal amps. The ones on the Newages were something like 7.5w RMS per channel. Wholly insufficient to drive even the stock speakers. Just installing a HU with a larger internal amp, like a true 25w per channel will make a big difference. Consider also that stock speakers have tiny magnets and upgraded speakers will have much larger magnets to drive the voice coils. If the stock HU can’t drive the tiny stock speakers, it’ll have no hope against bigger ones.



That being said, I don’t know the specs of the 2015 OEM Hus.

Last edited by TECHNOPUG; 17 September 2018 at 10:44 AM.
Old 17 September 2018, 11:23 AM
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The standard Satnav pioneer unit in mine (Pioneer AVIC-F860BT) is 50Wx4 according to the specs. Sounds very decent indeed.


Old 17 September 2018, 12:41 PM
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Don Clark
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Originally Posted by BrownPantsRacing
The standard Satnav pioneer unit in mine (Pioneer AVIC-F860BT) is 50Wx4 according to the specs. Sounds very decent indeed.
Pioneer - Subaru UK upgrade.

OEM being the Clarion head unit - similar to that used in the previous Saloon/Hatch models

Old 02 October 2018, 03:36 PM
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I've got a new shape (2014) and the first thing I did was upgrade the head unit to a Pioneer one with Android Auto. I also had a DAB shark fin antenna fitted to replace the stock item.

Usability aside (I thought the OEM head unit was awful to use and that plus DAB and Android Auto were my main reasons for changing) the sound quality is noticeably improved.
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