ICE setup ideas
 

Hi all,

I have an 03 WRX and am going to change the sound system in it cos its rubbish. I have a good idea of what I'm gona go for but first I want to know what is giving me the crap sound. Is it the head unit or the speakers? They're both factory fit.

I ask because I can't afford to change the head unit and all the speakers at the same time. Which one should I do first to give me better sound in the meantime, speakers or head unit?

I think I will go for Focal speakers all round and head unit -Alpine, I've had them in the past and been very impressed. Does anyone know what speakers will fit straight in to the original holes without cutting spacers etc? Part number would be great!!!

Any ideas would be great, thanks.

Personally I'd say replace front door speakers and add some dynamat to the doors first off.

I have tried using that stuff before. Is it just a small amount directly behind the speaker or is it the whole inner panel to be done. I have heard of spray on stuff too.

Focal make excellent kit.

I'd suggest that you replace the speakers first then see how you get on from there.


Daz

I'd say replace the head unit first, if your head unit is rubbish then it won't matter what speakers you have cos they will sound rubbish as well as a result, if you had a good head unit then that will at least get the best out of your existing speakers no matter how bed they seem now
remember Sh!t in = sh!t out

Sounds a bit like the chicken and the egg ... which first :wonder:

i'd go for the head unit first i changed the head unit on my 52 WRX and it sounded alot better.

The headunit in the car is the standard double one from subaru. Its Kenwood so in theory shouldnt be bad. Youre right though, chicken or the egg. Focals, focals, focals!!!

At last! Someone with some I.C.E knowledge. As I mentioned earlier get some focals!!

You'll probably have to replace both but go for the cheapest option first I guarantee you'll be pleasently surprised.

Daz

:lol1: Yeah right.

Anyway, have you checked the FAQ sticky (and searched posts etc.) in the ICE section?

Just a thought...

As someone with 10 years experience in the ICE industry i'd consider myself to have some knowledge with out any dramas

Remind me not to come and buy something from you :D
You as a professional should be giving the same advise. A system will only sound as good as the speakers it plays through.
Say the speakers were dire and he bought a top of the range head unit. Its still going to sound dire. Atleast with decent speakers there'd be a marked improvement straight away.

PS home and car set ups as follows

Musical Fidelity system owner with Proac speakers and 10 metres of Nordost Val Haller cables. ;) ( look them up if you're not sure )

Incendently i'm doing a custom build in my car at the moment.

2 x Genises profile 2's and 2 x Genesis profile sub amps.
2 x JL w6 subs
6 inch Kef Uni Q's (bi amped).

So I reckon I'm in a fairly good position to advise

Speakers will only sound as good as the signal being sent to them by the head unit, If you have a crap head unit which puts out crap sound then your average speakers sound crap because they are being fed crap sound, if those average speakers are being fed a good quality signal from a good quality head unit then they will sound as good as they are going to, yes you will find the limits of our said average speakers with a good head unit but then you will know that the speakers are at fault.
THE most important part of any sound system, be it at home or in the car is the source of the music, and thats not even going into how a CD is recorded and what it's crest factor is :)

If we're willy waving then I've been in the audio industry for too many years (not car stuff though; too small, lol*).

I changed the 'speakers in my 05 wrx first, thinking that it's easy to get a HU to sound resonable (simple 'amps on a chip' circuits, mass produced CD assemblies etc.) but 'speakers are somewhat tougher to get sounding good.

I may have been wrong to a certain extent; it sounded better but still total rubbish.

I changed the HU next, and it was fine.

Although I didn't then put the old 'speakers back in to see what it sounded like with just the HU (I'm not that sad) I suspect that it really is a chicken and egg situation with the standard stuff.

Bin it all! :D


*This isn't a dig at anyone by the way, I'll be first to admit that specialist fields like car audio are a whole science in themselves - much respect.

If you don't wanna spend loads, focal are a good option.

I run standard head unit, but had focal components in the front and a set of mids in the rear shelf. I wanted 6x9's in the rear for more bass, without using a sub but didn't wanna cut the shelf.

Got mine all fitted with sound deadening behind front mids for 300.

One thing i would recomend is to fit blu tac or sticky tape to tweeters and position them carefully to your driver position (most of my driving i'm alone) before properly fixing them.

Makes a lot of difference to sound:thumb:

Mass Manufactured?? Now you are talking gash!! :D
Check out the Val Hallas!!! They cost more than the Nu Vista valve set up I have.

As for car Head unit i used to have a Becker Mexico but now have an Alpine unit
Sounds mint too.

I'm not questioning your knowledge mate just your advise.

Surely this guys first option would be to replace the speakers as its the cheapest option. Then if he still isnt satisfied then go to the expense of a new head unit. Surely you see the common sense here??