How can I best upgrade my 2007 Civic sedan EX stereo?

Question

This factory receiver is 160watts and has four 6.5 speakers & 2 tweeters. I do not like the sound. I want to keep the factory head/receiver. I was considering replacing the 4 factory speakers (not-the tweeters). Adding an amplifier is also an option, but i don't really want to deal with the hassel of that. What should I do to make it sound decent?

Answer 1

There are lots of things you can do to make your car sound better. but your probably going to want to replace the stock radio first. you dont have to do this, but i would recomend it, cause stock radios were not meant to be set up with amps. if you really really want to keep the stock radio, then get a JL audio clean sweep. this will add preouts for the amp or amps you want. next go look at some speakers. 6.5s are a great stock size, cause pretty much everyone makes a 6.5. dont waist your times at Best Buy and Circut City. most of the stuff they sell wont sound all that much better then stock. instead go to a private audio shop, and listen to some of these brands

Boston Acoustics
Pioneer Premier
Kenwood Excelon
MB Quart
Diamond Audio

all of these brands are well priced and sound really good. now with 6.5s you can get just normal 2 or 3-ways, or you can get componets. comps sound a lot better, but there a lot more expensive. so if it makes a differnce you can go that route. when speaker buying listen to everything you can before you buy anything. and bring your own demo music.

next your going to want to buy an amp. with 6.5s i'd recomend a amp that puts out 200x4 rms. so each speaker will be getting 50 watts each. all of the companys listed above make good amps as well.

if theres still not enough bass for you after that, then add a sub. other then that the sound in your car should sound drastically better.

good luck. and remember to stay out of BB and CC!

Answer 2

the best thing to do is put a new head unit in. if you replace the speakers and not the stereo it will probably sound worse because the factory head unit wont have enough power to push the replacement speakers you put in.


-andrew (car stereo enthusiest)