any car stereo installers here?

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arw01

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Wondering about HU, and replacing factory speakers on GM cars these days.

Do the tweater pods come right off so those can be replaced easily?

Alan
 
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It depends on the model . Most , but not all , are mounted behind the panel but are not hard to access by removing the panel . Changing them usually requires custom making a new mounting unless you get factory replacements or speaker adapter plates/hardware
 
Replacing a HU, or speakers is a fairly straight forward process. Get the appropriate mounting hardware, and wiring harness for your new HU, and make sure your speakers will fit in teh holes. Some of the trim pieces are held on with the stupid plastic clips that take a special tool, so be careful. IMO, a head unit is much easier to do than speakers.
 
Working with a 2006 Chevy Malibu maxx and want to put in my Kef tweaters initially. I spent some time reading and it appears the little pods on the window corner come right off.

The door panels, I'm a little more chicken and need to check my stash of high end speakers to see if I have something besides 4.5" mid-range kefs.

What's the good stuff these days? When I dropped off, it was JL Audio and MB Quart with an Alpine head unit.

Any HU with NO 7" display that will play me a DVD of MP3's?
 
I don't know what the "best" is, and i am sure it is still a matter of opinion in alot of cases. MB has some good stuff, the Kicker L 7's are pretty sweet (Plus they are made by Stillwater Designs.... hometown, Stillwater Oklahoma!). Cerwin Vega has some nice speakers. Crutchfield's website will give you some ideas of who is on top.


Personally, I really really really like Pioneer. I have been brand loyal for years. I can get big sound from moderately priced equipment.

P.S. Butch has WAYYYYYY more experience than me. I am just a novice installer, hooking up friends and such.
 
Personally... I recommend crutchfield.com Even if you don't end up buying from them, they have a TON of useful information and you can punch in your car and it will tell you what fits, what size of everything is stock, etc.

Very good for doublechecking things... for example it looks like your car has 6 3/4" speakers front and back and the stereo is a "euro-din" size but with a special opening and install package needed.
 
they also have wiring diagrams, both for your car, and optimal sound quality. They have lists of what works best with what equipment. If you need a battery cap, they will tell you. If you need a special harness, they know!

Crutchfield is awesome! It used to be my favorite magazine for the back of the komode.
 
Crutchfield was one the first places I was checking out. Couldn't quite cut my list for HU down enough there yet as I want quite a bit of features. I may be visiting car toys locally in the next couple of weeks and see what I can lay my hands on.

Alan
 
Wal Mart has a really nice Pioneer HU for right around $160. It has all the bells and whistles.

MP3
MP4
Probably MP something else too.
bluetooth ready
det. face
cd
XM ready
HD ready
remote
USB plug on front for mp3 player

plus more stuff i am sure i forgot. I believe it is the DEH-P4300U (or something similar)
 
I got a chance to take a look at walmart when I was picking up some thanksgiving groceries. Thinking I want to get a deck that is already set up with blue tooth as after you buy the adapter you are getting pretty close to an all in one.
 
Spent some time tonight getting the rear door panel off so I could see what I have for factory speaker mounts in there.

My 4.5" mid-base is obviously a little smaller than what is there, for adapter rings etc, what is the preferred material these days?

Thanks
Alan
 
Your 4.5 is not going to give you much response down in the lower frequencies. but if you were to do it. Thick ABS or MDF (the later would be the preferred IMO)
 
Yep, it's definitely no 6.5" deep cone base monster for sure. But it's not going to cost me anything either and that today is an important consideration. Thinking about it this morning makes me curious if a two way speaker in the rear doors would mess up my sound stage that I may get someday.

Reading on a do it yourself forum for car stereo into the wee hours, I found they like to use plastic cutting boards for the adapter rings now as they are weather impervious. Might have to cruise a couple of thrift stores!

Alan
 
A "knowledgeable" acquantence of mine has thrown out that my 20 year old hi-end separates are no match for even mid-priced 2 ways these days. He feels that today's technology for a $120 pair of speakers is far superior to anything that cost even several times that back in the day.

Thoughts on this?
 
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