OEM head unit & upgrade speakers?

[shooters]

I know another member asked about upgrading his speakers and keeping the factory radio. I have a similar question but was hoping the audio gurus could chime in and offer some more feedback.

I went to a two local stereo shops a few days ago looking into replacing all the speakers and adding an amp and sub.

One shop told me that it wouldn't be a problem and it would sound great. Another shop said absolutely not and that to do the job right, a new head unit should be installed because the newer head unit (a Kenwood Navi) has more outputs and would provide a much clearer/cleaner sound. The same shop advised to leave the factory rears speakers in the deck and swap out the fronts only with some high dollar components and a sub and amp.

So my question for the knowledgable audio folks is this. Can the sound system be upgraded adequately using different speakers and amp and sub-woofer without changing the head unit out?

Thanks guys.

[Zach@ExtremePerformance]

I was going to do up a fairly long (I know, imagine that!) post on how you could in fact keep the stock radio and with some skill get a pretty darned good sounding result, but then I realized that someone has already done that for me!
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174195

Although I will agree with them that I'd rather have a better set of fronts at the expense of the rears; and more power on them at the expense of running said rears off of the radio.

[shooters]

I did check out that link you provided but in all honesty, I was thinking more along the lines of something the average guy could afford. That system is wayyyyy out of my price range.

Originally Posted by Zach@ExtremePerformance

I was going to do up a fairly long (I know, imagine that!) post on how you could in fact keep the stock radio and with some skill get a pretty darned good sounding result, but then I realized that someone has already done that for me!
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174195

Although I will agree with them that I'd rather have a better set of fronts at the expense of the rears; and more power on them at the expense of running said rears off of the radio.

[=Stephens=]

You can upgrade your speakers yourself. There is a post in the DIY section of how to do that. I put in new Rockford fosgate speakers all for under 200.00. Made a huge improvement in quality. That would be the first step and then go from there.

To put in a sub you can do it with a PAC adapter to your factory head unit for the amp. It can be done.

[justa25thTA]

get the fark kit from ******** and you WILL be upgrading your speakers. by using a better, clearer, more powerful amp your existing speakers will sound much better, and if you do decide to change out the speakers, your foundation will be in place.

[shooters]

Yeah I been checking out that kit but I'm not sure if it's 100% plug and play. I'm not of a mechanic or wiring guy.

Originally Posted by justa25thTA

get the fark kit from ******** and you WILL be upgrading your speakers. by using a better, clearer, more powerful amp your existing speakers will sound much better, and if you do decide to change out the speakers, your foundation will be in place.

[iRideLow]

Thank you for making this thread lol i was wondering the same thing. I just got my Camaro and wanted to use my amp and sub from my old car. I really dont wanna change out my head unit either.

[dmwhiteman]

Alot of people had an amp and subs in long before even Metra had their kit out. I was one of them, and I didn't use ********s FARK. I am in the process of another upgrade and definatly going with the FARK kit. From what I understand, through reading on here, it is all plug and play. Thats whats so great about it.

[iRideLow]

Thats good to hear cuz me an electrical work dont mix lol

[CWI]

Originally Posted by shooters

I did check out that link you provided but in all honesty, I was thinking more along the lines of something the average guy could afford. That system is wayyyyy out of my price range.

The point Zach was making by sharing that thread was that was a world championship using a mostly stock head unit. So the head unit makes good sound, it's the other equipment that will make the biggest difference.

I am staying with the stock head and replacing and adding elsewhere. The head unit will be the last improvement I make as much for diversity as for sound quality. If I thought for a second that the head was the most important part of a car stereo system I would do that first. I think speakers , or amp first, will surprise you, then if you are not satisfied you can do the head. I will eventually get a new head for the variety it offers and built in Nav so I don't ahve that extra peice of hardware floating around tempting a smash and grab.

[shooters]

Yep, that's what I am having done tomorrow. New components in the front, new 6x9's in the rear and adding a sub and changing out the amplifier. I'll let you know how it went.

Originally Posted by CWIweldace

The point Zach was making by sharing that thread was that was a world championship using a mostly stock head unit. So the head unit makes good sound, it's the other equipment that will make the biggest difference.

I am staying with the stock head and replacing and adding elsewhere. The head unit will be the last improvement I make as much for diversity as for sound quality. If I thought for a second that the head was the most important part of a car stereo system I would do that first. I think speakers , or amp first, will surprise you, then if you are not satisfied you can do the head. I will eventually get a new head for the variety it offers and built in Nav so I don't ahve that extra peice of hardware floating around tempting a smash and grab.

[Zach@ExtremePerformance]

shooters, sorry; yes, CWI is correct. Meant it more to show that you CAN get very good results keeping the stock head, than to say "this is what you have to do" with respect to the rest of the system. An old adage in audio is that you never get better than you start with; or, the source is critical. So, Todd, who's a long time SQ & competition vet, would have 86'd the head unit if he thought it would have held him back. Results indicate it didn't!
A good LOC or an amp that can take high level inputs (balanced differential input stage), Steve's FARK kit, any number of ways to keep the radio. And of course, next is a good processor (Bit series, 360 series, CleanSweep DSP,etc).

[BUMBLE-B-TUNA]

Originally Posted by Zach@ExtremePerformance

shooters, sorry; yes, CWI is correct. Meant it more to show that you CAN get very good results keeping the stock head, than to say "this is what you have to do" with respect to the rest of the system. An old adage in audio is that you never get better than you start with; or, the source is critical. So, Todd, who's a long time SQ & competition vet, would have 86'd the head unit if he thought it would have held him back. Results indicate it didn't!
A good LOC or an amp that can take high level inputs (balanced differential input stage), Steve's FARK kit, any number of ways to keep the radio. And of course, next is a good processor (Bit series, 360 series, CleanSweep DSP,etc).

Zach,

I have the FARK kit, amps and subs installed. I want to upgrade the speakers front and back. I have read that replacing the back 6x9's is a waste and that I should replace the fronts and get a sound processor. Your thoughts??? I am by no means competing or anything just looking for the best bang for the buck and sound quality. I'm also skeptical about not replacing the 6x9's.

[CWI]

Originally Posted by BUMBLE-B-TUNA

Zach,

I have the FARK kit, amps and subs installed. I want to upgrade the speakers front and back. I have read that replacing the back 6x9's is a waste and that I should replace the fronts and get a sound processor. Your thoughts??? I am by no means competing or anything just looking for the best bang for the buck and sound quality. I'm also skeptical about not replacing the 6x9's.

For competition, Maybe 6x9's aren't the way to go. I have heard some good sounds from 6x9's though and that was twenty years ago. I think we can get a nice range and quality sound out of them, some people say eliminate the tweets on them so as to keep the highs up front on the soundstage like you would hear live. With the right tuning, I don't mind the highs in the rear too much as long as it's not distorted or dominant. When I have some other things paid for and have the extra jingle later this year (only one $612 payment left on my truck), I will probably replace them with Focal coaxials or spring for some Hertz to get the right "fill." And a processo.r