Speaker upgrade with wattage questions!

[Amirocassar]

Hey guys I'm looking into changing the speakers of my 02 4runner sports edition from stock to aftermarket to achieve some better sound quality. I'm not looking for insane or expensive and want to avoid an amplifier but just want better than stock sound. I'm good with electronics and cars but was just a little bit confused by the wattages for speakers. I have an aftermarket stereo I put in a couple months back as well. So for the front and rear speakers, should I go with 2way or 3way? I heard 3way are primarily for the front. And I heard 6 1/2 are front and you can fit 5 1/4 for the back but someone said they needed to make a mount for the speakers. Is this true? As for wattage what would be best? Again I don't want an amplifier. Thanks!!!

 

[BrianSD_42]

If you don't want an amplifier then your question is really:

What low end speakers would you recommend for me to pair with my 15W RMS head unit?

For starters what is the model/brand?

Have you used Crutchfield.com ... They have all the information there. If I were you I would look for speakers that have a rating of less than 30W RMS to pair with your head unit.

 

[wc11]

Pretty much all aftermarket brand speakers for doors are anywhere from 60-100 watts rms regardless of whether their 2 way, 3 way or separate components.

 

[MStudt]

I'm running Fosgate Punch P1675s 6-3/4 components in the front, and Fosgate P152 5-1/4 3-ways in the back. All off a cheap $100 Pioneer CD player. The key is sound denting you door before you install the new speakers.

 

[shiftmx]

If you go with components in the front door, I would find something with an inline cross over like the Alpine Type-S. Mounting a separate crossover properly in the door is a pain since there is not much room behind the panel and I personally would not put them inside the door where they could get wet.

 

[BrianSD_42]

If you go with components in the front door, I would find something with an inline cross over like the Alpine Type-S. Mounting a separate crossover properly in the door is a pain since there is not much room behind the panel and I personally would not put them inside the door where they could get wet.

It's actually not that hard. I've mounted several without issue. Details in my build thread if you want pics.

 

[shiftmx]

It's actually not that hard. I've mounted several without issue. Details in my build thread if you want pics.

Re-read what I wrote. I said it can be difficult to mount the crossover properly under the door panel..not in the door. I am not saying yours is wrong, but I would not mount it inside the door. I have seen people with that setup where the crossover gets wet and rusts to crap.

 

[Scramble]

Hey guys I'm looking into changing the speakers of my 02 4runner sports edition from stock to aftermarket to achieve some better sound quality. I'm not looking for insane or expensive and want to avoid an amplifier but just want better than stock sound. I'm good with electronics and cars but was just a little bit confused by the wattages for speakers. I have an aftermarket stereo I put in a couple months back as well. So for the front and rear speakers, should I go with 2way or 3way? I heard 3way are primarily for the front. And I heard 6 1/2 are front and you can fit 5 1/4 for the back but someone said they needed to make a mount for the speakers. Is this true? As for wattage what would be best? Again I don't want an amplifier. Thanks!!!

You can actually put 6 3/4" in the front. I have Pioneer 3 Way 6 3/4" in the front & 5 1/4" in the rear doors. A separate amp is a must IMHO for great sound. As someone else said, Crutchfield... If you want to go cheap, Parts Express.com has blowouts on speakers.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Oh OK. I think if you mount it the way I did it will be fine.

Mine has been mounted for years without issue.

It probably doesn't hurt that it rarely rains here in San Diego!

 

[brkosk]

Oh OK. I think if you mount it the way I did it will be fine.

Mine has been mounted for years without issue.

It probably doesn't hurt that it rarely rains here in San Diego!

I mounted my CDT crossover right under the window switch panel on both sides. If the window switches have lasted in that environment for this long - I think the crossover will be fine

FWIW, The stock head unit sucks on our 99. Lots of noise/distortion when you crank it. Plus you can hear the CD player spinning up and moving between tracks.

If you are going through the trouble of upgrading speakers, plan on adding a new head unit to really let them shine.

Edit: Didn't see that the OP has an aftermarket head unit. Doh!

 

[shiftmx]

I mounted my CDT crossover right under the window switch panel on both sides. If the window switches have lasted in that environment for this long - I think the crossover will be fine

FWIW, The stock head unit sucks on our 99. Lots of noise/distortion when you crank it. Plus you can hear the CD player spinning up and moving between tracks.

If you are going through the trouble of upgrading speakers, plan on adding a new head unit to really let them shine.

Edit: Didn't see that the OP has an aftermarket head unit. Doh!

The window switches are not really exposed to water, that's what that big plastic moisture barrier is there to protect. So if you mounted the crossover between the barrier and the panel, then you are protected from most elements. I thought about mounting my crossover right there, but I didn't see a way without drilling into the metal. I tried to make my install as minimally intrusive as possible.

 

[Amirocassar]

Thanks guys! Yeah I have a x6500-bt pioneer stereo(it was retail for like 150 and got it for 70) it's approved at 4x50w max output. So let's say I got 200w speakers, would they still work with being only given 50w? I know speakers only draw more wattage depending on the volume. I'm wanting something decent for now that I could also used in a couple years with an upgraded radio and an amp.

Basically question is, can I get 150/200/300 or whatever wattage speakers and use it with my max output of 50w until I upgrade and get any amp or would it be totally not worth it? Thanks

 

[2000se]

Agree with sound deadening.

Also, make sure you properly seal around the speakers to prevent blow by on the speakers. Not sealing them really has a lot of negative impact on the sound. Also as stated above, get something like dynomat to deaden the vbrations in the door. You'll be fine.

 

[BrianSD_42]

it's approved at 4x50w max output. So let's say I got 200w speakers, would they still work with being only given 50w?

OP, Major gap in understanding here but we are glad to help.

Your head unit may say 50wx4 but that is only peak which is a near meaninless and put in the specs mainly to help sales. That head unit supports 14W RMS x 4.

So you will want to pair it with speakers that support 15-30 W RMS (pretty much anything rated for less than 50W RMS) as that is all the power your head unit can muster.

I would discount loud mode entirely, it is usually bunk. Just assume the normal rating.

Infinity Reference are great because the support low power like your head unit without an amp and of you add amp later they can be run by almost any 4 channel amp and sound great.

In summary you don't have 200watts - that is mainly product marketing with no real world application.

When you are looking at speakers check the RMs rating. If you buy speakers rated for 100W RMS each and you have 15W RMS each speaker then they are not going to sound good and you will have wasted your money.

 

[BrianSD_42]

What I would recommend , best for your money is to go with:
* Alpine SPS-610C - Component Front Speakers
Rated 2-80W RMS, $129 on Crutchfield, cheaper on eBay

* Alpine Universal Power Pack 45W x 4 RMS

This will be great for any starter system.

 

[Scramble]

Thanks guys! Yeah I have a x6500-bt pioneer stereo(it was retail for like 150 and got it for 70) it's approved at 4x50w max output. So let's say I got 200w speakers, would they still work with being only given 50w? I know speakers only draw more wattage depending on the volume. I'm wanting something decent for now that I could also used in a couple years with an upgraded radio and an amp.

Basically question is, can I get 150/200/300 or whatever wattage speakers and use it with my max output of 50w until I upgrade and get any amp or would it be totally not worth it? Thanks

Too much power doesn't hurt speakers but under powering them does.
Buy speakers with a low rating.

These Kickers are only $60

Kicker DSC67 D Series 6-3/4" 2-Way Coaxial Speaker Pair

 

[shiftmx]

Too much power doesn't hurt speakers but under powering them does.

This is very incorrect. Under powering a speaker does not damage it. If that were the case, every single person who put aftermarket speakers on stock head units would be blowing them. What does damage speakers is pushing an underpowered headunit or amp into clipping and sending that signal to the speakers. This can be done by turning up a headunit to max volume for example.

 

[Scramble]

This is very incorrect. Under powering a speaker does not damage it. If that were the case, every single person who put aftermarket speakers on stock head units would be blowing them. What does damage speakers is pushing an underpowered headunit or amp into clipping and sending that signal to the speakers. This can be done by turning up a headunit to max volume for example.

ok, I agree & a little more specific then what I said.

 

[IBallEngineer]

What I would recommend , best for your money is to go with:
* Alpine

* Alpine

This will be great

Brian, no offense, but I don't like Alpine products. Do you have any experience with other brands? I recently moved my music to a tablet and am using that as a head unit. But I've been collecting parts to be able to do away with my head unit entirely. I have a ground loop isolator and a level control which will feel a Rockford Fosgate 4x40RMS rated amp.

I would love to run an additional amp to power a subwoofer but right now I'll settle for some good speakers. Any ideas?

:couch2:

 

[Scramble]

Brian, no offense, but I don't like Alpine products. Do you have any experience with other brands? I recently moved my music to a tablet and am using that as a head unit. But I've been collecting parts to be able to do away with my head unit entirely. I have a ground loop isolator and a level control which will feel a Rockford Fosgate 4x40RMS rated amp.

I would love to run an additional amp to power a subwoofer but right now I'll settle for some good speakers. Any ideas?

:couch2:

The Pioneers in my 4R are 11 years old & still rock. Don't by their cheaper models, move up the line. If you want to spend some money, JL Audio, I have them in my car & they are amazing. Of course the sound/quality of your amp makes a big difference too. R/F makes great stuff.