Speaker Upgrade

[CobraSpdRH]

If you buy a decent aftermarket head unit it will improve your speaker sound because you tend to get more power to your speakers. If you have an amp hooked up to some speakers you may find that the speakers are garbage because they can't handle the power. You may also blow the speakers if the speakers are rated lower then the power being given. I would suggest getting a good head unit, good speakers and run all new speaker wire of a thicker gauge and you will get much better sound. If you add a 4 channel amp you will have even better sound. And if you add a second amp dedicated to a sub you should have a well rounded sound system.

Yeah, was definitely planning on upgrading the speakers to something Infiniti or Alpine, just wasn't sure if I should go with the added cost/effort of adding a dedicated amp for the door speakers. I think I have an old amp somewhere in the garage, might see if it is a decent 4-channel. Otherwise the Kenwood should probably hold its own for now. Good tip on upgrading the wiring too.

 

[chimpy]

I'm not a big fan of oval speakers especially when it requires modification. Google "round vs. oval speakers"...a couple of good discussions on the pros and cons of each. In a nutshell, a round speaker should produce a better sound (i.e., less distortion) because of its symmetry. One advantage of the 6x9, when compared to a 6.5”, is greater output/mid bass by virtue of its larger surface area.

So one thing you might consider is, can you benefit from the added bass? If you don't plan on running a sub, the 6x9 may be something worth considering.

Going back to the round vs. oval debate, I’m not proclaiming that I'm able to discern a difference in clarity between a round and oval speaker (never A/B tested), but I personally wouldn’t go through the hassle of modifying my door just to fit an oval. But don’t get me wrong, I would use a 6x9 if the application allowed for it. My wife’s car has 6x9's in the back and I think they sound fine. If I had the option though, personally I’d go with the largest round speaker I could.

Home speakers have been using the round design for decades.