2005 Easiest Aftermarket Speaker upgrade?

Hmmm.

The sub sounds scary.

My speaker seems alright, I think it was a loose connection on a rear speaker making it sound crackly.

So I could potentially get a sub and pay for someone to install it?

Basically I have less money than I thought.

I can get a second hand sub and pay for installation.

Or I can get new speakers and install myself.

Or I can get a second hand or new (but basic) radio and pay for installation.

Which do you reckon?

All I need is a wee bit extra bass/clarity!!

Thanks

Or I could get something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-DEH-460 ... eer+stereo

and get a cheap sub later?

It has 2x RCA Pre-outs - would this make connecting a sub easier?

Think i'm settling on getting a stereo and then a sub, and then maybe speakers and then maybe a sub?:

Which of these is better, can't tell:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-DEH-470 ... B00N80C66U


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-DEH-X57 ... 00N80C840/


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-DEH-X56 ... 00EFB3RBE/


Jesus - why are there so many variations of the same radio!:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-DEH-460 ... eer+stereo

Is hands free calling really worth it - I don't even know how it works...

I could go even cheaper with:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-DEH-170 ... 00N3WP214/

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-Tuner-I ... 009ETI1KY/

I have also found this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Citroen-player- ... 00RXVB256/

I'm drowning in radios.

Please help!!


Thanks

samuelodog wrote:and get a cheap sub later?

It has 2x RCA Pre-outs - would this make connecting a sub easier?

I think what missing lincs is saying in his sage advice

Missing Lincs wrote:The sub is probably the hardest item to install, it needs new wiring to connect the inputs to the speakers and to provide power, this ideally should be via a fused connection direct from the battery. If you plan to install a new radio with a direct sub output in the future, you may want to think about pre-installing a low level signal wire at last from the sub to the back of the dash to save doing it later - you'll have to access the speaker wires somewhere and behind the dash, as the radio is where both left and right signals are to be found, is a good place, so to me, pre-fitting an extra wire at the same time makes sense.

Is that the biggest problem with the subwoofer install is supplying power from the battery and the extra wires from the head unit to under the drivers seat need to be installed. If you install a new head unit, considerer installing the extra wires for the subwoofer which can be fitted at a later date without having to remove the head unit again.

Personally I wouldn't worry about bluetooth for phone, but if you're going to connect your phone/ipod via bluetooth audio then most radios that have one have the other, worth checking, especially if bluetooth audio would be useful. Unless the radio has a facility for a separate microphone, bluetooth handsfree isn't much use, too much background noise in a car.

If you are getting a radio, rather than line out, you're better off with a dedicated sub output. Some allow you to choose the function of the line output - sub or amp. Again worth checking. With a dedicated sub output, you choose which frequencies go to the sub and not to the main speakers, this helps the main speakers be more efficient because they're not trying to reproduce bass that they can't really handle. If you don't use the facility now it can be set to off until you're ready to use it.

Just remember what I said about pre-installing any wiring that might help in the future. If you do a radio replace, put the sub lead in now. If you never use it, its cost you a couple of £, if you do, it's saved you taking the dash apart twice.

One final piece of advice, don't drown in internet specs. Ring up a seller or if you're really desperate, go to Halfords . Explain what you want, look and listen.

I've used this company recently, they were able to give good advice over the phone and they are pretty keen on price.

https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/

Ok.

Thanks

So I go for a simple stereo -

but I find one with a dedicated sub output that will allow me to choose the function of the line output - sub or amp. And I put the sub lead in now. I would buy the radio and ask someone to do the rest.

If I can get a simple radio, I could get a sub too. And I wont need new speakers with a controllable sub, cos the sub would handle the big bass. Is this right?

If so... which radio out of the few I posted would do the above? i.e. has a dedicated sub output that will allow me to choose the function of the line output - sub or amp?

Tahnhks

Bump?

Thanks

Missing Lincs wrote:One final piece of advice, don't drown in internet specs. Ring up a seller or if you're really desperate, go to Halfords . Explain what you want, look and listen.

I've used this company recently, they were able to give good advice over the phone and they are pretty keen on price.

https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/

You can look at specifications until the cows come home, I think someone who deals in car audio is best placed to help you now.

Missing Lincs wrote:Unless the radio has a facility for a separate microphone, bluetooth handsfree isn't much use, too much background noise in a car.

Thanks for that information. A very good point.