What New Speaker for Stock HU

[Hugger3800]

I need to replace my stock speaker setup. I have a Delco Stock CD head unit with the 4 speakers. Don't know why my car came with the CD and 4 speakers b/c that wasn't standard til 2000 so I guess mine is a late 1999. Anyway I need to replace the speakers with a decent setup TODAY! What do you all recommend to match the stick hu. Also is it possible to replace the rear speakers with midbass units? or is that just stupid. I want something with alil more bass and cleaner highs that mates well with the stock hu. THANKS!

[BeautifulDisaster]

i personally dont recomend this but if you do in fact have the bose delco system you will have to ****** rig the whole thing. why dont you get an aftermarket HU first?...running aftermarket speaker off a stock HU an oxymoron. if they are blown get new factory speakers, but alwasy first get the aftermarker HU first.

[Hugger3800]

Anyone else have any helpful advise?

[Flowbee V6]

I think its a waste of money buying new speakers for the stock delco radio. I'd rather spend the money for a a more powerful headunit with the stock speakers than the other way around. I put some infinity 6002i's with my stock delco and I didnt notice an improvement, in fact the bass on the new speakers sucked compared to the old ones. Save up for a new cd player/amplifier before thinking about speakers

[96firebird311]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Flowbee V6:
I think its a waste of money buying new speakers for the stock delco radio. <hr></blockquote>Sorry hugger, but I agree with them.

[Hugger3800]

Well guys, not everyone wants or needs an aftermarket setup. I just need to replace a speaker but I rather replace all four since stock ones are paper cones. I understand stock amplification sucks however, that doesn't mean one can't replace with a lower line Pioneer, JBL, or clarion. Think I'm gonna just do some cheapy 3 way pioneers up front and 2 ways out back. Not an audiophile setup but better than stock and better than blown wizzer cones!

[fenderman]

Hugger3800,
I am in the same boat you are, so don't think you're alone. I too am retaining my stock head unit because the kits for aftermarket head units either require you to cut the tab behind the dash or let the radio stick out like a sore thumb. Since I don't like either option, I'm going to upgrade the tape deck to a CD player, but it will be a GM unit that fits in the dash like the original did.
There are several good reasons to go aftermarket when something like this happens. One of the major reasons is that factory stuff is overpriced. I went to price a factory CD head unit from the dealer and was quoted a price of 800 bucks. After that, I decided that whatever I needed I'd try E-Bay or go aftermarket. It DEFINITELY makes sense to go aftermarket with speakers.
I have heard poor combinations of everything. Stock head unit and stock speakers- aftermarket head unit and stock speakers, stock head unit and aftermarket speakers, and surprisingly aftermarket head unit and aftermarket speakers. Point being that different components interface uniquely with each other. All that was asked is point blank what works the best with the stock head unit? But I guess since this person is not looking to be the audio champion of the year, his question is a waste of time. Nobody even bothered to ask why he was replacing the stock speakers. For the record while I am at it, it is completely possible to hook aftermarkets up to the factory wiring harness and do a good job if it is planned right.
It's not a waste of money to go aftermarket and interface to the factory head unit if in fact that is the goal you are trying to achieve. The reason that the question was asked about what is better is because with the wide range of speakers out there, it makes sense to ask more knowledgeable people so that the money is not plopped down on the first set of speakers that are the correct size. Instead, you audiophiles bashed him over the head telling him that his idea was lame, and he SHOULD be doing something else instead. I agree that if it were done correctly, an aftermarket head unit would give even better sound, but then for that why not ask him to buy crossovers and amplifiers and all sorts of other stuff until the car is more stereo than it is car?

[David Blalock]

I can't reccomend particular speakers, but when you're looking, try to find something with a high sensitivity so you'll get better (and louder) sound from the stock head unit.

I understand how you feel with aftermarket units fitting wierd but it's not a big deal to me to cut the tab behind.

I like Alpine personally, they make good stuff and it doesn't take insane amplification to sound good. Good luck in the search.

[fenderman]

Thanks for the reply, David. I'll definitely keep that in mind. When I do mods to a car, I don't like to cut or drill into anything. I like to find a way to modify while at the same time leaving myself the option of putting it back EXACTLY the way I found it if I choose to do so at a later date. But that's just my own personal opinion. After wanting to own a Camaro for so long, now that I have my chance I want to see it kept around for a LONG time. I collect older cars, and so far I have a 1966 Mustang and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air 4 door. It is my intention of going concourse with these cars, and I plan on keeping my Camaro in that same condition. I think they are prettier that way.

[Hugger3800]

fenderman, thanks for the great commentary. You truly gave a credible and relevant answer to a genuine question. I too feel its important to tailor an answer based on the question asked not bashing or answering based on irrelevant material. As for your tape deck situation, your best bet is to purchase on Ebay. I picked one up there for my g/f's car for $120. It was in mint condition and was out of a 2001 Silverado. Retaining stock look and feel of any car is personal matter however, there is defiantly something to be said about a cherry stock and unmolested ride. I prefer the concour cars as well. Good Luck

[Ben Allen]

Nothing wrong with paper cones.. Just plan to replace them after 5-10 years cause stock speakers almost always have untreated foam surrounds that will rot away..

Also nothing wrong with the stock head unit, especially if you want the look to remain stock..

It's simple to add external amplification to any stock head unit, with a line level converter.. You could hide the amp wherever you want, stick a line level converter behind the stock head unit, run RCA cables to the amp, run wires to the new speakers from the amp.. Maybe doesn't sound simple, but it's really easy..

Dunno if you really meant 'blown wizzer cones' either.. Whizzer cones are just little paper attachments that project more treble from a larger speaker.. Can't blow them up, only tear them off.. Maybe you meant blown speakers (that just happen to have whizzer cones on them) ? .. Anyway, grab a small 4 channel amp, rather than replace the stock HU.. If you want to retain stock look.. And don't go for 'cheapy 3 ways' .. You'll regret it.. Save a few extra pennies and get components or a good 2-way like Infinity's 62.5i.. Should be able to find those for under 100 bucks..

Just babbling now, but there's never any real need to replace the stock HU unless you want to impress people with flashy lights and garbage like that.. You always want to use external amplification anyways, most head unit amps just plain suck, factory or aftermarket..

[Hugger3800]

FYI- stock GM speakers have wizzer cones on the speaker. Oddly enough, the cones fell off my speakers!

[ August 18, 2003: Message edited by: Hugger3800 ]</p>