After market speakers for base model stereo

[esrazor]

I am the proud parent of an adopted black/silver passion that has the bacic radio/stereo in it. I've looked and probably just didn't see it but can you put after market speakers in the car with this radio? (I believe it's a radio 9.) I use my iPhone for music and can plug it into the mp3 jack but I only have the two speakers. I usually only listen to that or am radio so I don't want a fancy stereo/radio but I definitely want more from my speakers. My concern is that you won't be able to adjust/fine tune the sound from the base stereo, you don't have enough watts to drive the speakers, or there just isn't anything to hook the speakers up to. Any thoughts or links? I don't read German so please don't send me to that site.

Thanks!
Susan

[Alustiza]

Susan,
There is another post in this forum that addresses the speaker thing, and the post indicates that the speakers in the doors are not of a normal size, as far as the mounting points, so it is necessary to remove the outer door panels and do some work to get any new speakers secure well. Hopefully someone will make a template that can be used. Speakers should be the first thing you change to get better sound.

Dan

[esrazor]

We went to a few shops to check out what speakers might fit and most places didn't want to take the risk of working on the car since they don't have manuals for it yet. Called smart center Seattle and we're going there today to have the smart speakers installed. I'll let you know how it goes.

[garyhartaz]

Originally Posted by esrazor

We went to a few shops to check out what speakers might fit and most places didn't want to take the risk of working on the car since they don't have manuals for it yet. Called smart center Seattle and we're going there today to have the smart speakers installed. I'll let you know how it goes.

I changed out my speakers with a set of Pioneer's. You have to remove the outer door panel to access the door speaker enclosures. Since you are going to the smart center, I guess you don't need a step by step then.

[jwight]

Any idea what the smart speakers cost? Might be better to have aftermarket speakers installed by the dealer if they are cheaper (er, less expensive.)

[KimballCanada]

What are the size of the speakers in the door? which pioneer model did u get? I am looking for 2 good powerful speakers to replace the 2 factory speakers without having to buy an amp. I did not choose the upgrade because i am getting a new deck. I want good sound with only using 2 speakers but i dont want my people her me coming.
thanks...

[brian r]

Originally Posted by jwight

Any idea what the smart speakers cost? Might be better to have aftermarket speakers installed by the dealer if they are cheaper (er, less expensive.)

My car is at the port, so I haven't had one apart yet, but from pictures of the inner door I've seen, my guess is that the speakers are 6.5" or 6.75" (which is the European 165mm size). In these sizes you could pay under $50 to $1000 a pair. IMO halfway decent speakers start at about $100 a pair. You get what you pay for.

If the dealer will even do the job, they're going to charge shop time (by the hourly rate). Since there don't seem to be any plug-in replacements, and the wiring harness on the car won't plug into a replacement, either they won't touch it, or the labor fee will be much more than the speakers cost.

Best bet is to research car audio sellers in your area for one that does their own installations and sells higher-end equipment. Usually they will have an installer that will do a proper job and may give you a discount if your car is their first fortwo so they can take extra time to get to know the car. This kind of shop tends to do nice work, since they don't want someone who spent $4000 on equipment have a problem. They'll do the same kind of work on a very basic job as well. I worked at one of these types of stores in grad school. We tried to get every install to appear better than factory.

Discount car stereo shops and even places like Best Buy (a friend had a nightmare there) carry the risk that your car will be handed over to a kid armed with a utility knife and a roll of duct tape...

[esrazor]

Well, it was a bit more expensive than anticipated. The speakers were a little over $500 and the install was in the $90's. It definately is cheaper to have them installed at the factory but we got an orphan so we didn't have that choice.

[Jeff Newcum]

Wow...now that sounds waaaay to expensive!

[Jeff Newcum]

It's gotta hurt when a factory installed radio is:

smart premium radio (AM/FM, mp3-compatible 6 disc CD changer; incl. 2 speakers, aux input jack for mp3 device [radio 10]) $495