Should I replace my "premium" speakers?

[xrisnothing]

I bought some Kenwood Excelon component speakers about 3 years ago for my Pontiac. I used the speakers for about a year before my stereo went out and I then crashed it. The car has been parked since then in a barely operable state, so the speakers haven't had all that much use.

Do you think they'll sound better than the premium speakers? I don't know their model numbers and haven't seen any specs for the premium sound system speakers either. I can say that I'm NOT at all impressed with the "premium" sound system.

[NikyTwotones]

Depending on you installation skill level i dont see how it could hurt to pop em in. The door panels literally pop off. The components will give you the crisp sound your looking for. there is plenty of room to hide the cross overs behind the dash. Good luck and pop up some pics of the finished install.

[mmmeat]

Well, since you already have the speakers, it can't hurt try 'em out.

Your pal,
Meat.

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by xrisnothing

I bought some Kenwood Excelon component speakers about 3 years ago for my Pontiac. I used the speakers for about a year before my stereo went out and I then crashed it. The car has been parked since then in a barely operable state, so the speakers haven't had all that much use.

Do you think they'll sound better than the premium speakers? I don't know their model numbers and haven't seen any specs for the premium sound system speakers either. I can say that I'm NOT at all impressed with the "premium" sound system.

Just in case:
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...llation-10509/
Remember: install is from the outside... But you know that!

[John_H]

The factory speakers are underpowered but the subwoofer helps make up for the lack of the low-end range. The high end for the "premium" sound package didn't impress me while I still had the tweeters in place but with improved door speakers.

The door speakers are probably the biggest single improvement you can get out of your sound system. A better radio would only feed the under-performing door speakers and continue to disappoint.

If you replace the speakers, the subwoofer will do little given the improved efficiency of good speakers. I removed the subwoofer and tweeters because they did nothing coupled with my new Alpine speakers. With added sound/vibration dampening on the plastic door shells, I improved the acoustic cavity so the new speakers sounded like I "had a sub in each door."

My suggestion: change the speakers first and see where you want to go from there.

[cubefx]

Originally Posted by xrisnothing

I bought some Kenwood Excelon component speakers about 3 years ago for my Pontiac. I used the speakers for about a year before my stereo went out and I then crashed it. The car has been parked since then in a barely operable state, so the speakers haven't had all that much use.

Do you think they'll sound better than the premium speakers? I don't know their model numbers and haven't seen any specs for the premium sound system speakers either. I can say that I'm NOT at all impressed with the "premium" sound system.

They will definitely sound better then stock paper speakers. Do you know what size your Kenwoods? If they are not correct size, they just might not fit.


CUBE

[SylenThunder]

Yeah, I have a couple of Pioneer door speakers that I purchased for my Vibe and never got installed before it was wrecked, I plan adding them to the rear storage door like I found on a post here somewhere. I think that the current door speakers and tweeters sound okay right now, i won't replace them unless I replace the radio. ( But do believe, that the second there is a new radio in it, the new speakers will be too. .) I want to take a shot at upgrading the sub. I was gonna see if I could pull out the existing sub box and see what i can do to boost it. I happen to have a spare 50W amp laying around, not sure what the power rating for the stock sub is, but I figure it's not likely more than 20-30 watts. (basing this purely on the lack of sound coming from it.) I have built some pretty nice sounding mico-sub boxes in the past.

[xrisnothing]

The issue is with the size. I know the factory speaker size in the pontiac is 5.25", but I seem to remember deciding to get 6.5" speakers instead and doing some work on the brackets.

So the factory "premium" speakers are indeed paper? If that's the case and the Kenwoods are indeed 6.5" then I'll probably be swapping them out, because the sound in this car is not all that good.

[fmaxwell]

Originally Posted by xrisnothing

So the factory "premium" speakers are indeed paper? If that's the case and the Kenwoods are indeed 6.5" then I'll probably be swapping them out, because the sound in this car is not all that good.

You are too kind. The "premium" speaker sound is awful.

When I had replaced only the right factory speaker with a Polk DB651 (before doing the left door), I adjusted the balance left and right. It was flat out astonishing how much better the Polk speakers sounded. The factory speakers had a nasal, tinny sound while the Polks were rich and full sounding.

The Polks can be had for $99 at Circuit City or $75 per pair if you buy two pairs (maybe go in with a buddy who needs them, too). For even less per pair, but with shipping costs, you can get them online.

If the component speakers you have ar 5.25", spring for the 6.5" Polks. The install will be easier, the sound better, and you won't need to invest big bucks in an amp to power them (many component speakers really require more power than a head unit, especially a factory one, can provide).

[cubefx]

Originally Posted by xrisnothing

So the factory "premium" speakers are indeed paper?

Yep, and also they are "Made in Poland".
Stock speaker magnet is about four time smaller then ones in POLK DBs.

CUBE