What are the best speakers to replace Radio 9 factory speakers with?

[je255j]

I purchased a set of Inifity speakers from Crutchfield and set of a Polk Audio. Both cost about the same (the Polks being a little bit more). The plan was to listen to both, and then return whichever I didn't like.

Unfortunately, I held on to them too long, and wound up unable to return anything, but that's beside the point.

The point is, the Polks sounded absolutely amazingly wonderfully worlds better than the Inifitys could ever hope to sound in their wildest dreams.

That said, for future car stereo projects, I have no intention of auditioning competing speakers - regardless of brand. Whichever Polks fit, those are the speakers I'm buying. I could not have been more impressed.

Unfortunately, in the case of the Smart car, I do not know which size that is.

[chrisdfw]

Originally Posted by mnext02

did you get any amp?

When I had just the front speakers replaced I didn't get an amp. They had plenty of power from the radio 9. The FM on the radio 9 has horrible highs and lows though. Hook up anything to the aux jack and the sound is great.

I put in a 40watt per ch amp when I add the sub. An extra amp really isn't needed unless you add a sub or rear speakers (but I hate rear speakers because then you don't get stereo the way it was meant to be heard).

[Eric H.]

I've been in the same boat and have been spec'ing out my system. I have ran this setup by a few trusted friends in the industry and it should be a pretty kick ass system.

I will be running:

AlpineIVA-W505 7" Touchscreen
Alpine PDX 1.600 (For subwoofer),
Alpine PDX 2.150 (For mids & highs)
JL Audio Evolution C5 Speakers
JL Audio 8" Subwoofer (forgot which model, the one with less air space requirements)

I considered Focal Speakers for the mids & highs but at the price difference and the dynamics of the car, I doubt I'd be able to hear a discernible difference over the JL C5's.

[maxtraxduffy]

i installed polk db651 $99 a pair and im very happy!!!!!

[mnext02]

Originally Posted by maxtraxduffy

i installed polk db165 $99 a pair and im very happy!!!!!

thats what I am going with. I have read several people that are happy with the polks. how was the installation? do it yourself?

[maxtraxduffy]

yea did it myself go to the link on removing the outer door skin and be shure you go to the remove the rear view first !!!!!and cut threw the vapor shield and use duct tape to fix it back!i drilled out the stock covers and used the polk covers they match the silver ac ducks great

[brian r]

Originally Posted by lowndex

Plus, you will still need to buy the Dynomat at $350.00.

Dynamat is a huge rip-off. It does work, but you pay through the nose for the name.

I use B-Quiet insulation. It does the job as well as anything else, has superior adhesive, and costs far less. It's also much easier to install than brands that come in a big sheet because it comes in a 1' wide roll. A 50' roll will cost less than $100. www.b-quiet.com They also have a ton of information on their site.

The fortwo is about the easiest car to insulate that there is. If you can get the seats out (the proper sized torx socket, a ratchet handle, and a friend is all you need) you can peel the carpet back against the console and the floor is right there. No glue or fasteners at all. Fold the cargo area carpet forward (after using the socket on the child-seat anchor) and do everything from the console back. All you need to do is cut the roll with a heavy scissors, peel the backing, and stick it in place. Use a small roller to make sure it's tight against the metal. And the doors come off from the outside, and there are instructions posted in the forum.

It's a fortwo, not the Space Shuttle. You can do it.

[bull8042]

I went with a pair of Polk Audio db651's in the doors and a JL Audio A4300 amp. Channel 1 & 2 are driving the 60W Polks and channels 3 & 4 are bridged pumping out 220W to the yet-to-be-installed sub. The system ROCKS!! 1,000 times improvement over the muddy factory sound, even using the factory head unit, tweeters, and sub.
brian r, do you really think Dynamat on the floor would be any help? The reason I ask is because the carpet has very thick high-density foam, 1" or more thick. Seems like that would cut down tremendously on road noise by itself.
I will check out your b-quiet suggestion. But I have a neighbor who works for the Geek Squad. He got me two rolls of Dynamat, enough for both doors, for $28 his cost. HUGE MARKUP on that stuff! Made a HUGE difference though on the doors...