Speakers for new car

[nev adams]

Bought a new Toyota Camry in the spring and the stereo just isn't up to my liking. Definitely needs a sub but I wonder if all the speakers needs upgrading. Not interested in spending $1000 but I'd like to make sure I do it right. Anyone have experience they can share?

 What about the powered under seat subs you can get from Amazon, anyone use one with positive results? 

[Kmagnuss]

I used to own a car stereo shop, but that was a looong time ago.

You'd be surprised how much better your system will play if you add a small sub and then just turn down the bass on your stock speakers.  Those little powered subs can be had for $300 or less and actually sound good now, as opposed to 30 years ago when they were trash.  If it were me, I'd go that route.  Just don't get some POS Pyramid/Boss or similar.  Get a decent brand.

[nev adams]

2 hours ago, Kmagnuss said:

I used to own a car stereo shop, but that was a looong time ago.

You'd be surprised how much better your system will play if you add a small sub and then just turn down the bass on your stock speakers.  Those little powered subs can be had for $300 or less and actually sound good now, as opposed to 30 years ago when they were trash.  If it were me, I'd go that route.  Just don't get some POS Pyramid/Boss or similar.  Get a decent brand.

This is awesome to hear! Thanks for that info! I found this website and will look through it to find one that is best bang for my buck.

https://www.bestproductscanada.com/underseat-powered-subwoofer?targetid=dsa-19959388920&matchtype=&device=c&campaignid=18709909088&creative=630677254021&adgroupid=145804180314&feeditemid=&loc_physical_ms=9001354&loc_interest_ms=&network=g&devicemodel=&placement=&keyword=$&target=&aceid=&adposition=&trackid=ca_all_top_2_1&mId=407-132-4411&trackOld=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwrranBhAEEiwAzbhNtZay2KXUztewuBAb5L2cdhYcnkw5WrDPxbAp4tYqK1xgecCxJDhqaRoCdGMQAvD_BwE

[Kmagnuss]

Don't do Pyle.  Pyle was and always will be junk.

My limited knowledge on modern brands has Rockville being a mix of good/bad.

Tough to go wrong with Kicker/Rockford Fosgate/JBL and others.

Guy at work has a 10" Fosgate that gets surprisingly low... model is P300-10T.  He said he paid under $300 for it.

 

Best of luck.

-Mag

[TiScape]

4 hours ago, Kmagnuss said:

I used to own a car stereo shop, but that was a looong time ago.

You'd be surprised how much better your system will play if you add a small sub and then just turn down the bass on your stock speakers.  Those little powered subs can be had for $300 or less and actually sound good now, as opposed to 30 years ago when they were trash.  If it were me, I'd go that route.  Just don't get some POS Pyramid/Boss or similar.  Get a decent brand.

Mag, you just reminded me of my journey into after market speakers and systems! It was a Bazooka Tube in the trunk. That 💩 lasted about 3 months. Eventually ended up taking out the back seat and building in an enclosure with four 10s! 😜

🔊🔊🔊🔊

Edited August 29, 2023 by TiScape

[Kmagnuss]

Lol I still have a bazooka tube up in my attic from 20+ years ago... I wonder if it still works.  The powered versions of those weren't great but small amps could make some boomy bass on the passive ones.  They're pretty sloppy but not the worst things out there.  🙂

 

[Tampajoe3]

If you order through Crutchfield you get the wiring harness too.  Makes it nice and easy.  

I've used some Polk speakers in two of my cars and it made an improvement in sound.

[bigred90gt]

The problem with aftermarket speakers on a factory head unit is that the head unit does not put out enough power for the aftermarket speakers. You will lose any bass that you get even through the factory speakers, and they will not have the clarity in sound you are looking for. A powered sub can help, but it will serve as nothing more than bass fill as opposed to what most people would expect from a subwoofer. I would look at Kicker hideaway for a powered sub. Very small package and does not require large power/ground wires due to relatively low amp output. If you want to spend just a little more, Kicker also makes a powered sub box with a 10" sub and a 10" passive radiator that has a pretty small profile with a built in 400w or 500w amp (cant remember, I think its called PTRTP if you want to check them out). 

 

I just went through this on my F150. I've had full blown aftermarket systems in every vehicle I have owned except for 2 of them. When I traded my mustang for this F150, I wanted to puke hearing the sound, lol. It is the base sound system as far as speakers go (6 speakers, no amp no sub). I do like the head unit, as it has Sync 3 with apple carplay, but the OEM speakers are trash. I replaced them all with JBL components and speakers, added a 5 channel amp and a 10" Kicker L7T Solobaric sub I already had. Research on crutchfield, buy on Amazon IF you have any experience and working knowledge of installation. If not, spend the money and buy from Crutchfield, as you will get installation instructions specific to your vehicle, along with all harness adapters needed. You'll also get speaker adapters if you need them for mounting different speaker sizes. Crutchfield's technical support is good as well if you run into any issues during installation. 

 

If you are wanting to get speakers and not wanting an amp, find the speakers with the highest sensitivity rating. These will be the most efficient speakers for the power your radio puts out. I would also pull at least one of your factory speakers and check for the impedance on it so you can match that. If you put a 2ohm speaker on an OEM radio rated for 4ohm, you could burn up the output. If you put a 4 ohm speaker on a 2 ohm output, you will effectively reduce the power delivered to the speaker by roughly 1/2. If you are not going to go with an aftermarket amp, just match whatever the OEM speakers are.