More on speaker sizes

[toot]

Right, looking to upgrade the soundsystem in my CC. I don't want to spend a fortune but do want the best I can get for the money I can afford. After reading several posts, it seems the common opinion is that I should upgrade the speakers first and maybe add an amp before thinking of a new HU. I'm not techy with these things at all so I have some questions

1: I have some speakers from my previous car and also some from my first car (which haven't been used as I sold my first car before I got a driving licfence). They are the oval variety 3 way speakers but they are a good 12" wide so where could I fit them????

2: I don't know about the speakers in the last car (going to rip them all out at the weekend) but the other speakers are 120W. What does this mean in terms of sound I can get?? Do I need an amp to take advantage of that? Would an amp help the speakers to not overload when I turn the volume up (as I said, clueless :rolleyes: )

3: With this in mind, am I better off just getting new speakers? I wouldn't have a clue how to fit so will need to visit a garage or something anyway.

4: If I do decide to go for a new HU after all that, is it really that hard to find one that works with the current stalk and RD3 display?

I think thats all the questions I need, sorry to ramble but I don't want to buy something and get it all fitted to find it isn't what I need. I do like the idea of a phat sub in the boot as well so I know i'll need an amp for that.

Thanks for any help guys. By the way, it is a multiplex.

[paul_y3k]

1: I have some speakers from my previous car and also some from my first car (which haven't been used as I sold my first car before I got a driving licfence). They are the oval variety 3 way speakers but they are a good 12" wide so where could I fit them????
errrr depends if you want to start ripping up the door cardds really, other than that you could make a box for them in the boot, i guess. Theres not really much spce in the cc.

2: I don't know about the speakers in the last car (going to rip them all out at the weekend) but the other speakers are 120W. What does this mean in terms of sound I can get?? Do I need an amp to take advantage of that? Would an amp help the speakers to not overload when I turn the volume up (as I said, clueless :rolleyes: )
hmm not sure what power comes out the standard clarion h/u

3: With this in mind, am I better off just getting new speakers? I wouldn't have a clue how to fit so will need to visit a garage or something anyway.
properly yes. variose pelpe end up with Kenwood gear which is very good quality ( creep creep) and Trungs ya man to give you part numbers etc ( i can never remember)

4: If I do decide to go for a new HU after all that, is it really that hard to find one that works with the current stalk and RD3 display?
errr yes .. you can get stalk adapters but the RD3 ... i think you can get only one adapter from connects2.co.uk and that needs a sony h/u, in practice i find that you don't notice it's missing.
.

[Alex LS]

it seems the common opinion is that I should upgrade the speakers first and maybe add an amp before thinking of a new HU

I got my HU first, then speakers. I may add an amp later.

1: I have some speakers from my previous car and also some from my first car (which haven't been used as I sold my first car before I got a driving licfence). They are the oval variety 3 way speakers but they are a good 12" wide so where could I fit them????

Without doing serious stuff to the trim, nowhere.

2: I don't know about the speakers in the last car (going to rip them all out at the weekend) but the other speakers are 120W. What does this mean in terms of sound I can get?? Do I need an amp to take advantage of that? Would an amp help the speakers to not overload when I turn the volume up (as I said, clueless :rolleyes: )

120W speakers will take a peak power of 120W - this means you can turn the power up higher without blowing your speakers. An amp will make it easier, not harder, to overload the speakers - but it will result in a cleaner sound.

3: With this in mind, am I better off just getting new speakers? I wouldn't have a clue how to fit so will need to visit a garage or something anyway.

General concensus is that the standard speakers are cr@p - so change them. Of course, you won't notice much difference unless you have a decent signal going into them - change the HU and/or get an amp.

4: If I do decide to go for a new HU after all that, is it really that hard to find one that works with the current stalk and RD3 display?

Yes. You won't get ANY that work with the display, AFAIK. The planned Kenwood interface, for instance, will probably only show a startup message "Hello!" or something...

Sony have interfaces for the stalk remote, and Kenwood ones are on the way. I personally don't know of any others but that's not to say there aren't any.

I think thats all the questions I need, sorry to ramble but I don't want to buy something and get it all fitted to find it isn't what I need. I do like the idea of a phat sub in the boot as well so I know i'll need an amp for that.

Unless you get a powered sub, or course

Thanks for any help guys. By the way, it is a multiplex.

I guessed, when you said "RD3"

[toot]

OK, so 120W means I can push them loud but I was under the impression that most HU's only give out about 25W per channel so I would need an amp to get that other 100W out of the speakers. As I said clueless so please, shoot me down in flames here by all means.

But anyway, looks like I won't be able to fit these speakers so now I'm really confused. I want a good system but I can't fit it mysel;f so will need to find a good garage that know what they are doing and can sell me good equipment. Sure that will be a doddle

Thanks guys.

[stephen T]

12 inc speakers are u sure? sounds like a sub to me.

[Alex LS]

OK, so 120W means I can push them loud but I was under the impression that most HU's only give out about 25W per channel so I would need an amp to get that other 100W out of the speakers. As I said clueless so please, shoot me down in flames here by all means.

Top-end Kenwoods give 50W peak per channel. This means you want speakers a fair bit higher than this to avoid any damage. Mine are 200W in the front and 90W in the back. This also allows me to stick an amp in without changing the speakers again (except perhaps the rear ones).

[toot]

I'm mistaken, remeasured and they are only 9" in diameter but it is still a lot more than 10cm. They are the oval type 3 way ones with a little mid range and a tweeter cone in the middle. The ones I have are JVC, not sure what the ones in the other car are, will find out on Saturday when I take them out.

SO Alex, 120W should do me ok then combined with a sub and decent amp? Or do you think (depending on what I eventually go for), I should go for something bigger? As I say, don't want to and can't afford to spend a fortune but I want something that rocks. I'm willing to spend a bit more on a HU as I want something that looks lush but not with loads of flashing lights (I think something subtle would be best). My main priorities are good EQ control with the facility to store several settings and a stalk is essential. I don't need all the fancy crap you get with some of them, just want something slick where you look at it and think..... well, I don't know but you know what I mean

I think my best bet will be to find a pro shop where the people know what they are doing and are actually interested in helping me rather than getting as much cash out of me as possible. Very important I hear the thing first I think.

[Alex LS]

Definitely check them out first, yes.

Also check out online stores - some of them have good information.

http://www.caraudiodirect.com/
http://www.justkenwood.co.uk/
http://www.incar-discount.co.uk/