Car Audio

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I used to be WAY into car audio, but is it truly a noticeable difference if I put in new speakers?

Basically, I have a 2004 Mazda3. When I got it, I LOVED the sound of the speakers and didn't want to mess with anything. Last year, I got tired of CDs and bought a new head unit with USB input. The car already has tweeters installed, but is it going to make a difference if I put in aftermarket stuff? I have 6.5" all the way around.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I used to be WAY into car audio, but is it truly a noticeable difference if I put in new speakers?

Basically, I have a 2004 Mazda3. When I got it, I LOVED the sound of the speakers and didn't want to mess with anything. Last year, I got tired of CDs and bought a new head unit with USB input. The car already has tweeters installed, but is it going to make a difference if I put in aftermarket stuff? I have 6.5" all the way around.

In my experience only if you get an amplifier for the speakers. I made the mistake of getting new speakers before I could afford an amp (you should really get them all at the same time as aftermarket speakers sound like crap without them and it's easy to blow factory speakers with them.) and for a while I was longing for my factory speakers back as with some speakers I tried the bass was virtually gone and with the Alpines they were overpowering and annoying (still haven't figured out why that was the case).

Now with the speakers amped up and comparing them with my brothers factory speakers in his Camry I can definitely tell the difference and in my situation I didn't get a traditional amp, as the power pack just plugs into the back of most alpine head units (save like pre 2004 models).

I also notice that I use my sub a bit more though to round out the sound, nothing major just a powered 120 watt unit that fits under the seat. When I first got it though I was only using it 25% of the time. Now it's more like 95%.

Long story short, if you get new speakers prepare to get an amplifier of some kind. In many cases aftermarket speakers are worse than factory speakers when they don't have an amp but much much much much better when they are properly powered.

And the best part is you can do it without being like the local high school kids that spend like $5,000 on subwoofers and bass and $5 on their actual speakers. Which to me is like putting 10 tablespoons of BBQ sauce on your plate for one ounce of steak.