[norton13]

I have a 650 watt amp with the front speakers & new 12" subwoofer hooked up to the amp. Wow huge difference. It is clear & amazing bass on the stock stereo. The stock speakers sounds like a totally different stereo.
I thought the stock speakers were crap, I am amazed at the difference. I was going to change all the speakers but was told to leave them. I was hesitant at first but was blown away how it sounds now.

 

[WhiteHotG8GT]

What amp and sub did you use?

 

[norton13]

It is an alpine MRX-F65 with a Rockford Fosgate P2D2-12 subwoofer.

 

[pony killer]

I had that happen with my escort back in the day. The sound of the bass overpowers the door speakers and you don't hear the distortion from the doors as much if at all. Crank it up to where you think it sounds bad ass and then kill the bass gain so you just hear speakers in the doors. It will be a quick reminder that the door speakers still suck. I was always a Rockford fan. Was even a team USA member of theirs back in 97. I had two power twelves in a ported box and was hitting 148 db's with a steady all the time 145's . Love those subs.

 

[norton13]

The factory speakers might suck but with the amp they sound amazing. They wired the front speakers with the front door speakers & the subwoofer to the amp. I believe the front center speaker & the rear door speakers with the stock stereo & the rear 8" subs are still with the factory amp.
As I said before what a huge difference it makes. I had asked about replacing all of the speakers they told me not to bother unless they are blown. They had told me that it will not make much of a difference since the speakers are only playing the highs & no bass except the 8"subs.

They said it will not sound way better but just a little, so for now I am enjoying my 950 watt stereo.

 

[Surgeont]

how do you wire this amp ,where does it go, and do I have to run new wires? Cant one install a new amp in the trunk and tie it in with the door speakers(not subs as that has its own amp in the trunk) I thought you could access the wiring harness to push new amp throught the factory wiring for doors. last is that only done through the passenger side of headunit on a side panel?

 

[SRG963]

FWIW, 160X4=640

Never heard of stereo shop that would suggest against upgrading your speakers. Night and day difference IMO. Specially since your fronts are amped, you can choose just about any good quality speaker.

 

[norton13]

640 watt new amp 200 watt existing amp & I imagine the head unit must be at least 110 watts. The new amp is in the trunk I did not wire it but I believe it was wired to the head unit. As far as this place not recommending new speakers all around they have been in business for 25 years & have done a lot of stereo installs.
I was surprised at not upgrading all the speakers but after listening to it, at this point it really doesn't need it. This is not my first aftermarket stereo, technically not an aftermarket but if you heard it at this point it really does not need new speakers at this point.

 

[SSEiMan01]

Give it time, I blew two stock speakers within a week of buying the car, and on a stock stereo. Honestly the stock Delco speakers seem like they're made of toilet paper. The amp/HU these cars have isn't bad, but the speakers give them the bad rap. Not saying you have to upgrade yours, but I am saying that I'm glad I upgraded mine and I would recommend that everyone start at that as far as stereos go, this isn't my first either, far from it in fact. But I digress....

As long as you're happy with it, that's what matters, it's your car after all.