Excellent Front Speakers

[Stefan2k]

Just wanted to let anyone considering replacing the speaker in their Sonic a heads up recommendation. I just installed another set of component speakers in my 14 sedan. The first set was a pair of Soundstream PC-6's, with them installed I lost my bass bottom end. The wire on the tweeters was so flimsy that one broke off. I would stay away from Soundstream components for this reason alone. Anyway I sent them back and installed a pair of Soundstorm components that I had laying around and again had no bottom end, in fact the factory stock speakers sounded better than both sets. With the Soundstreams I had olso replaced the rear speakers. I was heart broken and embarrassed, my wife who has a 15 Sonic never let me hear the end of the "why you changin a radio that sounds good already" S**t!

So I did my research and realized that the Soundstreams and the Soundstorms both had comparatively poor frequency response. I dug around and found a set of Pioneer TS-D1730C's, they had a frequency response of 35hz to 34,000hz. The other speakers had frequency numbers that started at 65hz to 20,000hz. The frequency response made all the difference in the world.

I'm not saying Pioneer speakers are the best or the only, but I am saying you will be very happy. I looked at Pioneer when I needed a bulletproof answer as I have had good results with them in the past. I checked the internet for the best price and this pair ranged from $92 at Walmart, $93 at Sonic Electronix all the way up to $160 in most other places including the Pioneer website.

In a nutshell I have better than factory sound, louder than factory sound and a S**t eating grin on my face.:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Thanks for sharing. Upgrading the stereo on my list. There are some other great posts on here and one of the members is an installer for Best Buy.

 

[RMinNJ]

So you think I'll get a little more bass if I just replace my rear door speakers?

How hard is it to take the rear door panels off? I have one rear speaker that rattles with low bass right now..stops if you press on the door.

 

[gsfisher13]

So are you saying you replaced all 4 (front and back) with the pioneer speakers you linked above? or just the front and kept the factory speakers in the back?

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Door panels are a piece of cake. Just screws in the door handle and one in the lever. The rest is just clips. Oh and the door lock knob or stick thing.

Dynamat, a new speaker and rock out!

 

[cndctrdj]

Good to know you tried a few before you settled

 

[Stefan2k]

Just to let you know

I have tried quite a few combinations of speakers in my Sonic and each time I compared the sound "my 2014 vs my 2015". They both are LT versions with Mylink radio's. my wife drives the 2015 auto, and I drive the 2014 5 speed. Replacing front and rear speakers caused me to lose the low end warmth and thickness of bass, but gave me clarity, detail and crispness.

In my opinion The best case scenario if your not adding amps and subs would be to only replace the front speakers with a really nice high end set of components and leave the back alone. The OEM speakers are designed for the car and sound good left alone. My wife swears hers sounds better than mine and in actuality it does.

Here's why; She listens to R&B and that makes the factory system shine. Then the factory speakers fit well enough to prevent vibrations, and rattling. I had to make a home depot run to get insulating foam tape to eliminate rattling. Then I had to tape the excess wire in the door to stop it from bouncing around and causing noise. Then I had to go back to the factory speakers in the rear to help keep up with the stock bass, cause unamplified the Pioners in back are not keeping up. They do sound good and perfect for when I add subwoofers.

I just ordered a AA GM44 harness kit so I can install amps in the next couple of weeks. I have a Hifonics HF-1500, and a Crunch DRA-2450.4. I also have two American Bass XD-12 DVC that I plan to run at 1 ohm. All together that will give me 1500 watt rms to the subs and about 300 watts rms to each of the interior speakers though I plan to keep the gain turned down because the Pioneers only hold 60 watts rms each. The Hifonics amp will have a Soundstream capcell connected also so I should be good by the end of November.

I'll keep ya posted

 

[Luv2xlr8]

I've installed alpine type-r front and rear with a pioneer headunit and it sounds way better than stock, just need to get an amp to hear the full potential of these type-r's.

Usually if you change the OEM speakers to aftermarket you lose the bass, that's because the oem's are more like a woofer type speaker.

 

[RMinNJ]

Are the stock front speaker different than the stock rears? Would putting stock front speaker in the rear get more bass?

A speaker swap sound like the easiest install ...thought I could do something with the rears for more bass but from talk here I guess not.

 

[kevjam79]

The fronts will not fit in the back. The back is much shallower. I personally recommend Polk dB Series speakers with OEM head units. They are very efficient and have excellent range. I would get dB651 for the front and dB651s for the rear. You will be pleased.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stefan2k]

Yes, but...

Yes the front speakers are slightly different in relation to how they seal against the door panel. Which why you should plan to use insulation foam on the front of aftermarket speakers so you dont hear a rattle from the door skin vibrating against them.

If your using the stock radio leave the rears alone and replace the fronts with a very good set of speakers. If you plan to add a amplifier than change both. If you plan to replace the radio then you will be safe with most speakers front and rear.

The size of the tweeter is a major consideration, I have a set of Infinity components and the tweeters are so big they will not fit in the stock location and to boot they dont fit wellin the upper door panel that covers the sideview mirror bolts. So check into the spec sheet of the speakers you plan to buy cause less depth is better.

I chose Pioneer as my go to brand because of past experience, but I went with they're upscale models. You can get good results with many of the top tier manufacturers, I just don't recommend a pair of speakers that cost 35 or 40 bucks while using the stock radio. It just wont work! It isnt worth the money or time for what you will hear. Even if you replace the stock radio you're gonna lose enough bass to make you want to spend money for a amp and sub.

I've replaced every sound ystem in every car I have owned since 1978, I dont consider myself an expert nor do i have the best answer but I do have enough insight to help keep people from wasting money and time. I know there are many people who can add to the conversation in a positive way. So take it from me, gone are the days of anything is better than stock.opcorn: