Upgrade Help Needed
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
Upgrade Help Needed
Ok I have a bit of a problem, I have a 2000 F-150 Lariat with the standard head unit and 6 CD changer.
Now I want to upgrade the system, but am not able to upgrade the head unit/CD changer (wife!!). So all I am left with is the option of upgrading the speakers. The problem is that I realize that if my HU is pretty crap, there is not a whole lot I can do with upgrading speakers. I am guessing for example that the standard head unit does not have any pre-outs, and most likely not a very powerful internal amp either.
So can anyone recommend some speakers that will make the sound better than it currently is? I don't want to spend a huge amount of money (no point unless I could upgrade the HU) and so have a budget of $200 (to upgrade all 4 speakers). I would like to get some components up front and probably just some 2-ways for the rear. The speaker size is 5x7 (although I believe that 6 1/4" fit with an adaptor plate).
Help!! Thanks.
Now I want to upgrade the system, but am not able to upgrade the head unit/CD changer (wife!!). So all I am left with is the option of upgrading the speakers. The problem is that I realize that if my HU is pretty crap, there is not a whole lot I can do with upgrading speakers. I am guessing for example that the standard head unit does not have any pre-outs, and most likely not a very powerful internal amp either.
So can anyone recommend some speakers that will make the sound better than it currently is? I don't want to spend a huge amount of money (no point unless I could upgrade the HU) and so have a budget of $200 (to upgrade all 4 speakers). I would like to get some components up front and probably just some 2-ways for the rear. The speaker size is 5x7 (although I believe that 6 1/4" fit with an adaptor plate).
Help!! Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: MASS
well the good news is that most any aftermarket speaker you could choose will be of better quality and sound better than the stock speakers
i would not recommend running a component set of speakers of your factory
head
I would look for some good 5x7 or 6x8 speakers to replace front and rears
there are some on the market now that have on board crossovers and sound nearly as good as component sets
there are plenty of good brand names available in the price range you are in
shop online stores for best prices
g/l
i would not recommend running a component set of speakers of your factory
head
I would look for some good 5x7 or 6x8 speakers to replace front and rears
there are some on the market now that have on board crossovers and sound nearly as good as component sets
there are plenty of good brand names available in the price range you are in
shop online stores for best prices
g/l
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 1
From: Bixby, OK
Online stores are going to be the best choice, and I would look for some sort of reputation on all the stores (customer reviews and such). Personally I love eBay, there are millions of deals on there, and you can find some really good stuff for really good prices. For your price range, you could get a couple JL Audio 2-ways with shipping off of eBay with that.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
Thanks for the replies, I will most likely use eBay for any purchase I do make. And for the exact reason above, price!!
Somebody recommended some Eclipse SE8373's to me, on eBay there was a set at the "Buy it Now" price of $53 (plus shipping). Will head over there now and try to find some JL Audio's.
I am assuming that these will make a big difference to sound, even running off the factory head unit.
Somebody recommended some Eclipse SE8373's to me, on eBay there was a set at the "Buy it Now" price of $53 (plus shipping). Will head over there now and try to find some JL Audio's.
I am assuming that these will make a big difference to sound, even running off the factory head unit.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Wichita
I too would highly recommend JL Audio speakers. I have the JL Audio TR 5x7 two way all the way round. They have the built in crossover/filter to keep the lows from distorting/blowing the speakers. Great highs and mids. BUT, I wouldn't recommend running them off the stock head unit. Specs are the following:
TR570-CXi Coaxials Specifications:
TR570-CXi Coaxials
Description: Evolution™ TR 5 x 7 / 6 x 8 in. / 125 x 180 mm Coaxials
Also fits 6x8-inch factory locations. Perfect fit in most newer Ford vehicles.
This speaker system is a perfect fit for many Ford vehicles and others that accept a 5x7-inch or 6x8-inch speaker. Configured for two and four-hole mounting configurations.
Woofers: Injection-molded, mica-filled, polypropylene cone body, 1.0 in. / 25 mm voice coil, flat-profile/symmetrical-roll spider, butyl rubber surround.
Tweeters: 0.50 in. / 12 mm textile dome tweeter with integral phase plug, ferrite/ceramic magnet, ferrofluid cooled and damped.
Continuous Power Handling: 50W Continuous
System Efficiency: 90.5 dB @ 1W/1m
System Nominal Impedance: 4 ohms
System Frequency Response: 53 Hz - 22 KHz ± 3 dB
TR570-CXi Coaxials Specifications:
TR570-CXi Coaxials
Description: Evolution™ TR 5 x 7 / 6 x 8 in. / 125 x 180 mm Coaxials
Also fits 6x8-inch factory locations. Perfect fit in most newer Ford vehicles.
This speaker system is a perfect fit for many Ford vehicles and others that accept a 5x7-inch or 6x8-inch speaker. Configured for two and four-hole mounting configurations.
Woofers: Injection-molded, mica-filled, polypropylene cone body, 1.0 in. / 25 mm voice coil, flat-profile/symmetrical-roll spider, butyl rubber surround.
Tweeters: 0.50 in. / 12 mm textile dome tweeter with integral phase plug, ferrite/ceramic magnet, ferrofluid cooled and damped.
Continuous Power Handling: 50W Continuous
System Efficiency: 90.5 dB @ 1W/1m
System Nominal Impedance: 4 ohms
System Frequency Response: 53 Hz - 22 KHz ± 3 dB
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Wichita
Also keep in mind that if you buy any JL Audio products online, they have no warranty. JL Audio doesn't authorize online sales, so refuses to honor the factory warranty for items bought online. When I bought my speakers about 5 years ago at a local dealer, they cost be $120 a pair. But they have been well worth it. I'll never use anything else again. My 4 speakers are now in their third vehicle. Very durable. I always have them turned all the way up.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 1
From: Bixby, OK
I recommend Eclipse as well, it's what I'm using currently and I love them. Eclipse and JL Audio are going to be the high quality speakers you'll be able to afford on ebay.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 177
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Cool thanks. What about the running them off the factory head unit though? Is it worth getting higher quality speakers just to run off the factory head unit? Although I guess if I get cheap speakers, then I may as well just leave the stock speakers in.
I imagine I could get an amplifier with a speaker/line level input (think that's what it's called) or get one of those little converters that can add some pre-outs, but don't know if this would be effective enough.
Would running either some Eclipse or JL Audio's off the factory HU give a decent enough sound? and not risk damage to the speakers? I saw some nice JL XR-570's on ebay
but don't want to wreck them by not giving enough power.
I imagine I could get an amplifier with a speaker/line level input (think that's what it's called) or get one of those little converters that can add some pre-outs, but don't know if this would be effective enough.
Would running either some Eclipse or JL Audio's off the factory HU give a decent enough sound? and not risk damage to the speakers? I saw some nice JL XR-570's on ebay
but don't want to wreck them by not giving enough power.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 1
From: Bixby, OK
It's going to put out somewhere around 12W per channel at RMS. I would go ahead and improve the speakers, at a later time you can choose to amp it. You'll hear a massive difference in between them, then when you do amplify them, your jaw will drop.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Central Ohio
If they aren't sold out, Crutchfield had a great deal on Alpine Type R 5x7s. Regular price $200, for $70. Full warranty and all extras needed for installation are included free of charge. Fantastic customer service. For use with just a head unit as the amplification you would be hard pressed to find anything that will sound better at anything near that price.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
Ok I really need to make a decision on some speakers now, getting all 4 as a fathers day present and so need to decide. I have listened to a bunch, but am still unable to decide. So I have narrowed down the choices to the following, all can be bought for between $75 - $100 per pair from various online sources:
Infinity Kappy 572.5cf (did look at the Kappa 682.5cf but they are 2ohm and not sure how that will work temporarily off stock HU or if it will limit amp choices)
Alpine SPR-57LP
JL Audio TR-570
What's the one to go for? in a few months they will be running off an amp. Which of the 3 (4 including 682.5cf if not going to give me much hassle with the 2ohm thing) gives the best all round sound? (no plans on ever getting a sub). The specs of all 3 look very similar, so that makes things a bit harder to make a choice, and while listening in the store (along with some other brands) differences were hard to make out.
Thanks.
and so need to decide. I have listened to a bunch, but am still unable to decide. So I have narrowed down the choices to the following, all can be bought for between $75 - $100 per pair from various online sources:Infinity Kappy 572.5cf (did look at the Kappa 682.5cf but they are 2ohm and not sure how that will work temporarily off stock HU or if it will limit amp choices)
Alpine SPR-57LP
JL Audio TR-570
What's the one to go for? in a few months they will be running off an amp. Which of the 3 (4 including 682.5cf if not going to give me much hassle with the 2ohm thing) gives the best all round sound? (no plans on ever getting a sub). The specs of all 3 look very similar, so that makes things a bit harder to make a choice, and while listening in the store (along with some other brands) differences were hard to make out.
Thanks.
