I'm looking to upgrade my OEM '98 Honda Civic stereo system but I know absolutely nothing about car audio. I don't want one of those bass cannons as I'm too old for that crap... I just want an upgraded system that will sound clear at louder levels.

Can I just pop the current speakers and head unit out, replace them with something from JL or Alpine and be ready to go? What are all these crossovers and amps for? Do I need an amp for normal listening levels?

What would you gusy recommend? Anywhere I can go online to scan prices and equipment? I checked out Crutchfield but that stuff looks like junk.

 

I dont think many people on this site (short of installers) can give info on this, as it is a different car with different HU and different speakers.

John

 

I own a 99 civic in addition to my s2000. I have had three head units, two sets of speakers and changed amps twice. My current setup includes an Eclipse 5435 video unit with sat nav and radio, a 4 channel amp for components and a 2 channel amp for the subwoofer.

The simplest and most value packed change you could make would be to simply upgrade the head unit. The stock oem civic headunit has very little power and becomes distorted at higher volumes.

If you prefer a simpler design on the head unit, kenwood makes a nice one with few buttons. Kenwood model: EZ-500. The crutchfield.com price is $249.99

 

One thing to check on is your remote locks.

Not sure which years (might have been pre-98) had this issue, but some of the civics had the remote entry system wired through the headunit.

If this is the case you'll need a Y harness so you can keep the stock headunit intact (kinda).

It ends up stuffed in the dashboard, but all it does work the remote locks.

You can bypass this with an alarm, or aftermarket remote entry system.

Again, I'm not sure of the years (been a while since I did a civic install), but it's something to ask about.

 

I have a '98 civic and to answer your question and one that has also been posed is yes the keyless entry is routed through the HU. This car has to be one of the easiest car to put a system in. I have a Polk db650 component set in the doors, a pair of pioneer 6x9 on the back deck, a kenwood MP5028 HU, Alpine MRP-M350 for my infinity kappa perfect 12". The car sounds amazing. As much as you don't want a dedicated bass speaker I think you should reconsider. Short of putting an amplifier on the the rear deck speakers you want get a full sound. The trunk space is too large to get good bass response out of the 6x9's. I'm sure there are some really high end 6x9's that would be better than mine, but for the money you'll spend you would be better off paying for an amp and sub. I think you should look at Crutchfield again. They have a lot of good products and give you so much needed stuff for free (y-adapter for keyless entry), instructions on how to pull your car apart. Since it sounds like you are new to installing car stereo equipment you would be shooting yourself in the foot to not buy from them. I've been buying from them for 10 yrs and have always been completely satisfied.