I just bought a Pioneer headunit (deh2200ub)--just looking for inexpensive upgrades to the stock stereo so I can hear it with the top down at 50mph+

I've been looking through the FAQ and still have a couple questions regarding coaxial vs. component speakers. What is in the car right now (2004 w/ 2 speakers in each door)? So my questions are these--dumb down your answers if you can. Lets assume that I won't be putting in an amp or sub anytime in the near future.

1. Is it possible or worthwhile to go component without an amp? If so, do I need to rewire anything?

2. If I get coaxial speakers, will the small speaker in the door still work/stay wired, or do I just rely on the new speaker?

3. What is the difference between a 2/3/4 way coaxial speaker?

I'll ask some more questions that I have if I can get some of this cleared up a little. Thanks.

 

1. Yes, the cheaper component sets work fine on HU power, but of course they'll work better properly powered.

2. You'd just rely on the new speaker.

3. 2 way = 2 speakers (woofer, tweeter), 3 way = 3 speakers (woofer, small midrange and tweeter), 4 way = 4 speakers (woofer, small midrange, then either smaller midrange and tweeter or tweeter and tiny tiny tweeter). Coaxials tend to not be very good, and I wouldn't go beyond a 2 way. 3 way component sets (like a 6.5" mid bass, 4" midrange and 1" tweeter) can be great, but the coaxial stuff tends to not be very good.

If you don't want to spend a lot, get a cheaper component set. You'll need to mount the crossover somewhere, and mount the new tweeter where the current OEM one is, woofer would go where the stock woofer is. You'll pretty much have to cut open the basket or make an adapter for the woofer. How the tweeter mounts depends on the size and design of the tweeter.

 

^^^thanks for the info. If I went the component route, is there any rewiring to be done other than within the door? If I had to rewire from the headunit to the speakers, I think I'd pass on that idea.

 

You don't have to. You can take the speaker wires that already come into the door, extend them to the box that's in the door where you could mount your crossovers, then run wire from the xover to the woofer and tweeter. Or even easier, the Alpine Type-S components skip the crossover, so you wire to the woofer then 2 wires come off the woofer to the tweeter. I haven't listened to those newer type-s speakers so I have no idea what they sound like though.