I want to replace everything and add a sub in the trunk...but the car is so new and I am alittle anal and don't want anybody pull up my carpet, drill hole in my firewall, etc.
So for now I just want to replace the stock front speakers. Do you think this will sound alittle better or it won't because the OEM head unit doesn't have any power to push the after market speakers ?
If it does make a different.. Can you tell me what speaker you running ? Thanks.

 

Start with a HU. You'll get better sound with that, long before that stock HU will properly power nice aftermarket speakers.

 

pulling off door panels is harder than you think. id suck it up and do it all at once. if you are gonna have some do the speaks you might as well. stock hu and After market speaks will give you little difference. but new hu and new speaks will be the biggest difference

 

for an '02+? HU first and see if that satisfies. the post '02 speakers are decent at least, and can perform ok if you're working on a budget or want to start small.



pulling door panels is pretty dang easy... i think it would take me 10 minutes / panel at most, using hand tools and taking my time.

also, there is no need to drill a hole in the firewall to run power from the engine, there's a very nice grommet located behind the battery that you can run power through. (at least it was there pre-'05, ymmv)

 

sorry but i disagree - pulling off the door pannels is VERY easy but darknight is correct get a new head unit first

and there is a grommet on the >=04 so i am sure there is one in the 05s

Phil

 

I pretty much had most of my interior in pieces doing my install, and I still didnt need to pull up carpets or drill any holes.

Replacing a headunit is a 10-15 minute job (assuming you have your harness pre-soldered!)

 

I'll add yet another vote for starting with the HU. The door panel removal for all of the 04-06 series is actually a very quick task once you get someone to show you where the fasteners are. I have had mine off a whole bunch of times now and can get them off in about 2 minutes.

If you know you might be active in the audio mod game, I strongly recommend spending about $70 for a Helms manual on the S2k. That shows you details on every panel/part in the car and will save you far more money in mechanic fees than you spend on the manual in the first place. Mine has paid for itself many times over in less than a year of S2k ownership.

 

Ill add another option. Get a small amp for the factory speakers off the stock head unit. It might reduce the life of the factory speaker a bit, but it will sound just as good or better than adding just a new deck.

 

I disagree with the above. The reason why I disagree is if you keep the stock HU and the stock speakers and you amp them all your going to get is loud crappy sounding music.

Crappy signal into the amp from the crappy HU = crappy sound coming out your speakers.

Your stock speakers will sound much better installing a new HU. This is a proven, tested fact.

 

HU baby....HU