By way of background, this is my first post following a purchase of a "new" 2005 base coupe earlier in the month. (I always liked the black on black look.)

The dealer facilitated an install of Katzkin leather seats for $699. They look good - kept them dark for a stock look.

I'm now thinking about what it would take to upgrade to the limited sound system. Is this possible through trolling car-part.com or ebay for a wrecked car part? What components would I have to worry about - receiver, amp, speakers I trust? Will the faceplate fit in the current opening? Will the speakers fit in the current openings?

I'd be interested to hear if anybody out there has solved these questions.

The car is a hoot.

 

I am no car stereo guru, but I will welcome you to the forum - congrats on your purchase and welcome - .

 

lets see those seats and welcome to the forums.

 

I know, I owe some pics on this. Will post soon.

 

Not a stereo person, but I changed my stock stereo for a Kenwood. It is 1,000% better. Could hardly hear the Infinity with the top down going 70...80...90... Now the guy or girl I am passing can sing to my stereo. I am exaggerating somewhat, but you get the point.

Of course my daughter wants one too. Not going to happen unless she pays for it.

 

Buy aftermarket, if you put the money into "upgrading" into a better factory system you'll have blown more money than it would have to build a killer one with aftermarket stuff. Trust me.

 

i have the infinity system in the coupe... it sucks...i just changed it today to a better infinity component system..its was a pain in the but to install but way better... they say they give you infinity speakers and they do but the quality of the stock speakers very poor...the highs go down when a you play a song with a lot of base... you should just go aftermarket all the way 6 1/2 will fit perfect for both the front and rear...it all looks stock with much better sound...

 

Now that you've had the opportunity to compare stock and aftermarket Infinity speakers, can you tell us what makes the stock speakers subpar? Is it the materials quality, the quality of the electronics, what?

 

I did this and the sound is 100% better coast me $11, check it out.

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ead.php?t=9938

 

This topic has been covered previously.
Do what 'acripsy1' posted - I've done it and it does make a great deal of difference.
I believe that the base model does not have the rear speakers - directly behind the seats - this was discussed in the earlier topic.
Try and search for the earlier thread, I believe it mentions that the holes are already existing for the speakers.

 

I'm going to have to disagree with you about the stock speakers in the '04 and the limited. I think they are of good quality. That's why I kept them. I concur with Eracer76's findings in his post: Stock front speakers rock! and he is a professional stereo installer.

 

I remembered reading Eracer76's post which is why I asked palexfire what he thought was so bad about the stock speakers.

 

yes you are right the front speakers are really good... its the subs in the rear that suck. i purchased all of the speakers so i took the front ones out too. the crossover in the component system helps a lot. i wanted to keep everything stock witch is why i bought infinity aftermarket. but the infinity stereo sucks. so i'm looking to change that in the near future but i get a better sound out of this new setup. its a lot louder cleaner crisp sound. i like the sound before the only problem i had was that the highs went down when the base in the song would hit then the high would come back up again i just didn't like the sound...

 

I had the same '05 base coupe. Only thing I did to improve the sound was change the headunit. Pioneer in my case.(see my gallery). I hooked it up to the stock infinity amplifier and stock speakers and it sounded good. I also added ipod and sirius. Now if you want more bass, you have ot get the separate amps/subs...etc. Good luck.

 

The poor quality actually has very little to do with the speakers themselves. It's the DSP processor that is built into the system. It turns up the bass at low volumes and down at high to compensate for road noise among other things just like a lot of factory systems out there.

 

I've only had the car for 2 weeks but I've been researching the radio nonstop so I'm wanting to move on and get to enjoying the drive, not fumbling with CDs.

I want to do the bass blocker mod. Absolutely will. I wondered during the test drive if the subs were in the doors. Keep the bass to the subs, please.

However, I do want several things:
Stock or Semi-stock look
Bluetooth - I make calls in my car everyday and it's just not safe or comfortable.
Ipod integration - CD fumbling sucks, and stock player won't read my burned CDs. Don't want a HU with no CD though. The medium hasn't gone all 8-Tracky yet.
Navigation - sorta kinda, the car came with it, and I was excited to get it, and now to cast it aside, sucks, even though it's probably not the best. Not a deal breaker.

So, I looked into my options -
Stock headunit - I can get the Denison IceLink, as outlined in another thread, it looks to cost me $189 shipped, after coupon. Not exactly Ipod Control, but good enough with the 5 playlist options.
As for Bluetooth, most people here recommend the Motorola IHF-1000. $169-200, by most accounts. Ebay maybe cheaper, but due to some complaints I might want to actually have a store to return it to. $169 from Amazon with free ship. ~ $20 for the wiring adapter from Becker NA.

So stock head with Ipod sorta kinda, and Bluetooth for around $400. Also, anyone used the Moto HF850? What are the big differences? The price is less than half and looks pretty much the same.

I narrowed down the aftermarket options to 2- the Sony MEX-BT5000, looks pretty good, $329, and has BT built in, and can add Ipod Full Integration for about $50. So, I'm looking at $400 again, except I lose the navi. And that big copper button? Where does that look stock?

Pioneer's DEH-P880PRS is cool, and looks closer to stock. Also, probably a better sound. Dunno, haven't heard it. However, nothing is built in to this $400+ unit, and BT is $200, and Ipod another $50-60. So now we're climbing to $650. Dunno where I'd put all those add in units either. They look big in pictures.

Seems a shame to spend $400 and not even get a new radio, but I don't know. Thoughts? I'm no audiophile, I just want to be hands free and have access to all my music without the fuss. Hell, I'm no Ipod junkie, I'd have to buy one to add it to the system.

Bonus - I'd like a remote for the steering wheel. The sony one looks like a torture device, a little twisty **** of doom that needs it's own manual. Pioneer looks to make a smart looking one that clips to the steering wheel, reminds me of my Acura TL's. I'd settle for just volume controls, and track skip, like the TL.

I will move on this soon, and post pics of the process, as I will install myself. Please let me know what you think! Aftermarket, or fool with the stock? Also, any words on the Motorola 850 vs 1000?