How about just new front speakers?

[carlgo]

What about just replacing the speakers in the dash and front door with those BSWs? Turn the fade all the way to front.

This in conjunction with a subwoofer.

I don't care about the rear seat passengers because they can hear the front ones just fine and most of the time we are all talking anyway.

This would save some time and money. So, any idea about this?

[ZsX5o3]

You get what you pay for, and you won't need to put the fader all the way up front, that won't make it sound any better. When you replace speakers but not the HU you are only going to notice a difference in clarity, it won't be louder.

[carlgo]

Originally Posted by ZsX5o3

You get what you pay for, and you won't need to put the fader all the way up front, that won't make it sound any better. When you replace speakers but not the HU you are only going to notice a difference in clarity, it won't be louder.

My thinking was that the rear speakers, firing away in another location, don't contribute much and could actually muddy things up. I do not have DSP, so there is no rear ambience to worry about. I came across an article once where some of the show-sound people were going for front speakers only, but a big open X might be different.

I think my system is loud enough, but could use a little more clarity, and replacing the head unit in an X is more than I want to do. The fader was just an idea, especially if the power that normally was shared with the rear speakers was all sent to the front ones. I don't know if the X amp would work like that. The rear speakers could be disconnected, but using the fader would be easier and the next owner would have a sorta-stock system.

As far as the money part is concerned, saving money is fine with me, but I actually thought the sound might be at least equal.

Any ideas appreciated.

BTW, speaking of interesting architecture, I went to the Getty Museum in LA. Took the tours (one of the guides was worth a tour all by herself...) sigh. Very interesting gardens as well.

[ZsX5o3]

well I didn't mean to imply you were trying to save money, only that the clarity of sound will be bigger and fuller the more you replace. The guys in shows you refer to probably have huge amounts of bass coming out of the back so they focus the front on highs alone.

[CharlieHustleX5]

On my non dsp system, I initially just installed a sub in the rear. The door speakers sounded even duller than they ever did, so I knew I needed to replace them. I went ahead and just slapped in a set of MB quart components into the front doors and was very content with the overall sound inside the car. For kicks I also changed out the rear doors with another set of MB quarts and was that much happier.

IMO, you can get away with just replacing the front door speakers and having a great sounding system overall. Just pay attention to the amount of power the speakers want to be driven with. Getting a top of the line speaker might not be suitable for the output from the factory amps. If you want to avoid adding another amp for your mids and highs, keep it conservative.

[SWATH]

I actually just completed the exact upgrade you are talking about. Front BSW set and the BSW sub. It was a hugge improvement over the stock speakers. The rear speakers are primarily fill anyways so I chose not to upgrade them. Acoustically speaking the better speakers you put in every location the better the overall sound, however, depending o your listening preference it upgrading only the front sound-stage works out well.

I listen to a wide variety so having the softer original speakers as a low level fill in the rear actually gives it a warm sound to accompany the crisp new front end. Sound can often be very subject, especially in a vehicle so it makes sense to try it and then take the next step if you feel the sound is not right for your taste.

[carlgo]

Did you disconnect the rear door speakers? Or just move the fader to the front position? When I experimented with the fader, I found that the new rear sub was deactivated when the fader was to the front. Evidently the BSW directions tapped me into the rear speaker wires. Did you have any issues like this?

Thanks much for reply.

[carlgo]

Whoops, sorry, I misread your post. You did keep and use the rears and that would negate any issues with the sub activation. Thanks again.

[X5Dawg]

I have also only replaced the fronts with MBQs and left the rear doors stock. Added my own sub and it sounds great.

Non-DSP system.

[Halston Pitman]

Definitely can do that.

You will find that you don't need to fade it all the way froward though

I can probably work out a deal for the front speakers + xh108 sub system