[drb5]

Ok, the stereo i have in our S is the totally standard unit.

As you all know, it's pretty "limited", so i'm thinking i want to upgrade the speakers.

I know ideally i should be fitting a nice amp to back them up, but i want the car no different to when it came out the factory. That then means i want the speakers to be the exact same size as the stock items and i need them to be fitted in exactly the same area as the stock ones.....no extra holes drilled into the door frame which will later start rusting later on.

I've had Focal's before and would have liked to stay with them as they gave a good bass, without needing mega power, but i'm unsure if they have been tried and tested with the stock headunit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Red D]

I had the Hi-Fi upgrade as an option, and that comes with an amp in the boot.

So I'm not sure if changing just the speakers will make that much difference, without fitting an amp

[drb5]

Bugger.

I'll need to have a rethink about this then...

[FergusM]

The upgrade at newministuff looks almost 100% standard, the amp is hidden under the passenger seat and not visible unless seat is fully tipped forwards (and you are looking for it). I think that would be your best option...

[mikeythemini]

I have had a few phone calls about this subject today

If you have the standard Boost system;
You could just change the speakers, but the Boost head unit is very under powered so you won't be driving the new speakers properly. An amp is highly recommended.

If you have the hifi system;
Some people in the USA have changed just the speakers (you need to be careful here as the hifi system has 2 ohm speakers & most aftermarket ones are 4 ohm) they report an improvemnt in sound quality but generally report that the rear 6*9's lack bass !
So again I would say you should do the complete package.

As mentioned earlier I fit the amp under the seat & its only just visible with the seat tilted fully forward. (we do have to cut the carpet under the seat)

Some have said they are worried about us taking the dash apart during the install - We have never so far had a complaint about the dash once we're fitted & quite a few people have said we have got rid of existing rattles once we have done our work!

If you have the hifi option then we can fit our upgrade without stripping the dash

[DHA]

MIkey, very pleased with your work on my girlfriends GP the other week

Am getting a JCW an am going to head up your way for the upgrade, will the HiFi upgrade (which I think is standard on the JCW) affect the install in anyway? Or other than the amount of work you need to do the only thing that matters? Just seeing your bit about 2 vs 4 ohms.

Cheers

[mikeythemini]

Doesnt matter which system you have really - we can still do our stuff

[DHA]

Excellent

[drb5]

That's a shame.

I have a spare Kenwood amp sitting somewhere IIRC, but really didn't want ANYTHING in the car that wasn't standard....at least something that was visable or indeed kickable.

Will see what size my amp is and work it out from there. How big are the amp's you use Mikey?

[FergusM]

I honestly doubt you would notice the amp under the passenger seat, you have to be looking for it to know it is there. I even doubt you would be able to kick it.

You do however have to get a bit of carpet cut out, still I am sure if you kept that bit you could stick back in if you removed the stuff when changing the car.

[drb5]

Yer, your probably right Fergus.

I'll do a wee bit more research regards to which speakers would be best(sure i read something on NAM about certain Focals fitting straight in?) and dig out my old amp just to sit in under the passenger seat and see what kind of room we're talking about.

I wouldn't mind if i didn't upgrade the rear speakers straight away, or even do them at all, but at least the stock headunit should be able to power just them ok.