dwa629

I just joined this forum and was hoping to get some advice. I'm looking to upgrade the stereo in my non-navi 05 TL. I just feel that it's a little under powered, and would like a system with a crisper sound. I really don't want to butcher my dash, just looked to add a little power. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

1. Budget
2. What are you looking for? Loudness, pure sound quality, a little of both, etc?
3. What have you heard that you like? What have you heard that you dislike?

...We need a little more info here.

dwa629

Thank you for the reply Trunk Monkey. I guess I'm looking for something a little louder then my current system, with better sound quality. A major priority would be ease of installation. I have recently decided that I'm keeping my TL for the long haul and decided to give it some love by adding a few things that would have come with a newer car, e.i. an ipod hookup etc. As for budget, I don't want to spend too much, as I park the car on the street and don't want to temp vandals. Any thought's?

ParaSurfer1979

Just purchase a more efficient 2ohm speaker (90db+) and youll get a tad more volume and a lot more clarity in the highs and mid-bass.

dwa629

Sweet, thanks for the advice parasurfer. I think I'm going to go with Infinity 6030 cs. You think that will do the trick? Anything else a must, amp?

Imabeast31

iTrader: (1)

you could put an amp on your highs.. give the factory setup a little help

geekybiker

You won't gain much volume from just speakers. Many people say the stock speakers sound better with an amp. Trouble is you need 6 channels of amplification to do it all. The TL just isnt' an "easy" car to upgrade. What most people seem to start with is buying a good set of components for the front. (id ctx65cs for example) and then adding a 4 channel amp in the rear. Driving the fronts of two channels, and bridge the other two for a sub in a small box. That sort of setup tends to start around $400 if you install it yourself.

Id try amping the stockers first. You'll want an amp eventually anyways.

eggyhustles

dwa629

Eggyhustles, are the Infinity 6030 cs no good? Any recommendation for a set of 2 ohm door speakers would really be appreciated. I'm honestly just looking for a little crisper sound, don't feel like having to put in an amp.

jeeva86

I notice that nobody recommended putting in an aftermarket HU. I've heard stock HUs won't power the replaced speakers too well. Is it an exception for the TL?

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Lol never seen this

Ok. Most stock units won't power many aftermarket speakers. A replacement in the TL is damn near impossible, but has been done. It has to be custom though and will run you quite a bit.


OP- I think you'd be happy with a component set, 10 or 12 in sealed box and 4-channel amp. Should be able to pick it all up and install it for pretty cheap. You won't get much more out of our stock amp..you need to upgrade now or you'll be back here in a month and end up spending more money than you should have

geekybiker

TL is no exception. You have to get 2 ohm speakers if you're not getting an amp. Those are some slim pickings. replacing the HU is a pain and a half on the TL.

dwa629

Still looking for a recommendation for a set of 2 ohm door speakers.

eggyhustles

image dynamics cxs

jeeva86

So I'm guessing you'll need a loc? I wouldn't wanna mess with the existing hu either!

But couldn't you put one in the cd compartment, similar to the 7th gen accords?

jeeva86

I've heard that the 6030cs are a good pair of front components. I couldn't get them due to their low impedence. Just make sure you get an amp that can handle it. Some have tried to let the stock hu drive it!!! Big nono!

geekybiker

How so? The stock speakers are 2ohm.

jeeva86

My bad, thought they would've been 4ohms :S.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Stockies are 2ohm but only get 40 watts per. You're likely not going to like anything that can be driven by 40 watts. A single 4-channel amp with components and a possible sub in the future would be perfect. I'm not sure why you don't want to go with an amp. If you are worried about the amp install, just take it somewhere and have them run all the cables (power, etc..) for like $50-60. If you found a small amp you could put it under the seat and not have to take up space in the trunk. Shorter cable/speaker wire runs too.

sddale

If you're just looking to get more volume and better sound you should start by getting an amp to power the OEM speakers. If you don't want to spend a lot you could just get an amp to power the fronts and sub. I was surprised at how much better they got when I did it. Since you probably want to keep all the speakers running you could let the stock amp power the rears and center. The center is small and doesn't do a lot and rears are just fill anyway (I ended up disconnecting the rears).

You could get a small 4 channel to power the fronts and sub and mount it under the passenger seat. Be careful with the sub because it's 2ohms and most amps won't bridge into 2ohms safely. I guess you could just use one channel for it if you don't want to replace it right away. Adding power to the stock sub sounded quite a bit better as well.

I've replaced speakers without adding power and was totally disappointed with the results. Adding an amp to the stock speakers always net a better return for me.

I hate cars

Adding more power to the stock speakers will make a huge difference...

geekybiker

Check out the kicker class D full range amps. They are cheap, small and take balanced connections. They might fit under the seat.

BENTFAM

TRUNK MONKEY
A HU replacement in the TL is damn near impossible, but has been done

Y.DO THEY NOT MAKE A RETRO FIT KIT ?

Gryphen

I actually talked to some one at Metra about this a few years ago. They told me the demand just wasn't high enough for them to R&D a kit for the TL's. Which I find laughable because they spent the time and money to make a Mazda 6 dash kit that retails for $140+. Anyone that has seen a Mazda 6 dash knows that its even worse then the TL's design.

sourial84

iTrader: (1)

I just blew my passanger door speaker on my 06 base was thinking about replacing the front 2 with Alpine SPS-610C I heard they are pretty good should I still do an amp?? Wasn't really thinking of putting sub anyway....

geekybiker

You need 2ohm speakers if you're not getting an amp. Otherwise volume will be very low.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Thread jack! daaaang

Geeky's right though..

porkyxp

Ive been reading up lately as many TL drivers have the same issue with the OEM system. I'm just wondering if a 3d processor such as the Cleansweep or 360 or anything similar to the like is absolutely necessary or would I be happy with swapping out the fronts with some components and getting a 5 channel amp for all the speakers (running stock center/rears) ?

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Cleansweep would be of no use to even our factory setups. The 360 or any processor will help greatly, but it's only as good as your weakest link..meaning you need to replace speakers, etc to get the full effect.

maddsiick

This is worth checking out as well....Im going this way

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...=834940&page=1

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...1#post13307549

porkyxp

Thanks for the feedback; the plug and play amp does look mighty appealing especially for the DIYers, but I am a bit concerned about losing the center channel and also if it power up aftermarket fronts?

So I'm one of those individuals whom decided to swap out the front speakers to components (massive sk6 stage II components) thinking that the front stage was the most important without considering to swap out the amp; HUGE mistake, but for the fact that using the cassette player with aftermarket sub sounds sufficient for now.

Ive been reading up lately and I've come to the conclusion that the center channel and rear speakers doesn't really need to be changed, as there is little improvement (and function as fillers)... so my question is, is it feasible to get a four channel amp and keep the stock amp running for the center speaker ? Or is this just something really silly for me to think about? OR Would it just be wiser to get a 5channel for the aftermarket fronts, stock rears & center?

Thanks a bunch guys for the response, I was real hesitant to even do this as I didn't think it would be worth getting a processor, aftermarket amp, and dice unit, so it would sound and look clean

I've got to say, that whole "TAPE PLAY" thing On the display is kind of annoying and unfitting, which is why the DICE unit is so desirable, text few! (but not unless the sound quality is good,obviously)

MOS805

I have my amp running only to my component fronts and sub, center and rears stock speakers and still are running off stock amp. I have the center turned off now, I turned it on and could not tell a difference in the sound with it on or off whatsoever, and I have to say that I don't miss hearing the center channel at all since I upgraded my front components.