'03 Speaker replacement
#1
'03 Speaker replacement
Hey everybody, brand spanking new here!
Just bought myself a '03 TL-S and LOVE IT. Only thing I find subpar is the bose system...as I've read on here I'm not the only one.
Now take into consideration before responding, that I bought this car more for it's performance and comfort and style than anything, defo not for the sound system. But I do find it slightly lacking.
I want to do a very slight revamp of the stereo, just replace the front speakers and back speakers. I've used infinity speakers in my previous cars and I adore them. My last car had a full out $2000 stereo that was great. But I dont' want to put anything near that type of money into this stereo. I guess to get to the point, I only want to change the speakers, not the sub (it gives enough bass for my taste right now) so I would be keeping the head-unit/amp/sub all the same in the car.
I know Bose systems can be tricky, does anyone have any experience changing JUST the speakers in their TL? Does it increase the quality any? I figue it's just the papers speakers bose likes to use and not the amp/head unit so much. Any help?
Just bought myself a '03 TL-S and LOVE IT. Only thing I find subpar is the bose system...as I've read on here I'm not the only one.
Now take into consideration before responding, that I bought this car more for it's performance and comfort and style than anything, defo not for the sound system. But I do find it slightly lacking.
I want to do a very slight revamp of the stereo, just replace the front speakers and back speakers. I've used infinity speakers in my previous cars and I adore them. My last car had a full out $2000 stereo that was great. But I dont' want to put anything near that type of money into this stereo. I guess to get to the point, I only want to change the speakers, not the sub (it gives enough bass for my taste right now) so I would be keeping the head-unit/amp/sub all the same in the car.
I know Bose systems can be tricky, does anyone have any experience changing JUST the speakers in their TL? Does it increase the quality any? I figue it's just the papers speakers bose likes to use and not the amp/head unit so much. Any help?
#2
Hey everybody, brand spanking new here!
Just bought myself a '03 TL-S and LOVE IT. Only thing I find subpar is the bose system...as I've read on here I'm not the only one.
Now take into consideration before responding, that I bought this car more for it's performance and comfort and style than anything, defo not for the sound system. But I do find it slightly lacking.
I want to do a very slight revamp of the stereo, just replace the front speakers and back speakers. I've used infinity speakers in my previous cars and I adore them. My last car had a full out $2000 stereo that was great. But I dont' want to put anything near that type of money into this stereo. I guess to get to the point, I only want to change the speakers, not the sub (it gives enough bass for my taste right now) so I would be keeping the head-unit/amp/sub all the same in the car.
I know Bose systems can be tricky, does anyone have any experience changing JUST the speakers in their TL? Does it increase the quality any? I figue it's just the papers speakers bose likes to use and not the amp/head unit so much. Any help?
Just bought myself a '03 TL-S and LOVE IT. Only thing I find subpar is the bose system...as I've read on here I'm not the only one.
Now take into consideration before responding, that I bought this car more for it's performance and comfort and style than anything, defo not for the sound system. But I do find it slightly lacking.
I want to do a very slight revamp of the stereo, just replace the front speakers and back speakers. I've used infinity speakers in my previous cars and I adore them. My last car had a full out $2000 stereo that was great. But I dont' want to put anything near that type of money into this stereo. I guess to get to the point, I only want to change the speakers, not the sub (it gives enough bass for my taste right now) so I would be keeping the head-unit/amp/sub all the same in the car.
I know Bose systems can be tricky, does anyone have any experience changing JUST the speakers in their TL? Does it increase the quality any? I figue it's just the papers speakers bose likes to use and not the amp/head unit so much. Any help?
#4
2003 TL-p
you def made 2 of the same threads
i posted in your other thread
and you will get better sound by getting a new head unit, not by getting new door speakers and keeping the stock head unit.
Bose has an EQ box that will "govern" the speakers you want to add, the only way to truly bypass the EQ box is to get and new head unit.
i posted in your other thread
and you will get better sound by getting a new head unit, not by getting new door speakers and keeping the stock head unit.
Bose has an EQ box that will "govern" the speakers you want to add, the only way to truly bypass the EQ box is to get and new head unit.
#7
Hmmm...food for thought. But I'm pretty set on not changing the head unit. I like the factory look (and I know that there are some factory looking decks on the market) I'm not looking for a MASSIVE improvement, but defo a little more fidelity. Anyone who started with just the speakers have any input? Also, anyone know if the the bose EQ can be tweaked? I appreciate everyones help!
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#9
2003 TL-p
i would reconsider about keeping the Bose head unit, its not reliable at all for playing CD's. As goes for the EQ box, you can only use it or loose it with the head unit. no tweaking that.
i really dont think new speakers are going to sound much better at all, unless you get a new head unit. That Bose head unit/EQ box is designed only to output sound for those factory speakers, so its possible that adding new speakers could even sound worse than the OEM factory speakers. A new head unit is going to have settings for different types of speakers (6x9, 5x4, OEM etc...) , so you can get the best sound. The Bose is stuck set for those OEM factory speakers, so it is possible that new door speakers maybe not sound the way you think they will.
almost every one is going to tell you to get a new head unit first, but its up to you to make the call.
other people will chime in and give there advice i am sure. good luck
i really dont think new speakers are going to sound much better at all, unless you get a new head unit. That Bose head unit/EQ box is designed only to output sound for those factory speakers, so its possible that adding new speakers could even sound worse than the OEM factory speakers. A new head unit is going to have settings for different types of speakers (6x9, 5x4, OEM etc...) , so you can get the best sound. The Bose is stuck set for those OEM factory speakers, so it is possible that new door speakers maybe not sound the way you think they will.
almost every one is going to tell you to get a new head unit first, but its up to you to make the call.
other people will chime in and give there advice i am sure. good luck
#10
That makes sense now. Just for the sake of it, I may give it an attempt when I have the chance (just one speaker) I've got a good pair of infinitys from my last car I can use, I will atleast test one to see how it sounds and then respond here. Still, if anyone else has any experiences let me know!
Also, when you guys changed your factory decks what process did you take?
Also, when you guys changed your factory decks what process did you take?
#11
S E L L
The decks not being reliable is a load of crap. I use mine all the time and have never had any issues. They are prone to going bad just like anything else electronic. As for replacing the speakers only, some members here have replaced them but weren't too happy because the Bose EQ is tuned with a really high treble rate. The sound will be very high pitched, if that makes any sense. There's a way to bypass it by modifying a few wires but it might be more trouble than it's worth. Do some reading in the Audio sub-forum for more info.
#13
Although I'm still against changing the head unit, does anyone here know what the best double-din mount is? If I decided to change, I have an Avic-D2 from my old system that would work nicely in the 'TL. Also, what type of wiring harness?
#16
spaz
iTrader: (7)
Oh and you don't have to replace the headunit if you don't want to. I know I don't plan to. However, this means you will have to buy an amplifier and something like a rf 360 to bypass all that bose trash. personally, I'm keeping the oem headunit and buying something like the rf 360 or oem pac2. Then have the clean signals from that go to a 4 ch amplifier with 2 channels going to the front speakers and the 2 other signals going to my sub. If you are looking to do somewhat stealth install this will work great especially if you buy something like the kicker rmb8 which fits nicely into the factory bose sub location.
feel free to contact uncald4 yourself. He is very knowledgeable and helpful to us 2nd gen guys.
feel free to contact uncald4 yourself. He is very knowledgeable and helpful to us 2nd gen guys.
#17
5th Gear
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I have replaced the door speakers and have kept the Bose head unit and it sounds 10 times better if not more! I used Pioneer component speakers and flush mounted the tweeters in the door panel. I like the looks of the factory stereo and the ability to change the volume with my steering wheel controls. I noticed that the new speakers didnt have as much bass as the bose, but thats ok since I upgraded the sub in the rear window with a 8 inch Pioneer Premier shallow mount 500W and a 12 inch in the trunk.
#18
'13 Hyundai Sonata
I changed my speakers in my 1st gen and I had the stock HU running it and the sound quality sucked. Then I bought an aftermarket radio and that made everything all better. Aftermarket HU FTW!
#20
Ackniculous One
Join Date: Jun 2003
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metra does have a new double din kit for like $33 online and it looks pretty good from what i can tell, plus it looks easy to adjust the depth to keep the hu face flush, etc. There is a thread on here with pics on it. I say swap the HU, if anything just for more sound control and options to expand capability. My old HU is holding down a box in my basement right now and its doing a great job right where it's at
#21
spaz
iTrader: (7)
metra does have a new double din kit for like $33 online and it looks pretty good from what i can tell, plus it looks easy to adjust the depth to keep the hu face flush, etc. There is a thread on here with pics on it. I say swap the HU, if anything just for more sound control and options to expand capability. My old HU is holding down a box in my basement right now and its doing a great job right where it's at
#23
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2002 Acura TL speaker swap
patrickkelly_24,
I did not install an aftermarket amp for the door speakers, they are just running off the Bose HU. The rear 8" sub thou is powered by an amp that i installed by tapping into the rear speaker/sub output and using a line adapter to run RCAs off of it into my bigger amp to power the 8" and now 15" sub in the trunk. It wasnt hard to do, just took a little time and effort. You can buy the line input to RCA output at Walmart even. I would think the 8" sub would work without the new amp but it would probably be underpowered.
I did not install an aftermarket amp for the door speakers, they are just running off the Bose HU. The rear 8" sub thou is powered by an amp that i installed by tapping into the rear speaker/sub output and using a line adapter to run RCAs off of it into my bigger amp to power the 8" and now 15" sub in the trunk. It wasnt hard to do, just took a little time and effort. You can buy the line input to RCA output at Walmart even. I would think the 8" sub would work without the new amp but it would probably be underpowered.
#24
Senior Moderator
If your dead seat on keeping the stock HU with aftermarket speakers sound quality will go up if you bypass the EQ. Its not hard to do. Other wise all the cross over points are going to be tuned for the bose crap. You will be lacking mids/lows and you will be really bright with the highs.
#27
Low & Slow w/Dubz On My
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..Si Señor!....never knew tha stock speakers had that much potential until i put my aftermarket 7" flip up screen...i also eliminated the subwoofer becuz it was blown...i've had a couple friends ask me if i had an amp or system in my car....
#28
Instructor
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you cant use 4ohm speakers it will sound like crap. just replace the stereo. you could do a custom install and just take the face of the OEM radio off and make a false face to go over the aftermarket radio?
#29
Ackniculous One
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jk found it. METRA 95-7868
http://www.12vtoolbox.com/METRA_95_7...%2095-7868.htm
could put uncald4 out of the double din business $30 >> $200
http://www.12vtoolbox.com/METRA_95_7...%2095-7868.htm
could put uncald4 out of the double din business $30 >> $200
#32
Former Sponsor
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jk found it. METRA 95-7868
http://www.12vtoolbox.com/METRA_95_7...%2095-7868.htm
could put uncald4 out of the double din business $30 >> $200
http://www.12vtoolbox.com/METRA_95_7...%2095-7868.htm
could put uncald4 out of the double din business $30 >> $200
I have the double din Metra kit in stock. $28.50 shipped. Holla!
Link on my sig.
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