Help with choosing speakers?

[iaind]

So the stereo in the Saab isn't very good, I've got a Clarion VX401 head unit on order but I'm anticipating needing to replace the speakers to get some decent quality out of it

The problem is, the setup is a bit...odd. The head unit feeds an amp in the boot which is connected to 7 speakers. 3 mid/tweeters in the dash top (1 in the middle), 2 subs in the front doors and a pair of mid/tweeters in the parcel shelf. The adaptors I've sourced for the head unit take care of connecting it to the factory amp.

I can think of a few ideas

- Replace the left and right dash speakers with something like http://www.caraudio4less.co.uk/boston-acoustics-s35-coaxial-speaker-system-p-1998.html - thats a common upgrade and apparently very helpful
- The door bass drivers arent great and the door panels vibrate at louder volumes. So I could either buy some component sets and scrap the x-over and tweeter, just install the midbass driver. Or I could buy some proper 6.5" shallow fit subs and dynamat the door.
- The rear shelf has 2 small (3.5" again I believe) full range speakers but also cutouts for 6x9s. I could skip/disconnect the front door speakers and put some decent 6x9s in place of the smaller drivers

These would all retain the factory amp, I could bypass it (or replace it with a "normal" amp and put a set of components in the front, replacing the full range drivers in the dash top. Then a 6x9 subwoofer in the rear shelf... a more traditional setup but probably more hassle.

Any ideas what would be best?

 

[skippy2421]

Speaking from my own personal experience here I'd get the head unit in first and work form there. The sound will generally only be as good as its weakest link so to speak and in my experience this more often than not is the head unit for factory fit cars. Also depends on what you're looking to achieve. That alone may be enough to make the required change in quality to the sound as some OEM speakers can be surprisingly good given a decent source. At which point pocket the cash and have a good Christmas.

Should it not, then look at switching the rest of the gear around. I'd be very wary of dumping a load of decent speakers onto the OEM amp though. I'm not familiar with the specs of it and can't be bothered to look it up but I'd hazard a guess at it not providing the necessary grunt (technical terminology here for late night posting) to run a load of newly upgraded speakers that will likely require more wattage to run as oppose to whatever else is in there (especially if you're going to whack uprated subs in the door). Following on from that if the OEM head unit isn't up to much I'd be surprised if the amp is any good either at which point bunging a load of new speakers in may be a waste of money without a new amp.

If it was my money I'd be looking at new amp as well as speakers. Although a more traditional set up might be more hassle (can't see it being much more though) it would probably be worth it to avoid disappointment. dynamat on the doors would probably be a good shout if the panels already vibrate but I'd only bother if you're going to replace the speakers as well as I'm lazy like that. There are 5/6 channel amps that may help make the most of the available ports on the car but it all depends on budget and what you're looking to achieve. Nothing wrong with a good well driven 4 speaker set up with sufficient sound proofing etc.

TL;DR Try head unit. If not good enough then look to switch up but the amp probably isn't up to much either so bare that in mind (I could be wrong though).

 

[iaind]

Indeed, head unit is being done anyway but I'm expecting the speakers to not be much cop. I imagine the factory amp is going to be more powerful than the ones built into the head unit, hence saying I'd probably re use it. Plus it makes cabling nice and easy