Speakers + Cabrio = Teh Suxxors

[GreekDriver]

So, I'm looking to replace all 4 speakers, use stock wiring, get a good head unit that plays MP3's, has a dot-matrix display(at minimum), and looks normal(not ricey). I noticed Michaels thread, and the other cabrio speaker thread, but those had nothing informative.

What setup should I go with if I want to use stock wiring and want my speakers to not have an external amp? Basically I want it near plug and play.

Sub 250 bucks is key hear( cheap ebay pricing, so take 1/3 off MSRP).

Thanks!

[KenC]

Do you have the stock premium system?

[GreekDriver]

Do you have the stock premium system?

I have no clue. I have 4 speakers and 2 tweeters that I can't hear anything out of.

[KenC]

There really isn't any plug and play solution... you need to rewire the car. It's not that hard, and you'll be happy with the outcome.

[Kruzen]

rewiring cost me about 40-60$ and 3 hours of time. most of which was screwing around with the head unit. (including the RCA cables for my external AMP)

[StereoInstaller1]

Clear, cheap, loud. Pick any 2.

So you want to spend $250 on a good deck and 4 speakers? Go check Wal-Mart, buy a Pioneer capable of playing MP3's and a set of 4 pioneer speakers.
Good luck with that, don't ask anyone there for help. I do this stuff for a living, and have for 24 years. You can't beat Wal-Marts price, except maybe on ebay, and I assure you, it will be easier to deal with wallymart on warranty issues, if you have them. Wallymart has Sony too, but I have had so many problems with reliability, I can't recommend them.

Just so you know, in my system, I will have over $1000 in the signal control pieces that connect the deck to the amps...this isn't the "deck" or the amps, nor the cables, just the 3 components from Audio Control.

The good stuff ain't cheap.

[UNHCLL]

The good stuff ain't cheap.

I thought your car had a bad tranny/rearended/and a whole host of other issues?
gonna bump the stereo while pushing the car? ;)

[GreekDriver]

Alright, I picked up a Pioneer DEH-P5500MP head unit for 85 bucks. Refurbished. It's not dot-matrix, but it was cheap, and I like Pioneer.

Rewiring = Super Sucks. I do not want to waste a weekend doing stereo stuff, when I could be installing a new differential... Is it THAT necessary? I mean I'd like to use my speakers to potential, but how much quality will stock wiring chomp on?

I still have the issue of speakers that fit in the back. I know of 5.25" that fit in the front, but none that fit in the back. Anybody know of any that can be powered by my Pioneer head unit?

[KenC]

You have the stock premium system. The wiring is really weird and it uses an amp in the rear. You HAVE to rewire the system for it to work... it isn't a matter of quality of wiring.

[GreekDriver]

WTF? My car has an amp in the rear? Wow, I feel special!

So I guess I am rewiring. Where is this amp located, I've never seen it!

[KenC]

WTF? My car has an amp in the rear? Wow, I feel special!

So I guess I am rewiring. Where is this amp located, I've never seen it!

The amp blows... it's like 5w x 4. It's in the right side of the trunk, by the rear shock mount. Behind the carpet.

[325is_MadBimmer]

its on the driver side of the car....right by the antena. I just rewired my system. Used about 110 ft of 12 gauge speaker wire, but hooked up new tweeters for front/rear, and new 5.25's for front and rear. I ran them into crossovers and into my alpine amp. I also got a alpine type-r 10" sub. It was a big pain in the ass rewireing, specially the front tweeters as it was hard to get that 12 gauge to fit through that little tube that all the door cables go back into the car. Also in the rear there isnt any weird speaker. Its a 5.25 and a tweeter. Put a tiny screwdriver in one of the holes in the grill and pull up and the grills will pop out.

in the end....IT WAS AL WORTH IT 8)