hi,

i'm new here, so hello to everyone!

i've always had a decent ICE setup in my cars, until my Octavia vRS (52 plate), i've had it about 18months now and i've finally decided to install my sony head unit and 10 disc changer. The Head unit is fitted (needs refitting once i remove the glove box to enable me to fit it flush with the console), as is the cd changer, but the performance from the standard speakers is crap (not distorted, just poor) so i'm going to replace the speakers all round. Here's my dilema... previously, i've ripped up carpets, hacked shelves, run power to the boot etc :eek: ...i really cant be bothered with this any more, so i've opted to go for the Head Unit 4 x 40w outputs (which, to be honest i'm happy with these days)

i'm planning on getting some Infinity 652i's for the front doors (i've seen these recomened here on the forums). I will also cut the plastic lining behind the speakers to improve bass as recommended here too

now, the back speakers. what to do. I'm a bit of a audiophile, and one thing i cant stand is crap sound. Usually, i'd fit some 6x9's in the shelf, and disguise them, but is this going to be worthwhile without an amp? my head unit puts out 4x40w, is there any point in hacking the shelf to bits for this?

So, i'm thinking of replacing the rears with some decent custom fits. (i.e. NOT hacking the shelf to bits and using the factory mountings) Any recommendations on which speakers to use for good all round sound and decent bass?

thanks in advance.

Don't know if you can still get the Infinitys. If you can't just get the shallowest you can find. It's a bit of a squeeze. Don't forget to disconnect your standard tweeters (front and rear) too.

Not much use to you but I just put some average Sonys in the back. The drivers side one is a swine to get at.

Welcome!

Welcome zombiefly :wave:

If I were you, I'd save some money by not buying rear 6x9. Especially if you like listening to music in an "audiophile" manner, I'd rather go with an amp and just amp the fronts seperately. You'll get much better soundstage. But I do realise that means pulling power cable / line level and speaker level cables round to the boot.

If you do decide to go that way, Q posted an excellent how-to with pics. Trickiest bit is getting the power cable through the firewall bulkhead :(

And if you do go down that route, I'd also run a small sub in the boot. Nothing to be a basshead, just something to up the low freqs.

The 40 watts claimed by head units is PMPO which doesn't really mean anything If you're gonna get some decent speakers for the front, you'll only get the best out of them if you power them via a seperate amp.

JMTPW

thanks for the fast reply...

http://www.mcs-direct.co.uk/acatalog/nfinity_speakers1.html have some called 652.5i, which i (maybe wrongly) have assumed to be the same thing as 652's? (i'll email them to find this out).. does anyone know if i'm right here? or if these speakers are different, do they fit in the octavia doors?

i've noticed some people mentioning that they use pioneer TS-17xx speakers in the front doors, anyone any idea on the model numbers that fit? (without hacking the door to bits! :eek:

edit: tfboy... hi! hmm, see i have 2x 2 channel amps sitting here doing nothing from my previous installation, problem is, my vRS has 2 struts behind the back seats, which prevent the fitting of just about anything bigger than a small shoe box to them (any tips on this?) I was trying to convince myself that some decent speakers all round will be satisfactory enough, as my bass head days are over, and i've made do with the less than satisfactory skoda symphony for long enough....

I've got my amp under the polystyrene(?) thingy in the boot.

ahh.. doesnt it get too hot there? (i've never even looked under the carpet in the boot! never needed the spare!) , also, did you fit rear speakers in the shelf? or in the factory fit positions?

6x9s and audiophile in the same sentence, surely not :eek:.

lol, ok pseudo audiophile !

Decent components in the front running off the head unit , and a 10" sub & amp in the boot.

That'll be money well spent and give a very good sound

ok, so if i upgrade the fronts to some infinity's, then add a sub, do i power the sub from my head unit direct (using the line out's) or use the rear speaker feeds directly? (won't disconnecting the rears mean the back of the car "experience" is just bass heavy?)

ok, so if i upgrade the fronts to some infinity's, then add a sub, do i power the sub from my head unit direct (using the line out's) or use the rear speaker feeds directly? (won't disconnecting the rears mean the back of the car "experience" is just bass heavy?)

You'll need to take the line outs from the head unit and feed them to a seperate amp in the boot. You'll also need power as well as a remote turnon for the amp

if you want any advice on ICE then PM Andy_CCR as he runs a stereo shop and fitted my install.

i've got Lansar components in the front,original positions and In-Phase components in the back,the tweeter isn't in the rear door though,no good for sound staging due being close to right ear.

and am running a 12" sub in the boot off a 2 channel In-Phase amp and the rest of the the speakers are running of a 4 channel In-Phase amp.

am very impressed i have to admit.

am using a Kenwood Keg setup as the source.

i'm not surprised you are impressed with that lot! lol..