Looking to upgrade the speakers in my Octavia. I'll probably go for Pioneer or JBL speakers, any opinions on these?

Am I likely to have problems with the mounting depth, having to cut wires or anything else?

If anyone can recommend an installer in the Essex/Herts area that may be a better option for me

You would probably have to cut wires as VAG speakers have a plug/socket on them.

Id go for Pioneer over JBL, but depends what you overall want from upgrading...mounting wise, as long as its 6.5", it should fit. I don't know if the Mk1 uses the plastic mounts like my Mk3 and Mk4 golf did, but they could be removed. Find out the depth of the speakers you want to fit.

It may be worth buying some adhesive thin sound deadening aswell to put on/in the doors, that can make more of a difference than the speaker itself to the sound quality!

Ok all depending on budget really. Firstly there is nothing wrong with the Octavia standard speakers. The problem is their inability to produce Bass. And combined with the standard Head Unit with its low power output. Anything above low volume will produce distortion as you are I'm sure experiencing. I would suggest firstly upgrading the Head Unit with something of better quality. Pioneer do some superb units enabling Bluetooth playback and also hands free calling from your smart phone. Try this first coupled with disconnection of rear door tweeters. Doing this will give you ability to a enjoy louder clearer listening experience. However as explained the Bass will still be lacking. This can be solved by installing an active 8inch sub in the boot area. So for total of about £250 a much more pleasurable listening experience can be had.

Thanks for the replies. Yes I was thinking of getting some sound deadening material too while the door card is off.

 

Don't want to spend that much, just want an upgrade from standard but don't need audiophile grade speakers (not in a car anyway!).

 

Forgot to mention I've already got a half decent head unit (Alpine at the moment but just ordered a new Pioneer Bluetooth one). I noticed a pretty good improvement after replacing the head unit but the standard Octy speakers are seriously lacking.

 

What speakers do you other mk1 Octy owners have in yours and how was the fitting?

 

There are speaker adapters for Golf mk4s on eBay (plugs and rings), anyone know if these will fit the Octavia?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAK-3103-VOLKSWAGEN-GOLF-165MM-FRONT-OR-REAR-DOOR-SPEAKER-ADAPTOR-1998-2005-/160781824176?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item256f57f0b0

I upgraded to pioneer components in front which were a dam site better than std by far. I just upgraded again to Alpine which aint much better than the pioneers tbh. I have pioneers for sale if interested pm me. They look great and sound great. I upgraded rears to inphase x52's 200 watt which are middle of the road but again one hell better than std. I also unplugged rear tweeter plugs at rear speaker end as this really improves higher sound and believe it or not better output. The std rear tweeters are crud and these cause the distortion. I have all this through std head unit double din sat nav giving good sound but which may upgrade later as really need bluetooth playback and more modern sat nav and dvd. I more recently fitted a mazda 6 bose amplified tyre sub bought from scrapyard for 30 quid that has given sound a welcome bass. Can show install pics. All this was done on a cheap budget as prefer to spend on performance over sound system and I am well happy with it so far

Sent from my Samsung S3
 

Thanks Bowders. Would've been tempted to buy your Pioneers off you but I just ordered some brand new ones yesterday. Will see how I get on after the speaker upgrade but probably won't bother with a sub. £30 is a bargain though! Have you got any more info about what is required to fit the front speakers - adapters to space them out or anything? Are the rears straightforward?

Thanks Bowders. Would've been tempted to buy your Pioneers off you but I just ordered some brand new ones yesterday. Will see how I get on after the speaker upgrade but probably won't bother with a sub. £30 is a bargain though! Have you got any more info about what is required to fit the front speakers - adapters to space them out or anything? Are the rears straightforward?

 

rear are dead simple as in the side panels next to rear parcel shelf

 

Fronts are straight forward. You won't need adapters if not too wide. I will dig out the depth of mine as a reference that mine just fitted direct to door panel plastic std adapters.