Upgrade my speakers.

[mdslocombe]

Hey all,

Ive recently purchased mysely a crackin Mk5 Gti Steel Greay but I would like alittle advice on what speakers I could use to replace the standard ones fitted in the car.  Now Im not particularly interested in having a sub and amp fitted in the boot I just want to uprate my door speakers and am hoping you guys can advise me on what is best as I really have no idea?!?

Many Thanks




Matt

[SteveP]

Have a look at the Hertz speakers as used by Hurdy (see his project thread for more details) these are good improvement 

[DelB]

I think the first thing to consider is what Head Unit you have in the car. If it's an RCD300/310, you can't polish a turd I'm afraid! 

I had an RCD300 in my car when I first got it and changed it for an RCD510 touch-screen unit. Vastly improved the sound quality in the car. 

[DanoGTI]

Echo above - the issue ISN'T the speakers (the standard ones aren't actually that bad!)

The head unit is quite simply insulting. Get shot of that and you'll be laughing.

I couldn't bring myself to use the 510 - I don't actually think it's that good (and quite limiting in certain respects). IMHO, the only reason for using a 510 is to keep the OEM look.

I went with an updated F900bt (Pioneer)...

Dan

[mdslocombe]

Thanks for the tips.  I'll have a shop around!!

[Hurdy]

Stock speakers are limited. OEM head units use VW's own version of DSP (digital sound processing) which limits the frequencies and volume of the frequencies at certain levels. This is purely to preserve the OEM speakers as they would otherwise give up if the head unit didn't restrict their sound. Aftermarket speakers are the way to go, but then if you kept the OEM head unit, you would still be saddled with the DSP and not gain the full benefit that you'd gain from an aftermarket head unit.

Hertz "Hi-Energy" are an excellent speaker range and I sought advice from Source Sounds, who said that these were the best fit and quality for the price bracket I was looking at.

To be quite honest they said that the OEM VW speakers were very poor quality and when you compared OEM with aftermarket quality you could easily see the difference.
 

[DanoGTI]

Agreed Hurdy,

But as an in-between, the OEM speakers aren't BAD.
They'll never stand up to some Hertz or other good aftermarket, but as a stop-gap after changing the H/unit, they're not a bad compromise.

What helped mine (which in all fairness would make the difference) is the fact that I've got a 12" sub bolted onto the system - the OEM speakers have been filtered to take this into account.

I've got some components ready to fit, but haven't got around to it yet - as the OEM ones don't offend me so much. I had anticipated changing everything, but haven't felt the need yet.

Dan 

[GLIDN]

If you are not wanting to go down the sub route.

Than I can highly recommend rainbow IQ 320.15 or alon those lines.
Direct replacement and also includes a 8" driver for mid bass in the front.

And as everyone else recommends replace the radio.
Otherwise get a jl audio clean sweep or Rockford fosgate 360.2 and don't forget the amp too.

You should be pretty much set from there.

Otherwise as hurdy suggess go hertz.
I have hertz in current car. Only due to no rainbow iq series available with out importing them. Way to much hassle in new Zealand.

[icenutter]

Sounds like I'm in a similar situation; if the chioce was an either/or what would improve things most?
1) upgrading to a RCD/RNS 510 from RCD300
2) upgrading the speakers to (for arguments sake) Hertz.

[DanoGTI]

1. (imho)

[DelB]

1. (imho)

+1! 

[GLIDN]

It's a hard one honestly,

If you can I would recommend doing both. lol

Previous MK5 I upgraded the radio it was better but not by much.
my current GTI I upgraded the radio and it sounded better.
But still ended up replacing the speakers too. They just did not sound the best they could be.

On a side note maybe do this.

Replace radio and sound deaden the front doors. They buzz so badly with any real volume. Maybe the likes of a Dynazorb or similar product behind the woofer in the doors.

If you still not happy after that replace the speakers. That way all the sound deadening is done and simply need to just install speakers.