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Stock Impreza Stereo Sucks - Help??

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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79

Aight so i got an 06 sub impreza 2.5i wagon, it has the base stereo (non 6-cd changer), the one that goes up to volume 33. Well 33 isnt very loud, and it distorts up high in there, the bass does not hit cleanly, it doesnt sound as loud as it is, and overall the stereo is just shitty....

so, im upgrading it. Originally i was thinkin about goin new deck, a 12 inch sub, and an amp to power it. but.. i was thinkin this might be too bassy and the highs would still be shitty and not loud and whatnot.

well i was thinkin about maybe throwin in just a new deck and a more subtle 8inch under seat sub like the ones that come stock on wrxs. i was thinkin this would give it a nice clean balanced bass, but will it not be enough? because i do still like my bass haha.

so what do you think would be the best thing to do in my situation to make my shitty stock stereo sound boss, considering im a poor teenager??

May 19 2009 12:51AM
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AlexGaynor
Posts: 947 - Karma: 148
I'll trade you my 96 eclipse with 2 12s and some mega sick shit for your impreza. Deal?
May 19 2009 1:02AM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79
hahaha no wayyyyy i love the car, just lookin to make the stereo sound better. and can you even get golf clubs in your trunk with 2 12s??
May 19 2009 1:11AM
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kepler.
Posts: 8761 - Karma: 139
I'm sorry I can't help you but I have the same problem. My 05 Impreza has such a terrible system. I think we have the same exact system too. Hopefully the info you get can help me too.
May 19 2009 1:15AM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79
do you think the stock speakers will be sufficient if you put in subs so they didnt have to handle the bass anymore and could focus more on the mids and highs? or do you think the system needs new speakers and or tweeters?
May 19 2009 1:20AM
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hartig
Posts: 8192 - Karma: 10
i'm going to go ahead and say if you want all around clearer sounds, then to upgrade everything.. deck, speakers/tweeters, amp for the speakers, sub (one 12 would be good if you dont want that headache-inducing bass), and a sufficient amp to power the sub

..or you could just try to get an amp for the speakers, and then get a sub/amp if its not good enough for you. i noticed a huge difference when i put my amp in compared to my deck's regular output
May 19 2009 1:22AM
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stillen350z
Posts: 9 - Karma: 10
should prolly just get new speakers, some with a nice bass to  them already, alpine, infinity, or even rockford fosgate makes a descent 6.5, or if your going to keep them all the same the infinity makes 5 1/4 and 6.5, i wouldnt amp the stock speakers or you may end up blowing them if you turn it up. you should notice a huge difference in just the speakers, and if you want to upgrade get a deck after followed by subs.
May 19 2009 1:31AM
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kepler.
Posts: 8761 - Karma: 139
Yeah it's not just the bass. The speakers just plain suck. New ones are a must.
May 19 2009 1:33AM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79

Does everyone agree with this order for upgrading?

1. Speakers all around

2. Deck

3. Sub and amp

???

Because right now I am thinking like a stereotypical teenager to just go sub and amp first for sick bass which would somehow magically make the whole thing sound better.

May 19 2009 4:57PM
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AlexGaynor
Posts: 947 - Karma: 148
^ I am a stereotypical teenager (in this sense only) and i went the sub route first... followed by deck and speakers... i ended up snatching all of it off ebay and craigslist. checp.. but good for the value...

also... why the fuck would i wan't to put golf clubs in my car? to hit people with?
Jp, golf isnt my sport. and i live in Arizona so i dont need to fit skis in.
May 19 2009 5:03PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
Disregard the post about the 6.5"s unless you are willing to put in some work.

The problems with the Impreza's, is that they have very narrow doors. Makes it very difficult to install stuff in the car.

However, that being said, with work you can do it if you have the skill and the patience.

If I were you, I would upgrade in the following order: Deck, Speakers, 4-channel Amp for Speakers, Sub/Amp (10", 400W RMS or greater)

It will sound amazing, trust me. That is basically the set up I have in my car. For some installation pics and ideas on what to do in an Impreza, look at my thread on Scoobymods.com. I have a 2002 WRX sedan for reference.

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/my_weekend_audio_installs-t10514.html?t=10514
May 19 2009 5:05PM
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Kmania
Posts: 756 - Karma: 79
I got the 07 2.5i wagon, and the stock speakers are junk. Do everything all around and youll be a happy camper. Dont forget to put dynamat on the doors too. makes it sound hella better. also, for the front speakers, your going to need to measure how far back the new speakers go, because the windows have an annoying habit of hitting speakers if they go to deep, so shallow is better. and def grab and amp for that shyt son!
May 19 2009 5:09PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79

not willing to put in that kinda work, so what size SHOULD i be looking at?

and i found this, looks like an easily-installable sick bargain: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=6303702&cat=20&lpid=

May 19 2009 5:13PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
Should work, won't sound as good as it could but it will definitely be a big improvement over the stock sound system.

If you don't cut out your rear doors, with some work you can fit 6.5" in the front and I think it is like 4.25" in the rear. Granted, as it says in the post on scoobymods, you will lose out on some sound in the rear but unless you have a trained ear you probably won't notice it.
May 19 2009 5:15PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79

so what should i be looking at then to sound as good as it could ...?

i will be buying used off of ksl or craigslist btw, or possibly ebay

May 19 2009 5:19PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
As good as it could you'll have to put in some investment. You'll need two good amps, a nice set of speakers a sub and a decent deck with preouts for 4 speakers and a sub.

Buying used is always always always a huge risk and I would definitely not recommend it.
May 19 2009 5:26PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79

Ok well my budget is basically 150ish max right now, and maybe a max of 500 more at some point along the line for a custom sub enclosure, sub, etc.

what do you suggest

May 19 2009 5:33PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
For 150, I would suggest getting either a new deck or looking in to the Subaru sub if you can find one.

For later, use your extra 500 on speakers and an amp, and then a sub/amp. Pointless to have good booming base if your speakers can't even come close to keeping up.
May 19 2009 5:47PM
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steezemeister
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 37
thats pretty much right. i personally would just go for some really nice speakers all around, forget completely about the sub and amp, subs actually serve no purpose except for you to share your music's backbeat with everyone around you, and fuck up your own hearing. if you're gonna do a sub, i'd do the under the seat wrx style idea

seriously, subs are not that great...
May 19 2009 7:18PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79
the problem is you cant really do too great of speakers all around since the front speaker holes are only for 6.5in and the back ones are for tiny ass 4in, so you cant get like some quality 6by9s....
May 19 2009 7:47PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Speakers first and foremost. Bass coupled with shitty highs sounds like complete ass. Keep in mind the Imprezza is Subaru's lowest model car, so the speakers sourced will be garbage. A reasonable same size replacement will yield vast improvements.
May 19 2009 8:41PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79

Ok so what im getting is:

1: right now: Speakers and Deck

later...

2: Sub (not sure whether a 10 in the trunk or an 8 under the drivers seat tho?) with an amp to power it

3. At this point, get another amp to power the speakers if needed to match amount of bass from sub

later...

4. Tweeters

how does this sound??

May 19 2009 9:11PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Would work. You may even find yourself satisfied with just better components. When I first started driving I had it in my mind I was going to have a grandiose sound system in my car. I upgraded speakers, and was plenty satisfied with just that.

Spent the rest of the money on other things.
May 19 2009 9:14PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79
what do you mean  by better components
May 19 2009 9:16PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Like speakers.
May 19 2009 9:26PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79

ok yeah. 2 more things

1. stock wiring should be fine right?

and 2. will i need an amp to power the 4 speakers or can i straight up just throw em in?

May 19 2009 9:45PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79

ok yeah. 2 more things

1. stock wiring should be fine right?

and 2. will i need an amp to power the 4 speakers or can i straight up just throw em in?

May 19 2009 9:45PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
No external amp will be required for the replacement speakers as the headunit has an internal amplifier source that will work to power them.
May 19 2009 9:51PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
It would be fine for the mean time, but if you want them to sound good you should really get a 4-channel amp.

Aftermarket headunits are usually in the range of 17-20 watts RMS, with a 50W peak. A decent set of speakers for your car will be 40-50W RMS with a 80-100W peak. Your headunit will be vastly underpowering your speakers, and you should definitely get an amp for them. 4-channel amps are relatively inexpensive.

As for upgrading your tweeters last, you could always look in to a 3-way component set which would come with tweeters and crossovers.

Your stock wiring will be fine if you just add in the speakers, if you get an amp though it will not work. You will have to run new wiring. Basically, power and speaker wires to the amp, and headunit to amp via RCA cables which will be the digital signal the amp will amplify. It will be the same setup for a sub/amp combo if you do that in your truck.

If you get the WRX subwoofer that goes under the seat, I am about 90% sure that it comes with an amp of it's own and it is essentially just plug and play. I didn't have one in my WRX though so I'm not positive.

And there is definitely a use for a subwoofer, to the poster who said they are just a waste. I have a 10" with 550W RMS or so powering it, and you cant hear it outside of my car at all. Like nothing, unless you have your ear to the trunk. However, inside the car I can pound the bass so my ears hurt, or I can turn it down and have it completely fill up my bottom end like I have it set to do now. A sub is actually essential if you want the full spectrum of audio with as little distortion as possible, you need one for the low end to sound right.
May 19 2009 11:19PM
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Rafe
Posts: 254 - Karma: 13
I have a 95 legacy that had shitty sound and the first thing I did was new deck and front speakers. You will be amazed at the difference just that will make.

Next time I get payed it'll be new 6.5s for the back (I only had 2 speakers) and then after listening to that I'll decide whether or not I want to get one or two eights. I only want eights because I gotta have room for everyone's ski stuff in the back I can't have it filled up with subs. and I don't have the skrilla
May 19 2009 11:51PM
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steezemeister
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 37
premium speaker wiring will sound a little better, but it's not really worth the price, and just put the speakers in. Check the watts they can handle and the watts being generated by your head unit first though
May 19 2009 11:53PM
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