Featured Build Advice Wanted

[Rebound]

Looking for opinions and suggestions about this build. I’m going to install a system in my son’s new 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. He bought the car without the optional Harman audio system. It has very cheap speakers and doesn’t sound very good. I have a lot of experience in automotive work and a full garage. There’s very little that I cannot do to a car.

The Goal: Improve the sound for a 23 year-old who likes hard rock. Not interested in thumping bass or blasting the neighborhood. We started out thinking of just replacing the front door speakers, but you know how that goes. We’d like to avoid installing a sub to keep down on cost and taking up space.

Background: Front doors can fit 6x9 speakers. Dash has 3 1/2” speakers, and the back doors have 6 1/2” speakers. It’s easy to get parts from Metra, like the 6x9 adapter ring, harnesses, etc.

The Plan: Replace all six speakers and install a 4-channel amp and maybe LOC.

The Parts: I called Crutchfield and this is our parts list so far. I haven’t ordered yet, especially because I haven’t heard of this amplifier company before so I wanted feedback on them in particular.

• Alpine S2-S69C. These are component 6x9 speakers. We’d put the 6x9 in the front door and the 3-inch mid/tweets in the dash.
• Alpine DM-65G. These are 6 1/2” coax speakers that will go in the rear doors.
• Memphis Audio SE1200.4V2. 4-channel 60W amp
• PAC LPA-E.4 Line Output Converter

This comes in at around $700 total. That’s a little more than we thought we’d spend and we’d like to keep it under $1,000. That doesn’t mean we want to spend $1,000, it means we aren’t interested in an esoteric $2,000 amp, for example.

I did a similar upgrade to a Toyota Prius, without the amp. I think I put Pioneer coax 6x9’s in the front doors, Pioneer speakers in the dash and 6 1/2” speakers in the rear doors. I could never really tell the effect of the rear door speakers. In this case, the rear door speakers are only $100 so I guess it doesn’t matter, but when you’re driving the car and you have 6x9 in front, it seems that the 6 1/2” speakers at the bottom of the back doors won’t make much difference.

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[CarAudio.com - Hal AI Bots]

Looking for opinions and suggestions about this build. I’m going to install a system in my son’s new 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. He bought the car without the optional Harman audio system. It has very cheap speakers and doesn’t sound very good. I have a lot of experience in automotive work and a full garage. There’s very little that I cannot do to a car.

The Goal: Improve the sound for a 23 year-old who likes hard rock. Not interested in thumping bass or blasting the neighborhood. We started out thinking of just replacing the front door speakers, but you know how that goes. We’d like to avoid installing a sub to keep down on cost and taking up space.

Background: Front doors can fit 6x9 speakers. Dash has 3 1/2” speakers, and the back doors have 6 1/2” speakers. It’s easy to get parts from Metra, like the 6x9 adapter ring, harnesses, etc.

The Plan: Replace all six speakers and install a 4-channel amp and maybe LOC.

The Parts: I called Crutchfield and this is our parts list so far. I haven’t ordered yet, especially because I haven’t heard of this amplifier company before so I wanted feedback on them in particular.

• Alpine S2-S69C. These are component 6x9 speakers. We’d put the 6x9 in the front door and the 3-inch mid/tweets in the dash.
• Alpine DM-65G. These are 6 1/2” coax speakers that will go in the rear doors.
• Memphis Audio SE1200.4V2. 4-channel 60W amp
• PAC LPA-E.4 Line Output Converter

This comes in at around $700 total. That’s a little more than we thought we’d spend and we’d like to keep it under $1,000. That doesn’t mean we want to spend $1,000, it means we aren’t interested in an esoteric $2,000 amp, for example.

I did a similar upgrade to a Toyota Prius, without the amp. I think I put Pioneer coax 6x9’s in the front doors, Pioneer speakers in the dash and 6 1/2” speakers in the rear doors. I could never really tell the effect of the rear door speakers. In this case, the rear door speakers are only $100 so I guess it doesn’t matter, but when you’re driving the car and you have 6x9 in front, it seems that the 6 1/2” speakers at the bottom of the back doors won’t make much difference.

Your build plan for the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness sounds solid, and it seems like you have a clear understanding of what you're looking for in terms of sound improvement. Here are some opinions and suggestions regarding your proposed setup:

### Speaker Selection
1. **Alpine S2-S69C (6x9 Component Speakers)**: These are a good choice for the front doors, especially since they are component speakers and will provide better sound quality compared to coaxial speakers. The separate mid and tweeter will help with clarity, especially for hard rock music.

2. **Alpine DM-65G (6.5" Coax Speakers)**: These should work well in the rear doors. While you mentioned that you couldn't tell much difference with rear speakers in your previous setup, having decent coax speakers can still enhance the overall soundstage.

### Amplifier
- **Memphis Audio SE1200.4V2 (4-channel 60W amp)**: Memphis is a reputable brand, and their amplifiers are generally well-regarded in the car audio community. The 60W per channel should be sufficient to power your chosen speakers without distortion, provided that they have an appropriate sensitivity rating. Just ensure that the amp's output matches the power handling capabilities of your speakers for optimal performance.

### Line Output Converter (LOC)
- **PAC LPA-E.4**: A good choice for integrating the new amp with the factory head unit. Just make sure the LOC is compatible with your head unit’s output.

### Installation Considerations
- **Rear Speaker Impact**: You may find that the rear speakers do not contribute significantly to the overall sound, particularly if they are low-powered compared to the front speakers. However, they can help fill in the sound and provide a more immersive listening experience, especially for rear passengers.

- **Sound Deadening**: Consider adding sound deadening material in the doors and other areas to reduce road noise and improve speaker performance. This can make a noticeable difference in sound quality.

### Budget
Your total of around $700 is reasonable, and given your willingness to stay under $1,000, you have some room for potential upgrades or additional components if needed. If you find that you need more power or clarity, you can always consider upgrading the amp or adding a quality subwoofer later on.

### Final Thoughts
Overall, your plan looks well thought out, and you’re on the right track to achieving a significant sound improvement in the Crosstrek. Since you have experience, the installation should go smoothly. Just take your time with the tuning after installation to get the best sound out of your new system.

 

[supernov4]

Some amplifiers accept high level inputs
For the same price and wattage you can eliminate the LOC, remote wire and rca cables and use a Hertz dp 4.300


I'm sure both amps would serve you well
I'm not too familiar with lower budget gear
but my gut would probably lean towards the Hertz and eliminating excess gear

 

[Rebound]

Some amplifiers accept high level inputs
For the same price and wattage you can eliminate the LOC, remote wire and rca cables and use a Hertz dp 4.300


I'm sure both amps would serve you well
I'm not too familiar with lower budget gear
but my gut would probably lean towards the Hertz and eliminating excess gear

Thanks! I’ll look into it.

I thought that part of what the LOC does is maintain the correct impedance to the head unit, but I’ll try to learn more. If there’s anything more you can tell me about this, I’d love to know.

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

I think you have decent equipment list. As far LOCs go, if you get an amp with high level inputs, it basically has the LOC built in.

 

[slater]

Few more $'s you can get a 5 channel amp that will run nice sub & will immensely improve the overall sound, regardless of what your choice of music is....
Even rock will sound 100x better with a sub vs w/o...
I think a sub is a must have or why bother, doesnt have to be anything huge, a single 10", or 2 8"s, even a prefab loaded box, lots of options that can be had for very cheap.
Bunch options out there...
heres an amp to consider.
Im far from an expert compared to others here but surprised it hasn't been mentioned....
Atleast something to reconsider, the work for installation is essentially the same, very minimal additional cost in a sub & a space saving box...

In addition, this amp has more output than crutch field recc.

Stinger Audio 1200 Watt 5-Channel Car Audio Amplifier

Enhance your car audio today with the Stinger Audio MT-1000.5! Shop the MT Series amplifiers for Class D circuitry, a compact design, and direct insert power.

stingerdrive.com

 

[shredder1 10+ year member]

The Goal: Improve the sound for a 23 year-old who likes hard rock. Not interested in thumping bass or blasting the neighborhood. We started out thinking of just replacing the front door speakers, but you know how that goes. We’d like to avoid installing a sub to keep down on cost and taking up space.

In my opinion some sort of substage is probably what is lacking. Yes... upgrade the highs but that will only make the lack of lows more apparent. I'm 58, love my rock and after decades of changing up and spending a ton I now have a sweet hu, decent speakers and a single 12 that is in a space saving custom enclosure.

It may not be flexin' body panels or projecting bass 200yd down the block but it's fairly accurate, loud when called upon and can point the rearview mirror down when I try. Its a user-friendly rock system, I couldn't imagine it without the bass being supplied by a dedicated signal channel.

 

[Rebound]

In my opinion some sort of substage is probably what is lacking. Yes... upgrade the highs but that will only make the lack of lows more apparent. I'm 58, love my rock and after decades of changing up and spending a ton I now have a sweet hu, decent speakers and a single 12 that is in a space saving custom enclosure.

It may not be flexin' body panels or projecting bass 200yd down the block but it's fairly accurate, loud when called upon and can point the rearview mirror down when I try. Its a user-friendly rock system, I couldn't imagine it without the bass being supplied by a dedicated signal channel.

I really appreciate all the advice from people who have done this already.

To put things in perspective… here’s a picture of the junk they put in the front door: A paper 6” round speaker in a space which can house a 6x9. And some 3 1/2” in the dash. The back doors hold cheap, 1-way paper 6” speakers.

For that, I was thinking of the component Alpine’s, which have a 6x9 “woofer” paired with a 3” mid/tweeter which would go in the dash. The front speakers alone will be the biggest improvement over these really bad built-in speakers. Then I figured, for another $100, might as well replace the back door speakers. Then I figured, might as well add an amp. So now you guys have convinced me, it makes sense to install a 5-channel amp so we can install a sub later on.

FRONT DOORS:

REAR DOORS:

 

[Rebound]

Few more $'s you can get a 5 channel amp that will run nice sub & will immensely improve the overall sound, regardless of what your choice of music is....
Even rock will sound 100x better with a sub vs w/o...
I think a sub is a must have or why bother, doesnt have to be anything huge, a single 10", or 2 8"s, even a prefab loaded box, lots of options that can be had for very cheap.
Bunch options out there...
heres an amp to consider.
Im far from an expert compared to others here but surprised it hasn't been mentioned....
Atleast something to reconsider, the work for installation is essentially the same, very minimal additional cost in a sub & a space saving box...

In addition, this amp has more output than crutch field recc.

Stinger Audio 1200 Watt 5-Channel Car Audio Amplifier

Enhance your car audio today with the Stinger Audio MT-1000.5! Shop the MT Series amplifiers for Class D circuitry, a compact design, and direct insert power.

stingerdrive.com

Looks like a great choice, as long as I can fit it under the passenger seat. I wrote to Stinger asking if this amp will work correctly with the speaker outputs of the Subaru, or if an LOC is needed.

 

[slater]

Looks like a great choice, as long as I can fit it under the passenger seat. I wrote to Stinger asking if this amp will work correctly with the speaker outputs of the Subaru, or if an LOC is needed.

If it doesnt fit, you can easily / very inexpensively & safely raise the seat some using spacers until it does...

 

[fa5chups]

Looking for opinions and suggestions about this build. I’m going to install a system in my son’s new 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. He bought the car without the optional Harman audio system. It has very cheap speakers and doesn’t sound very good. I have a lot of experience in automotive work and a full garage. There’s very little that I cannot do to a car.

The Goal: Improve the sound for a 23 year-old who likes hard rock. Not interested in thumping bass or blasting the neighborhood. We started out thinking of just replacing the front door speakers, but you know how that goes. We’d like to avoid installing a sub to keep down on cost and taking up space.

Background: Front doors can fit 6x9 speakers. Dash has 3 1/2” speakers, and the back doors have 6 1/2” speakers. It’s easy to get parts from Metra, like the 6x9 adapter ring, harnesses, etc.

The Plan: Replace all six speakers and install a 4-channel amp and maybe LOC.

The Parts: I called Crutchfield and this is our parts list so far. I haven’t ordered yet, especially because I haven’t heard of this amplifier company before so I wanted feedback on them in particular.

• Alpine S2-S69C. These are component 6x9 speakers. We’d put the 6x9 in the front door and the 3-inch mid/tweets in the dash.
• Alpine DM-65G. These are 6 1/2” coax speakers that will go in the rear doors.
• Memphis Audio SE1200.4V2. 4-channel 60W amp
• PAC LPA-E.4 Line Output Converter

This comes in at around $700 total. That’s a little more than we thought we’d spend and we’d like to keep it under $1,000. That doesn’t mean we want to spend $1,000, it means we aren’t interested in an esoteric $2,000 amp, for example.

I did a similar upgrade to a Toyota Prius, without the amp. I think I put Pioneer coax 6x9’s in the front doors, Pioneer speakers in the dash and 6 1/2” speakers in the rear doors. I could never really tell the effect of the rear door speakers. In this case, the rear door speakers are only $100 so I guess it doesn’t matter, but when you’re driving the car and you have 6x9 in front, it seems that the 6 1/2” speakers at the bottom of the back doors won’t make much difference

Im no expert but imo, a sub is an absolute must, there is so much low end that your front stage just cant play
sealed prefab is like 120 max and so many sub options for cheap, probably 10"
I would skip the rears use that money for sound treatment (NVX xtra thick cld, resonix butyl, and tesset tape is a good budget starter)
run a 5 ch, that stinger 5ch is killer budget option only $220, loc works fine or if you want run a amp that takes highlevel

if it was me doing this system
if in the budget CDT 6.5"/6.7" 2 way
Dayton audio HO 12 if in the budget if not maybe something like NVX 12/10
sealed prefab (from crutchfeild or sonic electronix)
stinger 5ch bridged into a 2ch +1
Lc2 or pac loc
NVX ClD they have a 36sqft/$100 or thicker 20sqft/$100, resonix butyl is really versatile and tesset tape to stop harness form buzzing and wire managment

$700-$1000 in equipment then abt 150 in sound treatment depending how much is done
frontstage headroom to get loud, sealed for wide bandwith to integrate with front stage but still being able to play to the lows

 

[84 Laser]

Looks like a great choice, as long as I can fit it under the passenger seat. I wrote to Stinger asking if this amp will work correctly with the speaker outputs of the Subaru, or if an LOC is needed.

Agreed— a sub is a must no matter the genre of music.

Since we know he listens to rock, that makes it easier to decide which type of sub, even which brand of sub to choose. Accuracy subs.. subs built for musicality match your music and system harmonics. Good examples are JL, Alpine, Focal, even JBL, Pioneer, Infinity.

Also, you mentioned space as a concern. All of these brands offer compact under seat subs. If you can spare a little space, they also have compact cargo enclosures. Sealed enclosures are the most accurate and save more space.