Honda Accord upgrade, I'm clueless

[RealitySlap]

So, I'll start off by saying I have very little knowledge of upgrading car audio and whatnot.. And I'm new to the boards, but I think this is in the right place..

So I have a stock 2004 Honda accord EX coupe and want a little more stereo then the stock system. I don't want anything outrageous, just something that will give me a bit more then the stock. I will say that I haven't really had much experience working with/on cars, but I'd like to think I'm somewhat hands on.

I've looked around on Crutchfield, but I'm pretty lost as to where to start. So any suggestions would be very much appreciated..

Thanks

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[coledawg 10+ year member]

well do u want a sub or just speakers and how much u wanna spend

 

[bass-aholic 10+ year member]

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-VISONIK-10-SUBWOOFERS-SUB-BOX-AMPLIFIER-BEST-PRICE_W0QQitemZ120264238319QQihZ002QQcategoryZ32822QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

perfect...

 

[RealitySlap]

Yeah sorry, just realized I never mentioned a price range.. If I were to try to limit it to around $500 what would I be able to do? I'm not crazy about a ton of bass, So I think I could do without a sub, initially at least. Also, I've heard its a hassle to replace the factory head unit in the accords(?)..

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

$500 won't get you much but it can be a good start.

You have some decisions to consider and make not so much for now but more towards the future.

You may want to consider replacing all your cd's by buying a hu with a usb port and/or an ipod connection if you use ipods or will in the future. You can store so much more music on a usb drive or ipod than playing around with cd's.

Outrageous is expensive but even a decent basic system will cost close to $1000 or less if you don't want to use a sub and amp.

Basically a nice head unit will run you $250 up to $400 and will give you very nice sound. Alpine seems to be a big favorite but if you search for head units in the forum you will find other favorites as well.

You can start with a hu described above and add a nice set of components in the front door panels for around $250 and you have a nice system for $500 and plenty of room to add an amp and sub in the future if you desire.

What you will gain will be a better mid-range with a deeper bass than the stock speakers. You will also get highs that are more clear and defined. The hu will be more tuneable with more options for adjusting the sound.

Depending on where you install it may cost you $30 to $150 extra and the harness cost as well. For $30ish you can get a kit to install the hu in the cubby below the stock location. It is a decent spot that is extensively used by modders. The alternative is the Metra stock radio replacement face. It replaces the stock stereo and works well but is costly.

It is not a hassle at all to replace the factory head unit but it does take some effort but is worth it in the end.

You will also lose the use of the steering wheel controls unless you want to pony up around $100 for the harness...useless anyway so save your money.

Keep us informend.

 

[RealitySlap]

Thanks for the input guys..

I just talked to some guy at best buy (I have a feeling best buy is frowned upon here, which is fine, I just felt like talking to someone haha) and mentioned a line converter if I stuck with the stock hu, does that sound right? He suggested Infinity speakers and an alpine amp, but anywho.. I believe he said I would need a 4 channel amp for the speakers and if I were to add a sub down the road I would need another amp. I'm just trying to make sure that I understand correctly..

And as for wiring, I have no idea.. Best Buy dude said I would need to replace all wiring.. is this correct?

I have this plan in my head, and I don't know if it is possible:

1. Get decent speakers to replace door panels and the rear deck and drop them in.
   
2. Then add an amp later and maybe/probably a head unit.
   
3. Then maybe a sub once the speakers and amp have been in for awhile.
   

I guess what I'm trying to do is break up a big purchase into smaller purchases.. Is that a bad idea?

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

There may be some cases where BB is a good source but generally not so much.

Go to your local car stereo shops and describe what you want your music to sound like and take note of their recommendations.

Make sure to tell them your budget.

If you are going to use the existing hu replace your stock speakers with either a good pair of coaxials or components that are highly efficient and will run off the low power of your head unit. If you go the component route I suggest having the tweeters located somewhere other than the stock locations in the far corner of the dash below the windshield. That is one bad place to put tweeters. Best place is above the mid range in the door panels.

Run your system as is with those speakers.

Forget about replacing the rear speakers. They don't do much to improve the sound. The sound stage is in the front not the back seat.

This will give you a better sound that stock but very lacking for anything other than general listening...which may be fine if that is all you want. The vast majority of autos have stock systems and their owners don't mind.

A decent system using your existing hu will require the line converter, amp (a single 4 channel amp is sufficient), front component speakers (running off the amps front channels), sub woofer (running off the amps rear channels bridged). That's all.

This will give you a nice system using your existing hu and keeping the steering wheel controls.

You also fail to mention a budget. Without one it is impossible to give other than basic suggestions.

If you are having it installed at a shop you will pay less to have it all done at one time while everything is accessible. There is no shame in having the shop install it. BB and CC do not have a high reputation, expect for quality minded installers that are few, for installation work beyond a general hu and speaker replacement.

 

[datboiroy]

If you go the component route I suggest having the tweeters located somewhere other than the stock locations in the far corner of the dash below the windshield. That is one bad place to put tweeters. Best place is above the mid range in the door panels.

any reason why its bad to put them in the stock location on the accord? i placed mine there but havent got them hooked up as im waiting for my amps to come in.

 

[RealitySlap]

I had mentioned a budget of 500 to start with, but I know that is pretty limiting..

Its hard to imagine just leaving out the speakers in the rear, it seems like they do a lot.. guess not?

So a line converter, 4 channel amp, a decent pair of coaxials in the doors, and maybe a sub later on would be a good starting point?

I'll try to find a shop nearby and see what they suggest.. Thanks for the help man, I don't feel quite so clueless anymore

 

[Zxcvtypo 10+ year member]

any reason why its bad to put them in the stock location on the accord? i placed mine there but havent got them hooked up as im waiting for my amps to come in.

weird imaging. simple semi-fix would be to wire them out of phase, but they're still bouncing right off the windshield.

and to the OP - go with components for the front door, not coax. it's not hard at all for an installer to flush mount the tweeters in the door, or to just use the stock locations.

 

[RealitySlap]

alrighty.. even with components up front, would I still be able to use the rear channels from the amp to power a sub if I just had a 4-channel amp?

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

Yep yep yep...lol.

Stock location of the tweeters has imaging and staging problems...sound bouncing all over the place but where it should.

Components are a better choice for the front doors in your case.

Yes you can use the same 4 channel amp...the front speaker wires connect to the crossover which then seperates the signals, via wires, to the mid-range and tweeters. The rear channel still powers, bridged, the sub...an efficient sub that is.

You have some decisions to make as well regarding existing hardware. If you choose to go with an aftermarket hu you will lose the steering wheel controls...I have not used mine nor do I miss them at all...unless you want to spend an additional $100 more or less for a harness to connect...waste of money in my opinion.

If you are going to upgrade your system I suggest starting with a good quality aftermarket head unit and going from there. If you really want rear speakers...it is your car and listening experience after all, we are only making suggestions...I would replace the stock speakers in the front doors with a good quality pair of coaxials that will also fit in the rear deck location. That will take close to your $500 with a bit left over and as you decide to add the amp you can install some good components in the doors, move the coaxials to the rear deck, add the sub and have a great system.

In general a system as we have been describing will run around $1200 retail. You can do better by online purchasing and perhaps buying used gear but I am no fan of that at all. But that is my opinion and not shared by many but I have not been ripped off as some have been...read some of the threads regarding rip offs...yipes.

Good luck and enjoy the experience.

Keep us informed.

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=300&i=500CDA9885&tp=5684

http://www.cadencestore.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=125&idproduct=381

http://www.cadencestore.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=126&idproduct=194

leaves you with about $75 to get the speakers installed, unless you want to try and do it yourself

and forget about rear speakers, it will just mess up the sound quality (sq)