Upgrading speakers while keeping stock headunit -- Bad idea?

[whizdumb 10+ year member]

Do all stock decks butcher SQ?

I am planning on getting a nice set of components (either Crystal SSCS 6 or Boston Pro60s) and powering them with around 230w RMS but I am worried they are not going to sound to their full potential with my stock headunit.

I don't really want to get a new deck (more $, more reason for someone to break into my car, and I'm not supposed to be "modifying" my car -- my parents don't want me messing with it while I'm still in school) so I am trying to stay away from it if at all possible.. plus I kind of like the look of the stock dash.

It's going in an 06 Honda Civic, without "premium sound" if that matters... is there any way to find out if my stock deck has its own EQ settings? All it can adjust are bass, mid, treble, balance, fade, and speed corrected volume -- but there's a way to turn that off. I don't think I need internal summing because I don't have a factory amp and all my speakers play full range (there aren't even any tweeters I don't think.) Should I look into an EQ/LOC combination like the ThreeSixty? Or will a simple LOC be "good enough"?

What products would you suggest? In my searching I've come across some david navone LOCs, are there any that are better? Keeping in mind I don't want to spend a ton especially if its not something I need.

Sorry for such a long post, I am just trying to make sure I am not wasting my money on nice components if I am not going to really benfit from them.

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[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

Most stock h/u's sound like poo. Its the brains of the system, why would you want something thats inferior?

I would definetly look into a 360.1 or .2 as they do much more than just convert signal.

A theif/your parents wont even know its installed and you still retain that stock look but definetly not that horrible stock sound.

I assume you are going to buy an external amp to power the speakers.

 

[whizdumb 10+ year member]

Yeah I am going to be getting a Memphis Belle.

Guess I oughtta start looking into 360.2 prices. Is that the best one for the money? I like the DQL-8 too but that one is a bit more.

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

IMO, its the best one for the money and it has the largest eq per channel as well as aux in eq.

The AudioControl is nice but its not exactly small, the 360 can fit in the palm of your hand. Plus you have to mount it where you can access it if you need to adjust something.

Be careful with the belle as it has incredibly sensitive rca imputs

 

[whizdumb 10+ year member]

Well I was really turned off by the cost of these kinds of units, but after looking, the 3sixty.1 is definitely reasonable (

Do you think it is worth the extra ~$250 for the 3Sixty.2 over the .1?

What do you mean by sensitive RCA inputs? As in the signal that is being fed to them or the actual connections themselves?

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

The 360.2 does everything and anything you would need from a $500 h/u.

Since you probably wont be using active crossovers any time soon the 360.1 will probably work just fine.

Signal and connection, they pick up so much interference.

 

[whizdumb 10+ year member]

Well thanks for the tips!

I haven't gotten one yet so should I steer clear? Or just make sure I use quality RCAs (and not run them near any power)?

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

If you get it authourized you wont have any problems getting a new one if yours is a dud. If its just some online website ( memphis doesnt warrant online sales) then no, i would say steer clear as if you do have any problems you will be without an amp for several weeks of not months if you do have a problem.

 

[canadapettit 10+ year member]

One thing you need to make sure of is that you have a palm pilot with bluetooth or the 360.1 won't do you any good. Have to have it

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

You dont need bluetooth or a palm pilot.

Just a laptop that runs xp or vista

 

[whizdumb 10+ year member]

Yeah I was reading that...

I can just borrow one for a little while from my work.

Starting to consider going the aftermarket HU route though now.

$250 for the 3Sixty.1 + a little more and I can get a nice HU... and just say F it, I was going to get an alarm anyway. And I can always put it back to stock to sell it or w/e.