Installing New Audio System

[Fragop]

I've been reading the forums here for awhile and finally just registered. So I have a 2007 Vibe with M&T. I'm looking to install a new HU, speakers, and something to add a little more bass to the audio. I'm a complete noob when it comes to car audio, but from what I've read there are some very knowledgeable people on this forum that can hopefully help me out. This is the equipment I was thinking about getting. Now I have no idea really if these parts will work well together or if there is something better, so any suggestions would be appreciated.Head Unit: Pioneer MVH-P8300BT http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1...oneer Speakers: Polk db651 / 651s for the back and front. I've read here that these are a pretty easy install in the vibe, which will certainly help me out. If anyone has any suggestions for other speakers that are better but still pretty easy to put in I'm open to suggestions.I'm also looking to add some more bass, but I want to still be able to use the full trunk when I need to. I was thinking of either upgrading the stock sub or adding in a bazooka tube with built in amp which would be easily removable. I do have a couple questions about each option that I know some of you will be able to answer.If I go with the bazooka, is it possible to still keep the stock sub hooked up too? Also would this have to be wired through the speakers/stock amp or could it just be hooked up right to the head unit?If I decide instead to just replace the sub will I need to get a new amp? Would it even be worth it to replace the sub or would it not make much of a difference?If anyone has any better ideas or suggestions for subs please let me know. I just picked these two options out by reading through the forums and seeing that other people have done these upgrades.Again I'm a complete noob so any suggestions/ideas/changes to make the setup better would be great. Thanks in advance for any help.

[danimal86]

Is there any particular reason why you are looking at a single DIN deck? Might want to look at this one. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1...oneerI have the 3200dvd (same deck without bluetooth), and i love it. Shop around, you should be able to find it cheaper than crutchfield (i bought the 3200dvd for $250 off amazon). My car (i have a 06 Matrix) didn't have a factory sub/amp, so im not much help there, but i can tell ya this, DONT GET A BAZOOKA TUBE! Those things are garbage. I have a JL 10w6 in the back (in a JL box) and a JL 500/1 amp under the drivers seat, and it sound great! the box's footprint is small, and i just left a about 3ft extra of speaker wire hooked up so that if i have to use the cargo area with the seats down, i can just slide the box up front.

[Wolfman213]

If you are thinking about simply replacing the factory sub, one thing you will miss is some of the mid-bass it provide. That was the first thing that I noticed. Second thing is that, and this may just be the particular sub I used Kicker 6 1/2) there's not really a happy median with the bass sounding good and it sounding like it's pushing the sub too hard. My first thought is attributing it to the fact it's a 6 1/2 sub as I've never had one that small before. Another thing to keep in mind, it is a 6 1/2 sub. If you are wanting it to just enhance the bass, then it shouldn't be a problem for you. Now if you are wanting some more boom, then you should probably forget about replacing it.Wiring it, I run off of an old MTX 421D. IIRC, the factory sub is 100W, 50 per VC. It is a DVC. It's ran parallel. I can't remember the Ohm of the speaker though. It may be an interesting way to wire it up directly off of the factory wires, but I would recommend a dedicated amp.

[Blanco_Diablo]

That JL gear is nice, just depends how much you are planning to pay as that stuff does not run cheap. There are other sub brands that will get you great sound quality for a much reduced price tag, a lot of it has to do with the enclosure. Your upgraded door speakers should help with the midbass. You will need an amp at least for the sub and possibly the door speakers too as the factory one is pretty useless pushing anything other than those M&T speakers. Do a bit of research, I learned a lot on DIYMA.com as well as through some of our local audio experts on here.Good luck!

[Fragop]

danimal86: I actually was thinking about that deck but I was a little leery on a deck controlled mostly through touchscreen. I just wasn't sure how easy it would be to navigate through the menus with a touchscreen while driving, but it sounds like it's pretty easy? Thanks for the tip on the bazooka. I actually would rather have a small box, but I'm guessing the setup would be way more complicated. If I went this route I think I would have to rewire everything from the factory amp to the new amp, and I don't know how complicated that would be.Wolfman213: Thanks for the info. on the sub. I think I may go with adding another sub. How hard is it to switch the amps (does it require a complete rewiring of the speakers or can the wires already in place just be connected to the new amp)? Also if I do add in another sub would it still be possible to keep the M&T sub hooked up for mid-bass or is that not a good idea?

[DoubleBaril]

You would want to run new wires for a different amp, as the wires for the M&T amp are too small for an aftermarket amp. It's not too hard to run the wiring though.