Help/Suggestions? Looking to upgrade speakers in my '03 Vibe

[th3fr4nchi5e]

Hey all!

I am a bit of a newb when it comes to car audio. When I got my Vibe a few years ago, both front speakers were blown, so I took a set of door speakers out of an old infinity to throw in there. It's gotten me by till now but I would like something better. My head unit is stock. I read that most 6.5s will fit if they are not too deep in the front and back? My backs are 5.25's I think, but is this just limited by the OEM brackets?

Anyway, I am looking for a descent quality set that is pretty well rounded. I was hoping to spend less than $100 per set. If I have to go over that I may just buy fronts for now. Does anyone have any that they are happy with in this price range? Any recommendations or suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

Dave

[Derf]

Great to see another AWD Vibe. Their are lots of posts on this site about speaker/radio upgrades search around. Try searching "front speaker" lots of questions and answers.
This is one I worked on, which pulled from a lot of other posts on this site.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=40421" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you are replacing the speakers, I would suggest you research sound dampening material for the doors. For vehicles I have owned, the Vibe has probably the least amount of sound dampening. In the Vibe you can make a cheaper set of speakers sound a lot better by spending some time adding dampening material.

[Raven]

Crutchfield is the place to order from. I installed a JVC head unit from them last weekend. Free shipping, wiring harness, antenna adapter and install kit. Front and rear speakers are the same on the Vibe. They start at $39.99 a pair. http://www.crutchfield.com/g_400/All-Ca ... tml?tp=105

[th3fr4nchi5e]

Thanks guys, I'll read around and definitely look into some added sound dampening!

[vibrologist]

If you are replacing the speakers, I would suggest you research sound dampening material for the doors. For vehicles I have owned, the Vibe has probably the least amount of sound dampening. In the Vibe you can make a cheaper set of speakers sound a lot better by spending some time adding dampening material.

So true!
I used Peel and Seal from Lowe's on the inner surfaces of the door skins and on the part that holds the window regulator.Then I reattached the moisture barrier plastic film. Then I cut carpet pad to line the inside of the door panel with cut outs for the door handle and the speaker. I have Moon & Tunes, so I did something similar in the trunk area.

You could spend a lot of money on good speakers. But you will be disappointed when all they do is make the door rattle. Spend up to $100 on sound dampening and use your current speakers or get some average speakers. That will be a better sounding system than good speakers without sound dampening.

There is a Youtube video on how to remove the door panels on a Vibe (or Matrix).

[cptnsolo77]

Yes when you purchase new speakers, do take the time to sound deaden the doors etc. I can attest to the difference myself. I purchased my Polks and installed them without soundeading at first and they sounded great but I loss bass. I was kinda disappointed cause the speakers has great reviews. When I finally did add sound deadening the speakers really came to life. I ended up with more bass than the factory speakers, the bass was much tighter, the overall sound was MUCH better & the car was quieter on the road. This was all done before I bought a new HU. Now it sounds amazing Its not a high powered system like some others have but im talking about sound quality not volume. I can actually hear notes I didnt hear before

[KingTen91]

NOTE*** there are different types of sound deadener..
MLV.. or mass loaded vinyl is the only one I really know any thing about, which apparently is used to weigh down the metal so to make it more difficult for the sound waves to vibrate it.
If you are hearing vibrations then this is something you possibly should consider,.. However, in my experience vibrations was not the issue, air resonance was.

I recently upgraded my front speakers from stock to Polk dxi 6501 components. I ALSO had sound deadener put in both doors. I noticed while driving when the music was off I could hear a lot of the air resonance flowing around my car so I thought this would help. I tried researching it to see about how difficult it would be to do myself but I'm still really new to the subject so I let a local shop do it and they said since they were already there they'd go ahead and install the speakers for $10, which the $10 was worth it to save my time later.

After it was completed I tapped the doors and yes I noticed a difference between the front and back doors. But once I started driving down the road I still heard the same air resonance. I noticed it was mentioned the sound deadener should resist the vibrations from the bass in the speakers, however I keep the bass turned down in my door speakers and have two subs in the hatch area.

So really, don't expect MLV to fix whatever issue you have just because it's an ambient noise coming from the direction of your doors. If you use your speakers as normal with bass then of course you might notice a difference, especially if you install speakers first and THEN apply deadener, but in my situation I did at the same time and couldn't really tell what credit was due to the speakers and what was due to the deadener.
But if you aren't having issues with vibrations, then I don't really see a huge need for mlv.