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Time for an audio upgrade, looking for info / advice
Topic Started: Jul 21 2015, 11:42 PM (1,590 Views)
Bannedfonz
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As the title says, it's time to look into an audio upgrade. Nothing major, just head unit and speakers. No subs and such as of now. Preferably inexpensive :) I've been reading through the forum and have a few questions.

So here's where I'm at right now. 1992 Xfi. stock radio and I know there are 4" in the dash (by my knees) and I have 4" in the rear hatch (something rare from what I've seen). No speakers in the side panels. The hatch speakers have a black grill on them (square and looks factory) and I have the grey interior so not sure if they are factory or not, also the hatch speakers are 10 ohm and the front are 4 ohm. Kind of odd but by the looks they are factory speakers.

I plan on staying with 4" in the dash due to size, unless 5.25 fit without too much modification. If the wire is there,6.5" in the side panels (these can be sacrificed to stay in budget). Then either 6.5" or 5.25" in the hatch, again depends on fitment. I think I read that 6.5" will fit but just want to hear it from people that have done it. All will likely be 2 way speakers, with the highest sensitivity I can get by with on the cheap. As for the head unit. Don't really need a CD player if it has a SD card or USB slot. I don't need Iphone/Ipod/Android interface stuff either.

Things I would like to know... Is there wiring in my side panels from stock, even if the speakers aren't there? Do 5.25" fit easily in the dash of a 1992? Any experience with cheaper brands like Boss or sound ordnance? Mythstae, how do you like those Pyle speakers you picked up? Better front speakers and ok rear speakers or the other way around? Right now I have the sound shifted to the front more but I'm sure that is from the 10 ohm rear and 4 ohm front speakers.

Again, looking for inexpensive (would like to stay under $200 but not really cheap quality :shit ). Let me know what you guys think. Maybe something like this.

Thanks
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Bannedfonz
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Found this Boss receiver and 6.5" speaker pair for $55 shipped with the install kit and wire harness... I know the speakers aren't that great, but they would be better than the stock ones...
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KWilks
Fresh Fish
[ * ]
I'm also looking into this for my 91 Hatchback. I just know that my speakers are spotty and the ones in the side panels in the back don't work ever. I definitely need to replace them :'( Anyways, in just gonna follow this and ask for advice too :D
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Mythstae
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Bannedfonz
Jul 21 2015, 11:42 PM
Mythstae, how do you like those Pyle speakers you picked up? Better front speakers and ok rear speakers or the other way around? Right now I have the sound shifted to the front more but I'm sure that is from the 10 ohm rear and 4 ohm front speakers.
How did I miss this thread this whole time? D'oh! :smackface
The speakers are... fine. They're not amazing, but they are definitely better than stock, and they don't cost a lot of money.
If you have no speakers at all? It's completely a no-brainer!
Bannedfonz
Jul 21 2015, 11:42 PM
As the title says, it's time to look into an audio upgrade. Nothing major, just head unit and speakers. No subs and such as of now. Preferably inexpensive :) I've been reading through the forum and have a few questions.

So here's where I'm at right now. 1992 Xfi. stock radio and I know there are 4" in the dash (by my knees) and I have 4" in the rear hatch (something rare from what I've seen). No speakers in the side panels. The hatch speakers have a black grill on them (square and looks factory) and I have the grey interior so not sure if they are factory or not, also the hatch speakers are 10 ohm and the front are 4 ohm. Kind of odd but by the looks they are factory speakers.

I plan on staying with 4" in the dash due to size, unless 5.25 fit without too much modification. If the wire is there,6.5" in the side panels (these can be sacrificed to stay in budget). Then either 6.5" or 5.25" in the hatch, again depends on fitment. I think I read that 6.5" will fit but just want to hear it from people that have done it. All will likely be 2 way speakers, with the highest sensitivity I can get by with on the cheap. As for the head unit. Don't really need a CD player if it has a SD card or USB slot. I don't need Iphone/Ipod/Android interface stuff either.

Things I would like to know... Is there wiring in my side panels from stock, even if the speakers aren't there? Do 5.25" fit easily in the dash of a 1992? Any experience with cheaper brands like Boss or sound ordnance?

Ok, let's poke through the details on this for a minute.
Metros from 1989-1994 used 4" speakers as the stock size.
1989-1991 Metros had the speakers in the dash, pointing up at the windshield.
I do not know if there is a stock location for rear speakers; aside from the 4"x6" that were an optional extra in the parcel shelf side mounts.
1992-1994 Metros had the speakers, as you say, in the dash, near your knee, pointing downward. 4" speakers, as well.
There was, optionally, a mount for 4" speakers in the rear, as well as the same optional extra of 4"x6" speakers in the parcel shelf side mounts.
Wiring for the dash speakers should be there whether you had the speakers or not. The rears, I think the "back seat" location speakers should have wiring... the parcel shelf ones, maybe not.

I've seen those black grills in the hatch on a lot of junkyard cars.
I don't know if those speakers were "factory", they could have been a common dealer add-on. :dunno

Don't forget about the aftermarket speaker adapter for 1992-1994 Metros; lets you install 6.5" speakers under the side panels in the back seat area.
Details (including pictures!) available in my Helpful Stereo Links thread in my signature.
It's possible that this would work on a 1989-1991 Metro, but I do not know!

So ask questions for clarification on anything I might have missed... :)
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dayle1960
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Fastest Hampster EVER

I'm interested in upgrading my head unit. I looked on Amazon and there are lots of quality stereos (I think). Here is one that I saw. http://www.amazon.com/Soundstream-VCD-32B-Double-DIN-Bluetooth-Stereo/dp/B00LXCWK6Q/ref=sr_1_85?ie=UTF8&qid=1460241415&sr=8-85&keywords=in+dash+car+stereo

Will that fit into a '96 dash where the old head unit comes out of?

Anybody have ideas of a good head unit? I'm looking for one with AM/FM, Bluetooth, usb, CD and maybe have an EQ built into it. All for around $100.
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Mythstae
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Will it fit? Yes.
Is it good? Maybe. Never heard of that brand before.
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rbell2915
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Fiero
[ *  *  * ]
I have a Scosche SCDBTA60 head unit, and it was about $100. I absolutely love it in my Saturn. It has Bluetooth, USB, SD Card, Aux Input, CD player, and AM/FM capabilities. It also has a few preset equalizers, or you can control the bass and treble individually. You can also use it to make hands-free calls with your phone too.
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z34-5speed
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Formerly "Tech Certified"

I'd stay far away from the Pyles. Not even worth the money in my opinion. They're pretty terrible.

You're not going to be able to fit anything larger than 4" speakers in the front of a 92. I'd leave the rear speakers alone if they aren't blown. Shouldn't really hear much from them anyways.

These are, by far and away, the best "bang for your buck" 4" speakers available (actually in any size they are excellent).

Sonicelectronix Link

Head unit is more personal preference these days.
Edited by Metromightymouse, Apr 10 2016, 06:06 PM.
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Bannedfonz
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Thats no problem Mythstae, there are a lot of posts on this forum and it's hard to keep track of them all... Thank you for all the information as well.

So after a little digging into my Metro, I found that the rear (back seat) location does not have wiring for speakers. However, there is another speaker plug in the rear corners, back by the tail lights, taped to the rest of the harness. They are not plugged into anything and not near long enough to reach the back seat mounting location. Not sure why they are there and why they are not in the back seat panels like they should be.

For those interested, here is what I found. I picked up 2 sets of Cerwin Vega 2-way 4" speakers for the stock dash location (by my knees) and rear hatch location. I'm currently only using one set in the dash though. The stock speakers sound better in the hatch than the Vega's did. I had a problem with the Vega's wire terminals touching the mounting hole when installed in the hatch causing them to short out and blew the tweeter. Also, the Vega's are a little taller then the stock grill allows so I shaved a little from the inside ribs of the grill to make room of the tweeter.
To help out with the bass, I picked up a Soundstream PN1.450D amp and Infinity Reference 1060W sub. The sub is in a sealed box (.75 cu ft) (which I still need to paint or carpet or do something to) in the spare tire well (no I do not have a spare tire now, AAA takes care of that) along with the amp. I built a false floor, cut a hole in it, and used some expanded steel for a grill. Then I used some felt I found at a fabric store to cover the whole floor. It's lighter in color than the stock light grey color, but I can lay the original hatch carpet over it and you can't tell it's there at all. The floor is raised about 3" above stock height but I can sit anything I want to in the hatch and not worry about the sub getting in the way or damaged.
The only thing I would do differently is I would have gotten the 2 ohm sub to be able to pull full power from the amp. The 1060W is a 4 ohm sub and the amp only pushes 250w to the sub in 4 ohm. It is still enough to pound though... For any of you worried about weight (not me!). The addition of box, sub, and amp; minus the spare tire, jack, and tool added about 5 pounds to the car. That doesn't account for the false floor.
As for the head unit, I still have my cheap Boss "mechless" unit I picked up for $40. That will get upgraded at some point to but it works for right now. The unit itself isn't bad at all, I did have to make it fit though. Had to make a few new holes in the unit to fit the stock mounts. Nothing a small drill bit can't fix! There are a few things (being cheap) that it lacks. The clock doesn't stay on all the time, you have to click it on every time you want to see it. Obviously doesn't dim the annoying bright blue LED buttons. The rotary volume knob is in accurate, sometimes doesn't even go the right direction, as in you turn it up and it might go down a few clicks first... Thats what cheap gets you though. It does have the front side usb, sd card slot and aux jack. Thats why I picked it up. I keep my mini thumb drive plugged in and have all my music right there.
So for a total of under $300, I have my system installed and rockin' on down the road! :rocker

Thanks for the bump KWilks! If you need any more info, there are plenty of people here that can help. I have left out the minor details but the majority of it is here. I did have the entire interior out to run my wires and did some sound deadening while i was at it.
Edited by Bannedfonz, Apr 11 2016, 11:58 PM.
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mt999999
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Self-Declared "Genious"

Mythstae
Apr 9 2016, 04:48 PM
Bannedfonz
Jul 21 2015, 11:42 PM
Mythstae, how do you like those Pyle speakers you picked up? Better front speakers and ok rear speakers or the other way around? Right now I have the sound shifted to the front more but I'm sure that is from the 10 ohm rear and 4 ohm front speakers.
How did I miss this thread this whole time? D'oh! :smackface
The speakers are... fine. They're not amazing, but they are definitely better than stock, and they don't cost a lot of money.
If you have no speakers at all? It's completely a no-brainer!
Bannedfonz
Jul 21 2015, 11:42 PM
As the title says, it's time to look into an audio upgrade. Nothing major, just head unit and speakers. No subs and such as of now. Preferably inexpensive :) I've been reading through the forum and have a few questions.

So here's where I'm at right now. 1992 Xfi. stock radio and I know there are 4" in the dash (by my knees) and I have 4" in the rear hatch (something rare from what I've seen). No speakers in the side panels. The hatch speakers have a black grill on them (square and looks factory) and I have the grey interior so not sure if they are factory or not, also the hatch speakers are 10 ohm and the front are 4 ohm. Kind of odd but by the looks they are factory speakers.

I plan on staying with 4" in the dash due to size, unless 5.25 fit without too much modification. If the wire is there,6.5" in the side panels (these can be sacrificed to stay in budget). Then either 6.5" or 5.25" in the hatch, again depends on fitment. I think I read that 6.5" will fit but just want to hear it from people that have done it. All will likely be 2 way speakers, with the highest sensitivity I can get by with on the cheap. As for the head unit. Don't really need a CD player if it has a SD card or USB slot. I don't need Iphone/Ipod/Android interface stuff either.

Things I would like to know... Is there wiring in my side panels from stock, even if the speakers aren't there? Do 5.25" fit easily in the dash of a 1992? Any experience with cheaper brands like Boss or sound ordnance?

Ok, let's poke through the details on this for a minute.
Metros from 1989-1994 used 4" speakers as the stock size.
1989-1991 Metros had the speakers in the dash, pointing up at the windshield.
I do not know if there is a stock location for rear speakers; aside from the 4"x6" that were an optional extra in the parcel shelf side mounts.
1992-1994 Metros had the speakers, as you say, in the dash, near your knee, pointing downward. 4" speakers, as well.
There was, optionally, a mount for 4" speakers in the rear, as well as the same optional extra of 4"x6" speakers in the parcel shelf side mounts.
Wiring for the dash speakers should be there whether you had the speakers or not. The rears, I think the "back seat" location speakers should have wiring... the parcel shelf ones, maybe not.

I've seen those black grills in the hatch on a lot of junkyard cars.
I don't know if those speakers were "factory", they could have been a common dealer add-on. :dunno

Don't forget about the aftermarket speaker adapter for 1992-1994 Metros; lets you install 6.5" speakers under the side panels in the back seat area.
Details (including pictures!) available in my Helpful Stereo Links thread in my signature.
It's possible that this would work on a 1989-1991 Metro, but I do not know!

So ask questions for clarification on anything I might have missed... :)
I grabbed a set of those black plastic hatch speaker grilles if anyone is interested, I'd send them cheap! My XFi doesn't have hatch speaker wiring, and I wasn't about ready to mess with running wires to it.
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