So you want to upgrade your car audio system but your budget has you wondering what you should get first if you plan to upgrade the amplifiers, subwoofers, speakers, radio and more in stages… What is the best order?
In this video I explain what car audio gear I think you should get first and last if you are upgrading in steps. We discuss head units, subwoofer and speaker amplifiers, subs, speakers, line output converters and more!
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Great information.
I own a Subaru 2018 STI and the Harmon Kardon “premium” system has been garbage since new.
I had always intended on upgrading at some point and finally I got forced to pull the trigger. Lucky for me I have a good friend I’ve known for many years who owns a mid to high end Home Theatre and car audio installation company.
After noticing one of my front speakers distorting I took it to my friend and decided to upgrade.
My stipulation was it was good high fidelity sound over SPL. The OEM head unit was glitchy so first decision was a new head unit with a bigger screen. Alpine iLX-F509A was chosen, paired with Alpine R2-S65 two way component speakers to fit in the OEM positions, rear R2 coaxial 6.5s and using the existing Harmon Kardon amp. Definitely not the way to go, sounded worse than original.
Decided to get the Alpine X-90V 5 channel amp. As I had already gone this far I had sound deadening added to the doors, awesome decision.
At this point I left the OEM sub in place and although the system is night and day in sound quality the Sub is clearly the weak point so it’s back to the workshop and I settled on an Alpine R2-W12D4 in a sealed enclosure wired in parallel for 2ohm operation in he boot. Can’t wait to hear it.
It’s been a journey for sure and a little more expensive than I planned but I have absolutely no regrets.
Idk why I physically can’t stand to put an aftermarket head unit with a screen in my car, so definitely going to go with the alternative, thanks for mentioning it
Audi A4 B6 3.0l upgrade
First thing I did was main speakers and although underpowered (I got a 4 channel amp later on) they did still surprisingly still sound way better and punchier than the stock 20w paper speakers that weighed less than a smartphone.
My radio works. No speakers work. So I gotta start with speakers