1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Complete stereo system rebuild needed

Discussion in 'Electronics' started by 86GTMonkey, Jun 19, 2007.

  1. 86GTMonkey

    86GTMonkey Well-Known Member

    So, among the numerous little problems with my car, the stereo is shot to hell. The head unit is nearly toast, and the speakers are blown. The problem is, my car has the premium stereo package and therefore I need 7(!) speakers and a double DIN head unit. Anybody have recommendations on nice sounding but inexpensive speakers/head unit?

    I need:
    2 3 1/2in
    2 4in
    2 1in tweeters
    and 1 5(?)in subwoofer or something. it's under the passenger front 3 1/2in speaker.
     
  2. 89celicagt

    89celicagt Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Donated!

    Speakers:
    don't buy crap, it's a waste of you time and $. Trust me, I've done it. Boston, or infinity. Don't buy used speakers, voice coils are probably womped.

    Deck:
    You could get a less expensive deck, just look at the specs and get one with the highest signal to noise ratio you can. For example, 60db is bad, 100+dbs is good. If you want something nice, get a Alpine.
    Just a deck probably won't power all those speakers effectively so, you'll probably need to look into a amp and cap.

    -Kevin
     
  3. 89celicagt

    89celicagt Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Donated!

    Here's some links. I encluded the wiring harness that you need, and the In-Dash kit too. I think the extra tweeters are overkill, but I encluded a link anyway. I hope the links work for 'ya.

    -K

    Toyota/Daihatsu Receiver Wire Harness
    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-UJVyfYFZrB ... =120701398

    Toyota In-dash Receiver Kit
    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-UJVyfYFZrB ... i=1421457B

    Alpine CDA-9883
    CD receiver with MP3/WMA/AAC playback
    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-SMW4APD3jM ... 9883&g=300

    Infinity Reference 4012i 4" 2-ways
    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YYttdzDYsF ... I=1084012I

    Infinity Reference 1021t Tweeters
    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YYttdzDYsF ... I=1081021T

    Here's the amp/sub packages list:

    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YYttdzDYsF ... p?g=208250

    My choice would be:

    Alpine Bass Package
    MRP-M450 mono amplifier
    Two SWE-1242 12" subwoofers
    Q-Logic subwoofer box
    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YYttdzDYsF ... 700ALPPKG6

    Wiring kit:
    StreetWires PSK08Bi Amplifier Wiring Kit
    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YYttdzDYsF ... 211PSK08BI

    Capacitor:
    Tsunami Lite Wave PP912UM-CAP
    Item #120PP912U
    1.2-farad cap • 24-volt surge • digital LCD readout
    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YYttdzDYsF ... =120PP912U

    EDIT:

    I'd get a car alarm too, if I all that in my car :roll:
     
  4. Youds

    Youds Well-Known Member

    uhhh lets see here. the premium package was still only 4 speakers, 3/5s in the front and 4 inch or 5 inch in the back (i thought premium was 5' (replaceable with a bit of dremeling and 5 1/4s)) show me this sub thing your thinking im guessing your lookin at the speaker boxes that have passive radiators in them which are not actually speakers :) and for the tweeters im guessing your lookin at the ports on the back speaker boxes that are just ports but id like to see pics of what your talking about ;p.

    now the double din, you do not need a double din unit heh. just get a single din deck and u dont even need any mounting stuff as the brackets line right up and u can screw the deck/skeleton in :). toyota used a double din with a single din tape deck and single din eq so u can leave the eq in or the tape deck or just get a generic din pocket like i did. hope this helps

    if im wrong about the speaker things take some pics im curious ;p
     
  5. 86GTMonkey

    86GTMonkey Well-Known Member

    Thanks for all the input you guys. There are almost certainly tweeters in the back, I'm pretty positive. you're probably right about that weird 7th speaker thing though. I haven't gotten around to seriously poking around behind the panels and stuff. As for pictures, I'd love to get some but I am currently in Atlanta, GA until August 4th :mad: , so pictures will have to wait until then. I'd like to keep it a double DIN unit, all the same, I think they look cleaner in the dash. Also, the toyota double DIN head unit in my car is all one piece.

    89Celi, thanks for doing all that research! I'm definitely going with the infiniti speakers, and I'm actually looking at a JVC head unit. As for amps and subs, those will have to wait a while longer for cash reasons.
     
  6. 89celicagt

    89celicagt Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Donated!

    I didn't compare the frequency response data Infinity vs. Boston vs. what ever else, might be something to look at before you buy. Anything 20hz to 20khz is full range which is what you want. Anything lower that 20hz and above 20khz is even better. :D

    FWIW, Double dins are like 2x's as much unless you find a used stock deck on ebay or something. I'd settle w/ the the waaaay better brand new Alpine and sacrfice looks or whatever in a heartbeat for-sure. :wink:

    I think you'll be fine with the speaker and deck upgrade, the subs/amp/cap can wait.

    Ok, I've totally exhausted my 2 cents here. :lol:

    -Kevin
     
  7. 86GTMonkey

    86GTMonkey Well-Known Member

    They were well spent. Thanks.
     
  8. Mafix

    Mafix Owner Staff Member Administrator Donated!

    no tweeters stock at all and only the 3.5" in the front with passive subs (look like a blank surround)
     
  9. Youds

    Youds Well-Known Member

    what does this "double din" unit look like, im willing to put money that they are not attached :)

    its the tape deck with graphic eq below right?
     
  10. 86GTMonkey

    86GTMonkey Well-Known Member

    I don't have a picture of it. I am 100% certain the head unit is one piece.
     
  11. rye

    rye Well-Known Member Donated!

    All 3 of my celica's had a double din radio.
     
  12. Berg

    Berg Member

    I had an 86 Celica GT a few years back. I assume this is the car you are talking about. The rear speakers look like they have tweets in them but they are actually tuned ports for the rears. The brand speakers that came stock with the car are Fujitsu Tens (they make Eclipse). The front speakers were separates. The drivers side had one facing towards the back of the car and a woofer facing straight down. The passenger side had a one facing towards the back as well and a woofer facing down at about forty five degrees. The deck looked like a double din but it was actually two separate pieces (radio and tape deck).

    For replacements people will argue back and forth over brand names until the cows come home. The best way to pick speakers is to make a cd with the music you mostly listen to and take it to the store. Have the salesperson put the disc in a head unit and have him/her randomly switch between the speakers while you have your eyes closed. Pick the ones that sound best to you. Bear in mind that if you want better sound you are going to have to spend a little more money and possibly do some custom work to fit them in. Personally I like six inch separates in the doors. In my opinion they sound much better than anything that would fit in the stock location.

    Head unit is a little easier. Find one you like. You don't have to go double din. Pretty much any head unit will fit and mount like stock. You can take the screws that hold the stock deck in and use them to mount the new deck. I have found that this is more stable and looks better than any of the cheapo plastic mounting kits I could find. Most double din sized decks these days have a dvd/screen built in. If you don't want to do that you can put a single din in. You will be left with a hole either above or below the deck (depending which mounting holes you use). You can easily cut and bend a piece of sheet metal and mount it as a blank plate using nuts and bolts. That will give you a place to mount various things like switches, leds, or my favourite: gauges.

    If you end up choosing a higher power speaker, you will be better off using an external amp to drive them. So it might be an idea to pick a deck with not internal amp (brings the price down a bit, but they arent that popular anymore), or at least have one that you can turn the internal amp off (I know most Clarions do).

    As for brand names, if thats important to you, get the brand you like. Personally I'd rather listen to components without knowing what they are and make my choice off sound alone. I found that I like Clarion decks, Eclipse and Alpine speakers, and Kicker amps. I'm not going to say that they are better than other brands, just what I like.

    Sorry for the long post.

    Cheers,
    Berg
     
  13. 86GTMonkey

    86GTMonkey Well-Known Member

    I'll check when I get home, but I am 99.9% certain that it [headunit] is not two seperate units. Thanks for all the input. As for speakers, I'm probably going with the Infiniti Reference speakers. Head unit, I'd like it to be double din, so I can have CD, Tape, and radio, without a hole in the dash.
     
  14. Berg

    Berg Member

    Whats a tape? :wink:

    Oh and even if it isnt two separate units (it was in my 86 GT, my 86 and 87 GT-S, and my 87 MR2), all the mounting holes for the screws should be the same. I really enjoy replacing Toyota head units because the mounting brackets make it so easy to put aftermarket units in (so long as you don't lose the mounting screws).

    I'll try to get some pics of what I did to my MR2 tomorrow see if it will give you some ideas.
     
  15. Youds

    Youds Well-Known Member

    there were no woofers they are passive radiators which make the 3.5s sound larger.... thanks :)
     
  16. Berg

    Berg Member

    I stand corrected. That does explain the lack of a dust shield and why the "cone" was flat. I never kept these in the car very long anyway. Custom boxes behind the stock grills or speakers mounted in custom pods the doors were the only options for me :wink:

    Berg
     
  17. underscore

    underscore Well-Known Member

    I've torn all of this stuff out so here we go. the deck is one piece, but has the screw holes for 2 pieces if you want. double din I would do what someone on here did, steal a CD player from anewer toyota/lexus and put that in. it'll look pretty stock but work much better. the rear speakers in a hatch are 5's, can easily be made to fit 5 1/4's, which are much mroe common. the coupes have 4's back there. they all have 3.5's up front in little boxes with passive radiators, as youds said. a cap will probably be useless to you. you can probably get away without an amp too, unless you decide to run a sub. unless you listen to music crazy loud then running the speakers off just the deck in usually enough.
     
  18. Youds

    Youds Well-Known Member

    you dont amp speakers to make them loud ;p but ya you dont need to amp them if your getting entry level speakers but it does sound alot better ;p
     
  19. underscore

    underscore Well-Known Member

    oh you know what I mean :p
     
  20. schmooot

    schmooot Well-Known Member

    all this talking and nobody has really answered for sure whether this so called "premium" sounds sytem has more than 4 speakers.

    I've personally torn apart a few celi's and have only seen the 4 speakers. I can see how the stock boxes can be confusing and make it look like there are more but I highly doubt it.

    As for the deck.....I've seen many mid-late 80's toyota decks and most of them are two separate units to make up a double DIN. I have however seen a couple single piece double DIN ones...but they are rare...and very ugly IMO

    And as for leaving a hole if you put a single DIN deck in there. A dash kit will come with a plastic plate to fit in the slot.....or even a pocket (the kit might not come with a pocket but they are all over the place)


    And as far as speaker brands are concerned. I went with infinity in my car just because my budget at the time didn't allow for boston's. 4.5" in the doors and 6" in the rear tray (both sealed enclosures)
    I am very happy with the sound quality of the reference line...and I'm sure you will be too, they are nice speakers at a nice price. I haven't had the chance to compare bostons in the same setup but when I do we'll see if it changes my views
     

Share This Page