Audison Audio & Sony head unit.. worth the price?

I'm looking to upgrade my audio system on my 2009 access cab, right now the plan is to install a Sony xav-ax5500 head unit and audison audio front door and tweeters. I forget the specific model but they are around $350. Does anyone have experience with Audison? Worth the price?
let me know if you have other recommendations

 

Are you running an Audison or AudioControl or some other pretty high end amp as well?

If you’re plan is to replace the head unit with a Sony and thrown expensive speakers, you will be pretty disappointed

 

I didn't plan on adding an amp or at least not yet. The guy at the shop I'm going through recommended the speakers as a great entry level speaker that doesn't need an amp but sounds amazing if you do add one. I don't need any crazy sound I'm just looking for a nice quality audio upgrade.

 

He’s recommending $350 audison speakers to be powered by a sony head unit and saying you’ll like it? Let us know how it goes

 

Audisons are outstanding speakers, but you’ll need an amp pushing them. I’m running audison primas, with around 125 watts rms per channel (kicker iq1000.5).

 

Never had any luck with Sony headunits. I swear by pioneer and alpine decks. It's all preferences, but I always have pioneer decks wake up even factory speakers the best

 

Do you have a different recommendation?

 

I mean ultimately it’s all personal preference so take it all with a grain of salt.

I don’t like Sony head units. They’re extremely basic in their functionality and settings, and they seem to have far more issues than all other major brands (in my experience)

I love audison speakers. Some of the best. But they need more than the anemic 15w that any aftermarket radio is going to give them. Any aftermarket speaker needs more than that, especially good ones. It’s like putting big giant mud tires on a Mazda Miata.

 

I have used Pioneer, Sony, and Alpine. I had problems with Sony. Pioneer worked but fine and has a ton of adjustability but was too kid-racer for my tastes. I ended up with the Alpine head unit that only does Car Play and the radio and have been very happy with it. A lot of people say it is too expensive for what it is (and it might be at that) but I love it. Easy to get to car play and the radio which are the only two things I care about.

sound quality wise I run the alpine through a JL Audio DSP (professionally set) with an an alpine 5 channel amp. I think the DSP did the best for sound quality.

keeping in mind that I chose the alpine for simplicity, if I wasn’t using a DSP the Pioneer would have probably been a better choice for sound quality as it did have a ton more adjustability.

I agree with everyone else...you will want an amp for quality speakers.

Edit - May have been a kenwood deck that was too boy racer...forget with one but it was an upper end excelon.

 

+1 on Sony sucks
+1 Audison speakers are nice
+1 You’ll need an amp to get the most benefit

The nicest stereo I’ve ever owned is the one I currently have in my Tacoma. I almost went with a Pioneer, which are very popular here, and for pretty good reason, but I went with a Kenwood Excelon XR.

At one point I was experimenting with different speakers, I’d run Hertz for a very long time and was looking around for something different for no real reason and I picked up Audison components to try out. The Audison and Hertz are VERY similar but ultimately I ended up getting Mille because I felt like the Audisons lacked that 3% more balls the higher end Hertz speakers have. Otherwise they were fairly indiscernible, very good sounding speakers. They will serve you well if you go that route, but I do recommend putting them on a nice amplifier.

 

I like the clean look of the sony but it sounds like Sony isn't a popular choice here.. anyone have experience with the Pioneer DMH-C2550NEX or Kenwood Excelon DMX706S ? from a quick search online those seem to have similar features and price.

 

I still have these laying around....

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/so-cal-hertz-energy-component-and-coaxial-speakers.585802/

 

I've had three or four Sony head units, and they've all provided outstanding service. Zero problems! That's why I continued to buy them.

But I haven't had any problems with the other head units I've owned from Pioneer, Nakamichi, Blaupundt (before they sold out), Alpine...

 

Grab your favorite CD and go audition components. Put your disc in a high end head unit and compare sound between speakers. Granted the sound board isn't ideal, but it will give you an idea.

Looking for speakers? Use a high end source.
Looking for head units? Use a single set of high end speakers.

Sounds is so subjective, you'll be happier in the long run picking out something that sounds great to you vs buying what's recommended. And FYI if the salesman is recommending something, it probably has a higher commission.

Buy what you like.