Premium Audio Upgrade for less than $250

I would just look at various speakers and check their reviews, you have a lot of options. I’m going with all hertz speakers for my 3rd gen + an alpine sub.

Can anyone confirm if an aftermarket head unit will really upgrade the sound quality of the stock 3rd gen head unit? My amp has a high pass filter for the speakers and a low pass filter for the sub, so that is one of the main concerns taken care of.

 

I went with the DS series 6x9 and 6.75 Kickers. The sales adviser said there wasn't much different if you hear them in person. The CS has a little bit nicer tweeter is really all they said was the difference. I really wanted Kenwood but what I was interested in wasn't in stock for weeks either. So I'll give these a go. About $150 for both pair is pretty good. I ordered the Subaru/Kicker tweeter from Amazon too.

 

These particular Kicker’s are an entry-level budget install. OEM+ is a pricey full system including amps and speakers and a sub and wiring and everything.

 

All I know about OEM+ is it costs far more than $250

 

The OEM is an actual paired component set up front like it’s supposed to be. The kickers are two totally different lines and sounds (KS series silk-done tweeter, then CS series down in the door with titanium-dome tweeters)
So if you’re between the two and willing to drop $500, get the OEM.
If you’re willing to do some work, you can go all Kicker KS series, but it won’t be plug and play like the OEM, but I bet it would sound better once you add an amp

 

From what I understand if you have JBL you have to replace EVERYTHING at once...not sure why you can't swap out speakers though if they are matched to the stock as far as wattage and ohms. My lexus had a Mark Levinson system and the speakers where higher OHM's than most car speakers and the amp was as well...no one wanted to change the speakers but many found that if you matched the ohms and wattage to the oem head unit nothing bad would happen. But you can't change beyond that.

I don't have the jbl thankfully. I went with rockford fosgate for the wattage I'm looking to end up with when I get a 4 channel. You can do a search on best speakers for what you want (sound quality, reliability, bass, etc) and you'll find 3-4 manufacturers that are repeatedly on those lists. From there decide how much you want to spend and what wattage you'll end up running and go from there. You could spend $1000 or more per speaker (yes even for a 6x9) if you're seriously into competition. I went with $159 for a pair rock/fos 6x9's and 6.75" (also got the adapters for those). The rms and max wattage match the 4 channel amp I plan to buy and these speakers sound quality is ranked good enough...I could have easily spent double that but I'm not competing just upgrading. I did the same thing with amps, I looked for the brands that are repeatedly given good ratings for quality (for me sound quality), again you'll find wide ranges of price depending on what you're actually looking for.

I went ahead and bought tweeters that were rated better than the subi upgrade...they were actually cheaper than the subi tweeters but they're rated well. Again, same kind of search, best sound quality and reliability with the wattage and ohms I want.

I've seen the "oem" system but I quickly realized that I can build my own system better and cheaper, and that's without a 4 channel amp and stock head unit...my speakers are the same "type" and "build". If you have money to drop and don't want to put thought into it I guess...but even a formed sub box can be had for cheaper...I'm not really impressed by it. I'm not saying it sounds bad, I'm sure it sounds great...but apparently it doesn't take much to improve the stock sound...but so will my custom build, possibly better....and when I get the 4 channel for the door speakers and my subwoofer installed (and I'll have 2 not 1)...there will be no comparison. That's not even with a new head unit.

 

I did a version of this upgrade back when I first got my 2020 TRD OR. My recommendation would be to look at other speakers besides the Kickers that are so popular on here. I started with the Subaru Tweets and it made definite improvement because the tweeters played the missing frequencies the factory dash speakers could not play. Yes it will sound different and probably better to most people.

I then ordered some Morel 6x9s for the doors and that was worth it as well. Yeah they are coaxial speakers, but for me the Morel tweeters are so laid back that I don't notice the tweeters fighting each other. The bass is much better with the Morels as well. I have had some expensive setups in the past and this does not compare, but if you are not going to power your speakers with an amp then it works and sounds much better than the stock speakers. You don't necessarily need to run components if you are running off head unit power, but if you go coaxial then ensure the tweeters are not bright. I would recommend silk dome tweeters or similar.

Long story short I have been happy with the basic upgrade, but I am planning to upgrade to Morel Components in the front with a solid amp to push them and a sub behind the rear seat. That was my initial plan, but went cheap. The downside is that you do have to turn to head unit up to around 40 if you have your windows open and the lack of a sub putting out better bass.

 

I'm considering morel 6x9 for front doors, Morel 6.5 in back, Subaru tweeters with kicker key amp. Then I'll decide if I really want a sub, if I do I want it to fit behind back seat on drivers side.

 

I recommend planning for the sub. Even with the upgraded speakers until you get all the components working together the sound quality isn’t that good at all.

 

I know how I am once I start down rabbit hole, I'll end up with sub, lol. Box from mr marv with JL10, I got Alpine mrd600 sitting here or I'll go with all in one self contained unit.

 

Yeah that’s how it happens but honestly you almost have to the high power door speakers just don’t deliver any low tones at all. When I was testing different setups at the shop they sounded ok on deck power but when I finished the install it sounded like trying to listen through a pillow or something. At low volume it was ok but as soon as you try to make them work it gets muffled. Personally I’m not sure why everyone loves the Subaru tweeters so much maybe it’s some kind of placebo effect

 

Questions about the Subaru kicker tweeters, mine came and there is a 4pin plug on the bottom of them. Does the wire in the dash plug directly in to that or do I need to modify it?

 

I agree that you will want a sub if you power the speakers with an amp. Mine sounds good to me the way it is right now and the Morels are sensitive and they are a paper composite so the bass is better than a lot of these other speakers. The reason the factory speakers actually put out bass is because they are paper woofers.

 

The Subaru tweeters fill in a lot of the higher frequencies you are missing with the factory dash speakers. The factory speakers are cheap mids so it will sound better just putting a tweeter in its place. Of course that is subjective to the listener, but to me it sounded much better with just that change.

The door speakers are a different matter because they are so many out there and most can not be pushed at all by the stock head unit. When someone goes with high power speakers with the fancy cones then it will struggle to sound good. I have heard plenty of aftermarket speakers that someone bought thinking they would sound better, but they sound like you are talking about so you are definitely correct. The most important thing for someone looking to just swap the speakers is to look at the sensitivity and cone material. The Morels I put in sound way better than the factory door speakers. I went with them because even Cheap Morels sound pretty good and they have a paper composite cone allowing the factory head unit to actually move them some. The bass is actually pretty good, but of course it does not come close to having a sub being pushed with a decent amount of power.

 

Since no one can provide input on keeping the stock head unit with an amp or going aftermarket, does anyone have resources to identify the specifications of the stock head unit? The user manual does not provide these specs. I'm looking for head unit audio sensitivity and any other specs to make the setup official. Thanks.

 

They should plug in to the dash plug directly. There should be a 4 pin connector attached to your factory dash speaker.

 

Awesome. I have not taken that apart on the truck yet. Tonight. Seeing that was a bit unexpected. I was thinking that it would be more like a regular speaker

 

For someone wanting an upgrade without an amp I think your setup is definitely the way to go. I’m not sure how the kickers preform off deck but I was pretty disappointed.

 

I guess that’s why I questioned the performance of the Subaru tweeters because of how much power they’re rated to handle. They are what like 150 rms or something?

 

Yeah they are rated pretty high and normally I would always say to push any speaker with that much rms power with an amp, but they are plug and play and improve the sound compared to those horrible factory dash speakers. I am sure whatever Subaru sells as their amp upgrade is probably pretty weak as well.

I think that a component set is the way to go for most people that will use an amp. To be honest I can't get over how good the cheaper Morels sound coming off the deck. That is the only reason I have not gotten a set of comps and an amp yet. That and my wife lol.

I also think there are much better speakers than the Kicker CS and DS door speakers and don't really cost that much more. I guarantee if anyone changes out the kickers they will tell a difference even without an amp. The Kicker KS are actually pretty good, but I would say they definitely need some extra power.