DIY stereo upgrade for under $500.00

[lawdog]

Yes, I'd also be curious your impressions with just the Pioneer sub change/running it off the stock amp.

 

[discowagon]

I want to make this same mod. Keep us posted. What amp are you going with?

I went with the Alpine MRV-M250 which was recommended by the Crutchfield rep that helped me. I ordered the Pioneer sub from Amazon as it was cheaper, but purchased the amp and install hardware from Crutchfield since it was the same price as Amazon (plus they gave me some support).

 

[discowagon]

can you tell a big difference with just the new sub you put in ?

Just finished up, definitely a huge difference. Haven't had a chance to fine tune everything with the settings on the amp or the headunit but its totally worth the upgrade. Even with the headunit EQ settings at default, there is way more bass. The biggest pain was fishing the power line for the amp from the battery through the firewall.

 

[discowagon]

Yes, I'd also be curious your impressions with just the Pioneer sub change/running it off the stock amp.

I went with an aftermarket amp (Alpine MRV-M250) but I do have the Powerbass speakers for the doors on the way to finish everything up. I believe my total amount invested for this upgrade is roughly $485.

 

[gto19]

Just finished up, definitely a huge difference. Haven't had a chance to fine tune everything with the settings on the amp or the headunit but its totally worth the upgrade. Even with the headunit EQ settings at default, there is way more bass. The biggest pain was fishing the power line for the amp from the battery through the firewall.

Thanks for the info . Are you using the existing wiring or using new wires ?just curious why you couldn’t t use the original power wire from the original amp .why did you have to run a new power wire from the battery

 

[discowagon]

Thanks for the info . Are you using the existing wiring or using new wires ?just curious why you couldn’t t use the original power wire from the original amp .why did you have to run a new power wire from the battery

I tapped the existing wiring that was going into the OEM sub for the speaker level inputs into my amp. This was my first amp install so I just referred to the multiple threads on the forums to figure it out. Every amp install I've seen from my research pulled power directly from the battery, so that's what I did. I've seen a few owners mention that there is power that can be tapped from the power outlet in the center console, but this wasn't the most optimal method.

 

[Kahuna]

....The biggest pain was fishing the power line for the amp from the battery through the firewall.

Where did you go through? Driver's side grommet?

 

[discowagon]

Where did you go through? Driver's side grommet?

I actually went through the small passenger side grommet that's hidden behind the insulation. Finding my wire hanger from the interior side was the tricky part.

I referenced this video:

 

[Nibbl3s]

Here we go

Replaced all four door speakers in my 17. Left the sender dash,tweeters, and sub alone for now

Used all off the metra gear

For those wondering. For the 6x9s pioneer changed the models around. Had to go order a different pair of 6x9s. Ended up using the TSA 6990f 5 way. These have an oversized driver and deep mounting depth. Probably the max speaker you can mount. Used tsa 6.5 for the rear.

MAN. What a difference. Distortion gone Clear loud and now there is clean bass. Total change. I did a limited dynamat (just speaker enclosure). No rattle at all

For the metra mounts go to the hardware store and get #10 by 1/2 screws. The ones they come with don’t work. If you are on the fence about this do it. 4 hours and it completely changes the system. Maybe I will get around to the sub one day but I am plenty pleased right now

Thank you to guy and smurf slayer for paving the way. I feel much better than I would dropping 6k into a depreciating asset just to get rid of the Sony. I am not an audiophile so it would be lost on me

 

[wreedsvt]

Has anyone changed out the factory B&O sub with something else and left it connected to the factory DSP/Amp? Worth the trouble? How does it sound? What did you use?