Upgrading my sound system and looking for advice!!!

[Bruiser350]

Hey everyone....so I recently purchased and 2015 sonic hatchback ltz, 1.4 turbo, with the my link radio. It does have reverse camera so I plan on keeping the factory radio for this install. The sound system is beyond horrid in this car past volume 30ish. No blown speakers but they just sound like crap when playing music loudly through Bluetooth or the radio.

I've done upgrades to sound systems in all my vehicles but this one I want to do an all around upgrade that will last a long time without any upgrades needed. I'd like to keep it as cheap as possible but at the same time don't want to go too cheap.

I'm a pioneer fan boy so I'm plannning on using all pioneer equipment. Here is a link to my wish list on Amazon with the speakers and amp I'm thinking about using. There are two separate pairs on 6.5 inch speakers as I wasn't sure which to go with for the rears. Going to do components in the front and utilize the factory tweeter location for those.

Hi. Check out this list: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/VSJAW7CCT3RR

I plan on building a box to utilize the spare tire location. I am not worried about not having a spare tire, but any ideas you guys have that would enable me to keep the spare tire would be appreciated.

I know I will need brackets for the speakers and wire for the amp so none of that is included on the list.

I've read through a lot of posts on here regarding audio equipment and using the drivers side wires for the inputs but want to know if I should use a line out converter for speakers and sub? Will my sound quality suffer if I use a LOC for just the sub and the high level input for the speakers? I'm okay with buying a 6 channel LOC if it means I'll be getting much better sound quality.

Any suggestions regarding equipment and install would be greatly appreciated.

 

[carsNskis]

If you're set on pioneer they have a shallow 10 or 12 that you can incorporate. I ran a jl audio prefab shallow 12, alpine 500w mono and that's it. Rca tap in the foot well, ran power, easy peasy ;o] http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20361

The rs 6 speaker is decent enough for me for now but an amp upgrade will come, then when I blow up the stock speakers I'll upgrade them. Some sound deadening helps in the hatch too.

[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]

 

[Bruiser350]

I saw your thread a week ago and I absolutely loved what you did. It's so clean and the creativity you used to make it a very temporary yet permanent system is amazing.

I'm not sure if I'm going to go to the extent that you did but it's def a possibility.

After talking with the wife last night she is very much against me spending the money on the sound system at this moment. So I may just use the 12" pioneer sub, box and amp I currently have for the time being. The box is huge tho so it will take pretty much the entire hatch .

I have a cheap scosche LOC but I think I'm going to spend the money now on the LC2i LOC. It will give me the added bass and rca outputs I'm looking for until I have the money to drop on a new amp and speakers.

How do you like the shallow sub? I've heard they are great but for some people they just don't scratch the itch of what a normal sub sounds like.

Thanks again for your input and I may hit you up when the time comes to do the full on custom build in the hatch.

 

[Hectic]

If you're set on Pioneer, may I recommend the TS-D coaxials. I had a set in my 12 sonic that ran off an aftermarket headunit, they were incredible. I imagine they would be even better off of a proper amp.

 

[carsNskis]

I saw your thread a week ago and I absolutely loved what you did. It's so clean and the creativity you used to make it a very temporary yet permanent system is amazing.

I'm not sure if I'm going to go to the extent that you did but it's def a possibility.

After talking with the wife last night she is very much against me spending the money on the sound system at this moment. So I may just use the 12" pioneer sub, box and amp I currently have for the time being. The box is huge tho so it will take pretty much the entire hatch .

I have a cheap scosche LOC but I think I'm going to spend the money now on the LC2i LOC. It will give me the added bass and rca outputs I'm looking for until I have the money to drop on a new amp and speakers.

How do you like the shallow sub? I've heard they are great but for some people they just don't scratch the itch of what a normal sub sounds like.

Thanks again for your input and I may hit you up when the time comes to do the full on custom build in the hatch.

I'm VERY happy with the shallow set up, and glad I went 12. Down vs up firing seems to have little effect, but it totally bumps. Personally I'd rather have a 15 for more boom but being 41 I'm ok with the 12 ;o]

[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]

 

[TurtleOverlord]

I got a pair of Polk Audio DB652 for the rears, and DB6502 for the front.

The fronts are great, but I wish I got components for the rear too.

They have trouble with the low end, making a horrible buzzing noise with too much bass.

 

[diazmjd]

I don't know what all is out there and the success stories but the Audio Control LOC LC7i worked wonders for me. Gives me an extra handle on input levels and gains. It was about $100 new. Good luck!

 

[Bruiser350]

I got a pair of Polk Audio DB652 for the rears, and DB6502 for the front.

The fronts are great, but I wish I got components for the rear too.

They have trouble with the low end, making a horrible buzzing noise with too much bass.

that is really good to know, because i was thinking of doing components in the front and coax in the rear so now i think i will just do components all around.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bruiser350]

I don't know what all is out there and the success stories but the Audio Control LOC LC7i worked wonders for me. Gives me an extra handle on input levels and gains. It was about $100 new. Good luck!

I'm thinking of going with the lc71 instead of the lc2i just for the extra inputs and adjustability.

thanks for sharing.

 

[Stu Pidaso]

I would not bother with the speaker adaptors. They are pretty flimsy. I just hacked the factory ones.