Rear Speakers

[AndrewGS]

Yup I have cruise control and all the things you mentioned but no rear speakers. Like did someone sleep on the job when the car was built and screwed me out of speakers lol. I'm going to talk to my dealership on Monday and get this straightened out

Standard system seems to have 4 speakers, 2 in the a-pillars (at the windshield) and 2 speakers, 1 each, in the front doors. Rear is empty.
This is what I have and also no fader control in the stereo HU, cuz nothing to fade!
I've got the steering wheel controls.
I guess it's o.k. because at least we can use that space for a speaker of our own choice, except we have to run the wires.
I'm learning to live with the sound, but would love to amp it up a bit with a dsp (digital sound processor?). And better speaker units.

Are you guys from Canadia?

 

[wingman]

You Didn't interpret Chevy 100% right.

Like I said before, playing with the fade and bass/treble/mid you actually get a pretty damn good sound, you have to do that on any system.

It also sounds better when turned up.

Its not license plate rattling and the whole street knows your presence bass but good clear sound overall. Also depending on the song too. Adding a woofer to the system would complement it nicely if you want that heavy bass, but once again that's with almost any vehicle on the market.

Based on moving the Balance/Fade around and playing around with the equalizer I can confirm the rears are bass/mid-bass, the fronts appear to function like any other 6.5/2.X component system. Simply put, 6.5 speakers are generally not capable of the lows of a 8-10+ inch sub.

This is an apples to oranges comparison.....lol

So if you want more thumb, turn the mid, treble down, send the sound fade to the rear, and turn it up and you'll be surprised at the bass. Also if you have an ipod but the bass boost on. Once again, find that happy medium of adjust but basically they way an equalizer works is take out/down what you to much of and bring up what you want more off. Try bass all the way, treble couple clicks up, mid couple down, slight fade to the rear, sound up. Usually a pretty good balance for general listening.

I havent checked myself nor do I remember rear speaker size...are they 5-1/4's??? I only ask cause thats how my colorado was with components up front that sounded like crap. I will try your suggestion later this afternoon.

 

[laborsmith]

According to the Canadian Sonic Brochure,their Sonic has audio controls on the steering wheel for all models and the four speakers standard for both LS and LT so it appears AndrewGS that you figured it out.

Laborsmith

 

[Casper]

Yes, I am Andrew. In Canada. It's kind of intriguing the differences isn't it?
Still liking my 17's as part of the fogs/sunroof LT "appearance package".
I do like your polished wheels though!
You guys wouldn't like the prices we pay for our Sonics up here.

 

[miamisonic]

My only disappointment with my Sonic is the speakers. I have the LT hatchback, with connectivity package (6 spkrs). Overall the whole system distorts the bass way too easily. The rear speakers are the worst. When the fade is centered, I can't really hear them at all. When I move the fade to r5 or r6 it's ok, but the volume level goes down, and the rear 2 distort more easily that the front 4 speakers. I am anxious to do something to improve this, but I'm not a car diy kinda guy and I'm scared that any major retail store with car audio installers will mess something up since this car is new to them ("whichhh model??"). At first I thought it was just my particular car with lemon speakers or stereo installation, but thanks to this forum I can see it's not just me.
I hope the nice Chevrolet lady I see responding on here can ask her people to improve the speakers or amp or something to get better sound our of this car. This is a car marketed for a younger crowd so like hellllo get the sound together at least for future buyers (for a car called "sonic" the speakers are ironic).
I rented a Cruze in San Diego and was pleased with the overall sound and boom boom...why should the Cruze have better speakers than the Sonic?? (maybe I'm wrong but at least it seemed to me they sounded much better).

 

[oldertech]

My only disappointment with my Sonic is the speakers. I have the LT hatchback, with connectivity package (6 spkrs). Overall the whole system distorts the bass way too easily. The rear speakers are the worst. When the fade is centered, I can't really hear them at all. When I move the fade to r5 or r6 it's ok, but the volume level goes down, and the rear 2 distort more easily that the front 4 speakers. I am anxious to do something to improve this, but I'm not a car diy kinda guy and I'm scared that any major retail store with car audio installers will mess something up since this car is new to them ("whichhh model??"). At first I thought it was just my particular car with lemon speakers or stereo installation, but thanks to this forum I can see it's not just me.
I hope the nice Chevrolet lady I see responding on here can ask her people to improve the speakers or amp or something to get better sound our of this car. This is a car marketed for a younger crowd so like hellllo get the sound together at least for future buyers (for a car called "sonic" the speakers are ironic).
I rented a Cruze in San Diego and was pleased with the overall sound and boom boom...why should the Cruze have better speakers than the Sonic?? (maybe I'm wrong but at least it seemed to me they sounded much better).

Totally agree with your observations.

One thing is the Cruze had a nice trunk to resonate the sounds back into. Hatches are always lacking in that unless you do some serious additions, in my experience.

I'm waiting for a simple solution to better sound. I love the radio but I've found myself driving on the highway with the volume maxed out and feeling like I want more sound. I've never experienced that in any car. Just no "reserve."

 

[omniman]

they should have put an amp and sub like the HHR has in it.

 

[Watchdoc]

It would appear the factory head unit has built in cross overs that limit the signal going to the rear speakers.

IMO, people should just upgrade their front speakers to a better sounding and more efficient speaker and add a small powered subwoofer.

 

[oldertech]

It would appear the factory head unit has built in cross overs that limit the signal going to the rear speakers.

IMO, people should just upgrade their front speakers to a better sounding and more efficient speaker and add a small powered subwoofer.

And limit them, they do. Any suggestions as to what speakers to look at? Has anyone already done this?

 

[Watchdoc]

I have always liked Polk's db series for head unit powered efficiency. They sound good and have a 92db sensitivity rating so it doesn't take alot of power to drive them. Boston Acoustics and Infinity both have similar offerings but the good ole Polk db651 is tough to beat. That being said, I plan to try Polk's new ultrasensitive MM651 that features are 2.7ohm impedence voice coil to safely pull more power from factory stereo. This should improve sound quality and provide more volume that many people have complained about.

 

[Sonic Boomer]

I have always liked Polk's db series for head unit powered efficiency. They sound good and have a 92db sensitivity rating so it doesn't take alot of power to drive them. Boston Acoustics and Infinity both have similar offerings but the good ole Polk db651 is tough to beat.

I don't know how soon I'll get to it (still waiting on car and it won't be a big priority after I do), but this is my plan (I'll skip the sub for now). I believe WalMart sells some Infinity speakers with a rating of 92dB. I would want something that I could buy and return locally to make sure the improved sensitivity would make the difference. Infinity also makes a 95dB premium speaker, but I can not find it locally.
I'm not especially a fan of Infinity, but they do lots of research and I think they have the integrity to provide accurate specifications. I would put Polk in the same category and if they are local with a decent return policy, I'd be as comfortable buying Polks.
I would worry that the Sensitivity specification advertized by some no-name brand might be total BS!

 

[Sonic Boomer]

After doing more research, I decided to try the more expensive Infinity Kappa line. In the past, I have disliked Infinity because their tweeters can be abrasive (too bright), however between being mounted to fire into my leg, having a 3dB attenuation switch built-in, and the pivot feature, I am betting I can tune them. The main reasons I chose the Kappas over others were the high efficiency (95dB) and the bass output is supposed to be very good (I do not plan on a sub).

Amazon.com: Infinity 629I 225W (Peak) Two-Way Spakers (Pair)- 6-1/5 x 6-3/4 -Inch: Car Electronics

For now, I plan to set this up with the fader completely disabling the rear speakers and see what I have with just the new speakers in simple stereo with the factory head unit's amplification.

The speakers cost $77 and if this works out, it will offer about as simple a solution as there is. I'll will let you know how it works out (but please don't hold your breath).

 

[Watchdoc]

Please take some pics. I'm interested to see the front door speaker mount.

 

[doreo]

here u go

 

[doreo]

i am going threw the audio system so if u have any pic requests let me know and ill get them

 

[sonicR]

Im trying a bazooka bass canon with built in amp. The canon looks nice and is strapped in for easy disconnect

 

[sonicR]

I think the 6 speakers setup are the 2 tweeters in the front pillars the 2 front door speakers and the 2 rear door speakers they aren't that bad but definitely needs upgrading

 

[Sonic Boomer]

i am going threw the audio system so if u have any pic requests let me know and ill get them

I won't get to mine for a while, but when some time frees up I want to be prepared.
Any tricks for removing the front door panel?
The only obvious screw I see is at the grab handle. Any others?
Is it all clips and wire disconnects after that?

 

[doreo]

I won't get to mine for a while, but when some time frees up I want to be prepared.
Any tricks for removing the front door panel?
The only obvious screw I see is at the grab handle. Any others?
Is it all clips and wire disconnects after that?

yup, 2 screws, remove the plastic part by mirrors, grab bottom pull done.

as far as 6 speakers thats what i can find, and the only ones in need of upgrade are rears imo due to i prefer full range or w/e they are called over mid/low speakers.

 

[Sonic Boomer]

yup, 2 screws, remove the plastic part by mirrors, grab bottom pull done.

I see the screw at the grab handle. Where is the other?

as far as 6 speakers thats what i can find, and the only ones in need of upgrade are rears imo due to i prefer full range or w/e they are called over mid/low speakers

I thought I read that the signal to the rear had a low pass filter applied, so you would not get full range even if you installed a full range speaker (treble is removed from the signal). Can someone confirm?