New car needs new ICE!

[Sam21]

I just got an 05 Authentique 3DR for my 19th birthday on Saturday and it came with an awful tape player and front speakers + dash tweeters only, no rear speakers.

This is my first car so I've really no idea what I need to look for. So here's my questions to you guys.

• I want a new head unit but are they all the same size? I.e. will it fit in the gap of the tape recorder without leaving a gaping hole or not fit in at all? Anyone recommend one?
• I've read on these forums that the speakers are 13cm, can anyone recommend any?
• The speaker grill is in the rear of the car but is just empty behind it, is it just a case of buying another 2 13cm speakers for the rear also or is there something else I need to know as I'm not replacing any already fitted.
• Is it easy enough for someone like myself who has never played around with cars/electronics to fit myself or will I need to pay to have it fitted?

Cheers guys.

 

[Marcus---]

I just got an 05 Authentique 3DR for my 19th birthday on Saturday and it came with an awful tape player and front speakers + dash tweeters only, no rear speakers.

This is my first car so I've really no idea what I need to look for. So here's my questions to you guys.

• I want a new head unit but are they all the same size? I.e. will it fit in the gap of the tape recorder without leaving a gaping hole or not fit in at all? Anyone recommend one?
• I've read on these forums that the speakers are 13cm, can anyone recommend any?
• The speaker grill is in the rear of the car but is just empty behind it, is it just a case of buying another 2 13cm speakers for the rear also or is there something else I need to know as I'm not replacing any already fitted.
• Is it easy enough for someone like myself who has never played around with cars/electronics to fit myself or will I need to pay to have it fitted?

Cheers guys.

As a novice when i first started out as well i had no clue, kinda worked it out as i went along, A new head unit should fit in exactly, no gaps(recommend an ipod JVC £129.99 which is pretty good)

Front speakers are 5 1/4 " i think, front door covers pop off very easily, take the old ones out, but then on most new speakers u buy it wont come with the plug in bit that is on the old ones (You'll understand when u take them out!) then just have to cut the wires before the plug in bit (Have no clue what these are called) and get a wirestripper, link the newly cut wires with the new speakers, test the wires are the right way round by turning the stereo on first, could be a schoolboy error if u put it all in and u find uve put them the wrong way round, then screw in and your away. (Alpine door speakers are pretty good if u dont want to spend alot, £30 and are actually really good!)

Good Luck

 

[Sam21]

Ahh I see you've got the Authentique as well. Looking around these forums I wish I had got one of the others as this model seems particularly basic but as my first car + it's a birthday present I'm not complaining!

As for the head unit was this the one? JVC KD-G421 MP3 CD Tuner with KS-PD100 iPod Interface.
It seems pretty reasonable and is in the price range I was after. I'm glad you've cleared up my worries about the dimensions.

You made the speaker installation sound really easy so I guess I'll give it a go myself once I've bought them.

As for the rear speakers I'm guessing there wont be a cable there for me to connect the new speakers too due to the fact there were no old ones there. Is there any way to go about installing rear speakers if this is the case? Would I buy the same speakers for the rear as I bought for the front also?

Thanks again, sorry for being so clueless!

 

[N!CK R]

I have just finished putting in a new head unit and all the door speakers.
It was the first time i have ever done anything like this so i was a bit apprehensive but i have finally got it all sorted now.
I went for an Alpine 9855r head unit (£260) ipod adaptor unit (£60) steeering wheel control adaptors (£35) Alpine type r components up front (£109) and alpine type r coaxials in the rear (£75)

Putting in the head unit was a piece of cake, fitting the steering wheel controls was slightly harder although still fairly easy. Fitting the ipod adaptor was harder as its such a big unit (had to take off my dash to find a place for it).
Rear speakers were relatively easy to replace, as said earlier just some cutting of wire and attaching to new speakers.
Front speakers were the hardest thing of all. Especially if you are after a set of components. Mounting the crossover box and cutting wires etc... doesnt sound too complicated but i had a bit of a tough time doing it!

Oh well, its all done now and it was definately worth it.

 

[Sam21]

Aight cheers, how about sticking in rear speakers without being able to use the cable from any old speakers though?

 

[Timmsy]

if there are no wires going to the rear speaks in the frst place, its just a case of using the wire provided with the speakers and routing them to the front of the car.

just need to find out if there are any cable coming from iso unit to connect them to

 

[Hazza]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=230959

 

[cgap]

Forget putting in rear speakers till you've replaced the front ones and the head unit.

With a decent set in the front you might not even need any in the back

 

[Sam21]

if there are no wires going to the rear speaks in the frst place, its just a case of using the wire provided with the speakers and routing them to the front of the car.

just need to find out if there are any cable coming from iso unit to connect them to

Thanks mate was useful!

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=230959

Looks nice but gonna focus on getting the head-unit and speakers in place before worrying about subs and amps.

Forget putting in rear speakers till you've replaced the front ones and the head unit.

With a decent set in the front you might not even need any in the back

Never really thought about this but wouldn't it sound a bit 2-dimmensional? Granted the speakers in it now are crap but having been used to rear speakers in my parents cars it sounds strange not to have any noise from behind. Will follow your advice though and get the head-unit and front speakers in place, then act from there.

Thanks for all the help everyone, paid for the club membership so I guess I'll stick around here ^^

 

[Marcus---]

Trust me, good speakers in the front counters out the back, it is only a small car at the end of the day!

 

[cgap]

I'm no expert on ICE but from what I've picked up on these boards the fronts are definitely more important than the rears.

Spend as much as you can comfortably afford on the front, go for component speakers rather than co-axials.

[Components = seperate woofer and tweeter, Co-axials = woofer and tweeter combined in one unit]

If you do feel like you need some sound from the rear just get some cheap and cheerful co-axials.

Good luck and have fun

 

[Sam21]

Trust me, good speakers in the front counters out the back, it is only a small car at the end of the day!

Right-o!

I'm no expert on ICE but from what I've picked up on these boards the fronts are definitely more important than the rears.

Spend as much as you can comfortably afford on the front, go for component speakers rather than co-axials.

[Components = seperate woofer and tweeter, Co-axials = woofer and tweeter combined in one unit]

If you do feel like you need some sound from the rear just get some cheap and cheerful co-axials.

Good luck and have fun

Ahh I was wondering what the difference was between the two. If I had components I'm guessing I would just use the factory dash tweeters? Does this make it compulsory that I get a sub if I want any bass at all or will there still be some there? I'm planning on getting subs/amps eventually just not right now due to finanancial reasons more than anything.

Ta again

EDIT: Just need something clearing up, I'm looking at www.caraudiosecurity.com atm and I'm not sure if the prices for the speakers are for pairs or single. Someone clear this up please? Also I've noticed alot of them come with tweeters, do I have to use these or do I just leave these off?

 

[Marcus---]

pairs. can use tweeters altho have 2 take out entire dash, ive gt coaxials in my doors, these have inbuilt tweeters i think?

 

[kiza1986]

Get components, not coaxials!! A lot of people go for rainbows as they're very good

 

[MrMark]

I just got an 05 Authentique 3DR for my 19th birthday on Saturday and it came with an awful tape player and front speakers + dash tweeters only, no rear speakers.

my sister has an authentique 1.2 8v sounds "meatier" than my 1.2 16v.

 

[cgap]

Ahh I was wondering what the difference was between the two. If I had components I'm guessing I would just use the factory dash tweeters? Does this make it compulsory that I get a sub if I want any bass at all or will there still be some there?

You could use the factory tweeters but would run the risk of blowing them at higher volumes if you buy a more powerful head unit.

You'll never get a huge amount of bass from 13cm speakers. There'll be enough to keep you happy at lower speeds in town but you'll lose a lot of it on the motorway especially in a 1.2. The engine in mine drowns out my tunes at over 80mph unless I have it really loud

I think a few people on here have converted the doors to fit 16cm components but I've no idea how.

 

[Tigger]

yes indeedy

Go for components in the front with a good HU and then amp them.
Worry about the rear after that if you want, go for coaxils in there

 

[Sam21]

Aight cheers for all the help guys, I'm just about to order the Alpine 9855r from CarAudioDirect but am not sure what adaptor I need to get it to work with the Steering Stalk thing. Can someone link me to one please? Preferably on CarAudioDirect if possible.

Thanks!

 

[Marcus---]

dunno buddy, i didnt bother with all that as its £35 i think!

 

[Sam21]

Actually ignore the comment about preferably from caraudiodirect as they don't accept Electron Cards..
Still need to know which cable and where to get it from though.

 

[Sam21]

OK I ordered the Alpine CDA-9855R after finally finding a shop that accepts Visa Electron (www.sextonsdirect.co.uk).
Now I really need to know where to find the Stalk converter thing. Someone must know!!
Thanks for any help~