just depends on what kind of sound you are looking for. I personally like the kicker speakers because they supply a little more bass then jbl's. With the tweeters already in place, i don't feel like you need to focus as much on the highs as you do the lows(which suck on the stock systems). Thats just how i feel though, a lot of people will disagree with me i sure.

 

I would recommend the ID CTX65cs. I used them in my old truck. And just put a set in the new truck. Love the way they sound, very clear. These are actually last years model. So I made a offer on sonicelectronix for $100 and they accepted, guess they are trying to get rid of them. Not sure how they do when not amped though. I've always had them amped.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_223 ... 6.5cs.html

 

I highly recommend you buy those JBL's. I have 4x6 and 6.5" JBL speakers in my truck after experimenting with many other speakers, these perform the best. Plus they can be pushed to their limits with an amp later on if you decide to do so. Check out other reviews on them, everyone loves them.

 

Just about anything you buy out there is going to be superior to the stock speakers. Kickers seem to be very popular but are a bit more expensive. It is all going to come down to your budget. Maybe if you post your budget, you can get suggestions that are more likely to be relevant.

 

Modiddy, I have also thought about kicker but haven't had a chance to listen to them. I don't need a lot of base because I will be putting a 10" sub or two later. Although I would like more bass than stock speakers give out! My only concern about the highs (tweeters) is hearing bad things about hard domes vs. softer domes. I don't want ear peircing highs that's for sure.

Sstumpf, I like the specs on those! How long have you had them installed? Any cons? I like the silk tweeter design as well. The price tag is out of my range but if I could get a good deal on them like you did I might jump on them. I will do some research on the those Image Dynamics! Thanks for sharing

NewToMe, I was pretty impressed with them at BestBuy! Of course they were ran by an aftermarket HU and amped but the sound was great! I am just wondering if there is something better for the buck. Do you have the model speakers I listed?

 

My budget for front speakers would be around $150. Rears no more than $100

 

Yes, the same ones from Best Buy, that's where I bought mine. With that budget I would look into Polk audio or kappa. Both superior speakers for sound quality and those can take a beating when amped. Still produce a lot of high quality sound when not amped.

 

Modiddy, I have also thought about kicker but haven't had a chance to listen to them. I don't need a lot of base because I will be putting a 10" sub or two later. Although I would like more bass than stock speakers give out! My only concern about the highs (tweeters) is hearing bad things about hard domes vs. softer domes. I don't want ear peircing highs that's for sure.

Sstumpf, I like the specs on those! How long have you had them installed? Any cons? I like the silk tweeter design as well. The price tag is out of my range but if I could get a good deal on them like you did I might jump on them. I will do some research on the those Image Dynamics! Thanks for sharing

NewToMe, I was pretty impressed with them at BestBuy! Of course they were ran by an aftermarket HU and amped but the sound was great! I am just wondering if there is something better for the buck. Do you have the model speakers I listed?

I had them installed in my 05 for a year, then sold it. Just put a new set of them in my 11 a few weeks ago. I have nothing bad to say about them. They are very clear and get loud as well, without distorting. If you click the make offer button on sonic electronix and offer them $100, they will accept it.

Image dynamics also make a coaxial ctx65 set that would be good for the rears. I still have the stockers in the rears though.

 

Alpine S series are affordable and sound great!

 

Installed those aplines in my friends car and we weren't impressed with them at all... They don't get loud and lack bass and highs. Just my .02 for the OP. Maybe you had better luck with your SQ

 

Try talking to a customer service representative at Crutchfield.com they have great customer service and would. Be sure to suggest something that would suit your needs from there vast inventory.

 

Well it looks like I've narrowed my search down to JBL GX600C / JBL GX602 or Image Dynamics CTX-6.5CS / ID CTX-65. i would probably be getting the JBLs from Crutchfield with a 20% off sale for a total ~199.98 with mounting hardware. OR the Image Dynamics from Sonic Electronix for ~ 229.99 If they were to honor my offer. I am assuming the IDs would be the better bang for the buck. I will call both companies later to see if they suggest anything else.

 

MB Quart Onyx are respectable and not expensive at all.

 

Alpine S series are affordable and sound great!

I am going to have to agree here. Get a set of Alpine type S components for your front doors. Alpine is a top of the line brand, and the type S's are really affordable and outperform literally every speaker I have ever heard in a vehicle, from the cheapest of brands to high end kickers and the such. And only purchase Alpine from an authorized dealer (the list is on their website). Check out the stats on your stock system though as you will probably have to power the alpines with an aftermarket amp, the only downside. It is worth it, and I know it is probably well out of your budget, but Alpine's PDR-F50 amp is hands down one of the best amps you could buy to run the speakers. It comes with a price tag though, but will run till the end of the world.

And NewToMe, were you running the speakers off the factory amp and head unit? They typically don't like working in that manner and the stock stuff doesn't have the necessary umpf to properly power them, hence the lack of sound. That's my guess.

 

Ok so I have contacted both Crutchfield and Sonic Electronix. Both are very helpful and patient. I don't know which one I want to do business with but this is the what I got from talking to the reps.

CRUTHFIELD

JBL
-JBL GX600C components and JBL GX602 coaxial
- Total = $218 roughly. Includes brackets, adapters, and baffles.
- 1 yr warranty

SONIC ELECTRONIX

IMAGE DYNAMICS
- ID CTX6.5CS components and ID CTX-65 coaxial
- Total = $230 roughly. Nothing else included.
- 3yr warranty

 

looks like you are doing your research. I have not heard the JBL's, so cant comment on them. But I really do like the ID's. with a 3 year warranty and only a few bucks more, thats what I'd be getting.

 

great thread timing, my front speaker just died.
I'm torn between Alpines and Kicker

 

Sstumpf, are the tweeters bright? The only thing that's holding me back from getting them is some of the tweeter reviews...

 

Yes, I would day they are brighter than some. I run mine on 0db because I do like my tweeters kind if bright. But I have tried them on -3db and I wouldn't say they are to bright on that setting.

 

If you are not going to run an amp to the door speakers and plan to use the factory radio or an aftermarket unit, pay attention to the RMS watts the speaker is designed for.

Most aftermarket radios put out around 15 watts RMS and 50 watts x4 peak. If you buy speakers made for higher RMS and Peak watts and you don't provide it, don't expect the speakers to sound good.

I am starting to upgrade my radio and just pulled the trigger on a set of 6 3/4 Rockford Fosgate components. They are made for 2-40 watts RMS, which is closer to my radio's output that a lot of other component sets. I plan to add the matching 2 way coxial speakers to the rear. I will not be adding an amp.

 

Rebelman hit the nail on the head. Whatever speakers you put in that thing are going to be underpowered if you just run the stock HU. And those JBLs will just be begging for more power. My vote would be to upgrade the power to your speakers first, either by a new HU, or amp, or both.

 

Thanks for the advice rebelman06 and big_dawg74! I really want to amplify them somehow and soon. I would like to just use an amplifier but am worried about the chimes and blinker being louder as well... Is there anyway around it other than replacing HU?

BTW, the JBL's RMS is 2-70w and the ID's are 25-100w. I guess judging by what rebelman wrote I would probably be ok with the stocker for a little bit running the JBL's, but might need to amp the ID's right away?

 

Installed those aplines in my friends car and we weren't impressed with them at all... They don't get loud and lack bass and highs. Just my .02 for the OP. Maybe you had better luck with your SQ

Not sure what bass your expecting out of a 6.5" speaker..I run a sub. And they sounded crappy before I amplified them via my 4 channel Alpine amp. They have plenty of highs. Running at +1db.and they are plenty loud now.

 

+1 to what was said about amping them. To make any components sound good, your just going to have to have an amp. I used the AudioControl instead of buying a new headunit. Just make sure you tap into the front speakers, so factory bluetooth still works. Chimes are not any louder with it.

 

I went with the JBL's. They sounded awesome when amped. I liked them better than alpines and way better than kicker. Although kicker definetly had more bass, I want good sound and not so much bass in the doors. I will be adding a 10 later. I really wished I could have heard the ID's but without hearing them I was afraid the tweeters were going to be too much for me. I really liked Crutchfields customer service as well. I will be shopping with them in the future. I picked up some dynamat as well from them along with baffles. I think I will be pleased with the sound and most definetly after I amplify them. Next step will be figuring out the best way to amplify them.

Sstumpf, how did you go about amplifying the speakers without amplifying the chimes? I read that the chimes and the blinker run through the front speakers and the back up alarm runs through the rear. I wished I could completely disable the back up alarm anyway...