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Budget speaker replacement - Click HERE for Original Thread
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Edw05
I would like to start by thanking everyone in this forum who took the time to inform the all of us MDX owners with all the technical details needed perform the task. A special thanks to those who did the research to inform all of us to get the replacement subwoofer with dual voice coils of 4 ohms each.

My budget speaker upgrade consist of the replacement of the four door speakers with two pairs of Pyle PLG6.4 (4 way, 40 oz magnet) from WWW.AMAZON.COM for $22.99 a pair and also the replacement of the OEM subwoofer with an Infinity 1052W from WWW.CARDOMAIN.COM for $69.95.

Since this was to be a budget upgrade, I decided not to purchase the speaker wire connecters and to just solder the wires.

This project did not make the sound system louder, but it did make the quality of the highs and the lows/base much better. The highs are much smoother and the lows/base are lower and deeper. However, with that said my wife still not totally convince that the money and time spend on this project was worthwhile.

What could I say, men and women just have different interests.
;)
Edw05
picture of OEM door speaker and the new PYLE PLG6.4 speaker
Edw05
Side view of the OEM speaker and the PYLE PLG6.4 speaker
Edw05
Picture of how I solder the speaker wires.
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Edw05
Picture of the PYLE PLG6.4 in the drive door
Edw05
picture of PLYLE PLG6.4 in the back door.
Edw05
picture of the OEM speaker and the Infinity 1052W
Edw05
Picture of the OEM woofer and the Infinity 1052W for the back side.
Note: The size difference.
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Edw05
Finally the picture of the Infinity 1052W mounted with screw to the sheet metal. Be careful to find location with enough metal. I cut out a templete of the Infinity 1052W with all the screw locations.
EXCALIBUR
Edw05,

Nice installation. Even on a budget, improvements can be made on the OEM stereo system.
G. COLTON
I would probably agree with your wife. An automobile is not the place that I would go looking for good sound dynamics. The configuration any any automobile is just not such that it lends itself to good acoustic qualities. All of the upholstry tends to absorb the highs. The small size of the vehicle severely restricts the bass.

G
Edw05
Actually one of the main reason for the speaker upgrade on my 2005 MDX was the fact that my 1999 Odyssey's sound system with all its OEM speakers replaced with Infinites, plus an off brand powered subwoofer sounded better than the stock system in my 2005 MDX, and just could stomach that.

Now the other other thing I need to do is to sell off all my OEM speakers. Any ideas?
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phins2rt
quote:
Originally posted by Edw05

Now the other other thing I need to do is to sell off all my OEM speakers. Any ideas?



Ebay them!!!

Glad to hear the upgrade went well. I am so glad I upgraded. The sound is so much fuller. Better highs and lows.
Edw05
quote:
Originally posted by phins2rt


Ebay them!!!

.



How much do you think I could get for them (OEM speakers)?
DaleB
quote:
Originally posted by Edw05


How much do you think I could get for them (OEM speakers)?



As boat anchors?
Edw05
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB


As boat anchors?




LOL. This was a good one!:p
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cycler15
quote:
Originally posted by Edw05


How much do you think I could get for them (OEM speakers)?



Since yours are non-Bose, I doubt you would get very much... if you even got any bids at all.

I actually sold my 4 Bose OEM speakers on eBay... I believe I got around $80 for them... which almost paid for my Infinity replacement speakers.
04mdx4sq
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
I would probably agree with your wife. An automobile is not the place that I would go looking for good sound dynamics. The configuration any any automobile is just not such that it lends itself to good acoustic qualities. All of the upholstry tends to absorb the highs. The small size of the vehicle severely restricts the bass.

G



I have spent way too much time (and money) to completely agree, as my MDX rivals or betters many home stereo systems (including my own prior to recent updates). Truthfully, the MDX is a PITA to get good sound from, but I am happy with the sound in mine now. You are right that the automobile presents some big hurdles to get the sound right, but it can be done.

Edw, nice job without breking the bank. :)
ryandinan
Can one just update the speakers like this and expect a dramatic improvement, considering that the amp is still a BOSE (better off with something else)?
I would think the best initial improvement would be to replace that crappy Bose amp FIRST?

My 02 MDX has the "Premium" sound system, which I assume means it has all BOSE speakers.
I did find the amp, which is under the gear-shifter kickplate on the passenger side (I think)... I wonder how diffucult it would be to replace it and keep it in the same location?

My wife (who drives this vehicle the most) complains that the sound is much worse than our 04 Pontiac GTP - which doesn't evenhave the upgraded Monsoon system (and I agree).

So what better to replace, if you can only afford one thing at a time? Amp? Or speakers? After all, good speakers on a bad amp, sound like... bad speakers. And bad speakers on a good amp sound like... bad speakers.

Thanks!

-Ryan
Edw05
quote:
Originally posted by ryandinan
Can one just update the speakers like this and expect a dramatic improvement, considering that the amp is still a BOSE (better off with something else)?
I would think the best initial improvement would be to replace that crappy Bose amp FIRST?

My 02 MDX has the "Premium" sound system, which I assume means it has all BOSE speakers.
I did find the amp, which is under the gear-shifter kickplate on the passenger side (I think)... I wonder how diffucult it would be to replace it and keep it in the same location?

My wife (who drives this vehicle the most) complains that the sound is much worse than our 04 Pontiac GTP - which doesn't evenhave the upgraded Monsoon system (and I agree).

So what better to replace, if you can only afford one thing at a time? Amp? Or speakers? After all, good speakers on a bad amp, sound like... bad speakers. And bad speakers on a good amp sound like... bad speakers.

Thanks!

-Ryan




Ryan,

You are right, I too wish I could change out the amps, but due to lack of knowlegde and also needing to do it cheap (because of my wife), I replaced the speakers first. And it was a very good improvement, not great, but I got a better and softer highs, and deeper lows. In fact the biggest difference is when I play CDs. Prior to the speaker upgrade, there was not much difference between CDs vs. XM radio.

My advice is to take a set by set approach. First replace your speakers and if that does not do it for you, than the amp and or deck.
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RC51MDX
I don't know that much about stereo's but I thought Bose were supposed to be the top of the line stuff. So your saying that if I have the Bose system in my MDX It would be a good upgrade to put the Infinity speakers in it??
EXCALIBUR
RC51,MDX,

Most of what you hear about Bose being "top of the line stuff" is from all the advertising hype that Bose itself puts out. It's pretty self-serving. The Bose system in the MDX leaves much to be desired. Just look at the pics posted by members of after market speakers compared to the cheap Bose speakers. Changing out the Bose speakers is the first and easiest step toward improving the sound of this system.
Edw05
quote:
Originally posted by EXCALIBUR
RC51,MDX,

Most of what you hear about Bose being "top of the line stuff" is from all the advertising hype that Bose itself puts out. It's pretty self-serving. The Bose system in the MDX leaves much to be desired. Just look at the pics posted by members of after market speakers compared to the cheap Bose speakers. Changing out the Bose speakers is the first and easiest step toward improving the sound of this system.



EXCLIBUR is absolutely right.

I do have to give BOSE credit for being able to give you such good sound with such low quality speakers.
04mdx4sq
quote:
Originally posted by Edw05


EXCLIBUR is absolutely right.

I do have to give BOSE credit for being able to give you such good sound with such low quality speakers.



?????

I have heard much better OEM paper speakers on deck power. I think Bose does an absoulutely great job of what they do best......marketing:)

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