hi all, i was at a store today looking at speakers and the salesguy gave me some info that sounded a little off, right now i have a totally stock everything, i was gonna install some new speakers in the back. the ones that i tried out and liked were a pretty fancy pair, the guy said if i was gonna get those it would be good to get an amp with it, i said i was gonna get an amp eventually, he asked if i was gonna keep the stock hu and i said yes, he said that that wouldn't be a good idea, he said that the stock radio isn't putting out enough power or something like that and i thought that sounded a little off, from what i have read on here i think you can hook up an amp from the actual speaker wires and and run some new speakers and it would sound good, he made it sound like you have to buy a whole new set of everything, he also said that you have to use the rca outs to hook up to an amp where as i thought some of the newer ones can be hooked up straight from the speaker wires, so who's right in the situation, was the store guy right or was he just trying to make me buy one of everything?

 

the STORE GUY was WRONG and was just trying to sell you one of everything....

IF you want...you CAN retain your stock head unit....I DID....and YES you can add an amp....I DID.....one with either SPEAKER LEVEL INPUTS....or use line out converters to convert the output from the speakers to RCA connections.....and YES you can upgrade your door/rear speakers WITHOUT getting an amp, however I think you will eventually want one..... in know I DID!!! I added a 10" sub too....

there are whole threads on this process.....keeping the stock headunit that is......its purely a matter of choice/taste.

 

Nuke is dead on but the salesmen was correct in a way about replaceing the rear speakers. The stock headuit has very little power and adding a good set of components to it can be a bad idea. Since the stock head unit has little power and the aftermarket speakers, usualy around $350 an up, will need more power then the stock speakers to get as loud. Many people F-up and try to push the aftermarket speakers too loud and end up sending just distortion to them which will kill the speakers. If you plane on getting a really good set of speakers then plan on amping them and taking it easy until you do. Just listen carefully for distortion and don't over push things.

 

I agree with 1st MP3. If they're really good speakers, they might need an amp. A lot of hi-end speakers (focal,diamond,etc) need at least 20-25 watts RMS to sound anywhere near their potential. I think our stock HU only puts out about 15watts per channel.
What kind of speakers are we talking about?

 

Infinity 692.5i or the Infinity 695.2i

 

1) Infinity Kappa 6+9 2.5i = 2-110 watts RMS, ceramic cones. These will work OK with no amp.
2) Infinity Ref. 6+9 5.2i = Shallower mounting depth. I can't find the power stats, but the 2.5i seems to be a higher quality speaker.(Kappa vs. Reference). I like the first one. Either way, you're OK with no amp.
Hope that helps!

 

1st MP3 has got it here- if one was to go in stages, and what would make the most difference right off, it would be speakers. I might suggest spend more time and money on the front speakers, and then do what you can afford in the rear. Front soundstage really is what sets the standard for the listening to your system.
Don't over abuse, and the speakers can go first. Sir Nuke is right on also though, once you get started by getting the decent speakers, you will want more I am afraid and amping is the next logical step. I also am a big proponent of using the stock head unit with a line level in amp or adaptors, unless there are some features of a new deck you absolutely have to have.
So- good Luck, and let us all know how it turns out!
It is so good to read of someone actually going and listening, and trying out speakers before deciding what to buy! SMART choice!!