when i was shopping for my wrx around 2001, i had a chance to sit in one with upgraded speakers.

the dude gave me the keys and i took my cd cartridge with my test/demo CDs in it.

i was in the car for a good 10 minutes just listening.

in the end, i didnt think they were good for the price SOA was charging.

 

If you bought the car with them installed, you got them for much less than the "sticker" price for them. You make back $80+ when you sell the subwoofer on ebay, too.

 

Bout those OEM upgraded speakers.

I've had my subie for about 55,000 now, so I've got a bit a time under the vocalizations of those speaks. Best part about them is they're crisp. In your standard volume range (ie louder than a whisper but stopping before your ears start bleeding), they don't rattle, highs are high and lows, while not street shaking, make your passenger's butt tingle a little with the right beat. If you're looking to make volume, by all means, upgrade, even with the windows down inside the grand canyon you're not going to impress too many people, but if you just like having clear audio, the OEM upgrade is choice.