Stock Speakers vs OEM Premium Speakers
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Stock Speakers vs OEM Premium Speakers
Hi Guys,
I know I should go aftermarket, but I spent enough money on a new car and the premium speakers were negotiated in the deal.
With the stock single disc stereo (04 Outback), I could adjust the volume up to 30 or maybe higher. Now that I switched to the premium upgraded speakers, the volume at 10 is as loud as it use to be at 30. The stock speakers were 30 watts at 4 ohms. I didn't see the upgraded speakers so I don't know the specs and I haven't found any info doing a search here.
My question is: If the amp in the stereo is producing the same amount of power, then what changed my volume control so much? Do the premium speakers have less resistance? Say 2 ohms?
They do sound clearer, but they tend to max out at about 15 on the volume control and they just get distorted if you go higher. Where the stock speakers would go up to 30 without as much distortion but they just sounded flat.
I'm confused
I know I should go aftermarket, but I spent enough money on a new car and the premium speakers were negotiated in the deal.
With the stock single disc stereo (04 Outback), I could adjust the volume up to 30 or maybe higher. Now that I switched to the premium upgraded speakers, the volume at 10 is as loud as it use to be at 30. The stock speakers were 30 watts at 4 ohms. I didn't see the upgraded speakers so I don't know the specs and I haven't found any info doing a search here.
My question is: If the amp in the stereo is producing the same amount of power, then what changed my volume control so much? Do the premium speakers have less resistance? Say 2 ohms?
They do sound clearer, but they tend to max out at about 15 on the volume control and they just get distorted if you go higher. Where the stock speakers would go up to 30 without as much distortion but they just sounded flat.
I'm confused
Last edited by slowsubaru; Mar 10, 2004 at 11:47 AM.
They sounded flat because of the equilizer on the stock sterio that you were listening on. I have a new reciever (Alpine) , new amp (JL Audio 500/1) new sub (JL WJ7) and I have the upgraded speakers. I love them. They are worth it. Straight from subaru, no wiring problems, just good sound. Good luck
WRX Rush
WRX Rush
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With all things being equal, I'm just interested in the difference between the stock paper speakers and the optional premium speakers. Why are they much louder if the amp power didn't increase?
Any speaker Guru's have an answer on this?
:banana:
Any speaker Guru's have an answer on this?
:banana:
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 204
From: New England
Car Info: '03 Black Sedan
I doubt its because the premium speakers have less resistance...the amp in the stock head unit wouldn't respond very well to lower resistance speakers...also while dropping speaker resistance is an inexpensive way to make for louder sound, it comes at the cost of sound quality which defeats the purpose of buying more expensive speakers...
They are probably more efficient (more decibels produced per watt of power) and have less mechanical resistance than the paper stock speakers do....they are also stiffer than the paper speakers so when they distort you hear the distortion...paper is more forgiving and a bit sloppy -- consequently you don't hear the distortion as much (nor the finer details of music either!)...but I can't explain why you hear the distortion at 15 when you heard none at 30 before
...unless they are rated at a slightly lower power than the stock speakers - so they distort at higher volumes where the others didn't...Again why its a waste of money to buy the real expensive speaker that can handle 300 watts RMS power and only give it 100 watts - sloppy sound again (or not as "bright" or "full" as it could be with power that the speaker required to perform at its true potential)...power matching is very important in sound quality as well...perhaps the premium speakers are a tad more 'dainty'...but I've never seen them...
Alright, enough mental masterba... Well, you know what I mean!
:banana:
They are probably more efficient (more decibels produced per watt of power) and have less mechanical resistance than the paper stock speakers do....they are also stiffer than the paper speakers so when they distort you hear the distortion...paper is more forgiving and a bit sloppy -- consequently you don't hear the distortion as much (nor the finer details of music either!)...but I can't explain why you hear the distortion at 15 when you heard none at 30 before
...unless they are rated at a slightly lower power than the stock speakers - so they distort at higher volumes where the others didn't...Again why its a waste of money to buy the real expensive speaker that can handle 300 watts RMS power and only give it 100 watts - sloppy sound again (or not as "bright" or "full" as it could be with power that the speaker required to perform at its true potential)...power matching is very important in sound quality as well...perhaps the premium speakers are a tad more 'dainty'...but I've never seen them...
Alright, enough mental masterba... Well, you know what I mean!
:banana:
Last edited by rhk118; Apr 2, 2004 at 09:41 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 204
From: New England
Car Info: '03 Black Sedan
No problem... 
Probably just conjecture above but the premium speakers no doubt give a better quality sound (plus won't dry-rot in 3 years like paper speakers in cars do) at lower listening levels...
Probably just conjecture above but the premium speakers no doubt give a better quality sound (plus won't dry-rot in 3 years like paper speakers in cars do) at lower listening levels...
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 385
From: Ironton Ohio
Car Info: 04 Blue TS
they will sound even better with a new head unit! I replaced my single disk unit with a 6 disk unit from WRX wow what a difference.
P.S. wrx radios can be had for cheap (got mine for 80 bucks with upgraded speakers) just check the classified section.
P.S. wrx radios can be had for cheap (got mine for 80 bucks with upgraded speakers) just check the classified section.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 204
From: New England
Car Info: '03 Black Sedan
Originally posted by copytech
they will sound even better with a new head unit! I replaced my single disk unit with a 6 disk unit from WRX wow what a difference.
they will sound even better with a new head unit! I replaced my single disk unit with a 6 disk unit from WRX wow what a difference.
Do they really sound better with a WRX radio? How far can you crank the volume (number on the display) before distortion?
I have a WRX and have already killed the right rear speaker from distortion because I'm used to loud music (I bias it to the rear anyhow) and want to get inexpensive replacements with the stock head unit...Considering getting the premium speakers because have some Subaru bucks lying around...none of the dealers will actually let me use them on SPT, STi, or prodrive springs or labor to install either springs or swaybars so the Subaru bucks are otherwise useless...
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