I have limited funds for now, and I want to improve the sound quality of my factory Monsoon CD Player. Which would make more of an improvement, a new head unit or new speakers?

 

Speakers would definitely give a nice improvement.
But keep in mind, when you get new speakers, you'll also have to get an amp to supply some wattage to those speakers.

 

Doesn't the Monsoon System include an amp?

 

gettin a decent H/U with an EQ is major boost in sound. The stock monsoon speakers do pretty good as long as they have a high pass crossover on em...when i put my premier in it was like day and nite compared to the crappy monsoon H/U


H/U upgrade= very good
H/U and speakers= awesome

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Chivalry101:
<strong> Doesn't the Monsoon System include an amp? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes it does, but as far as I know, can't use it with aftermarket speakers.

 

Crutchfield sells a harness thats plug and play with aftermarket speakers and factory wires. I say go for the aftermarket speakers, they dont have to be top of the line for an improvement, but just something better than stock. Some say that most stock speakers in cars today cost less than 5 dollars each. A speaker upgrade is worth it for now. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

I am not sure the power rating on your factory cd player. If you can get an aftermarket unit with more power, this will give you the most benifit in sound.

File

 

A head unit will make a noticeable difference in sound. You can use the existing amp and speakers with an aftermarket deck; however, you must replace the amp to use a set of aftermarket speakers. The ohm rating on the stock Monsoon speakers is 2ohm, most aftermarkets are going to be 4 ohm.

If you plan on replacing both at some time, the logical choice would be to replace the head unit first.

HTH

 

I have been doing systems since the late 70's. Yes, I AM an old fart or at least older. The rule of thumb is speakers first then head then amps and all the goodies that go with them. Most factory speakers, even the premo ones leave a little to be desired. Sounds like yours are pretty decent though. Just remember replacing a head with less than decent speakers = poor sound still. One of the above posts mentioned Crutchfield. Not a bad source but usually more expensive than local or other internet sources. Most good shops carry the same coversion harnesses for both speakers and heads. What is nice about Crutchfield is that when you buy from them they include the harnesses and an instruction sheet as how to take things apart. You can buy any of those item separately though. Good luck!

 

Just a reminder, you DO have to replace the amp as well when replacing factory speakers. If you don't you will be disappointed. power received by each speaker from the factory "amplifier" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> is cut literally in 1/2 by the higher ohm aftermarket speakers.

No disrespect to the previous poster. Mine is just another point of view, like yours is different from mine, mine is different from yours.

In my experience, the head unit is the place to start. Even the best speakers only reproduce what their given. If their given lousy signal from a lousy amp that comes from a lousy head unit, the sound from even the "best" speakers out there is going to be... well... lousy. For the ending sound to be good, you want the initial source of the sound to be the highest.

Aside from that, I've replaced enough head units in Camaros (As I'm sure you have as well in years of this rediculous and expensive obsession) to know that simply replacing the head unit and leaving the factory "amp" to power the speakers actually still allows for a noticeable improvement. Four of the speakers are still powered directly from the head unit and not from the amp.

There's always doing it the right way and just tossing everything out that is Monsoon related and just adding all aftermarket stuff, but to do that all at once is pricey to say the least.