Bob's Stereo Swap

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

> From: "Bob D'Amato" <Bob.Damato@snetel.com>

> THere has been much talk about stereo installations to get rid of your 
> crap radios they came with. I plan on ripping mine out and putting in a 
> good one, but it looks like it will include speakers as well. Im looking 
> at a midrange stereo (top of the line Alpine is still only midrange I 
> think...).  Is it possible to use existing speakers or dont even bother.

Senor Robert - depends on the speakers.  I don't own the model you 
do, but the rule of thumb is that ALL standard car speakers can 
easily be improved by replacing with carefully chosen aftermarket 
speakers.  The good news is that there are speakers for every 
application and mounting design!  Unless you plan to install mega-
amps, you can spend rational numbers of $$ by getting speakers which 
are designed to deal with rational power levels.

So the answer is, DO IT - otherwise, you will hamstring your new 
radio.  The flip side of the first paragraph is the old saying that 
"$2000 speakers won't make a $100 stereo sound like it cost two 
grand, but $100 speakers on a two grand stereo will sure make IT sound 
like IT cost $100!".  So do the speakers or you won't get the value 
or sound out of your improved radio.

Suggestion - if you plan to run moderate power, many stereos can 
power the dash speakers themselves (many have a switch used to shunt 
all internal amp power to the fronts) - and provide line-outs for an 
amp which can power the rear speakers.  Let the fronts provide the 
high-frequency info, and the rears provide more power.  I have a 30W 
amp for the rears (in my 280ZXT) and it's not bad!

Al Powell                           Voice:  409/845-2807
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