Speaker upgrade recommendations?

[triangularmonkey]

My van currently has a pair of 6.5 20w speakers. Any recommendations on an upgrade here. Just looking for something that produces clear sound and not muffle when I turn the volume up. Don't care about massive amps or subs?

[Scrump]

I replaced the standard single cone 4inch speakers in my car with Alpine coaxial speakers which were recommended on a forum. The improvement is huge, but I would have probably achieved the same improvement with any modern coaxial type.
Here is a link to the 6.5inch version of the ones I fitted.
https://www.alpine.co.uk/p/Products/type-g-speaker...

[defblade]

Be aware that "nicer" speakers will be more sensitive to abuse than the PoS speakers the manufacturer fitted.
If your head unit clips the signal at all at higher volumes (and it will), you can easily kill your nice new speakers, even though their rated wattage seems like it should be plenty to cope with what the HU is putting out.

If you can, play a 1khz test tone through your stereo - it'll be piercing but clear until a point where it will take on a definite "edge" - you'll know it when you hear it - and that's where your stereo has started clipping. Don't turn it up past that if you want your new speakers to live!

(Next stop - amps and all that )

[hyphen]

I would decide on your budget and then get the best speaker and a small amp for that price. If a cheap panel van, chances are fitting it well will be more important than speaker choice.

If not doing it yourself, perhaps head to your nearest well regarded InCar audio shop and see what they suggest

Edited by hyphen on Friday 11th September 21:01

[MetalMatters]

defblade said:

Be aware that "nicer" speakers will be more sensitive to abuse than the PoS speakers the manufacturer fitted.
If your head unit clips the signal at all at higher volumes (and it will), you can easily kill your nice new speakers, even though their rated wattage seems like it should be plenty to cope with what the HU is putting out.

If you can, play a 1khz test tone through your stereo - it'll be piercing but clear until a point where it will take on a definite "edge" - you'll know it when you hear it - and that's where your stereo has started clipping. Don't turn it up past that if you want your new speakers to live!

(Next stop - amps and all that )

This man knows his stuff

Many a good speaker have been wrecked on a cheap factory head unit.

[TEKNOPUG]

It's more likely to be the HU that is the issue. Doesn't matter what speakers you have if you feed them a crap signal. Cheap pressed paper speakers with tiny magnets typical of a cheap vehicle, can still sound OK if you supply them with a distortion free signal. But a cheap OEM stereo will no doubt have a tiny, poor quality internal amp that clips at anything above talking volume.

[heisthegaffer]

I'd start with good brand replacement speakers and if necessary later upgrade to an in line amp such as the one below

https://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/car-...la-330689104521|crid:412800843296|nw:g|rnd:18369552237196860437|dvc:t|adp:|mt:|loc:1007209&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhvf6BRCkARIsAGl1GGjmFSA0C0pnQhvM9y8PDIto6R-w5dpCqCcmkJO7DiT1lHMD2PPkzFEaAjEcEALw_wcB