Good speaker setup for my new Firebird?

[91Firebird]

Hello, as many of you know I recently bought a 97 Firebird. I was looking to spend about $200 - $250 on speakers for the car right now and I may spend more later. I believe it has the (8 speaker) monsoon system (2 speakers & 2 tweeters up front, 2 by the back seats, 2 in the trunk). It also has a Pioneer CD Player. I hear that some people say there is an amplifier with the monsoon systems and others can't find it. What is the case for the 97's?

The system was previously set up for use with an amplifier that was taken before sold because there are wires leading to the trunk with nothing connected. The front tweeters and back seat speakers are not producing sound (but you can "hear" the rear speakers are there). So what should I do? Get some nice 6.5 and 4 inch speakers for the rear and trunk? Or spend all the money on some component speakers for the front? Whatever suggestions you have I would appreciate you sharing them. I just want a nice sounding system for cruising with the T-Tops off or driving to school or whatever, I don't need a car shaking competition system. Thanks for the help!

[96firebird311]

First, here's some pretty good reading material. Second, since you already have an aftermarket head unit, I'd replace just the front components and the rear 6 3/4"s then just use the headunit's internal amp until you can afford to amp them.

[91Firebird]

Thank you for the information! In fact I was just about to make a post asking about the steering wheel controls. So your saying to not even use the monsoon amp with my new speakers? Thanks.

[mcG]

the monsoon amp is crap. it's located back where your spare tire and jack are, held on to the side of the car under the plastic panels.
as for replacements, i have a pair of infinity kappa components in the front doors (6.5") and a pair of kappa midranges in the back seats (6.5" too). i took out the speakers that are on the sides of the trunk and didn't replace them. the infinity's are running off of the headunit. i also have a jl 8" sub in the back but you sound like you don't want any bass. my system sounds great. i'd get a nice little amp to run the components off of, that's what i plan on doing next. hope this helps

[91Firebird]

Thanks McG, I was looking at those infiniti speakers at Circuit City the other day. So you think its worth the extra $100 to get the component speakers over the regular type for the front pair? Are you using an amp to power your sub? I'd like to get a subwoofer in the future, but right now with the new car and insurance payments, money is a little more tight, so I'll have to upgrade my stereo gradually. I already have a pretty good system in my 91 Firebird, but I'd like to upgrade the 97 also.

[David Blalock]

If you can get the entire thing setup with Alpine components and type-R subs I'd be your slave for life. I've got a pair of 6x9s in my '91 that sound amazing even with the crap 4x6 speakers in the dash.

[mcG]

i got all my stuff new off of ebay.com and saved a ton of $$, then took it to a professional (i.e. not circuit city or best buy) car audio place here named auto FX and they did a great job. i personally haven't heard the other infinity components, just the kappas. they are the top of the line series so i went with them. i have a 200w jensen amp pushing the sub. the sound quality is amazing, people are so impressed that it's only one 8", and there's not tooooo much bass. as for what david blalock said, 6x9's sound great but you'd have a hell of a time getting them to fit in a 4th gen. i had 6x9 infinity's in my 3rd gen t/a and they were awesome

[96firebird311]

Don't pay for somebody else to intall your gear. Do it yourself and spend the money you saved on better gear. It's not hard AT ALL. We can talk you through it step by step if need be.

[91Firebird]

Thanks guys for all the help. I'll try to install it myself since Circuit City wanted $75 for just for installing 4 speakers :eek: , seemed a little much to me considering they're already making profit off the speaker purchases.

Do you guys have any experience with online audio stores? Let me know which ones offer good customer service and fast shipping because I have tried ordering car parts online and once I ended up having to wait exactly one month for it to come :eek: so I certainly don't want something like that to happen again.