...just like volkswagons


i think that the stock system sounded great until you turn it up loud. mine sounds pretty good with some bass and a head unit, but i'd really love to change those 6.5 door speakers. those really bug me.

 

So no one really is sure of brand itself? oh well tks for your input anyways it's just that I was going to get some infinity's to replace those factory ones.

 

Proper tuning my friend... with a lot or decent amount of power, it can be harder to achieve great sound at low listening levels. Plus your ears get used to it being loud all the time, then it just kinda sounds like crap when you turn it down. Theres many factors... but yes, the stock accord stereo has decent sound.

 

Ok, so I haven't double checked this, but I just recently bought my '03 Accord coupe, and I asked the dealer this specific question, because the speakers in my EXL model coupe actually sounded better than the typical Pioneer crap they put in there. Plus the door speakers are not very big at all, depth-wise becaus ethey use neodymium magnets. The dealer told me Honda switched to Infinity speakers in the new 03's system in the EX models. So having not confirmed this, take it for what it's worth :-) But they sound "ok" in my humble opinion, not nearly as trashy as the cheap $10 pioneers they used to stick in every car. I may still gut the speaker system in lieu of a fancier setup with subs, etc. but since I blew all my spare cash on my new car, that'll have to wait for a bit. I'm just glad the factory system doesn't sound altogether horrible :-) The only downside is they tie that factory head unit into the a/c controls, etc. and it makes it kind of difficult to gut for an aftermarket head unit :-(

 

My thoughts exactly about the head unit, although the large LCD screen may look kewl for now, I'd like a change down the road and also how much would it cost to repair the darn thing?

 

Well in my opinion, Honda really screwed up with the large LCD. There's no CD text display, and the optional MP3 player doesn't show ID3 tags, or file names, or anything. Simply numbers. Kind of a waste if you ask me. They could have done so much more with that big LCD .... Kind of a letdowwn, but the MP3 player works ok, and I can get by without the track listing. I just figured that by now they would have figured out what to give the consumer when it comes to an MP3 player.

 

My 02 EX system sounds pretty darn nice to me for a factory system, I'd really have no reason to upgrade. My wife had a 99 TL before her 7th gen V6, and my stock system sounded much better than the bose system in her car. I also own a 330i with the optional harman kardon system (which is supposed to be one of the best stock systems available) and honestly I'm not impressed with it in the least, in fact the sound in the AV6 near equals the sound of the HK.......and I'm a pretty big audiophile, but honestly I think the stock stereo is pretty decent.

 

Thanks for everyone's opinion, it really puts things in perspective
I guess an additional amp and new speakers would be unnecessary for now i guess, because it is mainly a commuter car and nothing else. it's not a show piece or pounding car, so i think i'll stick w/ stock for now and pay off the car quicker

 

03 ACCORD stock speakers...

LX coupe:
front tweeter - MATSUSHITA
6.5 front - PIONEER
rear 6x9 - MATSUSHITA

LX V6 coupe:
front tweeter - MATSUSHITA
6.5 front - MATSUSHITA
rear 6x9 - MATSUSHITA

EX coupe:
front tweeter - MATSUSHITA
6.5 front - MATSUSHITA
rear 6x9 - MATSUSHITA

EX V6 coupe:
front tweeter - MATSUSHITA
6.5 front - MATSUSHITA
rear 6x9 - MATSUSHITA

DX sedan:
6.5 front - PIONEER

LX sedan:
front tweeter - MATSUSHITA
6.5 front - PIONEER
6.5 back - ????????

LX V6 sedan:
front tweeter - MATSUSHITA
6.5 front - MATSUSHITA
6.5 back - MATSUSHITA

EX sedan:
front tweeter - MATSUSHITA
6.5 front - MATSUSHITA
rear 6x9 - MATSUSHITA

EX V6 sedan:
front tweeter - MATSUSHITA
6.5 front - MATSUSHITA
6.5 back - MATSUSHITA

 

I reaplced my 6.5" Front and 6x9" reares with Infinity Kappas

There needs to be major modifications to fit them in the front - and none in the rear to fit the 6x9s

I also have a Infinity Basslink 200W Sub as well The sound is more than enough for me with no extra amp needed (except the one built in the BassLink)