2009 Speaker Upgrade

nh09z71 · May 16, 2009

I have an '09 Silverado, extended cab, with factory non-Bose radio. I'd like to replace the speakers with something a bit better.....these sound kinda blah, or drab to me.

What will fit in the front and rear doors?

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

GARB55 · May 17, 2009

Depends on your flavor! 6 1/2" will fit in the font and rear doors but others have done different sizes depending on what Modifications/Fab work you want to do!

nh09z71 · May 17, 2009

Depends on your flavor! 6 1/2" will fit in the font and rear doors but others have done different sizes depending on what Modifications/Fab work you want to do!

Thanks....I'm not looking to do any fab or mods to the door panels at this time. I just want a direct replacement for the stock speakers.

alaska511 · May 17, 2009

Depends on your flavor! 6 1/2" will fit in the font and rear doors but others have done different sizes depending on what Modifications/Fab work you want to do!

Thanks....I'm not looking to do any fab or mods to the door panels at this time. I just want a direct replacement for the stock speakers.

2 ohm, 6.5 inch

nh09z71 · May 17, 2009

Okay.....I'm thinking of two sets of Infinity Reference 60221

I'd leave the tweeters in the pillars alone.....will this be a good improvement over the stock speakers?

I know that changing the head unit would be a good upgrade too....but for now....I'm just doing speakers until I decide what I want to replace the HU with.

Thanks!

NoLuck7 · May 17, 2009

I replaced my front speakers and tweeters without amping. I soon realized I wasn't going to be happy until I added an amp. So, I then put in an Alpine amp to push the Polk component set I had installed and it was a DRAMATIC difference. You will hear some difference, mainly in volume, but you will get distortion pretty quickly because that HU can't push enough to the speakers. If I was looking to replace all four speakers, I would spend a little more and just replace the fronts and add an amp. Then, I would add the rears later. Just my opinion.

rbiggers277 · May 18, 2009

Okay.....I'm thinking of two sets of Infinity Reference 60221

I'd leave the tweeters in the pillars alone.....will this be a good improvement over the stock speakers?

I know that changing the head unit would be a good upgrade too....but for now....I'm just doing speakers until I decide what I want to replace the HU with.

Thanks!

This is exactly what I did. And I did not replace the head unit. It is a definite improvement over stock!

nh09z71 · May 18, 2009

rbiggers......any install issues? I guess I just gotta figure out how to pop off the door panels. According to Crutchfield, the rear speakers need some kind of bracket or spacer to make them fit?

I found the speakers online for $50/pair.....so for $100, it seems like a good upgrade.

Thanks...

tallspawn · May 18, 2009

I replaced my front speakers and tweeters without amping. I soon realized I wasn't going to be happy until I added an amp. So, I then put in an Alpine amp to push the Polk component set I had installed and it was a DRAMATIC difference. You will hear some difference, mainly in volume, but you will get distortion pretty quickly because that HU can't push enough to the speakers. If I was looking to replace all four speakers, I would spend a little more and just replace the fronts and add an amp. Then, I would add the rears later. Just my opinion.

+1. You will notice some difference with just the speakers, but adding a amp is huge!

Hey NoLuck7 What Polk's did you go with??

Z71kris · May 18, 2009

If you go the route of only adding fronts and amping, buy a four channel amp, so when you do up grade the rear you wont have a buy another amp for the rears, all you will have to do is wire them up.

NoLuck7 · May 18, 2009

I replaced my front speakers and tweeters without amping. I soon realized I wasn't going to be happy until I added an amp. So, I then put in an Alpine amp to push the Polk component set I had installed and it was a DRAMATIC difference. You will hear some difference, mainly in volume, but you will get distortion pretty quickly because that HU can't push enough to the speakers. If I was looking to replace all four speakers, I would spend a little more and just replace the fronts and add an amp. Then, I would add the rears later. Just my opinion.

+1. You will notice some difference with just the speakers, but adding a amp is huge!

Hey NoLuck7 What Polk's did you go with??

I went with the DB6501 series. I have been real pleased with them. The jump from stock to nice speakers was decent, but wow, the difference when adding the amp was enormous! And, I did use a four channel for the very reason of adding rears later. Good call on that one Z71Kris.

tallspawn · May 18, 2009

If you go the route of only adding fronts and amping, buy a four channel amp, so when you do up grade the rear you wont have a buy another amp for the rears, all you will have to do is wire them up.

Great point there, that's what I did when I did my first upgrade. Saves money and hassle in the long run...

tallspawn · May 18, 2009

I replaced my front speakers and tweeters without amping. I soon realized I wasn't going to be happy until I added an amp. So, I then put in an Alpine amp to push the Polk component set I had installed and it was a DRAMATIC difference. You will hear some difference, mainly in volume, but you will get distortion pretty quickly because that HU can't push enough to the speakers. If I was looking to replace all four speakers, I would spend a little more and just replace the fronts and add an amp. Then, I would add the rears later. Just my opinion.

+1. You will notice some difference with just the speakers, but adding a amp is huge!

Hey NoLuck7 What Polk's did you go with??

I went with the DB6501 series. I have been real pleased with them. The jump from stock to nice speakers was decent, but wow, the difference when adding the amp was enormous! And, I did use a four channel for the very reason of adding rears later. Good call on that one Z71Kris.

I still have some of the old DX series Polks, awesome speakers but I think it's time to retire them. I've been debating between the DB or the MM series, I've only been able to listen to them side by side in Fry's. The setup in the store is crappy to say the least, so I can't tell how much difference there truly is between the two. What kind of wattage you pushing to them?

nh09z71 · May 18, 2009

ok, ok....I get it. I should add an amp too. Now, it's been a long time since I have added an amp to a car system. So please bear with all my questions....

is it easy enough to add an amp to the stock HU?

Where are you guys hiding the amp?

I'm sure there will be more Q's to follow.

Thanks!