Audio upgrade in a Zen

DeepTrouble · 9th January 2006, 13:38

Hello gurus,
I have a Zen LX with the following setup.
1. Pioneer cassette deck - KEH P5950
2. 2 6" Pioneer speakers mounted on the inside back.

I am interested in upgrading the system to include the following -
1. An MP3/CD player (or changer)
2. 2 pairs of speakers (for front and back)

Yesterday, I went to meet a couple of car acc stores near Garuda mall in Bangalore. They were telling me that Pioneer doesnt have an MP3 CD changer but has only a regular CD changer. Which means, if I have to use MP3 discs, I need to change the head unit in my car.

OK. Question time! What head unit, speaker setup do you recommend? My budget is around 10-13K. Is there any way I can use the existing speakers as fronts? I think Zen has only a 4" pod in the front.

As far as brands go, I think I will be comfortable with Pioneer or Blaupunkt. Are there others that are recommended higher?

Am really looking forward to hearing from you all. Also, please let me know where in Bangalore I can buy the unit that you recommend at fair prices. How should I be budgeting for the installation?

Thanks in advance.

jkdas · 9th January 2006, 14:21

YOu are in trouble but to bail you out I have an idea. Use 'search'

ANd stay away frm that store! They are taking you for a ride. Pio/Blau HU with MP3 support start frm 3.5k or so onwards

and hence
4.5k for hu (just to be safe)
2k for front speakers
retain rear speakers
1k for intall and wires

emm, why not try a compo at the front ? Thers JBL or Hertz one. Do "search" for this topic and see if you come across mclarens setup ,wher you can see pix wher a compo is fitted at teh front. The same applies for Blau HU, search.

and compos are a bit pricey...4k-5k, but worth it. The rear pios can stay adn hence you can save money.

navin · 9th January 2006, 15:47

Pio is not bad at all. Blau just offers you a warranty. Pio does not.

Pio does too make CD changers. whoever told you no is mistaken.

when using the HU for power no need for components. just get some nice coax for the front and rear. Ask the experts (Sam, JB etc.) what speakers fit in the zen.

DeepTrouble · 9th January 2006, 15:47

THanks jkdas.

So, can you recommend good HUs in the 4-7K range? Also, which component speakers do you suggest? Will there be significant modifications required to the front doors if component speakers are installed?

navin · 9th January 2006, 15:48

Sony, Pio and maybe even Blau make HU about 7K.

DeepTrouble · 9th January 2006, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

Pio does too make CD changers. whoever told you no is mistaken.

Oh... my bad. They said that Pioneer doesnt make MP3 CD changers but they make only regular CD changers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

when using the HU for power no need for components. just get some nice coax for the front and rear. Ask the experts (Sam, JB etc.) what speakers fit in the zen.

Does this mean that if component speakers are to be installed, then an amp is also reqd?

(Sorry for all the noob questions. I suck at car audio stuff).

navin · 9th January 2006, 15:56

Most chagers play MP3 I would be surprised if Pio changers did not.

A good amp makes a big difference. Component speakers tend to be a bit more power hungry esp since most of them have complex crossovers. A good amp can drive a component speaker to it's full potential. A HU's amp will not do the same justice. I do know a few HU's that outperfrom certain amplifiers but these are exceptions and not the rule.

mclaren1885 · 9th January 2006, 21:16

5.25'' speakers will surely fit in the front door pods of the zen ..

iceman91 · 9th January 2006, 21:35

navin,
sorry no one in bangalore sells pioneer mp3 changers...they prefer putting an mp3cd head unit with a 12cd changer..works out cheaper...thats the most common combo..
mclaren..you can also fix 6x9 on the door pads..i had them

mclaren1885 · 9th January 2006, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman91

mclaren..you can also fix 6x9 on the door pads..i had them

yes true .. but i meant without any cutting shutting u can fit 5.25'' on a zen .. i have even seen a zen with a 8'' sub in the front doors .. think the install was done by the pitstop guys .. sounded really really bad though ..

kpzen · 9th January 2006, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman91

mclaren..you can also fix 6x9 on the door pads..i had them

Iceman..

How effective were those...with bare minimum space behind the speakers...
U have any pics would like to see them...

navin · 9th January 2006, 23:15

...or a thick spacer the speakers would have stuck out a mile (read as 1 inch).

kpzen · 9th January 2006, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

...or a thick spacer the speakers would have stuck out a mile (read as 1 inch).

Is that enough for a 6x9 speaker....
Then why do we make boxes for the rear....

navin · 10th January 2006, 16:43

1" spacer on the door. the door also has it's own depth so the total depth is about 3". And no i do not recommend using a 6x9 in the door. a 6" is about as big as you can get away with unless the T/S parameters have been specially tuned to work in a door.

5u3zEr0 · 15th January 2006, 09:47

Navin and Iceman91, nobody sell Pioneer MP3 changers becasue Pioneer does not make them at all.

9th January 2006, 13:38	#1
DeepTrouble Newbie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bangalore, IN Posts: 16 Thanked: 5 Times	Audio upgrade in a Zen Hello gurus, I have a Zen LX with the following setup. 1. Pioneer cassette deck - KEH P5950 2. 2 6" Pioneer speakers mounted on the inside back. I am interested in upgrading the system to include the following - 1. An MP3/CD player (or changer) 2. 2 pairs of speakers (for front and back) Yesterday, I went to meet a couple of car acc stores near Garuda mall in Bangalore. They were telling me that Pioneer doesnt have an MP3 CD changer but has only a regular CD changer. Which means, if I have to use MP3 discs, I need to change the head unit in my car. OK. Question time! What head unit, speaker setup do you recommend? My budget is around 10-13K. Is there any way I can use the existing speakers as fronts? I think Zen has only a 4" pod in the front. As far as brands go, I think I will be comfortable with Pioneer or Blaupunkt. Are there others that are recommended higher? Am really looking forward to hearing from you all. Also, please let me know where in Bangalore I can buy the unit that you recommend at fair prices. How should I be budgeting for the installation? Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks

9th January 2006, 14:21	#2
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	YOu are in trouble but to bail you out I have an idea. Use 'search' ANd stay away frm that store! They are taking you for a ride. Pio/Blau HU with MP3 support start frm 3.5k or so onwards and hence 4.5k for hu (just to be safe) 2k for front speakers retain rear speakers 1k for intall and wires emm, why not try a compo at the front ? Thers JBL or Hertz one. Do "search" for this topic and see if you come across mclarens setup ,wher you can see pix wher a compo is fitted at teh front. The same applies for Blau HU, search. and compos are a bit pricey...4k-5k, but worth it. The rear pios can stay adn hence you can save money.
	() Thanks

9th January 2006, 15:47	#3
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,302 Times	Pio is not bad at all. Blau just offers you a warranty. Pio does not. Pio does too make CD changers. whoever told you no is mistaken. when using the HU for power no need for components. just get some nice coax for the front and rear. Ask the experts (Sam, JB etc.) what speakers fit in the zen.
	() Thanks

9th January 2006, 15:47	#4
DeepTrouble Newbie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bangalore, IN Posts: 16 Thanked: 5 Times	THanks jkdas. So, can you recommend good HUs in the 4-7K range? Also, which component speakers do you suggest? Will there be significant modifications required to the front doors if component speakers are installed?
	() Thanks

9th January 2006, 15:48	#5
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,302 Times	Sony, Pio and maybe even Blau make HU about 7K.
	() Thanks

9th January 2006, 15:56	#7
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,302 Times	Most chagers play MP3 I would be surprised if Pio changers did not. A good amp makes a big difference. Component speakers tend to be a bit more power hungry esp since most of them have complex crossovers. A good amp can drive a component speaker to it's full potential. A HU's amp will not do the same justice. I do know a few HU's that outperfrom certain amplifiers but these are exceptions and not the rule.
	() Thanks

9th January 2006, 21:16	#8
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	5.25'' speakers will surely fit in the front door pods of the zen ..
	() Thanks

9th January 2006, 21:35	#9
iceman91 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: melbourne/banga Posts: 1,961 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	navin, sorry no one in bangalore sells pioneer mp3 changers...they prefer putting an mp3cd head unit with a 12cd changer..works out cheaper...thats the most common combo.. mclaren..you can also fix 6x9 on the door pads..i had them
	() Thanks

9th January 2006, 23:15	#12
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,302 Times	...or a thick spacer the speakers would have stuck out a mile (read as 1 inch).
	() Thanks

10th January 2006, 16:43	#14
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,198 Thanked: 9,302 Times	1" spacer on the door. the door also has it's own depth so the total depth is about 3". And no i do not recommend using a 6x9 in the door. a 6" is about as big as you can get away with unless the T/S parameters have been specially tuned to work in a door.
	() Thanks

15th January 2006, 09:47	#15
5u3zEr0 BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Madras Posts: 379 Thanked: 3 Times	Navin and Iceman91, nobody sell Pioneer MP3 changers becasue Pioneer does not make them at all.
	() Thanks