Hi guys,
I'd like to keep my stock stereo from my 2006 Cobalt LT but I'd like to upgrade the stock speakers, both the 6 1/2's and the 6x9's have to go.
So does anyone know the specs on the stock stereo? What's it's output power?

I need to know this info so that I can buy speakers that the stock stereo can power without a problem.

The stereo I have doesn't have the mp3 capability, it's just the CD and radio BTW.

Any help would be appreciated guys

 

any speakers should work, the stock stereo probably only puts out less than 25 watts per channel.

 

if your going to upgrade the speakers just no it doesnt sound anywhere near as good as it did stock. that is until you add a sub and amp to it. my advice is to upgrade all at once do not do it in sections. i did it in sections because money was tight at the time and i was pissed at myself because i wanted it loud and the sound just wasnt there until i got the sub and amp put in. sure buy them in sections but dont install until youve got everything.

what types of speakers are you looking at getting?

o and welcome to the addiction!

 

Does anyone have the specs on the stock stereo though?

I plan to upgrade the speakers all at once like bryce712 suggested. But so far all I have is a amp for my 10" sub and I want to know if I'm going to need an amp for the other 4 speakers for proper power output.

If the stock stereo doesn't output at least 45-50watts per channel than this will really change how I'm going to go about the upgrade.

Please, anyone with the stock stereo specs?

Thanks again guys!

 

put it this way most aftermarket HU's have 25 or less watts per channel dont expect more out of our stock HU... you can run speakers of the HU and it will be fine.. any type whatever people have done it before and still will... Just dont distort them trying to get more volume. If after youve installed the new speakers you dont have enough volume without distortion off of the stock HU buy a new amp. If your just lookign to match specs then i can guarantee the stock HU will not add up to the rms ratings off a decent set of aftermarket speakers.

 

I started with speakers, then upgraded my head unit and added subs with a good amp right after that. If you're getting speakers, also buy an amp. Trust me on this. You'll appreciate the sound.

 

Cool. Thanks for your input!

Thanks man. Yeah, I'm actually looking at putting in my Sony MP3 HU instead of using the stock. Now I have other concerns about what's going to happen to the TheftLock and auto volume/tune control. But that's another story.

What I plan to do is install my Sony HU and my amp/sub and upgrade the stock 6 1/2's and 6x9's later on. If I think I need an amp for the 4 main speakers in the cab I'm just wondering how much juice will I need and where is the best place to hide the amp so nothing looks cluttered. I like a cabin with a nice clean look to it.

Thanks again everyone!

 

dont worry about theft lock... all it does is keep track of the vin off the car the stock hu is built for and if it detects a different number it doesnt work (locks up)

If your looking at changing the hu you will get more juice so personally id recommend it... and like i said unless you like it quite loud you probably wont need an amp but check out the new rockford fosgate mini series amps. You can hide one quite easily

 

I'll definately look into the mini amp series! I've already got a Rockford amp for my sub, but the amp/sub are going to be in the trunk so I don't care about it being there. It's the amp for the 4 cabin speakers that I car about it being hidden.

Thanks man, appreciate the input.

 

the factory alarm does have the flashing light (a goldish color if i remember correctly) but that is completely independent of theftlock in the radio and the radio itself

 

Sweet! Thanks again for clearing that up for me. I'm such a newb! But you gotta learn somewhere. Hahahaha!

 

Jacking for a sec, sorry...

If one wanted to replace the speakers w/ the stock head unit, they should buy an amp to power those speakers, correct? My question is, how difficult is it to tap that aftermarket amp into the stock H/U? Will it still be efficient? If you have to tap into lines, does it mess with the quality? Thanks!

end jack...

 

The stock HU does have power... this is proven because i gave my stock hu to my GF in an LS and her speakers play. BUT if you run off of only the HU it wont be as loud as the factory pioneer system. Now you can get an amp and run a line level convertor for more volume but you can/do lose a bit of quality using it (or get an amp with high level inputs and you lose nothing)

What id recommend for you would be to get a set of componant speakers for the fronts and some good 6X9s and run them off the stock amp. I did so and used the aftermarket crossover with the set and lost a bit of volume but gained tons of quality (i think you can run the tweets off the stock wires but i have no idea how its crossed over or what nonsense pioneer did so i went with the safer way)

im just wondering thou im giving out alot of good electronics help in this section and i dont think ive ever got any rep (oh well)