Rep Power: 0

I have a 01 LX still with the original cassette deck. I am tired of it and I want to be able to play CDs. The question is what is the best CD or better yet combo CD cassette HU that would sound the best without replacing the speakers.

 
Rep Power: 321

Just call Crutchfield, tell them what you are looking for and get recommendations from them.

Stock deck + aftermarket speakers sound better than aftermarket deck + stock speakers.

Buying a better sound processor is pointless when the speakers aren't capable of carrying out that sound correctly.

Just my opinion.

 
Rep Power: 310

I don't think he was going to buy sound processor at all. I think just a new head unit.

Lately, I've been recommending the

Pioneer Premier DEH-P660 for $184 from hookedontronics.

That's an awesome deck for the money.

 
Rep Power: 269

Alpine 9833, no cassette, but can play mp3s

 
Rep Power: 328

I tend to disagree with the person that said stock deck and aftermarket speakers would sound better than aftermarket deck and stock speakers. I'd be willing to bet you that without amping them, if I were to install a new deck with stock speakers and you were to install new speakers and keep the stock deck you'd notice zero difference in teh same vehicle (ie. EX vs ex, etc). Stock speakers are made for the low HU wattage that you get (around 12 RMS watts no matter which HU). To get the potential out of an aftermarket speaker amping them is a must. In other words, it's worthless to upgrade the soeakers without adding an amp.

That said...
Pioneer makes a nice CD/Cassette reciever... I can't think of the model number right now...

 
Rep Power: 321

Sorry I didn't mean sound processor, but as in the better specs you get from a aftermarket deck such as higher RMS and better sound control like an EQ.

Cranking it up on stock speakers versus aftermarket market speakers, both on a stock deck with no amping, the aftermarket speakers had better SQ.

Bass wise, yes stock speakers would be louder because the aftermarket speakers need to be amped.
I was just thinking about sound clarity.

Give me a break...it was late into the night when I replied. =)

 
Rep Power: 310

Not only will I confirm that about the nice speakers/stock deck with my opinion. But I'll offer my personal experiences as proof. The only thing adding descent a/m speakers to the stock deck accomplishes is to remove the lower freq response in the system. I had to do it to prove that to a customer.

 
Rep Power: 300

i upgraded the speakers before buying a new deck because i found a good deal on speakers before finding a deal on a deck...

replacing the speakers, while still using a stock HU, will reduce the bass response slightly but the higher frequencies did sound a lot better.

a new HU w/ stock 6 speakers = better bass response but only slightly. i've listened to a stock civic system w/ alpine HU and it still didn't sound too good. very obvious the speakers weren't producing the higher frequencies and the bass somehow didnt sound that great either.

overall though, i would agree that upgrading the deck alone will yield better results than upgrading speakers alone. however IMO, the front speakers and the deck should both be changed.