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I tried putting in a new HU a few months back and ended up taking it out and returning it for several reasons. I loved the HU but there were just other issues. In any case... I want to upgrade my system some. I have 3-way 6x9 pioneers (can't remember the model) but they're a little old because I took them out of an older car I had. They only really got about 1 year of use before I put them in my civic. I want to buy infinity reference 605cs component speakers for the front doors. I want to get good sound quality from those speakers, and I am also considering purchasing an amp but I want to keep the stock HU.

What I need help in deciding is this.... If I buy those infinity components, do I really need to buy an amp or would it sound decent enough with just the stock power? Also, if I should buy an amp do I need something to power all the speakers or just the front speakers or what? I don't want to spend a whole lot on an amp including the cost of installation, and I don't plan on ever adding subs at this point. If all of that made any sense and you can help me I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

 
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Don't power any of your after market speakers off the stock HU. Under powering your speakers is not good. One of the factors that gets the best SQ outta your speakers is the amount of power you put into them Just buy a 4 channel amp that can put RMS into your speakers and you should be good. Even if you did want to add subs later, it should be real easy. All most all amps come with outputs on them so you can connect additional amps.

 
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any recommendations on an amp that won't cost a whole lot including the install and all? I'm kinda trying to keep the costs down on the amp and all and it needs to work with the stock hu.

 
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Keeping the OEM HU kills any possiblity of "good" sound quality. If you use line level adapters to hook up amps..you'll still be sending the amps a very poor quality signal...get a new HU.

 
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aren't there several people on here who have kept the stock hu? I just really like how the stock one looks and fits into the dash board. Plus it has a lower risk of getting stolen... plus other things. So could I get a new HU instead of an amp and get good sound and drive those speakers just fine?

 
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the Stock HU has very dirty sounding outputs..Getting an aftermarket HU like a Pioneer, Alpine, Clarion, Panasonic or Kenwood will improve the sound if you run the speakers off the HU. You'll get pretty decent sound.
But I would reccomend getting a bottom end Clarion, Pioneer, or Alpine HU with RCA outputs and Get an amp for the speakers. It will sound much cleaner and play louder before distorting.

Cheers
Mohawk

 
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i think u should think about the future first.... think if u r going to ever get subs or upgrade the system wid better amps..... cuz if u buy cheap cheap stuff..... ur gonna end up paying for it in the future when u want to upgrade..... u should just step up and buy some better audio equipment...... the stock HU is real bad.... if u r plannin on doing any audio mods..... get a nice HU..... it should be enuf to power what U r doing...... and by buying a better HU.... it won't screw u over later on when u decide to throw in some subs.

 
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hmmm.... well in terms of the future... I'm only going to run my 6x9 pioneer's and the infinity components. I don't plan on adding subs. The only thing I would maybe do aside from that is replace the 6x9's sometime in the future, far future.

And about the hu... I bought a Pioneer DEH-6300 at best buy.... long complicated story -- I originally tried to get a lower end pioneer (don't remember which model) and when it got installed I couldnt' read the display on the cd player... apparently a common problem in our cars. So I talked to the best buy install guy and he arranged a deal getting me the 6300 for a lower price than it was regularly marked to be nice. It had an organic EL display and all, but it ended up being more than I could afford at the time. I decided to return it to get my money back because I didn't feel good about how much I spent just because I couldn't afford it at the time. I have since then decided that I just like the way the stock one looks in the car and all. So if I could just get a real low end pioneer and then buy amps I would but I didn't like what happened with that other one that I tried without the organic EL display. And the organic EL displays are still slightly more than I would like to spend on just the receiver. So thats why I was trying to stick with the stock one. Plus I like how the stock one looks and mounts and all.... I tried both a metra dash kit for my pioneer and whatever brand best buy carries that replaces the OE pocket. I didn't care for it too much, so really replacing the receiver has kinda been put on the bottom of my list.

I personally don't think the stock receiver necessarily sounds bad (I guess I'm not TOO picky when it comes to the sound quality), I just don't want the highs to be too harsh on my speakers and I figured they would last longer if I ran them off of an amp instead of just stock power (especially on the infinity's). Anyways, thanks for the help and advice so far, if there is any more info you can offer I appreciate it.

 
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Hey mohawk... I think I might have just changed my mind about replacing the hu. If I was to replace it with one I think I would ONLY go with the pioneer premiere DEH-P840MP.... that is a sweet looking HU!!!! I was looking @ ikesound.com, its $399 shipped... What do you think of that HU? I could just put off my infinity components for a few months, get that HU and skip the amp for a while as well (if ever). What I want to know is do you know anybody that has that in their car? Would it work with the metra dash kit keeping the OE pocket ok? or should I use a different kit replacing the pocket? I really like the pocket [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/IMG]. Also, how does the 'steering wheel' remote control work on our cars? Sorry for all the questions, and I appreciate the help!!! THANKS!

 
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that's a good price..might want to check out thezeb.com as well they always have good prices on Pioneers...it's a great HU.. however it is one I'd worry about having stolen..it's very flashy. It's internal amps are clean enough..has good features and looks friggen cool.. go to BB for the kit..get the American International kit..it's the cheapest and best kit and lets you keep the OEM pocket..

Cheers
Mohawk

 
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BB? Might be a stupid question, but Best Buy? When I had the radio installed there the first time they only had this other kit that didn't let me keep the pocket. The kit you're referring to though, is it better made then the metra kit? cause when I tried that it made the cd player sit down in the dash too much and the cd player didn't open correctly or anything. Thanks!

Edit: Also do you know anybody that has this deck installed?

 
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Hi Dups..I was referring to Best Buy. All the kits for 7thgen civics mount the HU a little further back than OEM.. I've seena f ew 840MP's in 7thgen civics using the American International kit and they did not mention any problems..