Non-JBL Speaker Upgrade?

[kathrynne1]

Forgive me if this was posted before, I've searched but not found an exact answer.

I have an 07 prius, package 2, without the premium sound. I picked out some speakers today at Circuit City, and they said NO WAY, we're never installing anything on a Prius again. They asked if it "Had a computer?". I answered "Well, yes, I think so..." and they claimed that when they tried to install speakers on someone else's Prius the front screen wouldn't work, and they had to pay to have Toyota replace the whole system. They also said that the speakers are attached to the door and can't be used again once they're removed.

Is any of this true?

I then went to Best Buy, and they said sure, we can install them. Just use our wire harnesses.

Ok then..

I'm still a little nervous. Is this something a Best Buy car audio person can do? I've read other posts here, and people say they did have things installed there.. but what was the Circuit City issue then? Were they just lying, inept, or talking about a Prius with the JBL speakers?

Speakers
These are the speakers I picked out, by the way. Are they ok? They sounded fine at the store, but I'm no expert. All I know is the factory speakers sound BAD.

Crutchfield also says they won't fit, but Best Buy's computer said they would. Do I need 6 1/2 or 6 3/4?

Thanks for any help you can give, I'm terribly confused.

[Presto]

You're not exactly getting a quality install from Best Buy. Whether you're talking to an expert or not is very hit and miss. To the first ones that messed up the computer... they were just morons, and probably panicked when they saw the MFD.

In order to put in new speakers, the old ones have to be removed, and they are riveted to the door. No big loss...once you have new speakers, you'll never go back to the stock pieces o' crap again.

6 1/2" is the size you're looking for. They'll need spacers to install them, but they should have the sufficient supplies to do that. The Alpines are a decent choice for general listening. I started off with Alpines.

[kathrynne1]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Mar 29 2007, 11:15 PM) [snapback]414639[/snapback]</div>

You're not exactly getting a quality install from Best Buy. Whether you're talking to an expert or not is very hit and miss. To the first ones that messed up the computer... they were just morons, and probably panicked when they saw the MFD.

In order to put in new speakers, the old ones have to be removed, and they are riveted to the door. No big loss...once you have new speakers, you'll never go back to the stock pieces o' crap again.

6 1/2" is the size you're looking for. They'll need spacers to install them, but they should have the sufficient supplies to do that. The Alpines are a decent choice for general listening. I started off with Alpines.
[/b]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! If Best Buy isn't decent, can you recommend anything better? I'm in the SE Michigan area.

Also, the Alpine's are $110 a pair, is there something better I should get? Any recommendations? I like classical music and opera, and I tend to like it loud.

(I looked up the ones you have listed in your signature.. they're a bit pricey! Anything in a mid range?)

[Beryl Octet]

Keep the hell away from Circuit City. From trying to inflict DIVX on us all a few years ago, to firing folks so they can rehire them at a lower wage, I just don't see why anyone would bother with them. I might buy a cable or something there, but I'd sure not want them to do anything to my Prius or any other car for that matter.

[kathrynne1]

Ah DIVX, I soon I forgot. I didn't know about the firing and re-hiring though, sheesh. Yea, my conversation with the install bay guys was enough to scare me away from there for a long time.

[Beryl Octet]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kathrynne1 @ Mar 29 2007, 10:33 PM) [snapback]414655[/snapback]</div>

Ah DIVX, I soon I forgot. I didn't know about the firing and re-hiring though, sheesh. Yea, my conversation with the install bay guys was enough to scare me away from there for a long time.
[/b]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-circ...rack=crosspromo

Circuit City Stores Inc. has a message for some of its best-paid employees: Work for less or work somewhere else.

The electronics retailer on Wednesday laid off 3,400 people who earned "well above" the local market rate for the sort of jobs they held at its stores.

In 11 weeks they'll be able to apply for their old positions — which will come with lower hourly wages.

[Sillyboy]

As far as I could tell, the stock head unit (non-jbl) was adding some very significant boost to treble and bass. The upgraded speakers (while better in sooooo many ways) also sounded weird to me (assumbily the lack of mid range). The Silly Audio Upgrade (or whatever its called) thread shows my measured frequency response.

On ther other hand, I don't actually know what the hell I am doing Still, replacing my speakers has led me down a long chain of audio upgrade madness

[Vagabond]

Go look around at local audio installers and ask to see pics or take a look at an install they're currently working on.