2011 EXL W/NAV Speaker Upgrade???

[mikejfrd]

I just picked an 2011 EXL w/nav. Love the car, but I'm unhappy with the audio. I did some searching in here and see that I'm not the only one!!

There isnt too much in here in reference to just replacing the speakers in the 09-11 (leaving the amp. HU, and sub.)

Which speakers can I get away with replacing? From what I've been reading, the door speakers are 6 1/2? Is there a 6 1/2 in each of the 4 doors?? If so which speakers can I replace them with?

I searched and the only speaker I really came up with were the Sony XS-GT1626A's.

Any suggestions???

[rocky]

you'll probably get some good information from Crutchfield.

[mikejfrd]

yeah i tried that... the only one that they really recommended were the sonys.

[mikejfrd]

I found these apline SPS-600's.

Crutchfield says they will not fit
Alpine SPS-600 Type-S 6-3/4" 2-way car speakers — fits in 6-1/2" or 6-3/4" openings at Crutchfield.com

Bestbuy says that they will fit
Alpine - Type-S 6-1/2" 2-Way Coaxial Car Speakers with Poly-Mica Cones (Pair) - SPS-600

Any ideas???

[bblueser]

I tried replacing only the factory speakers in my '09 (and not install an aftermarket amplifier) and it sounded awful. So save yourself time and trouble and if you're looking for better sound, you gotta install new speakers, powered by an aftermarket amp, connected to the factory head unit using a JL Cleansweep. It's the only way to improve on the sound system.

[rka4570]

I've replaced the the door speakers (front and rear) with Alpine SPR-17S
6-1/2" Component 2-Way Speaker and powered it with an Alpine MRP-F300
4/3/2 Channel Power Amplifier mounted under the seat. The speakers are 2 piece and my installer mounted the woofers in the door and the tweeters in the corners in the dash replacing the factory units. For rears again the woofers were mounted in the doors and the tweeter were mounted in the pillars (I have the touring with 10 factory speakers). The speakers come with a seperate crossover box that my installer used to fine tune the speaker adjustment. Prior to the install I was thinking about replacing the factory sub but after this upgrade for me it is no longer necessay! The speakers have much more mid bass and the sound is much fuller. This is the same set-up the used when my installer did a custom install fot the president of Alpine! Although for MDX they did a very involved sub-woofer fiberglass enclosure. I For me just change the door speakers was going to be the starting point but ended up being all that I needed.

[samelcamel]

Originally Posted by bblueser

I tried replacing only the factory speakers in my '09 (and not install an aftermarket amplifier) and it sounded awful. So save yourself time and trouble and if you're looking for better sound, you gotta install new speakers, powered by an aftermarket amp, connected to the factory head unit using a JL Cleansweep. It's the only way to improve on the sound system.

Do you have a part number and price on that JL Cleansweep for the 2011 Pilot?

[bblueser]

To: RKA4570

I read where you installed new Alpine speakers, powered by an aftermarket amplifier.

Question 1: What did you do about the factory head unit's automatic noise canceling (ANC) system? I understand that the two microphones in the headliner must be disconnected when an aftermarket systems is installed.

Question 2: If you did disconnect the ANC system, can you tell any difference in road noise, or noise from the engine as it switches from 6-4-3 cylinder operation?

Finally, please post details and photos of your system, as I am sure that many owners-like myself-are considering upgrading their sound sytems.

[rka4570]

Originally Posted by bblueser

To: RKA4570

I read where you installed new Alpine speakers, powered by an aftermarket amplifier.

Question 1: What did you do about the factory head unit's automatic noise canceling (ANC) system? I understand that the two microphones in the headliner must be disconnected when an aftermarket systems is installed.

Question 2: If you did disconnect the ANC system, can you tell any difference in road noise, or noise from the engine as it switches from 6-4-3 cylinder operation?

Finally, please post details and photos of your system, as I am sure that many owners-like myself-are considering upgrading their sound sytems.

All head unit functions are intact nothing has changed. The ANC is intact. Basically my installer said the radio is just a head unit and it normally sends signals to an external amp where then goes to the speakers. The installer wired in the new amp where the stock was. The Alpine amp has the ability to take these signals and then send them to the speakers. The way the speakers were installed 2 sets of speakers replaced 8 speakers leaving only the small center dash speaker and subwoofer as the only stock speakers left in the car. So since the head unit is still receiving input from the ANC mics and still outputting that signal through the new amp and out to the speakers all ANC function remain intact.
My installer really knows his stuff as their team has been in upper end car stereos for literally 20 plus years. They produced award many winning competition systems in the 80's and 90's. Today they contribute many articles to Car Audio and Car Stereo Review. So these guys design and install top notch systems that play music very accurately not just maximum sound!
I can take pictures but you cannot tell it visually from the stock system. All speakers are behind the stock grilles in their stock locations.
Just a side note the speakers that came out of the Pilot are pathetic! The magnets are the size of a quarter and the cones are very flimsy. The speaker baskets are junk. these are great for keeping both weight and cost down and a majority of the people never touch them but they are first thing that needs to go!

[bblueser]

Thanks again for the info...could you please let me know the name of the shop that installed your stereo. I'd like to call and discuss options for upgrading the stereo in my 09 Pilot.
Thanks

[Larbo]

Originally Posted by rka4570

.....My installer really knows his stuff as their team has been in upper end car stereos for literally 20 plus years. They produced award many winning competition systems in the 80's and 90's. Today they contribute many articles to Car Audio and Car Stereo Review. So these guys design and install top notch systems that play music very accurately not just maximum sound!....

I am in SoCal, too. Who are these guys??

[kasrhp]

Make sure you listen to clean audio. Always have MP3's at 320kbps and listen to FLAC and Wav when possible. The closer you get to lossless audio, the better the music will sound. Too many people complain about the sound of their stereo (factory or not) and are listening to music ripped at 128kbps or even satellite radio or normal radio. Just an FYI

[Larbo]

If the bass stinks when playing a Porcupine Tree CD.....it stinks period.

[cwessner]

Does anyone have a link or instructions of how to remove the door panels on a 09 -11 Pilot?

Looking to dynamat and was hoping to find instructions instead of just experimenting with the door panel removal. Most pretty much come off the same way, but was hoping to find some help.

thanks

[bassic]

Originally Posted by rka4570

All head unit functions are intact nothing has changed. The ANC is intact. Basically my installer said the radio is just a head unit and it normally sends signals to an external amp where then goes to the speakers. The installer wired in the new amp where the stock was. The Alpine amp has the ability to take these signals and then send them to the speakers. The way the speakers were installed 2 sets of speakers replaced 8 speakers leaving only the small center dash speaker and subwoofer as the only stock speakers left in the car. So since the head unit is still receiving input from the ANC mics and still outputting that signal through the new amp and out to the speakers all ANC function remain intact.
My installer really knows his stuff as their team has been in upper end car stereos for literally 20 plus years. They produced award many winning competition systems in the 80's and 90's. Today they contribute many articles to Car Audio and Car Stereo Review. So these guys design and install top notch systems that play music very accurately not just maximum sound!
I can take pictures but you cannot tell it visually from the stock system. All speakers are behind the stock grilles in their stock locations.
Just a side note the speakers that came out of the Pilot are pathetic! The magnets are the size of a quarter and the cones are very flimsy. The speaker baskets are junk. these are great for keeping both weight and cost down and a majority of the people never touch them but they are first thing that needs to go!

What shop? Please PM me if you don't want to post it here. I just picked up a 11 Pilot and I'm not impressed with the audio. Surprisingly if I'm sitting in the third row the bass is nice and powerful, however for whatever reason it just doesn't sound as good from the front seat.

Is this new amp powering the subwoofer, and do you think it would be possible (or even necessary) to replace it with a quality aftermarket woofer?