The shaker 500 head unit aactually puts out good sound, especially using the CD. It is
the speakers that suck - changing the head unit won't help that. Not sure what you want,
but upgrading just the 6x8's in the doors and rear deck help alot (>$300). If you need
killer bass, a 12" sub in a Scosche box with 250w+ amp in the trunk will easily
accomplish that ($550-700); or you could replace the head unit, all the door speakers
(8" subs and 6x8's), rear deck speakers, a 12" sub and add the 3 or 4 amps in the trunk
to power it all for about $2,500 or so. Those prices are just for the parts. The door and
deck 6x8's are an easy diy if you buy the Metra wiring adapter (free at Crutcfield) -
about 2 hours total. A full 3 amp (1-2ch (door subs), 1-1ch (12" sub) and 1-4ch (6x8's)
replacement system, if you know what you are doing and are going to do it right (power strips,
separating the wiring, all new speaker leads, mounting the amps neatly under the package shelf,
using the factory 8" grills, Dynamating trunk and doors, etc) will take 20-25 hours, minimum -
If I were still doing installs professionally, that would be a $2,500+ install; and no the hacks at
Circuit City, Best Buy, etc could never do it right.
the speakers that suck - changing the head unit won't help that. Not sure what you want,
but upgrading just the 6x8's in the doors and rear deck help alot (>$300). If you need
killer bass, a 12" sub in a Scosche box with 250w+ amp in the trunk will easily
accomplish that ($550-700); or you could replace the head unit, all the door speakers
(8" subs and 6x8's), rear deck speakers, a 12" sub and add the 3 or 4 amps in the trunk
to power it all for about $2,500 or so. Those prices are just for the parts. The door and
deck 6x8's are an easy diy if you buy the Metra wiring adapter (free at Crutcfield) -
about 2 hours total. A full 3 amp (1-2ch (door subs), 1-1ch (12" sub) and 1-4ch (6x8's)
replacement system, if you know what you are doing and are going to do it right (power strips,
separating the wiring, all new speaker leads, mounting the amps neatly under the package shelf,
using the factory 8" grills, Dynamating trunk and doors, etc) will take 20-25 hours, minimum -
If I were still doing installs professionally, that would be a $2,500+ install; and no the hacks at
Circuit City, Best Buy, etc could never do it right.
