Keeping stock radio (non monsoon), but better speakers

[BlueLghtning]

Okay, I kept telling myself I wasn't going to do anything with either radio in the bugs, but having blown or non-working speakers in both Beetle's is driving me nuts. In my '97 Grand Am I sold I had a system I probably spent over $1500 on back when bought it in '98. I had a nice Sony head unit with a 1000w peak power 4 channel amp pushing the main 4 speakers and a 600w amp pushing two 12" in a big box in the trunk. That thing was pretty sweet sounding although as I got older, I gave up on the big box, but still really enjoyed the 4 main speakers which sounded great. I'm not going to drop anywhere near that amount of money or want that much power, but I know I can get it to sound "acceptable" or even good compared to the crap it sounds like now.

Our 00 & 01 TDI Beetle's both of the factory non-Monsoon tape decks which is fine. I'm listening to XM through a cassette adapter in mine, and my wife listen's to her iPod through a cassette adapter in hers. If you ask me, I'd rather do that then FM modulators and I gave up on CD's a long time ago, so doesn't bother me not to have CD players in there. I wouldn't mind actual aux inputs, but that seems like an issue in its self, so not going there right now.

I actually like the looks of the stock head units and really don't want to mess with aftermarket ones. I would assume both of ours still have stock speakers all the way around. I know wattage wise, they are probably pretty weak, but I would think some better speakers and working speakers would definitely help.

We both have 6 speakers as far as I know. 2 tweets in the A-pillars, 2 door speakers, and 2 rear speakers. So in my 00 Beetle, my rear speakers sound decent and is where I'm getting 95% of my music from. Both of my front door speakers are dead. No noise what so ever. My tweeters up front work, but I don't think their sound is all that great.

In my wife's 01, the right rear is blown and sounds like crap. I'm tempted just to disconnect it. The left front also sounds pretty bad and faint. The left rear sounds fine and I think her right front door works, maybe, but the tweets are dead.

So what type & size of speakers do we have in our Beetles? Are they full range in the rear and door's or maybe mid in the doors with the tweets in the A-piller? What size in each?
What about stock wattage?

What speakers (wattage wise) would work best with the stock non-monsoon system? Would it be wise to maybe get a small amp to push a bit more power and could an amp even be hooked up to this stock system?

[BlueLghtning]

I'm getting no love in this thread!

My biggest question here is just suggestions on what speakers would work well with the stock head unit? I would guess knowing what ohms the stock speakers are at and what wattage/ohms I should be looking at for aftermarket speakers?

Also what are the stock sizes in a 6 speaker non-monsoon setup?

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Crutchfield should be able to match you up with whatever price range you want. Haven't used them in years, but they used to be most knowledgeable when it came to proper fitment to both the car and head unit. At least, at that point you can start shopping price.

MORAV

[Smileybug]

The front doors are 6 1/2" I believe. Unsure about the rears but I think they might be the same.

I'd change out the ones in the doors and then see how things sound. Mine were totally shot...when I took them out they were torn about 98% of the way around so they were still producing sound but it was terribly buzzy. Put in some new speakers and it really improved the sound. I have MBQuartz speakers up front in mine, but they are 5 1/4" and they were free (more or less...came with something we bought for our Mk1 but I don't think the seller knew they were in there).

[Stlbug]

I have replaced the door speakers with 6 inch polks. They rock. Get them at Best Buy for under 100 bucks. You can buy a new head of your choice, a good one too, for 140 on up complete with inputs for ipods and mp3that will have enough power to run all 6 speakers. The problem is the cross overs. You will have to buy them sperate, or buy a speaker set with the cross overs tweeters included for aroud 160. Then anouther 25 for the facial plate for the new head to fit into old radio spot. and a few dollors more for stuff to adapt your existing speaker wire harness. buy it at best buy and the install is free often times. they did an excellent job on my bug. Oh buy the way the door speakers are your bass.

[Toad]

non monsoon is mid-bass in the doors and in back - 6 1/2 to 6 3/4. the tweeters in the a-pillar are just basic tweeters that you will need to do some sort of custom work to get after market ones in there nicely.

I really can't advise on any speaker for use with the factory head unit. It's got such a weak amp in it, that the only advice i can give is look for something with a really high sensitivity.

If you are dead set on keeping the stock deck, get a 4-channel amp that has speaker level inputs. Then you can wire up a nice set of components in front and coaxials in the back.