Installing Aftermarket Speakers with Factory Head Unit

Having a great car stereo can make all the difference during a long road trip or daily commute. While many opt to completely replace their factory head units, upgrading your speakers while keeping the factory head unit is an effective and affordable way to significantly improve sound quality. In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about installing aftermarket speakers with factory head unit.

The factory stereo system in most vehicles leaves a lot to be desired in terms of sound quality. Tinny highs, nonexistent bass, and distortion at higher volumes are all common issues. Upgrading to aftermarket speakers can provide a huge improvement in sound with minimal investment.

While some choose to replace their factory head unit as part of the upgrade, this requires extra installation work and customization. The simpler route is to install new speakers while keeping the factory head unit intact.

With high-quality aftermarket speakers, you can achieve excellent sound while retaining critical features like Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls, and integrated screens on modern head units. This guide will walk you through the entire process step-by-step.

Table of Contents

Should You Keep the Factory Head Unit?

Here are some key benefits of retaining your factory head unit when upgrading your car’s audio system:

Cost savings – Aftermarket head units can cost hundreds of dollars while speakers are relatively affordable. Going with new speakers only keeps the project budget-friendly.

Retain factory features – Steering wheel audio controls, hands-free calling, voice commands, and rear entertainment screens will continue working with an OEM head unit.
Avoid customization – Upgrading the head unit often requires custom installation and modification to fit properly. Keeping the factory unit avoids this extra work.
Familiar interface – You’ll maintain the same look and feel you’re used to rather than learning a new head unit interface.

There are some downsides to consider as well:

Limited control – The settings and adjustability of factory head units are limited compared to aftermarket models. You may be stuck with preset equalizer settings and little flexibility.
Potential amplifier issues – Some factory systems have integrated amplifiers that complicate adding aftermarket speakers and require extra installation steps.

Overall, retaining the factory head unit makes the most sense for most drivers looking for audio upgrades on a budget. The convenience and cost savings outweigh the disadvantages for many car owners.

Choosing Aftermarket Speakers

Once you decide to keep the factory head unit, the next step is choosing a good set of aftermarket speakers. Here are the key factors to consider:

Size – Make sure replacement speakers match the dimensions of your factory speakers. Non-circular mounting patterns should be matched as well.

Power handling – Check the RMS power handling rating and ensure speakers are rated for at least the output of your head unit.
Impedance – Speakers should have the same impedance (typically 2 or 4 ohms) as the factory speakers to avoid issues.
Sensitivity – More sensitive speakers with higher dB ratings will play louder on a given amount of power.

Type – Decide between component speakers with separate tweeters and woofers or coaxial speakers with tweeters built-in.
Budget – Prices for car speakers range from under $50 to over $1000. Set realistic expectations based on how much you want to spend.

Quality brands like JBL, Alpine, Kicker, and Rockford Fosgate make speakers specifically designed as OEM upgrades and priced reasonably for most budgets.

Installation Tips and Process

Once you select the right aftermarket speakers for your vehicle and factory head unit, it’s time to tackle the installation. Follow these tips for the best results:

Consult your owner’s manual – Look up speaker sizes and specifications for your specific vehicle make and model.
Check speaker impedance – Ensure the new speakers match the impedance of the factory speakers as indicated in your manual.

Disconnect the battery – Remove the negative terminal from your battery before beginning installation to avoid short circuits.
Take your time – Rushing the installation often leads to mistakes and damaged parts. Follow instructions carefully.
Crimp or solder connections – Secure all wiring connections properly and insulate any exposed wire ends.

Installing Aftermarket Speakers with Factory Head Unit – Steps to Follow

Disconnect the battery and remove factory door panel trim and speaker grilles.
Unplug the factory speaker connectors and remove the speakers. Compare sizes and impedance to your new speakers.
Connect the new speaker wires to the vehicle’s wiring harness. Crimp connectors or solder if needed for a reliable connection.

Mount the new speakers in the door using the proper included hardware and spacers. Ensure a secure fit.
Reinstall door panels and test speakers. Make any necessary adjustments to fitment, wiring, or settings on the head unit.
Reconnect battery once installation is complete. Enjoy your upgraded sound!

Follow all instructions carefully, take your time, and don’t force any parts. With some patience and proper installation, your new speakers will work seamlessly with the factory head unit.

Tuning Tips for Best Sound with Factory Head Unit

While aftermarket speakers provide an instant improvement in sound quality, you can optimize the results using the tuning options on your OEM head unit:

Adjust fader/balance – Center the sound between front and back and left to right channels.

Reduce bass/treble – Turn down settings that boost low or high frequencies which new speakers handle better.
Try different EQ modes – Switch between preset modes like Pop, Rock, Jazz to find the best fit.
Set loudness off – Loudness boosts bass/treble at low volumes which isn’t needed with better speakers.

Adjust subwoofer – Having a factory subwoofer? Turn it down or off if new speakers have better bass.
Set radio volume to 3/4 max – Reduce risk of distortion at full volume with more efficient aftermarket speakers.

Be prepared to experiment with various settings to get the ideal combination. It helps to become very familiar with your head unit’s menu and capabilities.

Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

Even when carefully following all instructions, issues can arise during DIY installation of aftermarket speakers with a factory head unit:

No sound – First check wiring connections. Also try unplugging head unit and resetting it (check manual for how-to).
One side not working – Ensure balance is centered and all wires are securely connected on both speaker channels.

Speakers cut out at high volume – Head unit may have built in protection against low impedance. Verify speaker impedance matches factory spec.
Loud hiss/whine -May indicate an issue with grounding. Inspect all ground connections on head unit and amplifier if equipped.
Doors rattle – Rattling from the door panel area means the speakers may not be securely mounted. Tighten all screws and inspect adaptors.

Don’t be afraid to remove the newly installed speakers and start over if issues persist. Getting the details like proper mounting, wire routing, and correct impedance matching is critical.

Is Professional Installation Necessary?

While it is possible for many DIYers to tackle an aftermarket speaker install successfully, some may prefer leaving it in the hands of professionals:

Complex vehicle designs – Newer cars especially have much more complex and integrated electronics which are best handled by experienced installers.

Special audio packages – High end systems like Bose, Harman Kardon, or Bang & Olufsen have proprietary designs and amps that make DIY tricky.
Custom fabrication needs – Some installations may require custom adapter brackets, door panel trimming, or other modifications out of reach of novices.
Difficult access – Certain vehicles make accessing door speakers extremely difficult without removing seats and intricate trim pieces.

If any part of your install seems over your head, there is no shame in having a professional handle it. They have the expertise to complete the upgrade seamlessly with your factory system.

Maintaining Your Upgraded Sound System

Once your new speakers are broken in and tuned, a few maintenance steps will keep them sounding great:

Use moderate volume – Avoid blasting at max volume all the time which can damage any speakers over time.

Keep the interior clean – Dust and dirt on speaker cones and surrounds can degrade audio quality.
Check wiring connections – Speaker wires can vibrate loose. Make sure everything stays connected.
Watch for door rattles – Fix any new rattles right away that could indicate loose speakers.

Re-tune EQ periodically – Your “ideal” settings may change as speakers break in. Revisit tuning every few months.
Stay on top of repairs – Address any issues with fade/distortion quickly to avoid bigger problems down the road.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading your speakers with an aftermarket set while keeping the factory head unit is an easy and cost-effective way to significantly improve your car’s audio system. Following the tips and process outlined in this guide will help you choose the right speakers and complete the installation smoothly.

With high-quality aftermarket speakers paired with your OEM head unit, you can enjoy improved sound quality, deeper bass, and clearer highs without the cost and hassle of replacing the factory stereo. Just be sure to take your time, follow all procedures carefully, and properly tune your new system. Your ears will thank you for installing aftermarket speakers with factory head unit.