stereo upgrade advice

[shirt]

i am looking to upgrade the stereo in my elise. it really is rubbish as standard. i know its never going to be amazing but it can be better.

anyway, i'm looking at using 2 pairs of these speakers. one set on the dash top and the second pair without tweeters/crossovers behind the seats. a few guys on the US lotus forums have done this with good results. i'm pretty much sold on these speakers due to a combination of reviews and price.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-TS-D1330C-Component-...

my question therefore is whether this receiver will be sufficient to drive them. the alternative will be to purchase one of those alpine class-d power packs as that could be fitted behind the receiver in the standard slot. however for simplicity/cost a one box solution would be better.

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/head-units/mechles...

thoughts?

[defblade]

Rear speakers will pull the sound stage backwards and ruin any chance of decent Sound Quality, but I'm guessing an Elise is not the best place to start for that anyway It will make it sound louder though. Beware clipping - most HUs will allow you to turn them up past the point they start to clip, and "nice" speakers are usually more sensitive ones, so die even more quickly from clipping that the rough-and-ready OE types...

The best simple system is pretty much always a set of component speakers up front and a sub behind (you can get very small subs if necessary). All these are best amped from external amps rather than the HU.

[vx220]

Do the front speakers, and find somewhere for a small active sub

There is an elise guide on here iirc, I'll have a Google

I used a Pioneer TS-WX120A in an MR2, made a big difference. Takes the pressure off the main speakers, so they sound better

Mine was tucked up under the dash by the steering column, and I believe you can do similar in an Elise but in the passenger footwell

[vx220]

Just Google "elise active sub"

Comes up with a few from here.

Some active subs now have spare amp channels to drive your components as well? Focal, nakamichi (not the "real" nakamichi anymore) and possibly some others...

[shirt]

i don't want a sub, unless you get a custom one built into the firewall then it looks crap imo. i think having the midrange drivers only in the firewall will be enough.

i went with 2 sets of the speakers linked plus pioneer's version of the alpine power pack and their mechless receiver [i like things to match!]. also bought a set of speaker rings from a US lotus forum and the car will be getting dynamatted and a new full carpet set. very anti-lotus i agree but easy to remove and essential when 'its cold outside' is 15degC.

[vx220]

Shame about the sub, as it takes a lot of pressure of the mid-bass speakers, the six-inchers in my MR2 sounded loads clearer once they were HPF'd at 80hz, with the sub taking over below.