I'm looking to replace the dash speaker's in my '84. I had to replace the stereo as well and ordered a Kenwood KDC BT752HD. I think the headrest speakers are stock and I'm going to stick with 4x10 in the dash. The Kenwood and Kicker versions both have good reviews and have both been used in Fieros but I wanted to see if anyone has compared the two. Also I don't plan on installing an amp or sub if that makes any difference-I don't know a lot about sound systems.

Heres the rub with stereo components - one can review all the specs, and other's likes/dislikes about them, but all that doesn't mean squat in terms of how you're going to like them unless you have a solid understanding of how the individual specs will affect the way a speaker sounds (and this goes well beyond the common RMS power rating, impedance, physical size, etc that all the guides tell you to focus on). Sadly, many of the companies don't publish these specs, even some of the higher end companies, so obtaining it will be difficult.

What it ultimately comes down to is what sounds best to you, and this is why I refuse to buy any audio equipment without first experiencing it myself (and even this isn't an end all be all...speakers mounted to a wall in your local Best Buy/car audio shop/whereever can sound drastically different in your car compared to on the wall). Relying on online reviews is a crap shoot, because you'll run into a lot of people that think anything made by a particular company is awesome, while some other company makes pure crap. I've got friends that think the ultra cheap Pyles, Boss, and Lanzars are the greatest thing since sliced bread, whereas I'd rather deal with stock speakers than listen to that crap. My Dad can't tell the difference between the stock stuff in his Ranger compared to my all Boston Acoustics and Polk setup, whereas I could hear a difference in my stuff just switching from a Pioneer to an Alpine amp (and I could tell a BIG difference when I switched from the Alpine speakers to the Boston Acoustics).

My personal opinion would be to go for the Kickers over the Kenwoods in the 4x10s. I have had both, and I've always thought that the Kenwoods were rather muddy in the midrange, and didn't offer much of anything in the higher ranges. But then I've never really been impressed by _any_ 4x10 speaker I've experienced. Since it's such an uncommon size, the manufacturers don't offer much in that size, and it's typically limited to their lower range offerings. The few times I've needed 4x10 speakers, I ended up making an adapter plate, and installing a 3.5" round, 4" round, or adapted the vehicle for a 4x6 plate. Yes, you lose pretty much all the low end, and a good chunk of the midrange with the 3.5 or 4, but you can make up for that with a 5.25 or 6.5 somewhere else in the vehicle.

I replaced my speakers with the Pyle brand as they had the power rating to match my replacement radio.
I also used the 4X10 size, and they sound good, even at higher levels.

quote Originally posted by urbex: My personal opinion would be to go for the Kickers over the Kenwoods in the 4x10s.

That would be my personal opinion to. I have never cared for Kenwood speakers. The Mazda we recently bought, the P.O. had installed Kenwood speakers in the doors. I replaced those within the first week with Polk speakers.

I have Pioneer coax 4x10s in my 84 and they sound very good for a 4x10. The bass is pretty solid, way better than the stock speakers ever were. I think I got the pair for around $65