UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

I dont know a lot about car audio so I need a bit of help.
I want to change all the internal components in my car and replace them with a set of quality mid-range speakers and maybe a couple of 7 x 10s on the back shelf. However I already have a base tube in the boot that has a built in amp and I dont think this can be amped further by an external amp.
Should I take the base tube out and get a whole new 12" sub? if so what 1 and how should I set up the 7 x 10 and other components?

The problem I have is that i dont think both the 7 x 10s and base tube will go together and i definatley need to upgrade from the crappy VW speakers. What should I start with and make will be the best. Cheers

get a set of component speakers to fit the doors and on top of the dash, and a sub in the boot. It will sound awesome. you could power the components from an amp but you don't have to - a head unit will do the job. I just fitted a set of Alpine 6.5" midrange in the doors along with their tweeters in the dash and it's amazing. you don't need to put speakers in the back shelf just yet - changing the fronts will do enough to keep you content for a long time! ditch the bass tube.

so the recommended shopping list would be:

1x amp (4 channel so you can expand it to power rear speakers if you need)
1x wiring kit for the amp
1x sub and box (whatever size you want, it'll depend on budget and the amount you want to spend and whether you want ported (resonance at a tuned frequency) or sealed (space and puncy bass))
1 x component speakers - midrange and tweeters

the specs all depend on how much you want to spend.... the components I managed to get for £100, and you could find a sub and amp and box in the back of max power (not literally) for £100 too (hmm) but you'll probably be looking at a couple of hundred. the wiring kits start at £25. if you look hard enough you can find some awesome deals around.

what head unit do you have? are you replacing that too?

hope this helps

I have the "Gamma" head unit that u get with the Polo 9n. Iv'e poked around and fiddled with it. It does have phono outs at the back and one of my friends have hooked it up to a 2 channel sub and 10" sub. All seems to be well. But if need be I will change the head unit if this has any significant benefits. The CD changer is VW though.(boot) Doesn't that comprimise on sound quality? I definalty have to change the door speakers as the passenger door speaker has blown but the tweeters seem to be good quality.
I'm going to get rid of the base tube. But can i use the wiring from it becasue it was a b1tch to lay them in. Ive got pics if needed.

I would stick with your head unit and cd player for now and concentrate on the door speakers. As for the sub, you will need to wire some beefier wire for the amp you choose. Unless you have big wire for the bass tube (8 awg is pretty big wire but you'll need this for a 4 channel amp - it's much larger than the normal wiring in a car).

Anyhow, the best tip for laying new wire is to route it down underneath the door seals, that way it's a lot easier than putting it under carpets etc. You will need to do it both sides - one for the power and the other for the RCA (signal) cable. Just thread it through the bulkhead, then lift up the door rubbers and thread it down the gap between the floor metal and the sill metal. It's the best way I've found.

Sounds like you have a fairly big project on your hands

Thanks Dave. I will keep you posted.

I have to choose the make and model of the replacement front components and I was wondering how I should set these up. I was thinking of Infinity for all the front components and a 4 channel Kenwood amp for the sub and the front components. I also want to add a couple of tweeters and I would like to know where the best place would be locate them. Pictures are available if needed

U want really to run front components and rear speakers off the 4ch amp hpf (high pass filter) or stereo wot eva your amp says, then get a high power bridgable amp to run the sub on lpf (low pass filter) thats wot i have and it sound sweet!!!!!!!!

You should be able to find an amp that will high pass one output and low pass the other - my old sony did that.

With makes of speakers - it's up to you, I have Alpine and Rockford Fosgate and it's awesome. But everyone has their favourites. I think Infinity are pretty darn good too!

The tweeters should be placed in the line of ear sight - on the dash ideally. On the mkiv you can place them where the current vw tweeters are in the dash.

On the 9n the front tweeters are located in the windscreen pillar to the left and right. I was thinking it would be a b1cth to take them out and change them so I was thinking drill space for a new pair.

So I get a 2 channel amp with one high and one low pass for the speakers and sub. I need to sort out the front components ASAP because I'm driving around with no LHS door speaker. I was thinking if your going to upgrade then you might as well go all out. Can I run my sub off a seperate 1000watt amp completely independant to another amp running the internal components? Oh and has anyone changed their door speakers and how does do they sound amped up?

If theres no-where to put a tweeter then you could dis-connect the old one an run a set of co-axials instead - these are where the tweeter is actual mounted in the speaker itself (pics availble if needed)

Yeah, I would like to know how this works. Aren't co-auxials bigger than normal tweeter?

I have the standard vw tweets running off the head unit, my front and rear speakers are co-auxials there isnt really a lot of difference i dont think between these and components, apart from the price!!! my Infinitys kick out a comfortable 225w and i think the Kickers 7*5's are roughly the same.

I wouldn't recommend disconnecting the speakers and using coaxials lower in the door - it'll sound much worse than using separate tweeters and woofers.

I took the old tweeters out and then used the vw wiring (I'm not amping mine). Otherwise just mount them on the dash (preferably in a non destructive way).

You can use separate amps for components and subs. This may be better because you could mount the front speaker amp nearer to the speakers.... your choice. You will have to make sure either the head unit has 2 rca outputs or at least one amp has a "pass through" rca so you can connect up both amps easily.

My components sound awesome, and the tweeters make a huge difference. The biggest effect is the sub tho