Help upgrade audio in my 2010 Saab 9-3

[thatsright]

I have a 2010 Saab 9-3 Sport sedan with the base audio 7 speakers (no Bose). I want to upgrade the craptacular speakers on the front dash and the two front passenger doors. I don’t really care about the two speakers in the rear deck and will keep the stock speakers-unless it will impact overall performance negatively with new speakers? Overall questions:

1. Budget is $500-800 (hard limit). I called crutchfield and they put together a nice package of Boston Acoustics/Polk speakers. Can you guys recommend the best performance speakers I can buy for my budget? Just need 5 speakers. Don’t think I need a separate amp?
2. Do I need to replace the CD player head unit in the dash? If I keep the current head unit with new speakers, will the head unit degrade sound quality? What have you used to replace the stock unit?
3. Biggest unknown is how/who will install all this. Not entirely comfortable installing all this myself. I can’t find any other people with my model who has done it and have instructions on how to install new equipment.
4. Can anyone recommend a shop in Boston, MA that will install my speakers (I buy from crutchfield) for a reasonable price?

Take me to school boys and girls!!

 

[SpatiallyAware]

If I were you, I'd post on the saab forums and see what most of them are doing. We can recommend a full out replacement, but it's possible that a few of your speakers are known to not be up to par, and you could just replace those.

 

[thatsright]

If I were you, I'd post on the saab forums and see what most of them are doing. We can recommend a full out replacement, but it's possible that a few of your speakers are known to not be up to par, and you could just replace those.

I posted there a few days ago, and got nuthin back. So hoping you guys could suggest...

 

[Thump553]

If it helps my old 96 Saab 900 (became the 9-3) came prewired for speakers in all locations. Was easy to work on the head unit or get at the speakers in the doors or rear (never did any with the dash ones)-pop the door panels off and you are good to go. As I vaguely recall the head unit required a special screwdriver.

As to what to replace it with, no idea-hopefully someone at the Saab forum will help (they were great forums back then). I'm a bit surprised you don't like your speakers because the stock system in my 900 was far better than most, including some pretty expensive aftermarket.

 

[DeviousTrap]

I'd either add an amp or change the headunit before I messed with the speakers.

I had an old 9-5 where I planned on changing the whole system, but after I first changed the headunit and saw such a massive improvement that I didn't bother with the speakers.

 

[nitrous9200]

Check SaabCentral, there's plenty of info over there.

I haven't done it personally but a very common upgrade is to replace the speakers on top of the dash with Boston S35's (which I think are discontinued and replaced by the SE35, but check first). People say that it makes a substantial difference, and from looking at the instructions, not hard to do. It's a good place to start.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Boston S35's in the dash - disconnect the center speaker and just keep left/right channels.

 

[thatsright]

Boston S35's in the dash - disconnect the center speaker and just keep left/right channels.

Looks like the S35's are discontinued. Anything 'better/same' quality but the same size so it will fit?