As others have said, go read Richard Bevan's 9900/9-3 Audio Guide in the FAQ section of this site. As he suggests, you can go step by step and add upgrades as you feel the need.

Since you say you have little to no experience doing this kind of work, the easiest upgrade would be just to replace the dash speakers with new ones. Richard's audio guide describes how to easily pop the grills in the dash off so you can get to the speaker. You can get some good speakers on sale and do this upgrade for $50 or less. You could try that and then see if that makes enough of an improvement for you. If so, then you are done and all it would take is an hour or two one afternoon.

I also had little experience with car stereo (more with home audio), but following Richard's instructions and other posts on this bulletin board, I installed door speakers in my base 9-3 powered by a 50W amp I was able to squeeze into the location where the Saab audio upgrade amp goes (behind the passenger footwell kick-panel). This project took twice as long as I thought it would (two Saturday afternoons and evenings), but it was something I was interested in learning how to do. For about $125 and the time, the results were great! (I still may replace the dash speakers at some point.) If you are handy with tools and a soldering iron (or know a friend who is) this can be a do-it-yourself job. Just go slow and "measure twice, drill/cut once". :-)

But before you do anything, spend a week listening to the type of music you like in the stock system in your new car and decide for yourself if it is good enough as it is. That's the least expensive solution of all!

In my case, it did not sound as good as the stock system in my previous car (Acura Integra), and as most here have said that is due to the speakers. So listen for yourself and then decide which step to take. Good luck!

Mark

• Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, Jeff, Tue, 24 Apr 2001 19:32:53
  • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, Pete B., Sat, 28 Apr 2001 01:10:49
  • I'd recommend the door speaker/amp upgrade..., mfatic, Thu, 26 Apr 2001 14:20:19
  • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, r34, Wed, 25 Apr 2001 13:02:55
    • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, Jeff, Wed, 25 Apr 2001 19:24:34
      • Go one step at a time, Mark Anderson, Thu, 26 Apr 2001 13:06:54 <-- Viewing This Message
      • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, DaveP, Wed, 25 Apr 2001 20:48:53
      • My opinion it it's a speaker issue, Wes Miller, Wed, 25 Apr 2001 20:32:38
  • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, Kayne, Wed, 25 Apr 2001 12:12:04
  • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, 93conv, Wed, 25 Apr 2001 08:19:44
  • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, 93Gator, Wed, 25 Apr 2001 08:13:04
  • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, Chris K, Wed, 25 Apr 2001 00:20:16
  • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, Keith K., Tue, 24 Apr 2001 19:50:32
    • i thought it was a Pioneer system... no?, modest mouse , Thu, 26 Apr 2001 16:58:55
      • The head unit and CD changer are Pioneer, as for the upgrade..., Mark Anderson, Fri, 27 Apr 2001 13:11:52
    • Frankly, if it IS HK, that just shot my impression of them, Wes Miller, Thu, 26 Apr 2001 11:55:19
    • Re: Speaker Quality on 9-3 base, nick , Tue, 24 Apr 2001 21:13:14

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