Best after-market speaker upgrade??

There's so many choices. But basically in front you want to go with components, a set that has separate tweeter and woofer. For the rear doors you want coaxial, or 2-way, which have a tweeter mounted on top of a woofer. The holes in the doors are perfect for 6 1/2" speakers and there's no reason to go smaller.
Go to some stores and listen to the speakers, see what you like in your price range. Any speaker will sound better if you add an amplifier, but that's up to your ears and your budget as well, it adds a lot of complexity and cost to the install.
I went with the Boston SL60s and they sound very nice, but need an amp. That'll be happening at a later date. See my other thread here: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-audio-electronics/69676-boston-sl60s-added-up-front.html
Alpine has some nice sounding low cost options that fit and could be done as 'drop in' upgrades. Then if you decide you want an amp later, they'll just sound better. See these:
Alpine SPS-600C Type-S 6-3/4" component speaker system — fits in 6-1/2" or 6-3/4" openings at Crutchfield.com
Alpine SPS-600 Type-S 6-3/4" 2-way car speakers — fits in 6-1/2" or 6-3/4" openings at Crutchfield.com

Don't worry too much about what Crutchfield says doesn't fit, as long as they're not super deep it's not hard to get them attached. Examples of that in my other thread already linked.

Happy hunting, it's an adventure for sure. But don't get to locked into online fact finding, go listen to some speakers in person.

- D

 

Component speakers come with crossovers, either a separate box (like with my Bostons) or built onto the woofer - the Alpines I linked have it that way. Usually the nicer more expensive ones have the separate box.

- D

 

Get out to a store and LISTEN to a bunch of speakers before you buy. They all sound different and everyone has different tastes regarding the sound THEY like.

Just remmeber to bring a few decently recorded CDs. I can't count how many times someone has brought in a horribly recorded "alternative rock" cd then tried to say the speaker I sell sound like crap... lol

 

My problem is very boomy bass, especially noticeable in the voices of announcers, commentators, etc. I listen to a lot of NPR radio programs and mostly classical music, all of it on radio. Would a speaker upgrade help with this?

My car is an '08 with the basic audio package.

 

Not likely. Turning down the bass should help some. Other than that I would look into replacing the factory stereo with an aftermarket unit. You'll get better sound quality, more media options like iPod or a USB input PLUS you will get a better equalizer to adjust for the boomy bass in the vocal range. Most decks have a preset EQ function that is set for vocals when listening to news or audio books. Spend a little more and you can have bluetooth built in as well. The install is a snap and looks very clean. See my post about "stealth aftermarket".

 

After seeing the simple 400 steps required to install door speakers, I'm pretty sure I'll have someone else do the work. Is there a drop in speaker for the FRONT? Those special mounts for the Bostons - bought or custom made? And I don't have a clue what an eDead80 is. I'll probably go with Alpine in the back and just because they drop-in. I really like drop-in. The stock unit (2008) also DESPERATELY NEEDS an amplifier. Is there one of those that drops in as well? I mean, I don't even want to splice speaker wires if I can avoid it. Plug n Play, that's what I want.

 

The only way to get true plug and play is with an aftermarket wiring system, which I don't think anyone makes for the Prius. I'm not aware of any drop-in speakers (they all seem to need a bit of drilling, and the stock plugs on the existing speakers don't plug onto anything else). However, this is the normal state for most aftermarket systems.

F8L is right - the best approach is to change it all. For a compromise, I stayed with the stock head unit (radio and CD player) and changed all the speakers, added a subwoofer, and added a 5-channel amp.

 

Don't sweat the custom speaker baffles (mounts) I made or the eDead 80 vibration damping. That's all optional icing. Having someone else do the install is certainly a time saver. I DIY for the fun of it. Try just a speaker upgrade first, whatever speakers you listen to and like. Then see if you want to take it further with a new head unit or an amplifier. I'm currently rethinking my own plans to bring down the cost and leave future upgrades as an option.

- D