My Freely is a 2008 SE variant, and I think it has the lowest level audio system fitted. At first I didn't care but now I feel more and more that I would appreciate a better sound in the car.
In other threads I read that it is very difficult job to add an amplifier and subwoofer, however, I was wondering what are my options to improve sound at least a bit? The current speakers are very poor and I really miss bass when listening to the music.
Would it help if I replace speakers in doors with better ones? Or can I just add some subwoofer or do I need an amplifier to do the job?

Also other question: how many speakers my car actually has? I can see 9 mesh-like covers for speakers (4 in front doors, 2 in rear doors and 3 on the dash) however not sure whether the speakers are there actually fitted.

Thanks

Disclaimer: What I'm saying could be completely wrong but this is what I have learned from reading similar posts.

The lowest level of head unit is the easiest to replace. Any double din unit should be fine. Not sure about parking sensors though

I would assume because there is no amp or sub fitting one would be like doing it in any other car. Run the cables, find a space for the amp and sub in the boot, job done.

Replacing the speakers should be easy as well if they are the right size/mounts.

The problem is when you have the mid-line or hi-line systems as these use canbus Comms and fibre optics so it is much more complex and costly to upgrade.

Hope that's of some help. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

Thanks for your reply.
Now one question: let's say I find better performance speakers that will fit into the door space - would that be sufficient enough to have some sound quality upgrade?

No idea I'm afraid. It depends on what you view as better sound. A bit more bass, more mids, more clarity... I don't know.

Considering you can get nice Android Auto head units for not a lot I'd be tempted to do the whole lot.

Maybe someone with the low-line stereo could comment more. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

Change the amplifier before changing the speakers. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

If it's an Se it should have the mid range Alpine system fitted which has 8 speakers and a sub in the boot . Imo it doesn't sound too bad for a factory fitted system .

Mark 2009 FL2 TD4 SE (Sadly gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS (The wifes , gone after 8 great years)
2012 FL2 SD4 SPORT LE(Gone and missing it)
2015 DISCOVERY SPORT 2.2SD4 HSE (For now ?)
2014 Ford Bmax 1.0 ecoboost ( Gone but what next )
2014 Ford Focus 2.0tdci Zetec S

Ah, if its a mid range don't bother unless you want to spend s LOADS of money on various harnesses and bypass cables etc.

Yeah if the speakers say Alpine on the door covers it's a midline but you should be able to see the sub in the boot where the spare tyre goes. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

My car is SE, but it has dfinetely the basic audio. There is no "alpine"on speakers or sub in the boot. When I had a door card taken down I could see that door speakers were really simple ones with paper membranes.

Interesting. As others have said then, I would replace the head unit first and see how it sounds. The head unit will have a better amp in it. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

bxzx16v wrote:

If it's an Se it should have the mid range Alpine system fitted which has 8 speakers and a sub in the boot . Imo it doesn't sound too bad for a factory fitted system .

Mark

Thanks all for replies.
Found this video on Youtube so should be easy to follow.

SE in other markets (possibly equivalent to UK GS spec) was different spec to UK SE models which were one off the top HSE spec.

So the Aus spec SE may well have had the base audio which I think you can change components out easily as its a normal connectivity set up.

As has been said maybe look at changing out the head unit for an aftermarket higher spec double din unit with converter cable in line to retain PDC sounds and steering controls. See how that improves the sound quality along with some custom fit after market speakers

If your speakers really have paper membranes, almost any aftermarket speaker will give you
better sound.
A halfway decent head unit and a set of non too cheap speakers should make you happy.
I had good experience with Kicker KS series Speakers.

MY2007 SE mid range Alpine System fitted, sub in the boot, again, old ears and sounds just fine. REME .. Rough Engineering Made Easy

To the best of my knowledge SE spec in the Au market only had base audio system, unless it was upgraded by the original buyer pre purchase. As an aside, the early model HSE here didn't have the factory sat nav either just a small garmin fitted by the local dealers. (Now Sold). 2008 Freelander 2 (Nazca Sand) SE TD4 Auto. Statutory write off & on WOVR for hail damage but still road legal.
171037Km as of 09/05/22
Superchips Bluefin Flash
Nanocom Evo II (also sold)