Quote Originally Posted by JohnM View Post
I asked some shops for advice re a budget upgrade for my 3. I was initially choosing between separates and a small sub but it looks like the separates upgrade with deadening is the way to go. My usual sources are FM and MP3s via Bluetooth. I don't want to drown out outside noise too much as it helps with situational awareness. I'm only looking for a bit more boom for the buck.

Here are the offers that met my 5-8k budget:
TEAC seps + Kinetic Amp + Acoustipad
Ryan Audio seps + StP
JBL seps + Silent Coat
Infinity Reference seps + Silent Coat

I haven't auditioned these yet so I have no idea how they sound. I prefer a warm sounding setup.

Advice? Tnx!
I would suggest a step by step approach in audio setup mods. If you have a capable head unit already, maybe you can start with buying a good set of separates. Next step would be getting a capable amplifier and the necessary wiring. Last one would be the subwoofer and its box. Deadening is a good addition but it is entirely dependent on you.

If you aim for warm sounding speakers, I would suggest DLS or Morel. These two brands are quite good. Their products can take a good amount of juice and can be tuned for SQ or loud&clear setups.