The more I look at you Mod to the speaker bracket the more I like it :)
Thanks for the pictures !

 

The brackets from Crutchfield will fit the same as the old ones, meaning they are about an inch or so thick but the bracket itself fits flush with the door.

 

Thank You for the fast reply ! That is what I wanted to know !
I think I will be using the Crutchfield mounts from what is sounds like,
But will cut out the old speakers and get them ready for speakers , so when my son's HHR speakers crap out I will be ready lol

 

Is there a big difference between 3 way speakers and 2 way speakers ? I DO NOT listen to music a lot , The prices run close to each other

 

Short answer - just get the two-ways and you’ll be fine. Just try to get a quality name-brand like Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony.

Long answer - I’ve read about comparison between two-way and three-way, some saying that three-ways are a gimmick and actually sound worse because they cover more of the cone, but unless you are a hardcore audiophile, I’d go with the two-ways, especially in these cars, where the acoustics aren’t the greatest. I read and watch a lot of stuff about audio and things can get crazy if you want to go that route, but I just wanted nice sound and some of the modern conveniences that come with upgraded equipment. Our cars actually come with component speakers with a separate tweeter, which is generally considered the best set up but components are generally more expensive and more complicated to properly install due to things like crossovers and separate wiring.

My fav YT clips are from Five Star Car Audio and they show how you can go from mild to wild in car audio. I’ve tried to come up with a decent sound system, taking into consideration cost and the vehicle I’m putting it in. Things like sound dealing, amplification and the addition of dedicated bass (subwoofer) can make an average system sound a lot better without going crazy or breaking the budget. Once I add the small amp I just purchased, I will have spent around $1300 for the head unit, four speakers, powered subwoofer and mini amp. The speakers were the cheapest part of this equation at $100 including four coaxial speakers, brackets and connectors, while I have a $600 head unit that has wireless CarPlay, but that’s because it was removed from a higher end car that I traded - a $250 radio would have been just fine for my HHR. The subwoofer really woke things up and was worth the $275. I may later swap out the speakers for something a little better - once you start down the upgrade path, there’s no turning back, lol.

 

I have thought about upgrading my stereo but I do like the controls on the steering wheel and the speed sensitive volume. it would be nice to have one with a backup display and usb/bluetooth but I don't want to spend more than I spent on the vehicle.

 

GREAT info Thanks. I also found some post that I googled and said basically the same thing you said ! :)
SO 2 way speakers it is. And I am not a Audiophile !
I listen once in awhile, But I only want to change the speakers once !
And if my head unit is shot I want decent but not super high end,
On Crutchfield I am looking at less then $150.00/$200.00 for 4 speakers,the foam cone and cone.
I will order them next month, I just dropped $600.00 to replace my house service panel :O

 

I do not have controls on the steering wheel ! Bummer .
\ But Blue tooth and touch screen would be nice !
But after I change the speakers hope my stock head unit is OK and from all the threads on bad blown out speakers it probably is good lol

 

You should be able to get that for less than $300, and the harness to retain steering wheel controls will run about $100, including the basic harness which you will/should use to install any aftermarket radio. A backup camera will run about $30-$50 depending on which one you want. Used to be you'd avoid some of the lower end stuff like Boss or Jensen but with the chip shortage, I see some of the "radio experts" are giving these brands the thumbs up. I have to believe you spent more than $500 for your HHR, lol.

Installing a radio in these cars is pretty easy if you're mechanically inclined and patient. The camera takes a bit more knowledge and patience, mainly because it has to be mounted on the hatch and taking the trim off can be a pain - watch out that you don't knock off the defroster tabs.

 

Start looking now on eBay for a used Cobalt or HHR steering wheel - Cobalt will probably be an easier find. It's literally plug and play for swapping the wheel to get the steering wheel controls. I got mine for $65 but it took about a month of constantly checking - many sellers had them listed for $300! LKQ is also a good source but they sent me a crappy one and I sent it back.