What I'm really looking for is just what brands and/or individual specs to look for.
Also, few questions:
1) Will upgrading from my stock speakers make my music louder or just sound better?
2) Does anyone know of any mp3 brands that have a high output for music? (my mp3 is noticeably quieter than an ipod)
3) What are typical factory specs on stock speakers? (or rather in a 97 grand am)

1: What is the Year, Make, and Model of the vehicle.
'97 Grand Am

2: What is your budget?
150 for rear, 100 for front

3: What exactly do you want your outcome to be? (Good sounding music, or loud bass?)
Good sounding music, decent bass.

4: And specific sub sizes that you prefer more than others?
no subs needed, just speakers

5: How much trunk space do you want to use up?
see #4

6: What type of features are you looking for in a CD Player (aka Head Unit)? (Ex: USB, AUX, BlueTooth, etc)
Replaced the head unit since I started this thread

7: What type of music do you listen to?
Metal/Dub

8: Is your stock stereo system amplified? (You may or may not know this)
Yes, Pioneer 50W x 4 w/ a MOSFET amp in it

9: Do you have Steering Wheel Controls? (Volume/Seek on the steering wheel)
still no

Pretty sure the front speakers are 6.5 and the rear are 6x9 but thats not too important, i can adjust size when i find a line of speakers i want to get.

This post was edited by zell1luk on Dec 13 2011 03:31pm

http://metraonline.com/products

this will tell you speaker size in your car.

1) yes itll make a little louder and clearer sound
2) The output from an MP3 player shouldnt have an affect on the loudness...are you running through an AUX or USB?

it does make a diff tho, ive tested with my mp3 and my dads ipod on the exact same song
the ipod is nearly twice as loud, the only reason i dont switch is i cant use rhapsody with ipods

with aux it matters but with usb it doesn't.

get a used ipod off craigslist or gamestop.

ipod no work with rhapsody

as far as i know zune/ipod neither work with it so there isn't a good choice unless you want to try all the "other" brands.

right now im rockin a sansa, lol
i like everything about it cept for the fact that its quieter than an ipod/zune

you can pick up stolen ipod touches alll day long for 50 bucks on craigslist

their website tells you compatible mp3 players..kind of. i can't really tell if its saying they are compatible or just selling them lol.

but they dont work with rhapsody as far as i know