Advice for first time ever Head Unit and Speaker Upgrade on a budget...

[jcboy]

you can search in the forums a 6.5" set will fit just have to cut the old speakers on the membrane themselves so you can reuse their frame as the "brackets" to screw your new speakers in. jbl gto609c are what i used but KenTK is right anything sounds better than stock.

however, before you resort to spending some dough, i would advise you to always start withthe cheapest step first, which is to check connections with a basic multitester or simple connection test (the ones that look like a screwdriver). might be broken wiring only. HTH

additionally, that Pioneer is a good unit. I would suggest you get one with Bluetooth too.
and since you havent done any wiring, make sure when you install the stereo that:
1) the unit doesnt have power or is not connected to +12V at any point during the install (better if you wire the metra harness so it's plug and play once done)
2) the speaker outputs from the stereo, are wrapped carefully and that they will never be shorted to ground at any point in their lifetime (it will fry the stereo)

Good luck