2013-2019 Nissan Sentra

Overview of the Nissan Sentra

The Sentra is not a high-performance vehicle. There, we said it. There are plenty of cars – sedans, even – that exude an intoxicating mixture of fun and danger just sitting in a parking lot. The Sentra does not do that. If it exudes anything at all, it’s competence. The Sentra is just very good at doing what it does, which is the kind of stuff that most of us need our cars to do.

The stock stereo systems were competent, too, but that's a less endearing quality in a car stereo. If you really care about music, you’ll want to upgrade the factory system and get some gear that really sings. This article will tell you more about what you can do and how it'll get done.

The base radio is a pretty basic AM/FM/CD unit. An aftermarket upgrade will give you a big boost in sound and functionality. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

The factory stereo system

The Sentra’s factory stereo array consisted of a base 4-speaker system, a slightly nicer (by two speakers) 6-speaker system, and the top-of-the-line 8-speaker Bose system. Receiver-wise, there’s a regular AM/FM/CD receiver and an optional navigation receiver.

When you buy your new single-DIN (2" tall) or double-DIN (4" tall) aftermarket stereo at Crutchfield, you’ll get a nice discount on the wiring harness adapter and dash kit needed to install it. In some cases, that wiring harness will not have a ground connection, so you'll need to connect the stereo to a grounding point in the vehicle. We’ll make sure you know about that before you order anything, and if you have questions, our experts are here to help – before and after the sale.

When you replace the factory radio, you’ll lose features like the factory satellite radio capability and the factory navigation system (if present). This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since you can replace and probably upgrade both with the right aftermarket receiver.

The nav radio is a nice step up, but you can still do better with an aftermarket receiver (Crutchfield Research Photo)

When you enter your vehicle information, you’ll see all the stereos and speakers that fit your Sentra, plus some notes that will help you understand more about upgrading the audio in your car. Depending on the stock system you’re upgrading, you’ll see helpful info about harnesses, speaker impedance, and other important issues.

Pay close attention to those notes, and if you have questions, give us a call or chat. Our experts will make sure you get what you need to make your car sound great.

Both of the stock radios are removed in the same basic way. It's not all that hard a job for the average DIY-er. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the factory radio

Both of the factory radios come out the same way, and the good news for you is that the job’s not that hard to do.

Before you start doing it, though, check to make sure there aren’t any forgotten CDs in the old receiver. Once that’s done, set the car’s parking brake and disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent any electrical short.

Use a panel tool to pry out the receiver trim panel and release four clips, then remove the trim panel. Next, remove the four Phillips screws securing the factory radio. Pull it out, disconnect it, and remove it.

Tools needed: Panel tool, Phillips screwdriver

Read our Car Stereo Buying Guide for shopping tips and advice.

Shop for car stereos that fit your Nissan Sentra

Steering wheel audio controls

In most cases, it's reasonably easy to retain your Sentra's steering wheel audio controls when you install a new stereo. When you enter your vehicle information, our database will choose the adapter you need to make your factory steering wheel controls work with a compatible aftermarket receiver.

Upgrading the speakers will really improve your car's audio performance (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the factory speakers

A speaker upgrade will really improve the sound in your Sentra, even if you decide to keep the stock radio. For the most part, the removal/replacement process isn’t terribly difficult, so it’s a thoroughly do-able project for the average DIY-er. Our vehicle-specific instructions will help you get the job done right, and if you have questions, your Crutchfield purchase also includes free tech support for the life of your new gear.

These pillar tweeters are reasonably easy to reach and replace (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the front pillar tweeters

The Sentra’s front pillars are home to 1.610" tweeters. These aren’t hard to get to, and there are plenty of aftermarket replacements available.

You’ll want to be careful when you’re removing the pillar itself, but it’s a very do-able DIY project. You can use the factory speaker brackets to mount the new tweeters if the magnets have a threaded hole. If they don’t, you’ll need to fabricate a mounting bracket or use a set of our universal backstraps to secure the new tweeters.

There aren’t any wiring adapters available for this speaker location (at the moment), so you’ll need to splice, solder, or use Posi-Products speakers connectors to connect the new tweeters to the car’s wiring.

Tools needed: Panel tool, 10mm socket, ratchet and extension, Phillips screwdriver

You'll need to remove the door panels before you remove and replace the front and/or rear door speakers (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the door speakers

All Sentras sport 6-3/4" front door speakers. Cars with the Bose system add a set of 6-3/4" speakers in the rear doors.

You can replace the stock speakers with a variety of same-size and smaller aftermarket speakers. There are some direct-fit replacements available, but in other cases, you might need mounting brackets to install your new speakers. The good news is that we’ll include them free with your speaker purchase.

You’ll need to remove the door panels to replace these speakers, and we’ll give you all the step-by-step how-to info in the Crutchfield MasterSheet included free with your purchase. Work carefully, stay patient, and you’ll be fine. We also suggest storing the panels in a cool, clean place while you’re working.

Once the new speakers are connected and secured, test them out to make sure they’re working. If they are, retrieve the door panels and start putting things back together. Be sure that there aren’t any wires interfering with the windows and also test the door lock/release operation before you finish everything up.

Tools needed: Panel tool, Phillips screwdriver, drill with 1/8" bit

Getting to the deck speakers will take some time, so be patient and stay organized (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the rear deck speakers

The Sentra’s rear deck speakers are 6"x9" models, and you can replace them with a variety of same-size, 5-1/4" or 6-1/2" aftermarket speakers. Pay close attention to impedance here, since these are low-impedance speakers and replacing them with standard 4-ohm models will change your volume levels.

You’ll need to remove the rear deck panel to get to these speakers, and while there’s nothing ridiculously hard about the task, it’ll take some time. There are a lot of steps and a lot of panels and pieces to remove, so you’ll need to work carefully, stay patient, and keep everything organized. Complete instructions can be found in your Crutchfield MasterSheet.

You’ll need mounting brackets to install smaller speakers, and we’ll include them (and the required wiring harness adapters) with your speaker purchase. For 2015-19 models, you’ll need to drill new mounting holes with a 1/8" bit. That’s not all that hard to do, but you are drilling holes into your car, so work carefully, know what you’re drilling into, and wear eye protection.

At the risk of being really, really obvious, you’ll want to test the speakers before you put everything back together again.

Tools needed: Panel tool, 8mm and 10mm socket, ratchet and extension (drill and 1/8" bit for 2015-up models)

Read our Car Speakers Buying Guide for more tips on shopping for speakers.

Shop for speakers that fit your Nissan Sentra

There's plenty of space for bass in the Sentra's trunk (Crutchfield Research Photo)

More bass in your Sentra

If you want to go big on bass, the Sentra has a good-sized trunk that’ll hold a good-sized subwoofer enclosure. We measured the space at 29"W x 21"H x 32"/40"D, so shop accordingly. Then again, you might want to save some space for everyday cargo, so a powered subwoofer might be a good choice, too.

Learn more about building a bass system in our Car Subwoofer Buying Guide.

Keep your carpets looking good with a set of custom-fit WeatherTech floor liners

Other options for your Sentra

Here are a few other smart ways to improve the sound in your Sentra.

Add an amp (or two)

Depending on the system you're building, a new 4-channel amplifier can help you get the most out of your new speakers. You'll get cleaner power (and a lot more of it), which will result in much, much better sound. A mono-channel amp can provide the juice you need for your new subwoofer. Learn more about adding amps to your system in our Car Amplifier Buying Guide.

Protect the carpets with WeatherTech floor liners

It's easier than you think to mess up your Sentra's comfy interior while you're going about your daily business. Floor mats and liners from WeatherTech will help protect your floors from dirt and damage.

Clean up the audio signal with a sound processor

If you choose to (or have to) stick with the factory radio, install a sound processor to send a clear, clean signal to your new amplifier. Sound processors remove any limitations on the signal imposed by the factory radio, and the better the signal, the better the sound. Read our article explaining factory sound processors to learn more.

Security systems and remote start

Installing a security system in your Nissan won't be easy (security systems rarely are), but it's definitely a good idea. Our Crutchfield Advisors can help figure out what you need to get the job done, but we usually recommend taking your car to a professional installer.

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