hello im looking at getting some speakers for my car ( 94 pontiac sunbird) for the front .the factory used some 3 1/2. lets say they dint work the best i acctually blew them after about a year that i had the car and tried to put a 4x6 that i had in my closet well i had a harder time than i tought and ended up with nothing so i would love to get some components but im not sur ewhat or if i even could any sudjustions
Replies (20)
dkh on 06/29/2006 00:30:47
Don't worry about not getting a 4x6" speaker into your dash, i got two of them and anything below 200 hz, and they are just that ... very HERTZ-N .... HAhahahahahaha
All puns aside, the 4x6 is a good speaker not a great speaker, they are a small format and due to there shape, the woofer has unusual non-uniform forces on it and as a result it cannot move the same way a round speaker can.
In my opinion you are far better off sound quality wise to put in a set of components, especially if 4x6's wont go easy.
swez on 06/29/2006 08:59:02
Consider using kick panel mounted Components. Depending on the space available in the kick panel design, most can handle 5-1/4" - 6.5" midbass and a tweeter.
If you don't have the space for them, remove the driver's side door panel and see if there is enough space to mount a woofer down low in the door. The trick is to take very careful measurments so as not to affect window and door lock mechanicals.
Do your door panels have external map pockets?
Swez
raulbustos on 06/29/2006 23:56:48
um well first off yeah i dont want the 4x6 i would like components but kick panels i would have to custome make they they dont make them for my car can i do thhis ive never tried such a thing and my doors are verry thin and the window passes all the way through the door so this is where im at
dkh on 06/30/2006 00:27:54
Dude, have no fear. Thats what polyethylene is for.
Do you have tools? ie table saw etc?
yu can easily install the 5.5 - 6.5" woofers where your existing speakers are and then just mount your tweeters where they aim at yur head... connect the passover and voila yu got a componet sys that will KICK SOME SERIOU U NO WUT.
CHEERS BRO
DKH
swez on 06/30/2006 03:39:13
Looks like Crutchfield says you can use kick panels on this vehicle.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-o7LOpW8ZBYt/cgi-bin/prodgroup.asp?g=182850
Give them a call and tell them all you know about this car. They may be able to lead you to a set of kick panels that match this car. It looks like there are no major complications on this kit usage.
Does your kick panels look like these? (trim and door jamb fit?)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-o7LOpW8ZBYt/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=044K100878&tab=morephotos&a=&s=0&cc=01&g=182850#morephotos
Swez
raulbustos on 07/7/2006 19:23:19
well yeah that what it lookis like when i looked through crutchfield it showd they dint have any thing for my car but none the less i am looking at paying like 200 for a set of components if i bought those it would only leave me with 50 for the comps could i make an enclouser for them if so what should i use
Grdevs24zero on 07/7/2006 20:05:27
It is very likely you have holes in your door large enough and in the right spots to fit a set of comps in.
If you have a slight amount of expertise with a jig saw, you can make spacers out of MDF and put the driver magnet into the doors, with the spacers on the outside of the door panel.
If you still wish to go the kick panel route, you can make them yourself with fiberglass.
http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/proj/kickpanels/index.htm
Explore that site fully if you wish to fiberglass yourself, I have learned alot from it.
swez on 07/8/2006 09:40:07
Does you car have a crank type or power window feature? If you have power windows, it looks like the lower door panels may give you some room for installing 5.25" - 6.5" woofers in the lower door panels.
You can go coaxials or Comps if there is some room here to work with. Only one way to find out... pull a door panel and take some careful measurments. If the depth is very shallow, you may need to add spacer rings and cut holes in the door trim panels. Just use speaker grill covers to hide your cutting work.
As for the 3.5" rounds in the dash, you remove them and install remote tweeters there if you like. Or, mount tweeters in the door panels or "A" Pillars.
Here's a few pics of what another guy did. He used custom made kick panels for his Coaxials. The results look so-so and probably very labor intensive too. But one shot shows the door panel w/ crank. If your car has power windows, that space where the window crank is normally located, may be a good option.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2389848/3
Swez
PS Can you take some pics of your front door panels and link them to a pic viewing site?
Also, what's available in the rear speaker stock locations for you back stage speakers?
raulbustos on 07/8/2006 12:59:05
i have crank type of window cranks. i think i figured out that cardomain site so ill go take some pics today and try to post them in thr rear i have some keenwood 4 way 6x9
ps. i am verry tired last night they made me work a gradeyard shift and it was incredably dificult i need a pillow
raulbustos on 07/8/2006 17:33:34
its been raining all day so i havent goten to take some pics yet but i was wondering would you use a set of comps from any of these brands quantum audio, kole audio, scosche, poweracoustik, swiss audio, distinct audio, soundstorm, db drive
swez on 07/8/2006 18:29:38
Not very familiar with any of those brands as far as Comps go.
What price and power range are you thinking for them? Are you planning to amp them or run off the HU?
A few links to the items you like would be helpful. Can review them and give you some comments too.
Swez
raulbustos on 07/8/2006 20:57:27
http://www.koleaudio.com/products_components.html
http://www.poweracoustik.com/pa2006/product_AUDIO_COMP_pr.htm
http://www.poweracoustik.com/pa2006/product_AUDIO_COMP_xp2k.htm
http://www.swissaudioinc.com/pages/sak525.html
these are some of what i could order through the mag for a good price im not sure what size to use still though
swez on 07/9/2006 07:17:52
Both Kole and Power Acoustik are pretty much the same in general specs. The power specs listed, are probably peak watts. (150) The crossover frequency at the tweeter is 6KHz for both. That tells me they use a cheap tweet that cannot take much power and makes the MB/MR driver do a lot of upper mids and highs.
Swiss Audio has a nice look to them. These also have a more power handling ability, (+ 200 RMS) a shallow mounting depth too and come in 5.25" or 6.5" sizes. Of these listed, I would probably take a shot at the Swiss Audio speakers.
What kind of prices on them?
Swez
raulbustos on 07/10/2006 10:08:16
4in 81
5.25 86
6.5 97
shipping and every thing is this a good price or would i be better of with some thing else
raulbustos on 07/10/2006 19:25:33
i would like to use an amp for the fronts and use my head unit to power the rear
DominicanKiddo on 07/10/2006 22:12:35
If you get an amp and you want the SQ in your car to be good make sure you put some juice to the rear speakers too. The only circunstance that I would not suggest to power the speakers with an amp or replace them is if I have subs in the trunk. With subs in the trunk you don't really hear your rear speakers but if you don't have subs you'll be better off giving the speakers in the rear some power too from the same amp. Everything depends on what you can buy and how LOUD you want your music. As for the speakers in your front doors you can always fit a bigger size but you gotta make sure you make good measurements and be confident on whatever surgery you try to do to your car.
DK
raulbustos on 07/24/2006 15:36:31
okay i finally got my pics off of my camera i lost the cable and had a really hard time getting the pics onto my comput5er any way here ae the pics of my front locations
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2400732
swez on 07/24/2006 16:41:07
Glad you posted the pics. I see a possible option for your situation.
Note the map pockets at the lower part of each door. Those may be removable and you can mount woofer pods in that location and a tweeter up above the power window switches or below the door latches.
Yes, it will take some careful planning to accomplish this, but much cheaper than pre-fab kick panels and you can choose 5-1/4 or 6-1/2" woofers in this location.
What say you?
Swez
raulbustos on 07/24/2006 17:52:36
my only question would be will they sound good in that possition?
and by the way what would be the difference betweeen the 5.25 and the 6.5
swez on 07/24/2006 19:04:50
Where do you suppose most door speakers are generally located? (Right...in the lower door panels) Yes, kick panels give better stereo imaging, but the cost of that venture was tossed out a while back.
The only major differences in 5.25" vs 6.50" Comps, are that the larger cone area of a 6.5" MB/MR will go a bit lower and take more power than the smaller 5.25" cones. However, if you are running a sub, it really does not matter much as the sub will take care of everything below 80-100 Hz. This allows either Comps to handle minimal lows and use the power they receive, to bring in a nice, clean 80-20,000 Hz.
FYI: The front stage speakers are the most important item on the list for above average SQ installs. Don't cheat on the quality of speakers and installation of same, and you canalmost always expect above average results.
Raul,
How long have you been at CK??? Several months now right? We wouldn't give you a bad suggestion now would we? SMILE It's all good to ask what you feel uncertain about. But trust our experience. We'll get you through most snags w/o pulling your hair out.
This idea will work well, if you think it trough and plan your work with some help from others here at CK.
Swez USFLAG
Replies (20)
dkh on 06/29/2006 00:30:47
Don't worry about not getting a 4x6" speaker into your dash, i got two of them and anything below 200 hz, and they are just that ... very HERTZ-N .... HAhahahahahaha
All puns aside, the 4x6 is a good speaker not a great speaker, they are a small format and due to there shape, the woofer has unusual non-uniform forces on it and as a result it cannot move the same way a round speaker can.
In my opinion you are far better off sound quality wise to put in a set of components, especially if 4x6's wont go easy.
swez on 06/29/2006 08:59:02
Consider using kick panel mounted Components. Depending on the space available in the kick panel design, most can handle 5-1/4" - 6.5" midbass and a tweeter.
If you don't have the space for them, remove the driver's side door panel and see if there is enough space to mount a woofer down low in the door. The trick is to take very careful measurments so as not to affect window and door lock mechanicals.
Do your door panels have external map pockets?
Swez
raulbustos on 06/29/2006 23:56:48
um well first off yeah i dont want the 4x6 i would like components but kick panels i would have to custome make they they dont make them for my car can i do thhis ive never tried such a thing and my doors are verry thin and the window passes all the way through the door so this is where im at
dkh on 06/30/2006 00:27:54
Dude, have no fear. Thats what polyethylene is for.
Do you have tools? ie table saw etc?
yu can easily install the 5.5 - 6.5" woofers where your existing speakers are and then just mount your tweeters where they aim at yur head... connect the passover and voila yu got a componet sys that will KICK SOME SERIOU U NO WUT.
CHEERS BRO
DKH
swez on 06/30/2006 03:39:13
Looks like Crutchfield says you can use kick panels on this vehicle.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-o7LOpW8ZBYt/cgi-bin/prodgroup.asp?g=182850
Give them a call and tell them all you know about this car. They may be able to lead you to a set of kick panels that match this car. It looks like there are no major complications on this kit usage.
Does your kick panels look like these? (trim and door jamb fit?)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-o7LOpW8ZBYt/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=044K100878&tab=morephotos&a=&s=0&cc=01&g=182850#morephotos
Swez
raulbustos on 07/7/2006 19:23:19
well yeah that what it lookis like when i looked through crutchfield it showd they dint have any thing for my car but none the less i am looking at paying like 200 for a set of components if i bought those it would only leave me with 50 for the comps could i make an enclouser for them if so what should i use
Grdevs24zero on 07/7/2006 20:05:27
It is very likely you have holes in your door large enough and in the right spots to fit a set of comps in.
If you have a slight amount of expertise with a jig saw, you can make spacers out of MDF and put the driver magnet into the doors, with the spacers on the outside of the door panel.
If you still wish to go the kick panel route, you can make them yourself with fiberglass.
http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/proj/kickpanels/index.htm
Explore that site fully if you wish to fiberglass yourself, I have learned alot from it.
swez on 07/8/2006 09:40:07
Does you car have a crank type or power window feature? If you have power windows, it looks like the lower door panels may give you some room for installing 5.25" - 6.5" woofers in the lower door panels.
You can go coaxials or Comps if there is some room here to work with. Only one way to find out... pull a door panel and take some careful measurments. If the depth is very shallow, you may need to add spacer rings and cut holes in the door trim panels. Just use speaker grill covers to hide your cutting work.
As for the 3.5" rounds in the dash, you remove them and install remote tweeters there if you like. Or, mount tweeters in the door panels or "A" Pillars.
Here's a few pics of what another guy did. He used custom made kick panels for his Coaxials. The results look so-so and probably very labor intensive too. But one shot shows the door panel w/ crank. If your car has power windows, that space where the window crank is normally located, may be a good option.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2389848/3
Swez
PS Can you take some pics of your front door panels and link them to a pic viewing site?
Also, what's available in the rear speaker stock locations for you back stage speakers?
raulbustos on 07/8/2006 12:59:05
i have crank type of window cranks. i think i figured out that cardomain site so ill go take some pics today and try to post them in thr rear i have some keenwood 4 way 6x9
ps. i am verry tired last night they made me work a gradeyard shift and it was incredably dificult i need a pillow
raulbustos on 07/8/2006 17:33:34
its been raining all day so i havent goten to take some pics yet but i was wondering would you use a set of comps from any of these brands quantum audio, kole audio, scosche, poweracoustik, swiss audio, distinct audio, soundstorm, db drive
swez on 07/8/2006 18:29:38
Not very familiar with any of those brands as far as Comps go.
What price and power range are you thinking for them? Are you planning to amp them or run off the HU?
A few links to the items you like would be helpful. Can review them and give you some comments too.
Swez
raulbustos on 07/8/2006 20:57:27
http://www.koleaudio.com/products_components.html
http://www.poweracoustik.com/pa2006/product_AUDIO_COMP_pr.htm
http://www.poweracoustik.com/pa2006/product_AUDIO_COMP_xp2k.htm
http://www.swissaudioinc.com/pages/sak525.html
these are some of what i could order through the mag for a good price im not sure what size to use still though
swez on 07/9/2006 07:17:52
Both Kole and Power Acoustik are pretty much the same in general specs. The power specs listed, are probably peak watts. (150) The crossover frequency at the tweeter is 6KHz for both. That tells me they use a cheap tweet that cannot take much power and makes the MB/MR driver do a lot of upper mids and highs.
Swiss Audio has a nice look to them. These also have a more power handling ability, (+ 200 RMS) a shallow mounting depth too and come in 5.25" or 6.5" sizes. Of these listed, I would probably take a shot at the Swiss Audio speakers.
What kind of prices on them?
Swez
raulbustos on 07/10/2006 10:08:16
4in 81
5.25 86
6.5 97
shipping and every thing is this a good price or would i be better of with some thing else
raulbustos on 07/10/2006 19:25:33
i would like to use an amp for the fronts and use my head unit to power the rear
DominicanKiddo on 07/10/2006 22:12:35
If you get an amp and you want the SQ in your car to be good make sure you put some juice to the rear speakers too. The only circunstance that I would not suggest to power the speakers with an amp or replace them is if I have subs in the trunk. With subs in the trunk you don't really hear your rear speakers but if you don't have subs you'll be better off giving the speakers in the rear some power too from the same amp. Everything depends on what you can buy and how LOUD you want your music. As for the speakers in your front doors you can always fit a bigger size but you gotta make sure you make good measurements and be confident on whatever surgery you try to do to your car.
DK
raulbustos on 07/24/2006 15:36:31
okay i finally got my pics off of my camera i lost the cable and had a really hard time getting the pics onto my comput5er any way here ae the pics of my front locations
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2400732
swez on 07/24/2006 16:41:07
Glad you posted the pics. I see a possible option for your situation.
Note the map pockets at the lower part of each door. Those may be removable and you can mount woofer pods in that location and a tweeter up above the power window switches or below the door latches.
Yes, it will take some careful planning to accomplish this, but much cheaper than pre-fab kick panels and you can choose 5-1/4 or 6-1/2" woofers in this location.
What say you?
Swez
raulbustos on 07/24/2006 17:52:36
my only question would be will they sound good in that possition?
and by the way what would be the difference betweeen the 5.25 and the 6.5
swez on 07/24/2006 19:04:50
Where do you suppose most door speakers are generally located? (Right...in the lower door panels) Yes, kick panels give better stereo imaging, but the cost of that venture was tossed out a while back.
The only major differences in 5.25" vs 6.50" Comps, are that the larger cone area of a 6.5" MB/MR will go a bit lower and take more power than the smaller 5.25" cones. However, if you are running a sub, it really does not matter much as the sub will take care of everything below 80-100 Hz. This allows either Comps to handle minimal lows and use the power they receive, to bring in a nice, clean 80-20,000 Hz.
FYI: The front stage speakers are the most important item on the list for above average SQ installs. Don't cheat on the quality of speakers and installation of same, and you canalmost always expect above average results.
Raul,
How long have you been at CK??? Several months now right? We wouldn't give you a bad suggestion now would we? SMILE It's all good to ask what you feel uncertain about. But trust our experience. We'll get you through most snags w/o pulling your hair out.
This idea will work well, if you think it trough and plan your work with some help from others here at CK.
Swez USFLAG
Copyright ClubKnowledge 2009 * All Rights Reserved
