Speakers

[supersport]

The speakers in my car are older than the hills so it is time to replace them.

Since it is a noisy place to sit I am never going to get any decent fidelity in there so I can't see the point in spending loads, but I do like to listen to the radio/CDs when I am on my own. So what speakers have people fitted recently that they would recommend?

 

[Russell Wheatley]

Mark,

re noise issue:- Have you considered installing an amplifier and fitting Dynamat in the Doors (reduces resonance in the door). You aren't going to have a Lexus in the end of it but you will enjoy the music more as it sounds like you are going to keep the car. Most shops have a speaker wall so you can take your favourite cd and hear what it sounds like as people's tastes are different.

 

[supersport]

I have an amp in the car, not a very good one I suspect, but I have one and it does make a difference. I haven't heard of Dynamat before so will look that up.

As yet I haven't located a in car hi fi shop in my area so other than halfords I have been a bit stuck.

Currently the car is going through a bit of restoration and so I don't have immediate access to it, but I have the old speakers our of it, and they appear to be a different size to what is available now. I want to make sure that the old screw wholes aren't visible in the door card so am going to make a trip to the car and measure up.

 

[Russell Wheatley]

Mark,

I have a 993 and my audio upgrade will happen next year. I've had installed speakers/amp/sound proofing in my two Mk 1 MX-5s though.
I realise the 993 has the same body as the older 911s but the holes may be different so its worth checking.

Amps - personal preference and how deep your wallet will go - I'm tempted to get a second hand Genesis amp (UK company went out of business but there are still unsold ones floating around and the company still services/has parts for future). Focal, Alpine etc make decent amps but have a listen for your self.

Speakers - I think the fronts are 5.25 inch and the rears are 6 by 4 inch. With the front speakers if you can put up with having a tweeter on the door pocket a 2 way component set up is the way to go - much better than having a single speaker and tweeter sandwiched ontop of the speaker(these are called co-axial speakers). If you really do not want the tweeter on the door pocket you can attach the tweeter in the footwell. Speaker brands? Focal,MB Quart. As for finding places near you which sell speakers worth trying is the focal website as they have a list of their dealers. The dealer will probably sell other speakers and amps so you can hear the difference. One hopes they have worked on 911s in the past and know what works.

Focal dealer list:-

http://www.focal.uk.com/car-audio-speakers-and-amplifiers

For an idea of prices:-

Focal...

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/category_m-5-25-34-speakers-13cm-_c-458_brandfilter-26.htm

MB Quart...

http://www.dvbcaraudio.co.uk/quart-2way-component-speaker-system-p-5785.html

Other ideas....

http://www.caraudioinnovations.com/porscheinstallations.htm

As for how much to spend.... you will probably notice in the component speakers a huge difference from 100-200 and then diminishing returns. The amp will make a difference in the same way it does in your home system.

Btw... the small 5.25 inch speakers do have restricted low frequencies but what the Americans do in the car audio innovations link ruins the use of the rear seats!

Russell

 

[Alan Mendelson]

When I purchased my 3.2 the speakers were shot, as they were original I was not surprised. I was quoted £100 per speaker by a car audio company. I went to Maplins and purchased a pair of speakers of the correct size for £11. They fitted perfectly, I guess the sound quality may not be perfect but who cares, we can hear the radio and CD player and more important the sound of the engine.
All the best for the New Year.