Upgraded speakers anyone?

[ghost]

My front passenger door speaker has died. The cone's rubber edging has split. I might take this opportunity to change/upgrade them all, but don't want to alter the standard look. i.e. the original grills need to go back on.
Has anyone else done this and have recommendations for me?

 

[sawood12]

I installed 2-way JBL speakers in mine but was disappointed with the sound - very tinny - worse than standard. Others have gone for Infinity speakers and reported good results.

 

[zcacogp]

Interesting. I have 2-way jbl's in mine as well, and am equally disappointed. I thought it was due to the way they were installed (the mid-range and high ranges are fine, it's just that there is nothing in the low-mid range or bass areas) so it's interesting to hear that you are in a similar position Scott.

Mind you, there are several models of jbl speakers, so it's possible that others are better.

Inifinity ones are better, eh? Thanks. May have to find a pair ...


Oli.

 

[FistsOfHam]

I've recently put Alpines in the front of mine and they sound alright. Sadly the car didn't have any speakers before I got it so I don't have anything to compare it against.

They're designed to be skinny so that they won't foul the window. I am planning on putting something a bit beefier in the back but the current options seem to be Pioneer Alpine or some cheap brands nobody has ever heard of. I couldn't find the Infinity or JBL 6x4s for sale anywhere anymore.

 

[bumperblue]

I fitted pioneer SXE 4625 in the front last week as one original had failed. They fit very well in the existing mounting position and you can use the original grills without modification.
Sound wise OK. On balance a reasonable upgrade.

 

[FistsOfHam]

ORIGINAL: bumperblue

I fitted pioneer SXE 4625 in the front last week as one original had failed. They fit very well in the existing mounting position and you can use the original grills without modification.
Sound wise OK.  On balance a reasonable upgrade.

That's the number for the Alpine speakers though [&:]

 

[bumperblue]

My apologies they are Alpine I looked at too many speakers, bored myself silly and got confused.[]
What I would say is there is hardly any room behind the speaker as the window guide comes down so depth of magnet is an issue.

 

[zcacogp]

Depth is indeed an issue. The JBL's in mine are a bit too deep, so I had to make a mounting plate to space them out from the door.

Not ideal.


Oli.

 

[FistsOfHam]

ORIGINAL: sc0tty


Yes but how does one change the rears??!!! [8|]

Pop the rear windows out, remove rubber seal around door edge, undo a few screws and then pop the clips off.

The inside of my car is in pieces and trying to decide what to do about rear speakers before rebuilding it all.

 

[Fat Albert]

I have used Infinity replacement speakers in the past with good results

 

[homesea]

Use the later 944/968 door cards and rear 1/4 cards with the bigger grills for the extra speaker upgrade.
I have a pair of rears for sale if anyone is interested??

 

[sawood12]

ORIGINAL: sc0tty


Yes but how does one change the rears??!!! [8|]

It is possible to do it by unattaching the interior panel around all edges apart from the top edge and bend it out just enough to get a screwdriver onto the screws. I'm sure someone posted a pic of this process about 3 years ago if you fancy a search.

 

[Suffolk944]

I put JBL's in the front doors of my previous car and yes they were pretty disappointing exactly as the others have described despite them at the time being suggested by many as being as being as good as any of the options. Was never brave enough to try the rears. [&:]

My current cars ten speaker system plus a Becker head unit actually sounds rather nice. []

 

[ghost]

ORIGINAL: bumperblue

My apologies they are Alpine I looked at too many speakers, bored myself silly and got confused.[]
What I would say is there is hardly any room behind the speaker as the window guide comes down so depth of magnet is an issue.

So these were a direct replacement without modifications? What's the bass response like?

 

[bumperblue]

Yes direct replacement. On my S2 there is a plastic frame which the grills clip onto these speakers fit exactly into this frame and the grills clip over the top without deforming or touching the side of the dashboard.

Bass response adequate, they are only 6x4. I cant see that they would ever be door shaking. The sound is quite clear and rounded not muffled

 

[FistsOfHam]

ORIGINAL: Suffolk944

I put JBL's in the front doors of my previous car and yes they were pretty disappointing exactly as the others have described despite them at the time being suggested by many as being as being as good as any of the options. Was never brave enough to try the rears. [&:]

My current cars ten speaker system plus a Becker head unit actually sounds rather nice. []

Back when I used to work in Halfords (Shhhhh) we had a board with lots of different speakers on it so you could hear what they were like. I was never keen on the JBLs as they didn't sound too great and when pushed they had great trouble with bass.

Obviously it wasn't a great way of seeing what car speakers sound like as they were in a great big open shop instead of a small enclosed car but I always found that the Infinity speakers (reference series, we didn't have anything as fancy as the kappas) sounded great.

Does anybody know where in the UK you can buy the Infinity 6x4s? I was having a look on an American site and they make quite a few including a round speaker with separate tweeter mounted to a board to fit in a 6x4 hole.

 

[omigod]

I've made adaptor plates and fitted Infinity 4" speakers to the doors. I'm a big fan of infinity stuff but these have not impressed me as yet.
With regards to the rears i didn't even attempt it! I made some shaped panels to install a pair of 6x9 in the far recesses of the boot corners - not a fantastic job I must admit but ok for a first attempt. I hid the 4ch amp in the RHR boot floor recess.
If i can add another amp and run a sub from it, it may take the strain of the little 4" and let them perform at frequencies they would be happier at.

I've seen the Infinity componant plates madrob6 mentions but only from US sites, they do look great but again a 4" speaker is still going to struggle with all the frequency ranges required.

 

[Northern924]

Oh bugger just gone and won a set of JBL's before reading this lol.

As for the rear ones I did them in the '24S without taking out the window, was a bit fiddly and you will need ideally need to lift the window rubber to carefully pull the trim away that way you have about all the front section loose.
With a stubby screwdriver and patience you can take them out easily enough.

Sort of still on topic, the 924S had a removeable panel so that you could fit round speakers instead of 6x4's, without looking is this the same with the '44's??