Rear speaker replacement

[Chopper]

Well, I did it....I melted a rear speaker down. It really didn't seem to take much. I rarely listen to music in a vehicle, so I guess they have never been tested:p They don't like late eighties industrial/tech, prog-rock, distortion- noise at all. What can I replace these with??? I'm looking for a direct replacement, plug an play answer. I've no idea what is in there....no problem with upgrading...that's why the post. I want something better, Just not interested in cutting anything to get it. The up side is, I will make a day of it... while I have all the rear plastic out (the seats have been out since 2001) I'll recover the headliner (and remove the dome light I don't use anyway) A nice light/medium grey alcantara...maybe suede. I digress... What speakers will fit??? Thank you, in advance....Wayne

[VXNIT]

I am with you on the rear speaker replacement. I actually have blown three of the four of my stock speakers in the past two months and really hating life with no speakers working. I wish I could trust somesone locally to replace mine but just have not found someone since all on the forum say it is a real bear to do.

[Y33TREKker]

Speaker preferences tend to be pretty subjective depending on who answers and the type(s) of music they listen to most of the time. The last time I listened to some display models, my preference was POLK speakers.

If you do end up removing the dome light and don't think you'll have further need for it, I'd be interested in taking it off your hands for adding a rear light when I get around to installing the hatch popper I still have boxed up around here somewhere.

[etlsport]

wayne.. you should dynamat while youre in there.. adds a bit of weight.. but i love the quieting of the road noise

you will need 4" speakers... ive seen some made by mtx and infinity

just measured the speakers rear speakers ive got laying around.. looks like the radius of the circle the mounting holes make is 4-7/8" so the cutout diameter of the speakers you choose should be a little smaller than that

[nfpgasmask]

LOL Chopper, my speakers like all the late 80s, early 90s, industrial-noise, euro-trash, new-wave, minimal-synth and aggro-tech I pump through. It must be that damned prog-rock, cause I don't listen to any of that...

- Bart

PS - Seriously though, I kinda want to swap out all my speakers also, since they are just a little on the blown side. I wish I could afford and had the space for a custom Biju sound system. :)

[tom4bren]

I'll second what TREK said. Polk speakers are high quality & reliable.

[MrCrowley]

It is a real bear back there. :eek: Personally with the time involved, do it all at once is my advice. Polk audio rocks. dont bother with 4" unless speakers is the only upgrade you plan. Just modify the metal bracket under the rear interior to mount 6.5". I just cut a section out of the middle and widened the hole. Then, youll have 4 6.5" speakers. You could also just buy 4 of the same 6.5" components, mount the front tweets where the stock tweeters are, and in the back you can run the wire behind the paneling and have them hang out above the black trim above the rear door and face them forward discreetly using velcro to mount them. No holes drilled. I also second the dynamat, etc. but I didnt have the funds or time when I did mine. :(Shouldn't take more than 3 hours for just the speaker swap. However, the rear speaker placement is really inferior. If you have the time, I would also build a box, dynamat, or something to get the sound out from behind the rear panel. I imagine 50% of the sound is lost in there. Its basically an free-air speaker.

[VXNIT]

Definately think I will go with 4 6.5's Polks as well and ready to move on this project. Any rec on need for amp, or will stock deck push Polk speakers or maybe just a new deck with built in amp?

[Chopper]

I'd love to see the mount before I tear the interior out, but I'm pretty creative...I'm thinking a little tweaking, get a pair of six an a halfs in there.. and Dynamat the whole mess while I have the sides and headliner out. Couple of extra pounds won't really matter...the seats have never been in, so I'm still ahead. The rest is just brand name

[etlsport]

heres a pic of mine before i cut it open.. thats the passengers side i beleive

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3163/100_0446.jpg

[etlsport]

and here is a pic of the rear speaker mount with a 6.5" speaker in there

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3163/100_0448.jpg

[VXNIT]

Do the front door speakers need to be shallow mount? I want the Polks but what series should I focus on? I was leaning toward db651's 6.5's all the way around. Liiks like crutchfield indicates fronts need to be shallow mount. Any suggestions on series of Polks?

[bigkoala1]

Do the front door speakers need to be shallow mount? I want the Polks but what series should I focus on? I was leaning toward db651's 6.5's all the way around. Liiks like crutchfield indicates fronts need to be shallow mount. Any suggestions on series of Polks?

these mount with no mods in the front door. they arent polks but, they are pretty close to top of the line.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069894_291263623,00.html

i get them for $350+shipping all day long

[Kenny]

1. While dynamatting also stuff the void between the exterior metal skin and inner metal skin with poly fill. Lots of holes to do that. It'll take a few bags if you do it all.

2. Watch out for depth when putting those rear speakers in, it's a bit tight. If you cut the metal bracket larger, you may want to consider offsetting the opening higher so the speakers are not touching the wheel well at the bottom end.

My $0.02...

[etlsport]

yea you need low profile speakers for the back more than the front.. i have really shallow mount 6.5s back there and i didnt have room to dynamat under the magnet because it was that close to the wheel well

[Hotsauce]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3105/medium/FR125.JPG

Creative FR-125's, fullrange crossoverless speaker.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3105/FR125_mounted.JPG

I made a plate to use the whole rear fender as a sealed box. I also stuffed the opening with fiberglass batting to dampen the panels.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515//Stuffed.JPG

John C.

[kobie]

OK, so I am in the same boat and think I have 3 blown speakers.
Here are my questions before I replace everything:
1) I remember someone suggested a cheaper alternative to Dynamat called something like "Breadboard." Is there a quality or durability issue going with the cheaper alternative?
2) It looks like a hole for a 6x9 speaker could be cut into that bracket which, in my novice mind, would give a richer sound. Am I wrong on this?
3) No one has answered about the need (or not) to get an amp. For someone who doesn't need to have anyone but the persons in the VX hear my music, is an amp necessary if I just want a clean sound? Is MOSFET technology built in a head unit a decent alternative?
Thanks in advance for any advice/answers you stereophiles can provide.

[etlsport]

you dont really need 6x9s in the rear for sq.. only thing they will really do is add some bass and if u plan to have a subwoofer no real reason for more... just ask biju.. i beleive hes perfected the art of rear fill

[djkymar]

anyone done more than 4 speakers? and is there any point of that?
P.S i have Polk Audio db6500 in my front doors and i like them but the back is still stock and it sounds just fine.

[MrCrowley]

I was running a temporary 6 6.5" setup to try, but unless you are already pushing max watts on the original 4 and need to add more, you're better off having the original 4 with more power for clarity,volume. I tested with 1 4 channel amp(75w/ch. , and one 5 channel amp( so thats 9 channels :)1 for front tweets (whoa!- 75w on those puppies!), 1 for front 6.5", 1 for rear 6.5s, 1 for auxiliary 6.5" in the back door, one for subs. I was able to bridge one 4to2 channel amp to the front for 150w/ch., and another bridged 4to2 channel for the rear at 200w/ch. Plenty good, but the 5th sub channel was bought for 2 10", not that powerful running 2 12". eventually going to run 1 12" from it, and get another mono amp to run one 8". Should be a truly full range setup at that point. two tweets front, two 6.5" front, two 2-way 6.5" rear, one 8", one 12" that may move into rear door. :_steering Im just trying to use up all my junk lol.

My recommendation would be speakers now, sit on a nice unpowered, deadhead deck, maybe 1 5channel amp, 1 sub. something that incorporates sub controls or at least eq from deck, and put in all together later. Good sound, not expensive, stealth, and good quality albeit not earth-shaking- just high quality. This way youll be putting maximum watts per speaker to yield really good sound from them. Its better than having lots of speakers for volume, but putting mediocre power to them.

[etlsport]

here is the rear panel w/ speaker in it still

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/parts_vx_003.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/10092)