[craig_se2006]

I have a SE with the 6 speaker premium and would like to replace the speakers. Does anyone have a recommendation on the front (I would like to use component to keep the tweeter) and also the rear doors (looking at 3 ways).

Thanks

 

[ming321]

I replaced mine with Kenwood 5x7's front and rear, and removed the tweeter (the Kenwoods are 2 ways). Components would be great, and would sound better than a 2 way in the door like I have now- but for a lot more money. Also, based on my research, components really need some power to sound good- so the stock head unit power isn't gonna cut it. If you go with components in the front doors, plan on adding an amp as well. As for rear doors, just any decent speaker will work. About 80% of the sound you hear from your stereo comes from the front, the rears are mostly ambient and rear fill. I would recommend Crutchfield or a good local stereo shop for the components (unless you know your stuff and then ebay is a good idea). Let us know what you decide.

 

[sternyy]

EDIT: I typed this just as ming321 replied... everything he said plus if you have money go get components and a amp to run them!

i would get a nice set of components in the front and keep the rears stock... Rears are more for fill so getting three ways might mess up the imaging a bit. It all depends what you like though, some people like sound coming from all around them as if it is surround (my friend does that at home with 7.1 simulated surround while listening to music from his ipod). Getting an amp to run the fronts would help too. Check out http://www.crutchfield.com for product info and then go around shopping for best price.

Imaging and Soundstage info:
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/S-izE3zEha6sp/learningcenter/car/speakers_imaging_soundstage.html

Speakers (I cant reccomend anything yet because i havent heard them):
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7JOgq9PrSHX/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=410&I=108507CS
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7JOgq9PrSHX/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=410&I=065SX50
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7JOgq9PrSHX/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=410&I=107DB5250

Anyone else have some reccomendations post them... i havent heard anything aftermarket yet so i am looking for some new fronts too

 

[dtrkted]

i have polk 5x7s..umm...db570s i think in all the doors. other than some stupid rattle made by the thing that takes the windows down (using the automatic swtich), they sound great. a 4-channel amp is next

 

[craig_se2006]

If I go with Components where do you install the "crossover" at?. I know that speakers now have them but I have not removed anything yet so I am not sure what they look like.

Thanks

 

[ming321]

The crossovers on the factory speakers are built in to the speaker frame/basket. They look like something a kid in shop class made with a circuit board and soldered on. The crossovers that come with real component speakers will vary by size, so you will need to give some thought to placement. There is probably some space available between the door panel and door, but I don't know exactly where they will fit. You may also want to use some velcro to attach it so it doesn't move around. I can say that from installing my own 2 way speakers and amp, it's virtually impossible to get new wires from the dash into the door. So you will need the crossovers to be placed somewhere within the door. Unless you feel pretty comfortable doing this, it may be worth your $$$ to have a "professional" install them.

 

[mow10s]

Does anyone know if I can put the crossovers in the trunk and run the speaker wires to the speakers without the loss of performance that the crossover is giving me in the first place?

 

[sternyy]

im not positive but i wouildnt see it being a problem, you are just splitting up the freqs to go to the tweeters and the lows to go to the speaker... but i could be totally wrong. The only other problem i am seeing with that is how are you going to get the wires into the doors?

 

[mow10s]

The same way they did, but I will of course have to remove a few extra parts first and take my time. But in the long run it will be worth it.

 

[ming321]

I tried and looked at every way possible and couldn't get new wires into the doors. The area where the factory wires go from the dash into the door is covered, and it's almost like a wiring harness or plug connects the wires in the door to those behind the dash. I didn't remove the doors from the hinges, but otherwise I didn't see a way. If you're convinced you don't want to put the crossovers in the doors, there may be room under the dash or behind the head unit- that would give you a much shorter run for the wires.

 

[sternyy]

yeah you really have to take a look at how the wires go into the doors, its not just a hole and rubber gormet, its more of a plug and harness.

 

[ming321]

I spent a good 30-45 minutes trying to figure it out. If you took the door off, it might be accessible. I ended up running my wires from the amp to behind the head unit and connected them to the factory speaker wiring at that point. It would be nice to have 12GA wire throughout, but it's not going through that door plug.

 

[onehighfocus]

[quote author=ming321 link=topic=56089.msg937846#msg937846 date=1157652609]
  It would be nice to have 12GA wire throughout, but it's not going through that door plug.
[/quote]


GadZekks!! :shocked: you plan on running over 500 watts to the doors?

 

[ming321]

My amp instructions recommended using 12 G (the amp is rated at a total peak of around 400). I'm using 12 G on my sub, but the the other speakers ended up with 16 from my amp to the factory wires, which look like about 20.