I would like to replace my factory speakers with something a bit better. I'll be doing the whole audio system actually, but this is the one area I'm still a bit unsure about.

If possible I'd like to keep them under $200 USD for the set, too.

I want to do a set of component speakers to replace the factory mid-range speakers, as well as the factory tweeters.

Does anyone know of any component speaker sets that fit in an '04 without any modification? The tweeter's have flush speaker grills, where-as the 02-03 had those pod-type ones that made it much easier to get tweeters to fit properly.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

I'm not sure the '02-'03 are any easier. On the '04+, behind the flush grill the tweeter is screwed onto a backing plate, which then screws back into the door panel. You can easily unscrew the tweeter, then mount most 3/4" tweeters onto the backing plate with double stick tape. A 1" or larger tweeter may have some trouble fitting between the mounting posts for the backing plate.

It's hard to describe without pictures, but basically the backing plate and the interior door panel are like the bread in a sandwich, and the tweeter is the meat.

As for the woofer, there are some coax speakers which are the smaller 6.5 and can go directly into the baskets, whereas most components use a true 6.5" woofer (165mm) and just need to have the basket modified or replaced. Lucid Automotive used to have good info and a custom mount kit for true 6.5" woofers, but who knows if they are still doing business. They seem to have disappeared.

Alternatively you can make a custom baffle out of wood or MDF.

Peter

 

For under $200, it will be probably hard to find something that is a direct drop-in replacement. The one that comes to mind is the Infinty Reference series. I believe they just drop in.....John (Darkknight1999) has some Alpines that just required cutting the speaker basket, but I do not think those were under $200.

If you are willing to make a spacer (all it requires is a sheet of MDF, a drawing compass, and a Jigsaw......and between 10-20 minutes), your options will be greatly expanded.....to pretty much any 6.5" component set. I got a set of ODCa660 Blaupunkt oversized speakers, and with the spacer, they fit like a charm!

Some 5.25" speakers are also direct drop in. Check out MacGyver's site, he has a diagram of all the dimensions.

IMO, the Reference series lacks low-end power. They are more of a true mid than any woofer.....this is why I chose the Blaupunkts. Without a sub, these speakers shook my leg hair through a pair of jeans when at 3/4 volume.

Main thing is that if you are to be running of the HU power, you should look for sensitivity of 90+.

John

 

I just dropped in a set of Polk db6500 components. I had to do exaclty what poweredbycamry says about the tweeter. Basically, I pried off the small metal flange that holds the stock tweeter, and then used that flange to mount my Polk tweeter. I used Gorilla Glue, which, if you haven't used it, is the best f@#%#$ glue ever. The woofer was absolutely drop-in, I used the OEM plastic basket, and just screwed the woofer into that. It was cake. I stashed the crossover inside the plastic side impact absorber --it's a hollow black plastic box that's screwed into the rear portion of the door liner.

Oh yeah -- these go for like $200 at online stores, and I picked up a pair on ebay for $140 total, shipping included.

I only had a brief listen (install was finished literally hours ago), but so far so good!

 

Nice!

So the tweeter grills still remain intact like stock? If so I'm going to track down the same set of speakers and put them in.

 

I went ahead and ordered a pair of those speakers!

I do have one other question slightly unrelated, but I don't want to make another thread...

I'm going to be doing an Alpine headunit and modifry's DCI. Which wiring harness do I need to use with this setup? Does the DCI include everything I'd need to also hook it up to a new Alpine headunit, or do I require an additional harness?

Thanks!

 

I have a set of db6500s as well. If you can partner up with someone you could do "the buy a set, get a set for 1/2 price" deal from Crutchfield ($199 for 1st and $99 for the second - or $150 each with free shipping and speaker wiring adapters).

Cardomain sells them for $169 with free shipping.

You can get them for $130-150 including shipping and insurance from folks on fleabay. Not authorized dealers so if you have a problem then likely no warranty.

For the DCI, just get the IR model and when ordering add the optional wiring harness and you should all be set. It has the pins connected and labelled for the dash controls. You can pick up a harness elsewhere, but it may not have those pins in place (but you could buy 2 and move the pins and wires from one to the other).

Don't forget to connect the "power antenna" wire on the HARNESS to the switched +12v wire on the harness. The S has an antenna amp and if you don't connect this you may have weak FM and AM after you are done (ask me how I know).

Dennis

 

I ended up getting the speakers for $142 US shipped to my door... not too worried about warranty because regardless of where I buy in the US, the warranty isn't valid in Canada anyway.

Cheapest I could find those speakers locally was $329 CAD, so I saved about $100

 

Not saying you did wrong, just making everyone aware that without a receipt from a legit Polk dealer you have little hope of a warranty repair. As you mentioned in your case, you could almost buy 2 pairs at a discount for the cost of a single pair "legit".

I have had Polks in several cars w/o a single problem ("knock on wood" as they say) so I have no problem saving money and taking a chance on the warranty.

Dennis