I just finished the rear speaker install on my S. I had previously installed the pins in the back of the factory harness for the rear speakers and ran the rear wires to the center console. I had been thinking about molding the speakers into the roll bar hoops, and I had seen other kits to mount these in the hoops. I did not think I would like the look and I thought they would be overpowering. I also had seen where people had mounted the speakers behind the seats where the coat hooks are. I did not like how they were mounted on top of the plastic, even though with the seat back you would not see them. I wanted the install to look like the factory did it. So I had some Orion 2 way 4x6 speakers in the garage and here is what i did. Depended on your speakers, you may not need to modify the plastic panel. As far as sound quality and imaging, I can tell a difference. The sound seems to hit your ears in just the right spot without sounding like they are right on your head. My tweeters were aimable, so this helps. Also, these had small cross overs to send only high frequency to the tweeter and lows to the mid.

Remove this panel on each side




Here is what the metal looked like before modification




I modified the metal to fit the speaker




Installed the 4x6 speaker without the grill. I just used two screws at the top




I lined the trim panel up after the speaker install to cut the center fins to make it clear the tweeter




Fins rough cut with a dremel on the back side




Front view of panel after clean up




Installed the panel over the speaker




Close up of speaker behind factory vent that has been modified

 

For some reason the metal modification picture does not work

 

nice work, good thinking on modifying the metal bar. I put 4 inch round 3 way speakers in that area but I mounted them on the panel. I never thought of modifying the metal. I'm really happy with the sound of my speakers though.

 

speakers being behind seats how do u hear that compared 2 S pods mounted on roll hoops? i have the roll hoops speakers (6"component w tweeters) and i just have fade more 2 front and top down i just fade more 2 rears

 

That's sweet! I gotta do something like that soon!

 

Honestly for me the sound is perfect. No fading required. The center console shape helps with the sound transfer. When you listen to the radio from the drivers seat, you hear the passenger rear speaker and in the passenger seat, you hear the driver rear speaker. I like the imaging, as it sounds like they are farther away than they actually are, almost like a slight delay. I can certainly tell a difference, plus no one will know they are there.

 

now with all the close ups behind the seats i relize I need to dust this area

 

Do you have pics of when you ran the wire from the head-unit to the back? This looks really good....

 

Nice job....

 

How did you modify the metal behind the speaker? Bend it and if so with what? I have some mounted already but I like your way better.