I have a classic MY00. Me and Duracell(MY98) are both in the same boat and want to upgrade our standard speakers.

I would like to upgrade the speakers in the car. As far as i can see I have 2 options:

1. Put new speakers in that replace the old ones for size exactly (ie same size in same place). Advantage of this is i can probably fit it myself.
2. Put speakers in that involve mounting new speakers that are a different size/shape. Someone else will have to do this for me.

I really am a beginner in all this so what is the recommended setup and the advantages/disadvantages.

thanks.

 

Can't offer any advice , but I would be interested in any answers
BTTT for you

Dave

 

BTTT - Very interested in suggestions for front replacements. Any comments on Focal components ?

 

I have a MY00 and this morning, fitted a (£90 from In-car Express) pair of Infinity 6000CS (replacement for the 605 by the look of things, the woofer's identical, and the tweeter's 1mm bigger in each dimension) components.
The woofer uses a metal ring, and bolts straight into the original fitting if you trim the (I think it's the) splash cover.
I've mounted the tweeter on the triangle where the mirror is.
I've stuck some of the supplied padded tape to the back of the cross-over and taped it in place against the runner for the window mechanism. I cut the plug off the existing speaker cable and connect it straight to the cross-over.
Chiark's FAQ came in very handy for removing the door trim .

The cable ties holding the cross-over in place were used as a temporary fix while I installed the speakers.






Hope this helps,

Martin.

 

sorry guys. been really busy so havent had time to get the size and model numbers of the focals. will keep you posted tho

 

What did you want to know about the Focals? I'm currently doing lots of research regarding upgrading my ice and they're def the speakers I think I'm going to go for up front. Seems there's a choice of two. The Focal Polyglass 165V2 and the Focal Access 165A, both are components the Polyglass range being more expensive. It seems the Access will fit slighty easier though, the Polyglass are a very tight squeeze from what I hear. Will be looking to get an amp to power these though as people tend to say that you're wasting them if just running them off the headunit.

Perhaps anyone on here that has them fitted can comment if they're happy with them and how easily they fitted?

Dan.

 

there are also the polyglass slim's which will fit easy

 

I've just fitted a set of Alpine components in my front doors (MY98)

I removed the existing plastic "adaptor plates" and fitted a pair that were intended for a Toyota of some nature. One of the original holes in the door lined up, but the others needed the new adaptor plates driling (only plastic so no bother) to suit the holes in the door panels.

The seperate tweeters have been fitted (sticky pads) in the location just forward of the door handles (Subaru's intended position)

They sound ****!!!!

I'm going to do a bit of investigation, coz they should be better!!!!!!

Thinking of getting some proper adaptor plates (Autoleads SAK-2820) and then fitting some Dynamat too, to see if this improves matters.

Marty

 

Hey M8 !

Looks like Foculs / Infinity's are well recommended !

Let us know what u rekon and if you've decided anything yet ???

Cheers
Duracell

 

Having a small budget for replacement front and rear speakers when I fitted my new 4x50w head unit, I put in Pioneer TS-E1695s in the front (16cm) and Pioneer TS-E1795s in the parcel shelf (17cm) - not my first choice for rear speakers (wanted 6x9s but bought the 17cm ones for the front and then found the didn't fit very well).

Despite being a huge fan of the distinctive clear Pioneer sound, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. Even with 2-way speakers (I normally buy 3-ways), I've got the clarity that I wanted ..... but I was hoping for a bit more low frequency stuff.

In hindsight, I should have pushed the boat out and got an amp (but this is still an option for later) and should definitely have Dynamatted the front doors to stop them resonating. If I had a bigger budget (and if it's possible), moving the speakers higher up in the doors somehow would have given them more presence and stopped the bass kind of fading away by my feet!

If you have a look back over older threads (i.e. last couple of months) in the ICE section, there's been loads of discussion about Focals and Infinitys - sounds like they're great if you've got the budget.

 

I have had the Focals fitted - the 165A I think

They were £300 retail at the front and I fitted 6*9's at the rear Focal - for £200 - Polywhatever....yeah I'm getting lazy - I can find out for sure if someone wants as they have been sitting in the garage for the last year......

For any speaker run off an amp (I dont mean the standard stereo amp!!! - dont even think of going down the so called high power stereo route.....they dont exist) you have to have mdf spacers made - this will cost a few quid from a car stereo place....well a decent one would not charge that much....

You really need to make spacers for the rear as well - I made them and carpetted them..... to match the boot trim......

Focals were 6.5 inch front - dont go smaller........please...........

The Focals will fit pretty easily (with half inch spacer) in the normal speaker area...... you also need to mount the cross overs. I cut a hole for the tweeters about 6 inches above the main speaker - some put it closer some further away......its a matter of personal preference but really you should mount the tweater very close to the main speakers and not where Subaru put the originals

The focals require an amp - as I stated above. They can typically take 90w rms - the rears may be able to take a little more......you would be looking for a 4*100+wrms amp as a minimum - you should never drive an amp too hard - i.e. never go above 80% of its power capacity

I have a 4 Channel Genesis amp (among the amps I have)

This would comfortably run fronts and rears...........

The focals are ok - they dont take much to drive them - so you can run them cheaper than some speakers - sound quality is good overall - much better than Infinity speakers (these are really for the budget end of the market imho)

I no longer have the Focals in my car - I only got them as a make do for a while................

It all depends what your budget is and what you want.

Originally I wanted louder sounds and more bass.....I got Dynn audio front speakers (for great home stereo sound) fitted and some Bass - unfortunately the amp kept clipping (power surge problems) which kept knackering my front speaker magnets...........until I fitted a large 2 Farad Capacitor (but then I have over 1000wrms of Subs - work on Circa 1 Farad for every 500wrms of Sub (read wrms - not Max Power - a cheap sub rated at 1000w power will probably only achieve about 300wrms!!! and sound awful - dont go cheap on components as the quality will suffer!!)

If you want a good install you need:

1. A good Head Unit with decent pre-out Voltage
2. Minimim 2 pre-outs (ideally 3)
3. Good front speakers - say Dynn Audio (the cross overs are a pain to fit!!!)
4. Front door dynamat - lots of
5. Rear Bass - say 2*12inch 512 Diamond Audio subs or better still Diamond Macdaddy subs or DLS Subs
6. If you have the subs YOU DONT need rear speakers....
7. A couple of decent amps - say genesis/Soundstream
8. A farad Capacitor for the Subs - say a 1.5/2 Farad Capacitor
9. Lots of Dyamat in the Boot area
10. Lots of decent leads

If you cant go down this route then maybe you could opt for:

1. Reasonable Headunit - read - Alpine
2. Focal fronts and Rears
3. Decent 4 channel amp to run fronts and rears
4. Dynamat in the front doors - small amount might get away with
5. No dynamat required in the boot

The Dynn's require a lot of power to be run - I use a 4 channel Genesis Bridged just to run the front speakers - even at about 180wrms the sound sometimes doesnt feel loud enough - but the Dynns cant take any more!!!

Sorry to bore everyone

 

I'm think of upgrading the front speakers on my MY00 with some focal components. I've heard they're cheaper if you source them direct from the States.

Has anyone ordered them from the States?
What size/models should I be looking for? 165A's 6.5"?
And...where do most people mount their tweeters?

Currently I'm running my fronts (JBL's) with a MAGNAT 2* 130W amp and the rears are Kenwood 6*9's straight off the head unit. It sounds ok but it doesn't compare to clarity and bass of say a standard MKIV golf.

.... Where am I going wrong?