I'm getting a nice bonus for X-mas this year and i figure why not use it on a audio system. I've been searching for some front speakers, but they all seem to be 5 1/4 and up. Are any of you guys runing component speakers? If so, what size, brand are you using.

I wil not be using a head unit, as I plan on running RCA cables straight to the amp fom my PSP.

 

I Have 6.5 inch MTX Silver Componants in the rear.

I used the stock mounting location for the speakers and the tweeters and crossovers are right next to them.

I am using 3 Old school Sony Mobile ES (The Gold ones not that Red explode ****) Amps. One for the fronts (5.25 alpines in the stock location)
One for the Rears
One for the single sub in a custom box in the passenger cubby.

I am using a CDXC-910 as the head unit (No Power Pre-amp only)
Also a Directed electronics EQ.

I love the componants and I think that they look good.....

Jason

 

That looks good man, I found some brand new 3.5" Blaupunkt speakers on eBay at a great price, I like the PSP idea but would miss the radio personally. I also used 6" round rears speakers, 6 x 9s on the deck in boxes and a 10" sub powered by an 800 watt Sony amp. I'm no audio guru but I like the sound, its actually louder than my exhaust....lol

 

On my old 7, I wanted to do the same thing. I looked a bit but it seemed like all the componant speakers come in larger sized than the front can handle.
I ended up just buying the smallest alpine type-R componants they made (I think they were like 4.5" or something), in hope of shoehorning them into the stock location in the front. Well, after taking a better look, they definately wouldnt fit in the stock location and would have needed a pod, or to be put in the doors.

At that point I wasnt really prepared to do either of those things, so I just decided to try them out in the back. I installed the mid-bass drivers in the stock rear location, and put the tweeters on the front of the wheelwell trim. I was actually quite surprised at how good it sounded, having the tweeters in the rear so I stuck with it. I was definately 100% satisfied, and if I had to do it again I would probably run them the same way.

Ill try to dig up a picture of how I had them mounted, but I dont know if I ever took any.

I think that unless your going to build a pod for the front or put the mid-bass drivers in the door, your best bet is to just by a set of co-axials and put them in the stock location.
I doubt youll find any componant speakers that are worth it to fit in the stock location simply because its hard to put anything in there that will actually deliver any bass.

 

im hoping to get my radio stuff installed today. heres what im running:

kenwood KDC-MP919 radio($500 radio came stock in MS protege) gotmine for $100 and its 3 months old--these are hard to find. easiest place is msprotege.com
5 1/4 infinity kappas with crossovers for the front
6x9 infinity kappas with crossovers for the rear

i initially thought about having a small amp, but i want it to be hidden and i have no place to put it. bins are full of needed stuff and i thought about behind the radio but im installing an IPOD adapter that uses a box and it has to go there. i may in the few try to find a place for a small amp and MAYBE a small sub. im just out for good quality, not the boom boom effect.

i hope to get everything in today. if i do ill post he results.

 

Thats where I ended up putting them.
Please disregard the horrid subwoofer setup...it is long..long gone.

I thought they sounded super duper in this location, sound was beautiful (after the bolt subs were removed..lol).

 

So I should just get a pair of quality 4" speakers for the front, and a set of 6.5" component speakers for the rear?

how do you plan on mounting these?

 

it all depends on what youre going for to what you should get. there are 5 1/4 speakers thatll fit in the front and all you have to do it trim a little metal and turn the hood latch so its verticle rather than horizontal. i want some of the speaker kickpanels that turn the speaker up instead of at your feet, but i have yet to come accross any on ebay. i havent went out and actually started yet. i need to but i have to get off the damn forum!! haha. for the rears im initially assuming a little trimming sould work. if not that coupled with some spacers. if you want ill try to document the whole process?

i have friends big in stereo and they told me my set up will sound amazing. esspecially in such a small car. he said all hed ever add to this set up would be an amp and small sub and itd be perfect. im not sure if im looking for all that, but i may in the future. i guarentee ill be blow away by the quality though.

 

Depth IIRC is the major biter in mounting the front speakers. While there is room for larger diameter speakers, they basically cant be any deeper than the stockers, with a similar diameter magnet on the back (tiiiiny). When I was looking at speakers, all the higher quality pieces had magnets way to large and too deep to fit. I guess its possible, if you find the right speaker, but I cant say forsure that the quality will be equal.

Id like to hear what will fit for sure actually....

 

crutchfield has a whole list of speakers thatll fit the rear. from 5 1/4 - 6 3/4. for the fronts they only list 4". certain speakers have a shallow series as well for less moutning space. im pretty sure my speakers will be a bitch to mount, but the quality will be worth it.

 

http://www.cdtaudio.com/car_audio.htm

You might of not heard of them ... but they are pretty hard core.

 

I guess another option would be to eliminate the front stock location, and mount the 5 1/4's on the doors with the tweeters.

 

^^ i want to mount mine in the doors, but the door pockets are there and i dont feel like modifying my doors or eliminating my pockets. thats a great way to improve them though.

 

With basic metal cutters you cn easliy fit 5 1/4 up front. Or you can make door pods as I did and put them there. I run in both locations (4 5 1/4's in the front)

 

i put 6.5s in the doors with very little mods. covered by a cheepo plastic grill for the moment, but im cutting some aluminum grills that are a bit more flat. they sit above the pockets in the flat area forward of the inside handle. ill try to get a pic.

isaac

 

I bought some components on Ebay, OZ Audio. 99% sure they are 5 1/4.

It's more important to have the good stuff up front... You could even go without speakers in the back if you want.

I'm doing the components up front, maybe some midbass in the rear, subwoofers in the back, and that's it. There is no reason to have tweeters or separates in the back, as you don't need your staging set up that way.

 

thats a good idea. i didnt think about that. ill have to explore that possibility tomorrow. i didnt get much done today. just removed the rear speakers and judged how much work id have to do back there. i also got some MDF(?) board to make spacers incase i need to. hopefully ill get it all done tomorrow.