Dash Speakers for my 86
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: SE Kansas
Dash Speakers for my 86
Hi guys. I'm replacing the dead Bose with a Pioneer unit and have pulled out the rear amps, put in 6x9s, figured out how to use the existing wire to go from the Pioneer to the rear speakers. I'm putting in new door panels and instead of cutting them for the door speakers, I would like to put speakers in the dash. I have have the console and all of the dash bezels off for replacement, including the cluster assembly, plus the dash pad. Since the dash pad has to come out and go in at pretty much a straight angle, a speaker with any depth at all seems to be a problem. I bought some 6x4s but they have a depth of about 3 inches and I don't think they will allow the dash pad to go back in without bending it, alot. So my question is...what kind, brand, and size does anyone have in the dash, and how did it go? I really hate to cut my new panels, and I like the sound of dash speakers instead of door speakers, but thats just me
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
well, this is my idea... I would use 2-way 4" drivers in the dash and a 6" mid in the door.
The reason? The system you have built will be really disjointed for sound stage. The bass will all come from the back, and more if you have used 2 or 3 way 6x9s. The fronts will be coming with only mids and highs. And mostly highs.
As it stands, the 4x6s should slide into the dash, with a touch of tweeking. Don't fret that. To be honest, I can't beleive that the stock 4x6s were any thinner...
Now, is that 3" depth based on the depth of the speaker, or how they mount? IIRC, there are some standoffs for the OEM speaker to fit into. What I would consider doing is cutting those down and installing the speaker flush.
The reason? The system you have built will be really disjointed for sound stage. The bass will all come from the back, and more if you have used 2 or 3 way 6x9s. The fronts will be coming with only mids and highs. And mostly highs.
As it stands, the 4x6s should slide into the dash, with a touch of tweeking. Don't fret that. To be honest, I can't beleive that the stock 4x6s were any thinner...
Now, is that 3" depth based on the depth of the speaker, or how they mount? IIRC, there are some standoffs for the OEM speaker to fit into. What I would consider doing is cutting those down and installing the speaker flush.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Awhile back, I mounted a 3 1/2" Kicker midrange and a Pioneer tweeter in my previous 89's dash location.
I removed the dash pad, removed the speaker grills, recovered speaker grills, mounted the speakers to the bottom of the grills, reinstalled the speaker grills and remounted the dash pad.
The speakers didn't interfere with the dash pad re-installation. I posted some pictures here on the forum but, the hosting site that I used back then I stopped using and the pictures don't show up anymore, and now I can't find the pictures on my computer.
I removed the dash pad, removed the speaker grills, recovered speaker grills, mounted the speakers to the bottom of the grills, reinstalled the speaker grills and remounted the dash pad.
The speakers didn't interfere with the dash pad re-installation. I posted some pictures here on the forum but, the hosting site that I used back then I stopped using and the pictures don't show up anymore, and now I can't find the pictures on my computer.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 28,747
Likes: 41
From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Try plates in the dash and 6.5" in the doors. I did that in my '88 once upon a time.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
sorry to hijack a bit here, but I'm about to undergo something very similar. I was thinking of hiding my tweeters under the dash grilles and 6.5"s in the doors, with 6x9's in the back. Would it sound terrible, is there a better place to put the tweeters?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
tweeters are small. They will literally fit anywhere. Putting them in the dash like that would make them too far apart, creating an imaging problem.
for the rear, I would suggest a pair of 8" subs. They will fit and will provide a much better sub punch than the 6x9s ever would.
for the rear, I would suggest a pair of 8" subs. They will fit and will provide a much better sub punch than the 6x9s ever would.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Where would you suggest installing the tweeters? I don't want them easily visible from the outside of the car.
I'm not too worried about a lot of bass, and the c4 is small enough that a little will go a long way. I also am more interested in clear music than big booms. In addition to that, I already have a 4 channel amp at my disposal, and I'd rather use only one.
I'm not too worried about a lot of bass, and the c4 is small enough that a little will go a long way. I also am more interested in clear music than big booms. In addition to that, I already have a 4 channel amp at my disposal, and I'd rather use only one.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
idk if this will work or not but its done on C5's is to mount them in the plastic piece surrounding the door pull handle. A decent 4 channel could power speakers and 2 8s no problem
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Sorry, I don't know enough about car audio. They'll sound bizarre because they're too far away from my mids(6.5's)? Should I try mounting them under the dash somewhere or is there room next to where I'd mount my regular speakers in the doors?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Any reason you are against a tweeter in the door? it would be int he black triangular section of the door pull (just to the front of the door latch handle)
otherwise I would think that the dash will be the best place for the tweeter.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
I have new door panels on the way, and I want to keep the car looking as though it has nothing as far as audio goes(with the exception of the deck).
I also think that tweeters on doors, unless there's a good hidden recessed place to hide them, are hideous.
I also think that tweeters on doors, unless there's a good hidden recessed place to hide them, are hideous.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Tweeters can be used in the dash locations. The key will be to make sure they are crossed over at a low enough frequency to create the soundstage properly. If they are just tweeters with passive or built in crossovers then the soundstage would be a problem and a small midrage would be a better fit.
My dash is currently modified to fit tweeters and a center channel in place of the defroster to create an accurate soundstage.
My dash is currently modified to fit tweeters and a center channel in place of the defroster to create an accurate soundstage.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Laurel,
do you have the speakers?
why not get a component set where the tweeter can mount like a coaxial Like this:
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=49
or these?
http://cdtaudio.com/Braxial.htm
Mount in door and be done
do you have the speakers?
why not get a component set where the tweeter can mount like a coaxial Like this:
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=49
or these?
http://cdtaudio.com/Braxial.htm
Mount in door and be done
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: SE Kansas
Thanks to everyone who responded to my part of the thread, and I don't mind a hijack at all, you can learn something from everyone. I took your suggestion bogus, and got rid of the stand off on the speaker mounting plates, making them flat on the bottom side. With a little bending and holding my breath I got the dash pad back in place with nothing to spare. Now on to the rest of the project. later, fxr4
