85 front door speakers
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 582
From: New Port Richey FL
Factory style Bose were is not a problem it's the how much that's not great, I hope there is cheaper solution
https://corvetteparts.com/item/speak...tion-1984-1989
https://corvetteparts.com/item/speak...tion-1984-1989
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 788
Likes: 100
From: Indianapolis IN
https://www.crutchfield.com/g_51200/...rs.html?tp=102
$67.99 pr, 3 point mount.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,724
Likes: 1,628
From: Fairfax Virginia
Crutchfield is a true asset to those who have questions regarding what fits and what doesn't. I have used them since the mid 1970's and have been nothing but happy with my transactions with Crutchfield.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 728
Likes: 420
From: Wisconsin
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Winner - Modified
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
You can get adapters to fit more commonly sized, non-amplified speakers to fit. (You'd have to use a more standard stereo that doesn't use amps at the individual speakers.) I have these (and the matching ones for the rear speakers) for my 85, haven't installed them yet though: http://car-speaker-adapters.com/items.php?id=SAK073.
I believe people have mounted 6×9 speakers in the rear without adapters.
I believe people have mounted 6×9 speakers in the rear without adapters.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
To be honest I gave up on the Bose stuff in my 84 a long time ago. I put in an aftermarket head unit. Then I made some adapters out of sheet aluminum that let me mount 6 1/2" speakers in the doors after removing the Bose boxes and amps. Then I put factory size speakers under the dash pad. Then I replaced the rear Bose stuff with a set of 6x9's. I used the head unit to power the dash and rear speakers and I put a small Alpine amp under the seat for the door speakers. I can actually hear the radio with the top off now. I 3d printed speaker grills for the doors that look pretty good too.
All of this was fairly inexpensive and the sound quality and level is way better now.
All of this was fairly inexpensive and the sound quality and level is way better now.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 146
Likes: 37
Yup 6x9s fit fine without adapters in the back. I think I put 6.5s in the front and they fit just fine after removing the bose box. I bought some sort of adapter, but honestly it was cheaply made enough that I couldve made something out of cardboard almost as well.
The bose boxes are a bit of a pain in the *** to get out, but they will come out.
The bose boxes are a bit of a pain in the *** to get out, but they will come out.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 286
Likes: 162
From: Mooresville, IN
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 C4 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2021 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
You can get adapters to fit more commonly sized, non-amplified speakers to fit. (You'd have to use a more standard stereo that doesn't use amps at the individual speakers.) I have these (and the matching ones for the rear speakers) for my 85, haven't installed them yet though: http://car-speaker-adapters.com/items.php?id=SAK073.
I believe people have mounted 6×9 speakers in the rear without adapters.
I believe people have mounted 6×9 speakers in the rear without adapters.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 286
Likes: 162
From: Mooresville, IN
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 C4 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2021 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-OSfqv5...RoCcGEQAvD_BwE
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 29
Likes: 18
I went through this process on my 85, here's what I found...
The factory bose radio head sends a signal at 1 ohm to each corner, where an amplifier bumps it up significantly to the bose speaker. You cannot just replace the speaker as it is a custom size, and any other speaker doesn't sound good....I tried putting a 6x9 to the leads just to see if it would work....not good. Ditch the whole setup. Head unit, boxes, all of it out. You can fit two 6x9s in the rear without adapters assuming your 6x9 speakers have slots to allow a little slip. I put a foam between the body and my speaker, and a speaker ring to the grille. You can snip the connector on the amp side when you remove the box, and solder on the + - leads to two little connectors and cap the power leads. The head unit I replaced with a single din JVC digital media receiver with a c4 corvette dash kit. Everything hooks in nice and easy, and behind that, I have a Kicker KEY200.4 amplifier behind the dash that goes to the speaker leads.
The factory bose radio head sends a signal at 1 ohm to each corner, where an amplifier bumps it up significantly to the bose speaker. You cannot just replace the speaker as it is a custom size, and any other speaker doesn't sound good....I tried putting a 6x9 to the leads just to see if it would work....not good. Ditch the whole setup. Head unit, boxes, all of it out. You can fit two 6x9s in the rear without adapters assuming your 6x9 speakers have slots to allow a little slip. I put a foam between the body and my speaker, and a speaker ring to the grille. You can snip the connector on the amp side when you remove the box, and solder on the + - leads to two little connectors and cap the power leads. The head unit I replaced with a single din JVC digital media receiver with a c4 corvette dash kit. Everything hooks in nice and easy, and behind that, I have a Kicker KEY200.4 amplifier behind the dash that goes to the speaker leads.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,220
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
I would assume the main reason the stock speakers are sealed are for acoustics and the amp. There are plenty of car door speakers that are not totally sealed up. I did want to keep water from dripping on top of my speakers though, so I went with a set of these Boom Mat speaker baffles and just cut the bottom of it out.
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-OSfqv5...RoCcGEQAvD_BwE
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-OSfqv5...RoCcGEQAvD_BwE
1) Are the speaker adapters (as linked by MixNutz (above) STURDY enough to avoid "buzzing"? (How about door internals for that matter)?
2) Did you cut out the bottom (reduce the depth) of the "Boom Mat Baffles" because they are too deep for our doors? (If not, why).
Bonus question: What's the max depth you can install using those door speaker adapters? Can it be deeper if you make a DIY version that sits flush with the door panel (vs where the somewhat recessed OEM baffle sits)? If you say it can be deeper, let me (and the forum) know if you're talking about moving the speaker baffles above the surface of the interior door panels?? (Maybe that creates better sound -- by not "crowding" the outer door skin so much?) Ok, 1 more: Is dynomat required for 6.5" speakers (on the inside of the door skin) to avoid vibration?
THANKS!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 728
Likes: 420
From: Wisconsin
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Winner - Modified
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Unfortunately I haven't gotten around to installing my new speakers yet. I've been busy with LS swapping the tow rig and that took much longer than I had hoped...
I am planning to get them installed this winter though. I'll make sure to make a thread when I do it.
I am planning to get them installed this winter though. I'll make sure to make a thread when I do it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
To you and Mixnutz (and others using front speaker adapters): Two questions:
1) Are the speaker adapters (as linked by MixNutz (above) STURDY enough to avoid "buzzing"? (How about door internals for that matter)?
2) Did you cut out the bottom (reduce the depth) of the "Boom Mat Baffles" because they are too deep for our doors? (If not, why).
Bonus question: What's the max depth you can install using those door speaker adapters? Can it be deeper if you make a DIY version that sits flush with the door panel (vs where the somewhat recessed OEM baffle sits)? If you say it can be deeper, let me (and the forum) know if you're talking about moving the speaker baffles above the surface of the interior door panels?? (Maybe that creates better sound -- by not "crowding" the outer door skin so much?) Ok, 1 more: Is dynomat required for 6.5" speakers (on the inside of the door skin) to avoid vibration?
THANKS!
1) Are the speaker adapters (as linked by MixNutz (above) STURDY enough to avoid "buzzing"? (How about door internals for that matter)?
2) Did you cut out the bottom (reduce the depth) of the "Boom Mat Baffles" because they are too deep for our doors? (If not, why).
Bonus question: What's the max depth you can install using those door speaker adapters? Can it be deeper if you make a DIY version that sits flush with the door panel (vs where the somewhat recessed OEM baffle sits)? If you say it can be deeper, let me (and the forum) know if you're talking about moving the speaker baffles above the surface of the interior door panels?? (Maybe that creates better sound -- by not "crowding" the outer door skin so much?) Ok, 1 more: Is dynomat required for 6.5" speakers (on the inside of the door skin) to avoid vibration?
THANKS!