Door Speaker Upgrade ... or not?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 275
Likes: 5
From: Circle Pines MN
What series speakers did you purchase, I am looking at the JBL GX series.
The problem your having (tinny sound) is why I am on the fence about doing the speaker upgrade?
I plan on adding Killmat sound deadener to my inner door panels,which should help.
Thanks in advance
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Sound deadening the wheel wells stops a lot of road noise.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Perception is very subjective and in the end it is a matter of personal preference, but there really is no reason to end up with worse low end frequency response unless the new speakers are inferior than the plain cone Bose twiddlers... and that's almost impossible
When replacing the OEM Bose twiddlers with aftermarket speakers, unless special attention is given, the likelihood of ending up with out of phase speakers is significant.
This is because although Bose does use the same narrow/wide spade terminals in its speakers as other manufacturers do, they don't follow the common standard and the polarity of their speaker terminals is REVERSED in relation to the aftermarket ones.
Take a look at this Post for more details and how to avoid it.
Last edited by GCG; Feb 23, 2019 at 12:32 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
You can easily put any 6x9s of your choice in the doors.
All you have to do is gut the grilles and put them behind on the back of the speaker
to space it out so it clears the power window track.
The door panel fits fine lots of clearance.
To go with the 1200 watts rms from the old school Rockford Punch amps I'm currently running an Audiobahn sub with premium Hertz 6x9s in the doors and 3.5s in the back and volume adjustable tweeters at the top of the A pillars.
The cheap 50.00 high power 350 watts rms Pyles finally wore out after having them in various vehicles for 18 years when one died so I upgraded to the premium quality 300.00 Hertz HCX 690s
All you have to do is gut the grilles and put them behind on the back of the speaker
to space it out so it clears the power window track.
The door panel fits fine lots of clearance.
To go with the 1200 watts rms from the old school Rockford Punch amps I'm currently running an Audiobahn sub with premium Hertz 6x9s in the doors and 3.5s in the back and volume adjustable tweeters at the top of the A pillars.
The cheap 50.00 high power 350 watts rms Pyles finally wore out after having them in various vehicles for 18 years when one died so I upgraded to the premium quality 300.00 Hertz HCX 690s
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Sep 27, 2020 at 04:21 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 929
Likes: 45
From: Wayne NJ
Door speaker upgrade
If the original speakers are not blown out I would not change them.The Bose system in the Vette is not very good to start.I did the whole system replacement.Doing small upgrades never made me happy. Alpine head, Alpine component front speakers and rear speakers. Alpine 4 channel amp and a small powered subwoofer. I had my system installed by a pro and it is a seemless install.The sound is as loud as you want and very clean.The Alpine is very good quality and it’s been in my Vette vert for over 10 years with no issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
If the original speakers are not blown out I would not change them.The Bose system in the Vette is not very good to start.I did the whole system replacement.Doing small upgrades never made me happy. Alpine head, Alpine component front speakers and rear speakers. Alpine 4 channel amp and a small powered subwoofer. I had my system installed by a pro and it is a seemless install.The sound is as loud as you want and very clean.The Alpine is very good quality and it’s been in my Vette vert for over 10 years with no issues.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 477
Likes: 110
From: Leland NC
Dirty little secret about speakers
Dirty little secret about speakers. After my five way bypass, I couldn't bend under the dash to install anything.
I researched everywhere and everything, and came up with an alpine head unit and four speakers. I found out my local Best Buy does an install of head unit for $69. Lifetime guarantee and they'll pull it out for free if I sell the car. The speakers were $39 install. Now I have everything I need from USB to iPhone call play.
My installer was a great guy. Very happy and very glad I didn't try and get underneath there to deinstall and reinstall.
I researched everywhere and everything, and came up with an alpine head unit and four speakers. I found out my local Best Buy does an install of head unit for $69. Lifetime guarantee and they'll pull it out for free if I sell the car. The speakers were $39 install. Now I have everything I need from USB to iPhone call play.
My installer was a great guy. Very happy and very glad I didn't try and get underneath there to deinstall and reinstall.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
Remember that with this kit you can make the rears upgrade plug-and-play. One kit will do both rears.
Or do the + and - still need to be reversed at the aftermarket speakers connections?
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 75
Likes: 4
From: SE of Indianapolis
Bose does use the same narrow/wide spade terminals in its speakers as other manufacturers do, BUT they don't follow the common standard and the polarity of their speaker terminals is REVERSED in relation to the aftermarket ones.
Pay attention to the + and - signs in ALL speakers terminals and, for example, use a red permanent marker to identify the + wire in each speaker before unplugging or desoldering anything. Then make sure your new connections are done keeping the CORRECT polarity
Pay attention to the + and - signs in ALL speakers terminals and, for example, use a red permanent marker to identify the + wire in each speaker before unplugging or desoldering anything. Then make sure your new connections are done keeping the CORRECT polarity
I didn't notice much difference in sound but did notice the rears sounded weak and I didn't change any of the controls.
I haven't replaced the door speakers yet but will when I remove my interior to sound deaden and insulate.
THX
Tony
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Damn! I found this post AFTER installing the JBL 5 1/4" speakers in the back of my vert. The OEM speakers don't have + or - on the connections so I guess the wiring would tell me. Can u remember if there is a black wire in the speaker connection and I can assume that is neg '-''? Any other way to tell?...
- Right:
- (+) -> DK BLU
- (-) -> LT BLU
- Left:
- (+) -> BRN
- (-) -> YEL
If you used the when you installed the rear replacements, you're probably fine.
Click here for more details.
Last edited by GCG; Apr 14, 2019 at 01:01 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 224
Likes: 23
From: In a separate reality
Just changed my vert's twiddlers to Infinity Kappa 300M's, and retained the Bose subs, what a difference!!!!, changed the the rear 5-1/4" to Infinity REF-5032CFX's, Great sound.
Last edited by kemosabe; Jul 12, 2019 at 05:13 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
When you do, it would be great if you could come back and post your impressions
Last edited by GCG; Apr 14, 2019 at 02:56 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
What I'm saying is that the factory connectors for the "front" OEM Bose 3½" twiddlers are "spade" ones and they do follow Bose's standard, which is the opposite of what aftermarket manufacturers use.
I was just giving you a heads-up for the future, so you can be prepared when you go to replace your front twiddlers: you will need to cut those spade connectors and crimp new ones following the "normal" standard (reversed in relation to Bose), or create your own adapter harnesses if you don't want to cut and crimp the OEM wires
Your current connections are fine now because they are correct for the current speakers.
I was just giving you a heads-up for the future, so you can be prepared when you go to replace your front twiddlers: you will need to cut those spade connectors and crimp new ones following the "normal" standard (reversed in relation to Bose), or create your own adapter harnesses if you don't want to cut and crimp the OEM wires
Your current connections are fine now because they are correct for the current speakers.
Last edited by GCG; Apr 14, 2019 at 06:52 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 290
Likes: 92
From: Tennessee
I installed the GX302's and 502's yesterday and can say I'm quite impressed with the improvement. The install was straight forward and there was no fitment issues in my Z06. The sound is significantly more detailed and brighter but an even better improvement is the fact that you can turn them up louder before running into distortion. The OEM speakers were terrible and if you wanted to turn them up loud enough to hear your music while the windows are down it would just fall apart in a distorted mess. These hold up quite well at louder volumes and I can finally listen to my music and enjoy it with the windows down on the highway.
I actually went to Best Buy and heard the GX series compared to some Kickers, Alpines, and Kenwoods and the GX actually sounded the best, especially when run off of head unit power and not an amp.
Hard to beat for ~$100!
I actually went to Best Buy and heard the GX series compared to some Kickers, Alpines, and Kenwoods and the GX actually sounded the best, especially when run off of head unit power and not an amp.
Hard to beat for ~$100!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Great review. To the point, and addressing the aspects that people usually want to know.
Last edited by GCG; May 8, 2019 at 09:49 AM.