glack

Car: 1985 Euro S

I'm looking to pull the original Blaupunkt tape deck and put in a Becker CDR-220 or CDR-210 with an iPod adapter.

The speakers are shot all the way around and I would like to replace those with some MB Quarts or Boston Pro's, but I am unsure what size speakers I will need and whether there is a direct replacement for them (as I know the replacements need to be sufficiently shallow to avoid requiring any sort of permanent modifications to the doors). I believe there are four speakers total in the car and they all sit behind perforated leather. I would rather have everything I need before I start pulling it apart. Does anyone have experience with this?

I will most likley not be putting in a sub, nor an amplifier, so if it's a waste to use these speakers, let me know!

Also, should I consider pulling the stock wiring?

Anyway, I would really appreciate all of the relevant opinions I can get.

Thanks!

jeff jackson

I used Eclipse SE8245, 4 inch coaxial speakers, as a direct replacement of the larger door panel speakers, and left the factory tweeters in place (but disconnected)...these speakers have ample power handling capability for my Alpine MRP-F240 amlifier, used to replace the factory Blaupunkt 4 channel amp. The Alpine unit is conservatively rated for 50W RMS x 4...I also used an Infinity Basslink 200W powered subwoofer, with this setup for its ease of installation, and great sound... It is also extremely easy to remove, with no visible evidence of it being there, if I ever decide to upgrade more than the stereo. (NOT LIKELY)... This setup, with an Alpine CDA 7839 head unit, and 6 disk CD shuttle, sound fantastic in the 928. Highly recommended.

Bill Ball

What you will find is that no one has managed to get decent sound using the factory amp with aftermarket speakers and without a sub.

I've been trying to get a good system together using aftermarket speakers that fit the factory holes with "stealth" amp(s) and "stealth" sub (ones that will hide out of site without wasting the spare tub or building up the rear deck). I found a powerful multichannel amp that is an inch thick that may fit under the seat (don't have it yet) and I have bought some JL 6W0 speakers to "fit" (willr equire some coaxing) in the 6.5 inch rear holes (Rick Carter has been looking a this option too) to see if they provide adequate bass. The doors could take 4 inch coax, as Jeff did, or 4" component with separate tweeter. Same with the rear.

glack

Who makes it?

So the rears fit a 6.5" speaker or only a 4"?


Do you have a maker/model for the size speaker that fits in the doors?

Kevin in Atlanta

I have a Becker 220 and a Dension Ice Link. Nice combo. I have MB Quarts in all the holes. The amp is a Kenwood courtesy of the PO. It and the rear crossovers are where the spare use to be. Yes, replace all the wiring. I have a couple of Kicker 10" subs and enclosure. I am on the fence on whether I will install them. I am pretty happy with the 6.5 woofers frm MB Quart.

Bill Ball

The amp is a Farenheit CLX730-4. Not the most respected name in audio amplification, but at 1.2 inches high, I'm giving it a try. $99 delivered at hifiaudioonline.com

I wouldn't know the speaker sizes on an 85 Euro. On my 89 US there are 3 speakers in the rear on each side are rated as 6.5", 4" and 2" diameter, but the overall grill sizes are 7", 5" and 3.75". The front door speakers are 4" and 2" with overall 5" and 3.75" grills. You really need to get dimensions of replacement speakers including depths as well (the fronts accomodate 2" depth only), but there are lots of things that can be done to mount speakers of varying sizes.

Jeff mentioned an Eclipse 4" model. That or their SE8243 seem so efficient they may run off the headunit. I'm considering using separate components. Separates with a 4" main are unusual, so what Jeff did is more common.

Others here may know the 85 Euro speaker sizes. Are they mounted BEHIND the door skin like I have seen on some early cars? If they are mounted on top, just take them off and measure the speakers.

FlyingDog

1985 is the first year of the new interiors so the doors are like yours Bill. I'm not sure how the rears are set up.

I'm also planning the CDR22/220 route when I get to that point. I have a hacked up old interior so I need to do some repairs before mounting speakers. Speaking of which, does anybody have a hi res straight on shot of the speaker area of the door panel including the top of the armrest, handle, and top of the door in an 85+ car?

Bill Ball

Ed Scherer has a lot of shots of his install. Probably not quite the doorpanel shots you need, Matt, but click on some of his thumbs for big images.
http://www.ed.scherer.name/Porsche_9...lideshow2.html

Glack - Ed used MB Quart PSC 210 separates in his front door. You can see they went in rather nice on his 90. Probably will work just the same in your 85. Do a google/froogle search on MB Quart PSC 210 and they can be found still available. Newer equivalent models, such as the PCE 210 are more readily available.

FlyingDog

Thanks Bill. I think some of those pics will work just fine.

michaelathome

I know I am using a different car as an example but the audio technology is the same.

I am using Boston direct fits and and old school ADS or A/D/S amps. The ADS PQ8 actually bolted right to the bottom of the glove box and you can not see it. If I wanted to I could have easilly fit it under a seat. It measures about 9.5x6x1.25in and delivers 60w divided by 4 speakers. Not a slouch but tough to find. I can imagine that 3 of these would be more than enough to power a decent 8 speaker system and not have ANY issue.

Just remember to use crossovers and caps as recomended by the speaker manufacturer. Seperate the sounds, high, mids and lows and you will be fine. That is the largest overlooked quality of car audio, good speaker placement. Modern systems are much better than older ones but a high quality amp hasn't changed.

MB Quart has some GREAT surface mound and low profile mount designs available. If I were to upgrade from BA that is where I would go. Small speakers and great quality.

Michael

glack

They are mounted behind the door skin, otherwise I would have gone this route.

I've looked all over my car for an amp, but I can't locate it (not under either seat). Is there a specific place you might recommend I bolt this amp in that you can suggest/might be more like stock?

glack

Did the CDR-220 go in your GTS or the 86.5?
Did you have one of their special faceplates for better visibility installed or just the standard faceplate out of the 996?

Was fitting the CDR-220 fairly straightforward or did you need to order some special connectors?

What kind of wiring did you opt for and do you have any tips as far as what to look out for when doing the re-routing?

glack

That's also what I'm scared of. Finding a place to mount the MB Quart crossovers for the PCE-210's is also kind of a turn-off - they are monstrous (as in bigger than the speakers)![/QUOTE]

FlyingDog

That's odd. An 85 should have the new door panels. I guess being a Euro your car may have had the option to use the old style door panels.

glack

You are right, the PSC-210's are hard to find. MB Quart lists their PCE-210's at a 1.81" mounting depth, which I would imagine seems right.

Can I expect to find a place to mount the tweeter when I take the door apart or is there just one speaker under there?

Lastly, is it agreed that a 6.5" woofer will fit in the rear speaker holes? Again, this is under perforated leather which requires that I remove the entire interior quarter panel to replace so I'd like to have them ready to swap in...[/QUOTE]