wsrgklt

There are a lot of audio threads on here, but most of the speakers people recommend are now out of production. So I want to get some updated options.

I have the 6 channel non-Bose, non-most, stereo. The Focal speakers from CAI are undoubtedly lovely, but I can’t see dropping over $1k into into a pair of speakers for this car. I’m thinking more like $500 to upgrade both the dash and door speakers.

I’m not looking for superb clarity- my exhaust is too loud for that to matter. I want more volume overall and better bass handling at higher volumes. I get a lot of bass distortion at higher volumes now.

I’m thinking high efficiency 4” coaxials in the dash. The door drivers are 5.25” but seem to be crossed over as subs. I can’t find any 5” inch subs and I’m wondering if a full range coax with decent low frequency response is the best option here.

Anyone have any recommendations?

ssherman68

I just replaced my head unit and might do the speakers sometime in the near future. I want to give the new head unit a few months and see what I think of the sound. I don't have any answers for you but I noticed the same thing about the door speakers when I was testing my installation. They didn't really fit in with front/back/left/right and only produced bass.

wsrgklt

@ssherman68 If you have door speakers and the Nokia amp in your frunk, then it’s a 6x40w setup with only low frequencies going to the doors. I don’t think that’s a bad design, but 20 year old paper speaker cones are bound to be worn out in an automotive environment. No surprise they sound bad to both of us.

Randyg308

There are still options,Check out the Crutchfield website, brands like alpine.morel,etc

Pulx30

I recently upgraded the sound system. I have the non bose 6 speaker system. I went with 5 1/4 components, mounting the tweeters in the dash and removing the 4" that's in the dash, leaving just the new tweeter. The issue I didn't see any way around was the sub frequencies going to the door so I replaced the amp with a small 5 channel and added a sub.

With limited options on just 4" speakers I found it a slippery slope and replaced it all.

wsrgklt

@Pulx30 Crutchfield recommends the front component setup like you have. What components did you use and where did you put your sub? It seems like eliminating the dash midrange driver would give up a lot of volume.

I’m trying to avoid replacing the amp or adding a sub enclosure (my kids use the back seats). I’m thinking of 4” coax in the dash and 5.25” coax in the doors.

Infinity’s Reference line seems to have the characteristics that everyone liked in the JBL GTO series a few years ago. High efficiency and low impedance (3ohm) for more oomph from the stock amp. Both are made by Harmon. Does anyone have these in their 996?

De Jeeper

Imho the amp is garbage. Just replace it and u will be much happier.i put a 4 chanel kenwoid in that was the same size. It had hi and low inputs so i just used the factory harness and a continental radio. I would put the sub in the back shelf. It would be easy to make.

Pulx30

I got mine from Crutchfield (I'm local to them,so it makes it easy). They are the Focal PS 130F https://www.crutchfield.com/S-sRuwrs...e-PS-130F.html. I also have the 4" Focals in the same line in the rear.

As far as the sub after failing multiple time in creating a sub box, I found a box on amazon that fits perfectly on the rear shelf with some crude stilts I added to support the front of the box. It allows full use of the rear seats. You'll have to use a shallow mount sub. I used a Focal 10' shallow mount.

aturcotte

I put polk 4x6 in dash and back, along with 5.25 in doors. New kenwood head and 5 channel amp in frunk with a 8 inch boxed kicker sub behind drivers seat . Excellent.

wsrgklt

I’m glad folks with entirely new systems are happy with their installs, but I want to avoid an amp install and I’m absolutely not adding a sub enclosure. I use the rear space in my 996.

@aturcotte how did you get 4x6s to fit in the dash and rear?

dporto

No, putting "full range co-ax speakers" in the doors where the subs are is not a good idea. Those wires are (as you said in your first post) crossed over and are only fed low frequencies - putting full range speakers on them would be a waste and sound like poop... Look for/Google "Tang Band 5.25" woofer/subwoofer"... They're out there...

wyovino

If you just want to replace the door original subwoofers you can do that with OEM for around $50 each.

wsrgklt

I can see how it would seem like a waste to have unused tweeters sitting there, but I don’t know why it would sound like poop. Infinity 5.25” coaxial speakers have a frequency range down to to 67hz. Do the paper cone stock speakers really go lower than that?

The Tang Bands are interesting, with a frequency range down to 45hz. But they’re too deep for the door enclosures, so you have to cut a hole and let the voice coil stick out the back. Not sure I like that.

I also read that you can fit 6.5” drivers into the door openings without much modification. That might open up some other possibilities like these Hertz C165 woofers . They go down to 55hz, have a 2.5“ mounting depth, and are very efficient at 93db sensitivity.

De Jeeper

well it does sound like poop. I have done it.

Give it a try u will probably be back a week later asking what amp u should use because the crossover in the original amp makes the stereo sound like poop.

Pulx30

You could rewire the amp to eliminate the rear speakers and send the rear signal to the doors and get full range that way. You'll loose rear speaker and fading but you'll have full range at the doors.