Here is a pic of the naked door.Very easy to remove the panel...top has 6 or7 snap in metal connections,2 side screws,3 bottom,one star drive behind the door handle(small plastic cover) and about 6 plastic snap in gromets all around.Just wiggle it off and ease it with a small pry bar.

638

you can see the panel itself here-pins vary in size but all snap in the same
(typical GM stuff)
I made sure to take apart the speaker clips and solder the connectors to the new speakers-old speakers were paper cone and had a lower mounting depth of about 2.5 inches.
639
and here you see the polk audio 6.5 2 way speakers i used.the stockers are 2 ohm-30 watt.The Polks are 4 ohm,60w rms-180 peak.Obviously need more power to feel them fully,but even going to 4 ohms,they are as loud but very clear compared to stock.I wanted speakers that could handle further upgrades...
640

hope this helps any do it yourselfers!!!
VERY EASY install,30 minutes for two fronts(i'll go for the rears in a few days)

Thanks for the pics. This is the thread I did not want to see. LOL

I am sure in another week I will be searching ebay for some Focals. Luckily, this is my fiancee's car during the week. Otherwise I would be on ebay right now.

I hate having to deal with the onstar crap on GM products when messing with audio. Here we go again... :err:

Here is a pic of the naked door.Very easy to remove the panel...top has 6 or7 snap in metal connections,2 side screws,3 bottom,one star drive behind the door handle(small plastic cover) and about 6 plastic snap in gromets all around.Just wiggle it off and ease it with a small pry bar.

638

you can see the panel itself here-pins vary in size but all snap in the same
(typical GM stuff)
I made sure to take apart the speaker clips and solder the connectors to the new speakers-old speakers were paper cone and had a lower mounting depth of about 2.5 inches.
639
and here you see the polk audio 6.5 2 way speakers i used.the stockers are 2 ohm-30 watt.The Polks are 4 ohm,60w rms-180 peak.Obviously need more power to feel them fully,but even going to 4 ohms,they are as loud but very clear compared to stock.I wanted speakers that could handle further upgrades...
640

hope this helps any do it yourselfers!!!
VERY EASY install,30 minutes for two fronts(i'll go for the rears in a few days)
This is one of those rare times that I'm happy to be a half-deaf old fart. I just finally put a few CDs in it yesterday. What? You say there's a radio thingy?

So, I wasn't really thinking about replacing the speakers, but now that you've mentioned it :)...what do you think of these:

http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=2876&aff=45847

I know back in the day, Infinity Kappa's were one of the best of breed. Wasn't sure if anyone has had any experience with these or other brands.

looks like good specs to me!!

Here is a pic of the naked door.Very easy to remove the panel...top has 6 or7 snap in metal connections,2 side screws,3 bottom,one star drive behind the door handle(small plastic cover) and about 6 plastic snap in gromets all around.Just wiggle it off and ease it with a small pry bar.

638

you can see the panel itself here-pins vary in size but all snap in the same
(typical GM stuff)
I made sure to take apart the speaker clips and solder the connectors to the new speakers-old speakers were paper cone and had a lower mounting depth of about 2.5 inches.
639
and here you see the polk audio 6.5 2 way speakers i used.the stockers are 2 ohm-30 watt.The Polks are 4 ohm,60w rms-180 peak.Obviously need more power to feel them fully,but even going to 4 ohms,they are as loud but very clear compared to stock.I wanted speakers that could handle further upgrades...
640

hope this helps any do it yourselfers!!!
VERY EASY install,30 minutes for two fronts(i'll go for the rears in a few days)

Did the stock speakers use a semi or fully enclosed plastic mounting ring?

Hey GT-610...I noticed you went with 4 ohm speakers instead of 2 ohm...how come? Is there anything I should be on the lookout for if I stick with 2 ohms like the Infinity speakers?

Thanks man.

Hey GT-610...I noticed you went with 4 ohm speakers instead of 2 ohm...how come? Is there anything I should be on the lookout for if I stick with 2 ohms like the Infinity speakers?

Thanks man.

You could find much better speakers on ebay for about the same price or a little more. You wouldn't have a warranty but there are better ones out there. If you don't plan on running a separate amp to them then I am sure those will work just fine for you.

Any recommendations? I'm mostly just looking at specs. a 95db sensitivity seems like it will perform well with the stock stereo. The RMS power is plenty...maybe even too much for my ears (not that the stereo will push that far by any means). The freq. response seems great. But, as well all know, reading the spec sheets and actually listening to the product can be completely different. I'm open to suggestions.

This is a great thread, with a lot of good info. I'll be keeping up with this one. I don't want to do a lot of changes to the sound system, but replacing the stock speakers with better sounding ones, was my thought.

I like Polk, Infinity, & JL Audio. : )

I am sure in another week I will be searching ebay for some Focals.

i wouldn't trust Focal's on eBay, many on eBay have been found to be fakes.

i'm running focal 130 V2's in the front of my car, VERY bright, but very clear and precise

i wouldn't trust Focal's on eBay, many on eBay have been found to be fakes.

i'm running focal 130 V2's in the front of my car, VERY bright, but very clear and precise

I am running a set of Focal Polyglass V2s I got off of Ebay in my truck. I had a set of MB Quarts for about two weeks. But, they made my ears want to bleed.

The ones I have are the real deal. I make sure to buy from trusted sellers. They are discounted and do not have a warranty but they still cost quite a bit of money. I definitely will not be buying a set that are from a buyer who is new or has bad feedback or that are so cheap that it's too good to be true.

Thanks though for the heads up. I would definitely keep an eye out for the fakes.

if you plan on keeping the stock power supply and not adding an amp,then a high sensitivity speaker with 2 ohms is the way to go...I'm an aftermarket guy who wants power with clarity and can see myself getting new subs(future) and amping everything. Thats why I went 4 ohm,cause 2 wont hold up under an amp.The subs,however might be fine,bridged for 2...dont know how i'll do it yet.
Very satisfied with the new 6.5's though!! big improvement(even at 92 db sensitivity)

Man those Focals are expensive. Is that an Aussie/European thing? I've never seen them here in the US and they're not listed in Crutchfield which usually has everything (shows how much I know). Plus, they're all measured in metric...argh! :)

I may just go with the Infinitys since they are "cheap" compared to some higher-end products like the JL Audios and Focals. I found a set on eBay for around $77 shipped for the pair. I can start with the fronts, see how they react, and then move to the backs if I like them.

I used to be an audiophile, but it just costs too much to get good quality stuff, and I think I'd rather spend that money on exhaust/intake.

Hey GT - If you go with new subs, are you putting in a box? Crutchfield didn't have too much in the way of 8" free air subs. What are your thoughts there? Personally, I like not having the box to maximize trunk space.

Man those Focals are expensive. Is that an Aussie/European thing? I've never seen them here in the US and they're not listed in Crutchfield which usually has everything (shows how much I know). Plus, they're all measured in metric...argh! :)

I may just go with the Infinitys since they are "cheap" compared to some higher-end products like the JL Audios and Focals. I found a set on eBay for around $77 shipped for the pair. I can start with the fronts, see how they react, and then move to the backs if I like them.

I used to be an audiophile, but it just costs too much to get good quality stuff, and I think I'd rather spend that money on exhaust/intake.

Hey GT - If you go with new subs, are you putting in a box? Crutchfield didn't have too much in the way of 8" free air subs. What are your thoughts there? Personally, I like not having the box to maximize trunk space.

Yeah, they aren't cheap. LOL

If you are going to run the stock amp then those should be just fine. If at a later time you are going to run another amp I would go ahead and spend the money now so you don't regret it later. Look into Boston components as well. They are very good and a little less expensive than focals.

dont know about the subs yet,i might just enjoy my new car and when that gets old(prolly never)I will sub/amp it out.maybe I could build a custom enclosure that sits under them and the amp could mount to it?!

If I wanted clear sound but leave the stock amp as is what would you recommend?

I know pretty much nothing about car audio but love to listen to good music. At home I listen to a pair of B&W 802's, so I'd like to have decent sound in my car; especially when I'll be spending more time in my car than at home starting July 1.

I understand nothing will sound like home speakers but I'd at least like to have good/clear sound quality.

2ohm - 4ohm?
efficiency?
woofer/tweeter material?
Anything else to consider with car audio selections?

What are your thoughts if the Hardware (amp) had to stay the same?

Thanks,
Matt

Hmmmm, so much me thinking we had 2-way speakers. a Wizzer cone should not be considered a speaker.

If I wanted clear sound but leave the stock amp as is what would you recommend?

I know pretty much nothing about car audio but love to listen to good music. At home I listen to a pair of B&W 802's, so I'd like to have decent sound in my car; especially when I'll be spending more time in my car than at home starting July 1.

I understand nothing will sound like home speakers but I'd at least like to have good/clear sound quality.

2ohm - 4ohm?
efficiency?
woofer/tweeter material?
Anything else to consider with car audio selections?

What are your thoughts if the Hardware (amp) had to stay the same?

Thanks,
Matt


Basically a load rating for a speaker in this case. You got to have a amp that can handle those kinds of loads. most all car speakers are 4 ohms. subs come in different ways. ie. 2/4/8 ohms.

efficiency is how efficient the speaker is at 1 watt at 1 meter or something like that. Basically the higher the number, the less power it will take to make the same sound like a lower efficient speaker would make. ie. a 92db speaker would take 3 times more power to make the same sound as a 95 db speaker i believe it. can't remember the formula

Any recommendations? I'm mostly just looking at specs...

Well, the first thing you need to do is go to a retail store and listen to the speakers you are considering. Specs are all fine and dandy, but if it sounds like crap, what's the use? I haven't been in the market for a couple years, and a lot has changed since. DEI bought out the best amp manufacturer, PPI, and since then, I've been a fan of JL Audio. I sill have (2) PC2300.2 100% amps (limited edition) which is one of the cleanest amps around. So for amps, I'd go with JL (plus no remote wire needed). In fact, I may just suggest a entire JL system. Seperates are always better than components. Some manufacturers are producing Seperates which the tweeter fits into or at the top of the grill on the mid-bass driver.

Well, the first thing you need to do is go to a retail store and listen to the speakers you are considering. Specs are all fine and dandy, but if it sounds like crap, what's the use? I haven't been in the market for a couple years, and a lot has changed since. DEI bought out the best amp manufacturer, PPI, and since then, I've been a fan of JL Audio. I sill have (2) PC2300.2 100% amps (limited edition) which is one of the cleanest amps around. So for amps, I'd go with JL (plus no remote wire needed). In fact, I may just suggest a entire JL system. Seperates are always better than components. Some manufacturers are producing Seperates which the tweeter fits into or at the top of the grill on the mid-bass driver.

JL is a very good company. Only problem is they are VERY overpriced. You can find just as good for less.

a 92db speaker would take 3 times more power to make the same sound as a 95 db speaker i

its no where near that dramatic,its almost like 92% to 95%-only slightly different.

the basic formula for how loud something will be is this:double the power,add 3 db spl,double THAT new power #,add 3 db and so on
3 cb,hardly noticeable,6 noticeable,10=twice as loud(sounds like)

dont worry about the 2/4 ohms when dealing with the power of the stock amp,we are not talking a huge difference,but a higher sensitivity will help a little.either way you will get better clarity with a cone woofer thats not made of PAPER!!!!

Thanks for this information...

- Since I am staying factory I installed a 4 Infinity Reference speakers in my G8 since they are also 2 ohm. They work excellent.

- I also found some 8 inch 2 way woofers for the subs. Figured I would add some aftermarket bass after that. The 8's are good for midbass and seem to suit the system well.

- Has anyone tried to figure out the front center and tweeters? Just looking for any information.

Excellent pics and info man. In all of my rides I have upgraded the stock speakers to aftermarket ones so I will definitely look into doing the same on the G8 when we finally get one.

I did the rears today,simple and easy as well.The only difference was they were two way (same 30 watts stock)and to remove the door panel you have only two bottom screws and two smaller screws under the door handle/armrest.
no pics necessary-VERY SIMPLE.

I guess I should jump in here since some of you guys are mentioning the speaker company (one of them) that I work for...

First, thanks for the pics, I was wondering how much of a pain those panels would be.

Second, for those asking about Infinity "2 ohm" Kappas and "2.65 ohm" Reference speakers, you will be just fine adding them to stock amps or aftermarket ones. The reason we went with 2 ish ohm designs is that by the time you add in resistance of the wiring and connections, your amp will "see" dang near 4 ohms anyway. If your speaker is "4 ohm", your amp will see 5-6 ohms, which leaves you with a bit less power. By the way, Infinity Kappa speakers are a good deal now because we just launched the new models. So if you want some awesome deals, look for the outgoing ".7" models. If you go with Focals or Polks, no worries. Also good stuff and I am salary anyway, so no money out of my pocket, lol. I do feel that Infinity is the best sounding speaker in it's price range, so you can't go wrong with 'em.

Third, to reiterate what some have said regarding power and volume...A 3 db gain in volume requires double the power but is barely noticeable to human ears, as far as VOLUME is concerned. It will, however, SOUND noticeably better, all things equal. To get twice the VOLUME, you actually need 10 times the power!!

- Since I am staying factory I installed a 4 Infinity Reference speakers in my G8 since they are also 2 ohm. They work excellent.

- I also found some 8 inch 2 way woofers for the subs. Figured I would add some aftermarket bass after that. The 8's are good for midbass and seem to suit the system well.

FYI, Infinity Reference series makes an 8" subwoofer to match your front end...http://infinitysystems.com/car/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=REF850W&cat=SUB&ser=REF&Language=ENG&Country=US&Region=USA

what is the stock radio's power rating for the front and rear speakers into 4 ohms?

Thanks for the info Will!!! Any suggestions on where to look for those deals? I found the link in my first post and thought that was pretty affordable, but I'm always looking for better.

GT - You said the only difference in the rears was that they were 2-ways, yet you said you put 2-ways in the front. Were the stock speakers 3-ways and you went with 2-ways or did I misunderstand something? How big of a deal is it to go with 2-way vs. 3-way. I mean, I understand the fundamental difference, but from a practical perspective, how big of a deal is it?

Thanks for the info Will!!! Any suggestions on where to look for those deals? I found the link in my first post and thought that was pretty affordable, but I'm always looking for better.

GT - You said the only difference in the rears was that they were 2-ways, yet you said you put 2-ways in the front. Were the stock speakers 3-ways and you went with 2-ways or did I misunderstand something? How big of a deal is it to go with 2-way vs. 3-way. I mean, I understand the fundamental difference, but from a practical perspective, how big of a deal is it?

You are welcome. The link was a good deal. I know Crutchfield.com or Frys Electronics (if you have them near you) are good places to look. Of course, I always do a quick pricegrabber.com check myself...

I also was wondering about the speakers up front. I know the GT has 11 speakers including two 8" woofers and a center speaker. That leaves 8 speakers (OEM counts component systems as 4, two tweeters, two mid/woofers). Now I know the front doors have woofers (6.5" you say?) in the doors and tweeters in the dash. Are the rear speakers components as well or a two-way coaxial? Of course, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words... :)

any details on sub removal? i have a pair of JL audio' i used in my TA that i'm interested in trying out now.

I did the rears today,simple and easy as well.The only difference was they were two way (same 30 watts stock)and to remove the door panel you have only two bottom screws and two smaller screws under the door handle/armrest.
no pics necessary-VERY SIMPLE.

You are welcome. The link was a good deal. I know Crutchfield.com or Frys Electronics (if you have them near you) are good places to look. Of course, I always do a quick pricegrabber.com check myself...

I also was wondering about the speakers up front. I know the GT has 11 speakers including two 8" woofers and a center speaker. That leaves 8 speakers (OEM counts component systems as 4, two tweeters, two mid/woofers). Now I know the front doors have woofers (6.5" you say?) in the doors and tweeters in the dash. Are the rear speakers components as well or a two-way coaxial? Of course, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words... :)See quote above from GT-610, he says it is a two way speaker for the rear, vs the dual cone.

OK I should be more specific...

Since we know there are 11 speakers, does GT mean by "2 way" that they are separates like up front or two way coaxials? He says there is a difference between front and rear but by my count...

2 8" woofers
1 center speaker
2 tweeters in dash
2 6" mids in front doors

Totals 7, so the rears must be separates just like the fronts?

I guess a pic of the rear door panel off would answer my question, lol.

no,gm is giving the car credit of 11 when anyone else wouls say 9
its a regular two way 6.5-not seperate

no,gm is giving the car credit of 11 when anyone else wouls say 9
its a regular two way 6.5-not seperate

Ok, gotcha. Thanks.

So just to be clear...are the door speakers in the front and door speakers in the back the same?

For what it's worth...I just placed my order for 2 sets of the Infinity Kappa 62.7i's listed above. I found a better deal that included free shipping for orders over $99. The speakers were $79/pair, so I had to order 2. :D

I'm going to try and take some audio samples before and after the speaker swap just to see if I can hear the difference back-to-back. I hope I'm not disappointed, although I'm sure I won't be.

..............For what it's worth...I just placed my order for 2 sets of the Infinity Kappa 62.7i's listed above. I found a better deal that included free shipping for orders over $99. The speakers were $79/pair, so I had to order 2. :D

.........any links would be appreciated....

Pricegrabber Baby!!!!

Here's the link to the vendor:
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=15357

Pricegrabber is awesome for finding online retailers. Most of the time you get a better deal there than you do retail, but buyer beware:

http://www.pricegrabber.com

So just to be clear...are the door speakers in the front and door speakers in the back the same?

For what it's worth...I just placed my order for 2 sets of the Infinity Kappa 62.7i's listed above. I found a better deal that included free shipping for orders over $99. The speakers were $79/pair, so I had to order 2. :D

I'm going to try and take some audio samples before and after the speaker swap just to see if I can hear the difference back-to-back. I hope I'm not disappointed, although I'm sure I won't be.

Nice! They really are great speakers. I used Kappa for years before graduating to the Kappa Perfect I use now :) You won't be disappointed.

Are the speakers in the front and rear doors the same size (6.5")?

same size-fronts are 1 way,rears have a tweet in 'em

same size-fronts are 1 way,rears have a tweet in 'em


Thanks

Now that I've torn it apart and put it back together, I have a better understanding! :)

Thanks for the details GT-610...piece of cake. Even for a "scared ****less" newbie car owner. I took a ton of audio samples with before and after comparisons. I'm uploding now, but I suspect the recording device (camcorder) will probably not be able to pickup the differences between the two speakers.

All in all, I'm fairly happy. I think now that I have nicer speakers, I realize how underpowered they are. As soon as I get it to around 20, it starts to distort.

I still have to put the rears in.

Do these things need to "break-in?" I've seen that mentioned with other speakers, but wasn't sure if all were the same. The bass is definitely weaker in the Infinity's, but the highs and mids are really crisp. I'll post the audio soon.

my speakers wont distort up to full volume-only on a select few cds that are bass heavy or so old they have no signal.

my bass is set at 5(i put it on 4 occasionally)and treble is at 6(max)
what speakers are you using?I used polk and they rock!

Maybe I need better CDs. :) The old speakers and the new speakers both started to distort at 20-25. I haven't pushed much beyond that yet.

I leave it on Rock EQ because I think it sounds the cleanest, although now with the new speakers (and the adjustable tweeter), I've moved to Classical EQ because it doesn't push the highs up as much and fills un better with the lows. I tried adjusting manually, but it just never sounds as good as some of the EQs. Now, some of the other EQs like Vocal and Pop sounds too muddy with almost no highs. Not what I'm looking for.

I went with the Infinity Kappa 62.7i. I got all 4 for $154 shipped, so I figured it would be a good experiment. I must've been out of the look for the longest time because the damn 2-way came with a crossover that I had to mount in the door. I wasn't thinking and mounted it to a bar that apparently is in the way of the window when it rolls down, so that popped off this morning. I'll have to fix it this weekend and put it on the other side.

I was really surprised at how low of a guage wire they used, I didn't check, but they looked smaller than my crossover wires which were 18 guage. They've gotta be 20-22 guage. I didn't transfer the stock wiring connector over to the new speakers, but rather added some male crimp connectors to plug into the wiring harness. I know...probably not as clean, but easy and let me move forward without cutting off the stock connector.

So, I had a video in which I recorded about 30 seconds of a test song with the stock speaker in the right door. After the 30 seconds, I switch the balance over to the left speaker which had the new Infinity speaker. I used Sony Vegas Movie Studio to cut the audio track out of my camcorder, cleaned out some dead air, and made a single track to give a side-by-side comparison. Now, I know it's not exactly scientific as there are two channels of audio, so the left and right may be different anyhow, but I though the audio graph was pretty interesting, so I dressed it up a little bit and posted it.

The top is the stock audio
The bottom is the Infinity Kappa 62.7i audio

What is the graph...I don't exactly know. My guess is amplitude, but I don't know if it's anything more. I can take another vid now that I have both speakers in and make sure I'm comparing the same channel, but I thought I would post anyhow.

http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=778&stc=1&d=1208490972

If I were you I would turn off the eq,it sucks compared to adjusting the bass and treble yourself-its also louder manually

Yeah...I tried your settings at 4 (bass) and 6 (treble)...didn't realize how much louder it was. I could also get the speakers up to about 30-35 before any noticeable clipping. At that point, my ears were starting to hurt. I must be getting old. :) It also sounds pretty good. I guess I just didn't try hard enough before. Thanks for the tip.

Now that I've torn it apart and put it back together, I have a better understanding! :)

Thanks for the details GT-610...piece of cake. Even for a "scared ****less" newbie car owner. I took a ton of audio samples with before and after comparisons. I'm uploding now, but I suspect the recording device (camcorder) will probably not be able to pickup the differences between the two speakers.

All in all, I'm fairly happy. I think now that I have nicer speakers, I realize how underpowered they are. As soon as I get it to around 20, it starts to distort.

I still have to put the rears in.

Do these things need to "break-in?" I've seen that mentioned with other speakers, but wasn't sure if all were the same. The bass is definitely weaker in the Infinity's, but the highs and mids are really crisp. I'll post the audio soon.

Regarding "break in", it kind of depends on who you ask. I do take it a bit easy on subs for a little while (like an hour or so, lol.) but I wouldn't worry about it with speakers. Regarding the bass being weaker, make sure the front of the cone is sealed off from the back, i.e. there is no gap around the speaker. I see speakers installed on retailer floors like this all the time and you will definitely get bass cancellation. I use Infinity Kappa Perfect 5" woofers in my doors and they literally sound like little 8" subs! :)

Also of note, the Kappa's have a button on the tweeter to adjust for a +3db high frequency boost, should you need it based on your install. You may want to mess around with it to see what sounds best, and of course, angle those pivoting tweeters toward your ears :)

If I were you I would turn off the eq,it sucks compared to adjusting the bass and treble yourself-its also louder manuallyAgreed, the EQ is worthless, bass and treble are the way to go on the G8.

Yeah...so the Kappa's didn't fit in the stock holes, but they came with some adapter rings. I was able to get one of the rings to line up with 2 holes so I used that, but it was metal and now I'm getting a buzz in both doors. I'm going to head out tomorrow to find some dampening material and see if I can't quiet her down a little.

I never knew this was going to be such a PITA! Figures. :)

Yeah...so the Kappa's didn't fit in the stock holes, but they came with some adapter rings. I was able to get one of the rings to line up with 2 holes so I used that, but it was metal and now I'm getting a buzz in both doors. I'm going to head out tomorrow to find some dampening material and see if I can't quiet her down a little.

I never knew this was going to be such a PITA! Figures. :)

Yeah, there are WAY too many different sizes of "6" holes out there, hence all the rings that come in the box. Other brands give you maybe one or two, and if those don't work, you're custom, baby! I can't remember a single install where the size was perfect and all 4 screws lined up, and I have been installing off and on since '89! :) I started young, I am not that old, lol.

Dynamat is always a good idea on the metal door panel, and make sure there are no gaps between the speaker and door. I have used 100% silicone caulking in some cases...

Yeah...that gap is the weird thing. I'll "text draw" as best as I can.

The metal ring is marked "speaker side" on the front, and the 4 holes to mount the speaker to the ring are notched up, kinda like ______/--\______ so I'm thinking I have just a huge gap between the ring and the speaker.

I didn't instal the rears yet, so I'm going to take the ring and the speaker to Circuit City and see if I can't find some help. I unfortunately don't know of any custom audio places around here, so I think I'm stuck dealing with those guys. Hopefully I'll get lucky.

Yeah...that gap is the weird thing. I'll "text draw" as best as I can.

The metal ring is marked "speaker side" on the front, and the 4 holes to mount the speaker to the ring are notched up, kinda like ______/--\______ so I'm thinking I have just a huge gap between the ring and the speaker.

I didn't instal the rears yet, so I'm going to take the ring and the speaker to Circuit City and see if I can't find some help. I unfortunately don't know of any custom audio places around here, so I think I'm stuck dealing with those guys. Hopefully I'll get lucky.

Yeah, I gotcha on the speaker ring. So with that mounted, do you have a gap between the ring and the door, in other words, is the hole bigger than the speaker? That is what you would want to fill.

no,gm is giving the car credit of 11 when anyone else wouls say 9
its a regular two way 6.5-not seperate
so the speakers in the rear deck are considered the "subs"?

yup.

ADDING DUAL 10"SUBS(INFINITY REF) WITH AMP (SONY XPLODE 800W)AND MTX RE-Q IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS!!!!

I'll post some pics and let you all know how it turns out.

Somebody already added instructions for wiring in another post(which will help me)so no need for those here

Very cool! Keep us updated :)

OK...so the addition of my Infinity's now make the plastic liner between my doors vibrate. Anyone have any cheap solutions? Dynamat is like $25 per pair, so I'd need $50 to cover the front and back. Anything cheaper that will do the job?

same size-fronts are 1 way,rears have a tweet in 'em

So this leads me to believe that there is a factory crossover built into the front door speakers, can anyone verify? I'd put 2-ways in all the doors and back deck. Then you'd be up to a 13 speaker system (according to GM).

And while we are suggesting speakers, you have to check out Diamond Audio. I had the Hex series and they would scream. They would also shut themselfs down before the chance of over heating/distorting/blowing. A very nice speaker for the money (if you get a deal). I had the pleasure of dealing with Custom Sounds and Audio Dimentions in Austin Texas. I have yet to find a stereo shop as good here in the south, therefor I do all my own work now.

OK...so the addition of my Infinity's now make the plastic liner between my doors vibrate. Anyone have any cheap solutions? Dynamat is like $25 per pair, so I'd need $50 to cover the front and back. Anything cheaper that will do the job?

I bought a roll off of eBay of something similar to the Dynamat. The price was about $100 shipped. You can do your entire car with half the roll. I still have half a roll left from 6 years ago!

They also make baffels to go behind your speaker (if there is room)

drob8,

Keep us posted on how the install goes. I've been looking at the Kappa 62.7s as well. I was thinking of the 60.7cs for the front since they are a component speaker. This would allow replacing the stock tweeters at the same time.

drob8,

Keep us posted on how the install goes. I've been looking at the Kappa 62.7s as well. I was thinking of the 60.7cs for the front since they are a component speaker. This would allow replacing the stock tweeters at the same time.

Good luck with replacing those tweeters. I would like to see what kind of BS a person will have to go through to completly dismantle the dash to get to them. That is why I just did the 62.7i's and they are more than good.

Are you disconnecting the center and tweeters as well? How is the bass? I will be coming from Infinity 6 x 9s and love tight, pounding bass and not inflated, vibrating bass.

So this leads me to believe that there is a factory crossover built into the front door speakers, can anyone verify?


From what I can tell ( I am an audio engineer) the stock system does not have a crossover built in. *I have no knowledge of the system other than what I've read here and what I've heard in my car. This is based on listening to the stereo.* If it does have one, the frequency is set too low for the in door speakers. In a set up like the stock system the crossover should be set so that everything above 140-145 hz goes to the doors and everything below goes to the "subs". I think it is probably set lower than that. It would be fine to be lower if the "subs" were 10" or larger, but alas, they are not.

Here is a pic of the naked door.Very easy to remove the panel...top has 6 or7 snap in metal connections,2 side screws,3 bottom,one star drive behind the door handle(small plastic cover) and about 6 plastic snap in gromets all around.Just wiggle it off and ease it with a small pry bar.


Dude, you are the man... I have been waiting for someone to do this. Some cars are easier than others, and this looks like an easy one.

I just have to know how they sound. Please be honest. The Infinity speakers also looked like a nice candidate. Honest feedback is well appreciated. Please post about the rear speakers when you get a chance...

Cheers!

used polk audio,s but the infinity's are awesome too

If you have the choice, I would recommend staying with 2 ohm speakers, like the ones Infinity makes. Also, sound deadening material is highly recommended.

From what I can tell ( I am an audio engineer) the stock system does not have a crossover built in. *I have no knowledge of the system other than what I've read here and what I've heard in my car. This is based on listening to the stereo.* If it does have one, the frequency is set too low for the in door speakers. In a set up like the stock system the crossover should be set so that everything above 140-145 hz goes to the doors and everything below goes to the "subs". I think it is probably set lower than that. It would be fine to be lower if the "subs" were 10" or larger, but alas, they are not.

I was more worried about a high X-over to the tweets, as in not letting the upper frequencys go to the door speakers. I did find out from another member that 2 or 3 ways work perfectly in both front and rear doors.

I don't know why GM didn't do this from the start, then it would have 13 speakers! 11 speakers :drink:?

What a joke. I count 9 speaker holes inside of my car.

How does it look after you installed the speakers? Using the factory speaker cover or...??
Some pics would be cool

Good luck with replacing those tweeters. I would like to see what kind of BS a person will have to go through to completly dismantle the dash to get to them. That is why I just did the 62.7i's and they are more than good.


Yeah, I'm really not sure what lies ahead with replacing those tweeters. For me it's worth it. Those tweeters are crap. I don't want to replace the door speakers just to have them fight the paper cone tweeters on the dash. I did that with my GTO and the sound was absolute poop until I also replaced the tweeters. On that car I ran 4ohm Kenwoods so the stock tweeters were really out of balance with the door speakers. Sounded great after all the stock speakers were replaced.

For me the choice is either 2-ways and new dash tweeters or true components. The components aren't really much more expensive considering I won't need to buy separate tweets. The problem will be wiring the components to a common crossover. I don't think the stock wiring will work for that.

In my 97 GTP, the tweeters are wired in parallel with an in-line filter for a crossover. I just snipped the wires running to the tweeters when I installed my Infinity 2 ways in the door and 6 x 9 3 ways in the rear. I want this same sound but are concerned about disconnecting the tweeters, how does the center speaker "color" the sound, and what to do about the 8" subs. I don't want rattle bass, just tight, chest caving, hard bass that my current set up provides.

I don't want to give up space to enclosures, don't need 1000000000000 watts of power, 20W X 4 RMS with a 150W subwoofer is 150W more than I have now and I am just fine with the sound and volume. I have always had 6 x 9s in the rear deck and love the bass they produce. The 5-1/4 in my front are ok for bass, but they are not 6 x 9 either. I just want the most boom for my buck while maximizing what I can from stock.

I was thinking of replacing those 8" subs with an enclosed 12" woofer in the spare tire well. That would create the deep, tight bass you are looking for. The 8" subs could go away entirely.

So its finally done...

MTX re-Q
Sony X-plode 800w amp
(2)Infinity 10"subs
sealed sub box(2 chamber)


WOW....I was able to turn down the bass setting from 4 to STD and it rocks the liscense plate right off the car.Love it.

by the way,the two way speakers really do great with the stock tweets just adding a little filler.the doors do all the work.

overall,the setup I have now is awesome.clear,loud,NO distorsion.
the re-q let me keep the bass from flattening out,and helped to tune it.
very happy!!!
I mounted the re-q and fuse block on the left side behind the carpet wall,and the amp against the driver side back seat.the box fits right next to it,1/4"under the rear deck. perfect!
here is a bad pic in the middle of finishing hiding the wires and carpet wall not up yet..
http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show_image.pl?bg=FFFFFF&image=http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/3041000-3041999/3041051_8_full.jpg

Hey gt-610, did you use polk db651 in the front and db651s in the rear doors?

If you want to hear the perfect sound, Morel are the best of the best, not too expensive too! I had them before, 6.5" and I think I'm going to put two here too. Can you put component spekers on the G8 front doors?

So the sound quality of the Kappa's are really pretty great, at least for my liking. They come with their own crossover which was slightly challenging to mount. I used velcro to mount the crossover with some tape to secure the wires. Unfortunately, one of the wires got loose, and now you can hear the window hit them when it rolls down. Oh well, I'll get it next weekend.

I'm still trying to figure out the sound dampening on the doors. I tried some cheap foam from Hobby Lobby behind the speaker mounts, ummmmm, yeah...that did nothing. :) I might try some of that stuff just on the plastic itself to see if additional weight alone solves my problem. At $0.99 per piece, I'm willing to give it a few shots. :)

I guess just changing the from speaker is not good enough, the amplifier is not very strong and the bass is not present enough. anybody put some additional speakers on the rear dashboard?

I guess just changing the from speaker is not good enough, the amplifier is not very strong and the bass is not present enough. anybody put some additional speakers on the rear dashboard?

Did you turn up the gain on the amp for the Bass?
G8board Amp boost thread (http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1617&highlight=bias+boost)

that gain only makes it louder quicker- NOT louder overall.it will take more volume for him to get more bass right now,so extra highs.
new sub box is the way to go

I installed the Kappa's over the weekend, both front and rear. The sound is so much better. No problems.

In the front I drilled a couple of new holes and mounted them to the stock plastic ring. I used Gorilla Glue and glued that monsterous connector from the Kappa to the back of the plastic speaker mount. In the back I ended up using the metal adapters. I also zip tied the connector to the inside of the door. The connector is knotched so the zip tie fit in there perfect to hold it in place.

I just ordered two pairs of Kappa 62.9i and a pair of 10.7i tweeters for the dash. $223 shipped. :bubbrubb:

Can't wait!

Without adding a custom box that would fill the trunk, is there a way to improve the sound by adding all new speakers and new subwoofers? I had a Lexus IS300 and got MB Quartz and JL audio all around. I am not handy enough to do it myself but I don't want to get a huge box that takes up the trunk??
Can you all suggest something!!

I talked to the folks at Crutchfield and they suggested using Polk db840's.

the subs are in a bad spot for pounding bass IMHO.
put in a box and live with it,or have something custom made for the sidewall or spare tire well

Thanks GT-610 good idea went I stuck at the side of the road with a blow out at least ill have good music and a pair of 12"s

What if you made two little custom boxes to enclose the back of the two existing 8" subs.
Would that make them sound alittle better?

Thanks GT-610 good idea went I stuck at the side of the road with a blow out at least ill have good music and a pair of 12"s

VERY FUNNY!!

actually the compressor/slime/flat fixer isnt that big at all.ton of room down there!

I installed some Pioneer 3 ways in the doors and the sound is not that impressive...they are 4 ohms so im thinking that is the problem or the factory radio is just not that great

First off, the stock speakers suck!!! At first I thought they were ok, but after 2 weeks with them I cannot stand them no more. I'm just missing so much. There is stuff in my music I am not hearing anymore. I came from Infinity Reference 6 x 9s. My only compliment, is a very good sound stage.

Just installed 62.7 Kappas all away around and what a BIG improvement. There is bass, there are cymbals, guitars, depth... I cannot wait until they are fully broken in. I can crank into the 40s and its plenty loud! I said "LOUD!" I can hear my music again!!! Subs could be better, butt that's for the next bunch of fun money.

Install was a piece of cake. Used the supplied adapter rings for a nice fit. No drilling. Fun part was locating and securing the crossovers. Other than that, direct fit. However, now that I can see the tweeter in the speaker grills, has anyone else noticed the speakers are not centered in the opening? How much "sound" are we losing with a good part (25%?) of the speaker covered by the door panel?

not losing sound at all.I didnt notice them being covered.besides,gm did the right thing directing them up and in a bit so it hits your ears.To make it better,the polks i put in had aimable tweets!!
Kappas are good speakers.good luck with 'em!
add an amp and 40's will make your ears bleed!

First off, the stock speakers suck!!! At first I thought they were ok, but after 2 weeks with them I cannot stand them no more. I'm just missing so much. There is stuff in my music I am not hearing anymore. I came from Infinity Reference 6 x 9s. My only compliment, is a very good sound stage.

Just installed 62.7 Kappas all away around and what a BIG improvement. There is bass, there are cymbals, guitars, depth... I cannot wait until they are fully broken in. I can crank into the 40s and its plenty loud! I said "LOUD!" I can hear my music again!!! Subs could be better, butt that's for the next bunch of fun money.

Install was a piece of cake. Used the supplied adapter rings for a nice fit. No drilling. Fun part was locating and securing the crossovers. Other than that, direct fit. However, now that I can see the tweeter in the speaker grills, has anyone else noticed the speakers are not centered in the opening? How much "sound" are we losing with a good part (25%?) of the speaker covered by the door panel?

Another reason I made my own adapter plates. You can make them center a bit better than the OEM speakers. Truthfully the grill size on our cars is too small for a full size 6.5''. It works but would be better if it were a bit bigger.

Hey guys, I'm going to be installing some Sundown Audio 8" subs in the rear deck(http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=374659) in a few weeks and was wondering if anyone knew the mounting depth of the stock subs, and how much room was between them and the grills?

GT, did you put 3-way in the rear doors and 2-way in the front doors? Or just 2-way the whole way around?

You said you use polk DB's? Which model?

You recommend 2ohm speakers instead of 4ohm if your not planning on amping out the interiors?

I put 2 ways all around.forget the model# but they had a sensitivity of like low to mid 90's and costed less than 75 a pair(shopped around)
I did not amp them,but found that the stock amp was loud enough to make my ears ring and still be crystal clear so keep the 4ohms in case you decide to amp in the future anyway

Are you going to change the tweeters? What about the center speaker? I think its 2ohms... Is that speaker louder than your 4ohms when set at the same volume?

Would it be ok for me to just go with this?

It has the 2 front components, 2 tweeters and the 2 coaxail rears? Isn't this everythign I need.

http://cgi.ebay.com/POLK-AUDIO-db6501-COMPONENT-db651-COAXIAL-SPEAKERS_W0QQitemZ250413801866QQcmdZViewItemQQptZC ar_Speakers?hash=item3a4dd3618a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

were the door speakers interchangeable?, or did you need to modify a mounting bracket for them to fit? just picked up some kicker ks6500's... should be an upgrade from stock, i hope

If I upgrade only the front door speakers, will there be a huge improvement in sound clarity?

I'm considering getting the Polk DB651s (Slim model).

dict,

Im also in the process of upgrading my speakers. I have that model, THe clarity is better IMO but im currently driving around without the door panel on until i get my water in the door issue fixed. I should get my amp, lcq-1 set up this weekend end if i can hide from the wife long enough. ill report back when i can get it done.

dict,

Im also in the process of upgrading my speakers. I have that model, THe clarity is better IMO but im currently driving around without the door panel on until i get my water in the door issue fixed. I should get my amp, lcq-1 set up this weekend end if i can hide from the wife long enough. ill report back when i can get it done.

Did you keep the stock tweeters connected when you installed the DB651s ?

im planning on bypassing the stock tweeters when i amp. when i had them in the high was much clearer from the back set than the front tweeters. I could tell and Im by no means an audiophile.