New door speaker install question

[GrantK]

I’m designing the mounts for new speakers for all 4 doors and the rear lift-gate. In the process I’ve noticed that the stock speakers all have what appears to be a drip guard on the top.

Is this Toyota being overly cautious or is water dripping on the speakers an issue I need to address while designing my mounts for the new speakers? I’m installing rather nice Focals and don’t want them destroyed the first time it rains or I wash the truck. On the other hand, I like to keep things simple and a drip guard could interfere with sound quality.

Thanks for the input. 

 

[Rubberdown]

You need a drip guard of some sort, it is an electric component . It's not going to affect your sound quality. We're it on the front of the cone it would be an issue, but not behind. I use just a plastic "L" shaped rubber moulding used as a stair nose. It's super cheap, just make little cuts in the short side of the l as often as you need to hit your radius. You can pick it up at home depot with the carpet and vinyl floor stuff.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

I like your idea!

Probably best to have some kind of drip guard especially if you are putting in Focal speakers. Way to expensive to take a chance. Water will drip in and that's unavoidable. I made some from plastic flower pots I had at home. Was really easy but I did use a heat gun to make the "L". Rubberdown's way sounds even easier.

 

[GrantK]

I ordered some XTC waterproof speaker baffles that I will cut the back off, then cut them in half and just slightly deeper than the speaker to protect them from any water dripping from the top. Leaving the back and bottom open should (I hope) stop them from interfering with the sound while protecting the speaker.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

Go for it!

Sounds like a good idea! I also wonder about speaker baffles negatively affecting the sound especially for the bass/midrange speaker. I think the speakers are designed for "free air" and should not be baffled but I don't know for sure and I'm too cheap to buy some just to test. Maybe you could install them before you cut them just to test and then let us know. While you're at it, you should mat your doors. Dynamat is terrific but expensive. They are cheaper alternatives that should work just as well. I think it improved my bass response and even more noticeably, reduced cabin noise and makes the doors feel and sound solid. The sheet metal on the 4runner is pretty thin and sounds tin cannish.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

Another question.

Are you really putting Focals in the doors? What do you have for front stage? I would put my money into the fronts and put lesser stuff everywhere else as they only act as fill (unless you really care about the passengers in the back). Are you super rich maybe? Send me some cash and I will do some extensive testing and let everyone know what works best. Please...

 

[GrantK]

Are you really putting Focals in the doors? What do you have for front stage? I would put my money into the fronts and put lesser stuff everywhere else as they only act as fill (unless you really care about the passengers in the back). Are you super rich maybe? Send me some cash and I will do some extensive testing and let everyone know what works best. Please...

Focals for the front and rear doors. A pair of Alpine 8" for subs . The dash speakers are getting reassigned (with Kappas) for use as external speakers for my ham radio and won't be part of the main audio system.

I've got about 100lbs of sound deadening waiting to go in, including three different types for different jobs. The doors will get two types inside against the outer skin and one type on the inner skin.

 

[terra4r]

I ordered some XTC waterproof speaker baffles that I will cut the back off, then cut them in half and just slightly deeper than the speaker to protect them from any water dripping from the top. Leaving the back and bottom open should (I hope) stop them from interfering with the sound while protecting the speaker.

Thanks for the input.

Yup, that's the right way to do it. Protect those speakers! What kind of Focals do you have?

 

[GrantK]

what kind of focals do you have?

pc-690 & pc-165

 

[terra4r]

pc-690 & pc-165

very nice. I was looking into some polyglass 165's myself for the fronts.

Let us know how the install goes and any problems you run into!