Upgrading from factory speakers!

[chayos00]

Hey guys i just thought I'd share my idea. I have an Eclipse HU, CD8445. Plus 2 10" subs in the back. I was looking at getting new door speakers in my truck. Through lots of looking I've decided upon these for all 4 doors. Polk Audio db6501 they are a 6-1/2" component speaker system. Plus the Polk Audio db351, 3-1/2" 2-way car speakers to replace the factory "tweeters" up front.

Then so I can get my steering wheel controls to work again, a PAC SWI-ECL2 Steering wheel control interface for select Eclipse receivers. Or does anyone know of another one that is cheaper and would work with my HU?

So I don't have any current plans on putting an amp to my door speakers, just going to run them off my HU, which puts out 14 or 15W RMS w/50W Peak. But basing it off my alpines that I had in my 94 Ranger, it's plenty of power as I was able to crank it way up without any distortion. (To the point where my wife told me to turn it down as she was covering her ears.)

 

[chayos00]

Well since I got no input from the 30+ people who looked at this post, I went ahead and ordered the set of components and the 3.5" "tweeters".

I'll post some pics, if anyone would be interested.

 

[ChipG]

New Speakers

In my '07 T4R, I have Polk MC6500 Components in the front doors, DB 5501s in the rear doors and a single JL 8W0 sub. My head unit drives the rear fill speakers only and an Alpine 4 channel amp drives the front components and a bridged pair drives the sub.
In your system you are trying to put 2 seperate speaker sets in the front doors rather than a single component set and I doubt the head unit will drive that load unless your leaving out the rear speakers.
You are going to need an amp if you're going to drive 6 speakers.......

ChipG

 

[XJeepguy]

I run the same Polk component speakers , you wont be happy with deck power to those ( they will sound awful with that low of power ) , those Polks need some juice behind them . I run 70 watts continuous thru them and they sound awesome !

 

[chayos00]

Ok, well my stuff got here yesterday. I will be attempting the install later today after I get up. I'll take some pics.

 

[piperoo]

Good luck! Remember to get the pins out of your door push in the little button in the middle of them..I broke one of mine b/c I wasn't sure how to get it out.

There is one below the tweeter on the door panel and one on the end of the door panel near your seat belt.

 

[chayos00]

ok guys well I got everything in late last night, well except the steering wheel control. The speakers sound great. I can see how if I had more power going to them they would be a bit better, no sound quality issues, I just have to crank it higher for more sound. I'll have to ask the wifey for a 4 channel amp at christmas time! LOL

 

[shad0w]

Have you considered Alpine's mini-amp, the KTP-445 Power Pack? It puts out 45W RMS x 4 and plugs in-line directly with your HU and speakers.

How did the speakers fit? Do you have any pictures? Did you have to use/make speaker mounts/rings? I have a 09 SR5 Trail Edition and having trouble finding info on what size speakers drop right in the stock locations.

 

[chayos00]

Have you considered Alpine's mini-amp, the KTP-445 Power Pack? It puts out 45W RMS x 4 and plugs in-line directly with your HU and speakers.
I saw that earlier today, since it doesn't actually plug into the pre-outs that doesn't work with me wanting to power the 6.5" components via an amp, then plug the 3.5" speakers to the front outputs on the HU.

How did the speakers fit? Do you have any pictures? Did you have to use/make speaker mounts/rings? I have a 09 SR5 Trail Edition and having trouble finding info on what size speakers drop right in the stock locations.
The speakers fit great. I used the 6x9 to 6.5" bracket for the front speakers that crutchfield provided. For the rear doors I just used the bracket that came with the speakers. I used the factory bottom bolt and just drilled a hole for the other 3 screws for it to mount. I then decided to flush mount the tweeters in the "grill" area on the doors. The black and gray on the tweeters makes it look almost factory with the same black and gray trim coloring.

I didn't get any pictures, but if you really need them I can take the doors back off again.

I think an amp like this would suffice for me. Infinity Reference 475a

 

[shad0w]

Oh no, don't worry about it. I'm thinking of going with 6.5" components up front (tweeter in stock location) and 6.5" coax in the rear. At least I know they'll fit. Crutchfield's site isn't too clear on what fits.

How did you get the 3-1/2" speakers mounted in the stock tweeter location?

 

[XJeepguy]

For 140 bucks that looks like a decent amp , 75x4 RMS would kick those Polks good. Did you find you could only get 3 screws in comfortably in the front door speakers ? Where did you stuff your cross overs ? I used double sided 3M stickie tape to hold the tweets in their spots ( they haven't moved now for near two years ) .

I didn't get any pictures, but if you really need them I can take the doors back off again.

I think an amp like this would suffice for me. Infinity Reference 475a

 

[chayos00]

For 140 bucks that looks like a decent amp , 75x4 RMS would kick those Polks good. Did you find you could only get 3 screws in comfortably in the front door speakers ? Where did you stuff your cross overs ? I used double sided 3M stickie tape to hold the tweets in their spots ( they haven't moved now for near two years ).
No, I was able to use all 4 factory bolts in the front with the bracket I got from crutchfield. I put the crossovers on the plastic door panel just under the window and door lock switches, I also used extra strength double sided tape for the mounting of the crossovers.

Oh no, don't worry about it. I'm thinking of going with 6.5" components up front (tweeter in stock location) and 6.5" coax in the rear. At least I know they'll fit. Crutchfield's site isn't too clear on what fits.

How did you get the 3-1/2" speakers mounted in the stock tweeter location? I reused the bracket, but I had to trim it out with a dermal. Then I went to home depot got some M4-7 bolts & lock nuts, using sealing washers I use them to clamp on to the factory bracket that I trimmed. Plus I had to use a hammer to make a little clearance where the magnet touched the door.

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