stevethemacguy

I'm thinking of installing my first sound system, but what bothers me the most is trying to find speakers to fit the 5th gen and I've read aznmienxsir's post about how 6.5s won't fit in the front without cutting. I'm willing to sacrifice some power if it means I don't have to do any cutting.

Here's a couple questions...

1. I figure you can always go smaller than 6.5s, what do you have to do to fit smaller speakers (e.g. 5.25'') in the 6.5 spot? Sure, there's enough space, but how would a smaller speaker hold in there?

2. Do you think something like these rockford fosgates would fit right into the stock spots without changing anything?
You can see the dimensions Here and Here

3. Is there any advantage to having 6x9s in the rear if your using the same amp to power 6.5s/5.25s in the front? To clarify, I'm planning to get a 4 channel amp and run one speaker per channel (since this is the least complicated way to wire them). So if the front speakers are only rated at 70w RMS, I would buy an amp that sends 70w or less to 4 channels, so I assume it would do me now good to pay for 6x9s that handle say 100w when i would only be sending them 70w anyway.

Thanks!

indylude18

To use a smaller speaker, you would have to make up some type of adapter. You would might have to get creative here. Also, you would probably still have to cut out the plastic basket behind the speaker well in the door.

No and No. I have had 2 sets of 6.5" speakers in the doors, neither of them fit in the hole. The outside diameter of the speakers is larger than the internal diameter of the stock mounting location.

If you don't plan to install a subwoofer, then definitely keep the 6x9's. The larger the surface area of the speaker, the better in can reproduce bass. You are not going to get much bass with 6x9, but with on 6.5s all the way around, you will have next to none.

Also, what head unit do you plan to use? If you are planning to keep the stock radio, then your audio system will likely sound like crap.

stevethemacguy

I already have a 700w two-channel amp (from my old system) and plan to get two subs to provide the bass, so I'm thinking that there's not much point to having 6x9s in the rear even though the stock speakers are 6x9. I will be getting a new head unit but I plan on powering the speakers with a separate amp (basically I don't plan on keeping any of the stock system). I was thinking 6.5s in the front and rear might be my best option, but it seems like no matter what size speakers I get, I'm going to have to do quite a bit of modification.

There are however, some higher end "shallow speakers" that appear like they would fit in the stock holes without much modification as long as they have less then a 2'' mount depth. I know a typical 6.5 speaker won't fit in the front because typically 6.5s have a much larger mount depth. Did either of the 6.5s you had installed have less than a 2'' mount depth and still didn't fit?

indylude18

The reason 6.5's don't fit in the front is because of both the depth of the factory location, as well as the diameter of the mounting hole. I didn't actually measure the hole, but it was obvious that the inside diameter was less than the outside diameter of my 6.5" speakers. Using shallow mount speakers might save you from having to remove the factory speaker basket behind the speaker, but it still won't fit without some type of modification to account for the larger diameter of the aftermarket speaker. Neither set I installed was shallow mount, but the depth was not the limiting factor to get it into the factory location(I have cut out the factory basket), the diameter was.

As for replacing the 6x9's with 6.5's; it is not worth the trouble. Some metal cutting would probably be required to get them to fit. Doing anything to the rear deck is a real PITA, because you pretty much have to lay in the trunk to have access to it. If you try to cut it from the top, the rear window is in the way. I would recommend getting some good aftermarket 6x9's that have roughly the same power handling and sensitivity ratings as your front speakers.

On another note, if you put 2 subs in the trunk, kiss nearly all of your trunk space bye-bye. I have a single 12" sub and I often have to pile stuff in the back seat because of the utter lack of space I have left in my trunk.

stevethemacguy

I'm not sure what size/how many subs I will get just yet. I used to have two 12s, but the Prelude trunk is a lot smaller (plus two twelves is a little overkill). Anyway, thanks for the advise. I'm going to keep talking with some of the local car stereo places and see what each place has to say. In the end, I may end up having the system installed for me, but it would likely come at a hefty price tag. There seems to be two types of car audio places:

1. Totally unprofessional and cheap
2. Professional, but way overpriced because of it

I went to one of the few professional places I'm aware of yesterday and got a lot of good free advise, but when I asked them how much it would cost for just installation (meaning I bring them all of the equipment/speakers and they just install them), they still said it would likely be between $1,000 - $2000! WTF. He said if I could find the perfect speakers to put in there will little or no modification then it might be less than 1k or around there, but that's still pretty ridiculous.

indylude18

lol. I had much the same experience with my last car. I was quoted a $500 price for an audio dealer to hook up an amp and 4 speakers that I would provide. That is ridiculous. You can do all of this yourself, and none of it is really very difficult. Wiring an entire audio system is time consuming, but it doesn't require and special tools or anything. As long as you understand the fundamentals on how everything in the system works, you will be able to figure it out. If not, then just ask questions here and put that $1000 back in your pocket.

2nd one

that is insane prices. i have worked for big box stores and mom and pop shops and never charged that much install. adapter plates made with abs plastic take no time to make, and most shops stock it in sheet form so you cut what you need. i do know they will charge more if the equipment isn't theirs, just because they have to warranty the work, but damn.

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thepreludedude

i had 6.5 components in the rear deck. they fit with very little problems. i used a 6x9 abs plastic adapter plate for them. i had to cut a little notch out on the underside of the stock speaker grill to fit over it but pretty easy.

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stevethemacguy

I went to another place today and they quoted me about $600 to do the full install so that's a lot more reasonable, but I'm pretty sure that's the price if I buy all they're own stuff. Like you mentioned, they said it would cost more if it's not their equipment, but they said they don't warranty their work on equipment that's not from them. That doesn't make any sense to me because they should still warranty their installation, just not if the product fails. Maybe that's what they meant.

The problem is still just picking the right equipment to use. The only real brand they have is JL, which I know is a good brand, but I'd like to have more options then that. We talked about sticking with speakers that would fit with little modification so that the labor would be less...he mentioned some C2 650-Xs for the front and equivalent 6x9s in the back since they would pretty much drop in. But when I look at the C2s, they just seem kinda on the lower end of things. I would power the speakers on a 4 channel amp. I'm sure they would still sound better than my old system (since I had the speakers just running off my head unit), but not sure on those. Anyone have experience with those speakers?

indylude18

If you are going to spend the money for quality speakers, you might as well get components for the front since they are so easy to install and vastly improve clarity. $600 is also way too much to pay somebody to do something that you could easily do yourself. I recommend you check out crutchfield.com, they are one of the better sources of information on various audio components around and they carry a wide variety of different brands. Also, crutchfield includes infosheets and required adapters that help to install everything you buy from them, which are very useful if you don't know what you are doing. IIRC, they are based in Cali, so shipping to you would be quick too.

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