fandsw

Santa, with some help from my wife, has notified me that I will be getting some new speakers to replace the stock ones in my 2002.5 Protege5.......YEA!!!!

This is the only upgrade to the car audio that I'm making as I'm not looking to make a competition system, and I'm keeping the stock HU for security reasons. Thus, high sensitivity is a must, and I also like purchasing matching speakers front/rear, or at least from the same model line. Just some good sounding speakers that don't break the bank and that aren't Sony......

Okay, knowing this, I have spent the better part of the last few days researching what is available. I usually purchased stuff in the past from Crutchfield (I know, higher priced, but they have great service and have come thru for me in the past), and would like to do the same as I would just like to just point my wife to the wish list on their website without confusing her. I have gone thru EVERY post in the history of this forum that has discussed this issue and now I'M MORE CONFUSED THAN WHEN I STARTED!!!

As for the front, no issues there are there are several to choose from in the 6x8 sizes. Choice is good......

But for the back.......what is THE issue that Crutchfield has with all the 6.5s except for that crappy cloth surround Kenwood pair???? Sir Nuke and others have disspelled the depth myth, and other posters have used all different kinds 6.5s in the back with success...what is it then? The size of the cutout, or even the something as simple as the location of the mounting holes? I've even emailed Crutchfield on this, with a link to Sir Nuke's depth post. I did get a personalized reply from them, acknowledging others might fit with modifications, but they wouldn't say what the issue is and stood by their recommendation.

So here I sit, trying to figure out what the issue could be, and what to get. Here lies my question: for the guys/gals out there who installed 6.5s in the back doors of a Pro5 what 6.5s did you install and what mods if any did you have to do for the install besides the obvious splicing of speaker connectors?

Sorry this got long winded.......

swank

I installed some economical Pioneer 6.5 in. 3 ways (nothing fancy, but WAY better than the stock speakers...you'll see when you rip em out).

It was easy...they slide right in, no real problems except the screw holes didn't line up. So, i used one screw hole and drilled the others, and done. It was easy. Took longer to take doors apart and put them back together than to drop in the new speakers.

hihoslva

Crutchfield is out in LEFTfield occasionally.

You can basically fit any speaker you are going to consider in front/rear doors. Magnet size and depth is really a non-issue until you start getting into higher-power handling speakers.

Might I suggest Infinity speakers for your doors? Infinity's speakers have excellent sound quality, are pretty good budget-wise, and they generally have a high sensitivity rating (in the 90s) which will make good use of your available power (which ain't much - but that's okay). In additon, they will also handle higher power in case next year Santa brings you an amp.....

Infinity speakers will sing very nicely when amped, but I know many people have had positive experiences when using just deck power.

You also have a good array of choices - from using all coaxials, or using coax in back and separates (component woofer/tweeter combos) in front. You sound as though you're leaning toward the stock sizes, which is fine - they make 6x8 (5x7 - same thing - don't be confused!) and 6.5" speakers in several models.

Whatever you do will sound better than what you have, and I only suggest Infinity because of the variety available, the sound quality, reasonable affordability (you could probably outfit your four doors for around $200 complete), and the upgradability if you decide to add an amp down the road.

Check them out at www.infinitysystems.com - then buy from a place like www.ikesound.com or www.bsless.com - both have excellent prices, reliable customer service, and fast shipping - IkeSound even has NO CHARGE for shipping on everything, which is great - the price you see is what you pay, total. I'm not 100% sure on bsless' shipping rates.

Good luck!

(and NO, I'm not an Infinity rep or fanatic. The only part of my system that is Infinity is the tweeters right now - and my subs will be also once I build my new Kappas a box. I just feel they are a solid product that might meet your needs, so I suggest them).

~HH

Sir Nuke

seeing as how you read my posts...you know I used Rockford Fosgates.....the one thing I did find out for a FACT...is the stock speakers are 6 inch diameter...NOT 6 1/2.....but they fit in the hose...the ONLY issue is I had to modify the rain guard that is stuck to the stock speaker for it to work.....

IF you put 6 X 8's insted of 5 X7's up front you will have to do the same thing with them....

IF I had it to do all over again....I would have gotten the universal Rockford's of the same line I got and I wouldn't have had to cut and modify the rain guard...

also....the ONLY other thing is I had to put two more holes in the ring of the speaker to put the screws through....

here is something else CRUTCHFILEDS doesn't do...they only sell or recomment the components that are drop in....no mods....our cars have strange three screw pattern on the rear doors....even though there were MANY holes around the rim of the speaker for screws to go through...I still ended up drilling two more....there was no way I was drilling new holes in the door.

happy hunting...and merry christmas!! lol

fandsw

Thanks for all the replies.......

well, I think y'all have cleared it up for me. Now I know what to do......

I've settled on some JBL GTO635 & GTO7525 for my car, I've heard good things about them. Also, thanks for the link to www.ikesound.com, their prices are incredible. I usually avoid dealing with grey market dealers, but with their rep and ebay feedback I can't go wrong......

Thanks again........

5SpeedP5

uhhhh, sorry to sounds stupid here, but what is wrong with drilling new holes?

****, it takes two min to get out a drill, pop in the right bit, and drill 2-4 holes, and mount the speakers right!

i wouldnt shop for speakers depending on mounting holes! shiiiitt, every car ive installed speakers on have needed to have almost all holes drilled, maybe one didnt, but still.

i wouldnt worry too much, pick up the speakers you like, and go at it... there is very little chance they wont fit (unless you buy the wrong size of course)..... in my se-r they said a 6.5 with a big magnet like my clarion components have, wouldnt fit, and id have to do a custom 5.25inch speaker install..... BULLSHIT! the 6.5s went right in, 3 holes drilled. ahhhh

hihoslva

Are you sure you didn't buy oversized Fosgates, Nuke? They make several speakers that are 6.75", and even some 7" rounds. I'm 99% sure the stock rears are 6.5" - but of course, some holes don't line up. I replaced mine with cheap Kenwoods a long while back - and the 6.5" dropped right in (after drilling new holes, of course) - but no mod to the rainguard or anything else. What model RF's did you install?

Also - 6x8 and 5x7 speakers are most often the same thing. Some manufacturers may say that they are one or the other, but nearly 100% of the time, they will fit either opening. Usually due to the slot-design of the mounting holes on the speakers - very few (none that I know) are TRULY 5x7 or 6x8 - any I've seen will fit both, and both sizes will fit the P5 front doors with no mods.

~HH

fandsw

Keep in mind that you are drilling holes into sheetmetal of the doors. That will expose some metal to the wet environment that exists inside the door causing rust problems down the road.

Of course, if you seal the holes with some liquid silicone before you run the screws thru them you are ok.......

5SpeedP5

lol well yeah, but it shouldnt be that big of a deal, you're putting screws in there, and its not like you're gonna be drenching the interior of your door in water!, your nice new speakers will be ruined way before the door rusts inside

fandsw

The inside of doors get SOAKED in a good rain!!!!! I had a VW once where the plastic vapor barrier between the door panel and the door was not sealed properly after the dealer replaced a window regulator. The next day after a good overnight rain the carpet inside the car was SOAKED!!!!!!

If you live in the rust belt notice the rust on door bottoms: it usually starts inside......

If you do drill into the doorskin to mount a speaker, a $1.98 tube of silicon is good insurance, especially if you plan on keeping the car a while......

mnkyboy

According to Crutchfield.com, the Protege 5 "Best Fit" speakers are 6x8 in the front, and 6 1/2 in the back. I didnt even know they made 6x8 speakers! Are these sizes correct??

http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/...sp?s=0&id=13311

Sir Nuke

NOPE....not stupid at all.....and I wouldn't hesitate for a second to drill new holes in the SPEAKER FRAME either...and I did. what I wouldn't want to do is drill holes in the door itself....and if i HAD to....I would drill the holes....put some primer on them...then use my touch up paint to seal them...let it all dry...THEN install my speakers.

mnkyboy

Can anyone help me with my question? What are the correct speaker sizes??

Sir Nuke

I am SURE I didn't get the oversized speakers....there are three different letter designators to go afte the part number I got and I verified I got the 6 1/2's.....

and the holes in the rear doors are a bit oversized...its just how they punched them........but the rain guards will not just sit on the speaker frames like they do on the stock speakers since the diameter is slightly larger.....the ones on the front doors did with NO modification since they were the exact same size...5 X 7....and althought there is MORE than enough room for a 6 X 8...and MAYBE even a 6 X 9 to fit in the hole with no mod to the door.....the difference in the size of the speakers frame will not allow the rain guard to just be put on and popped into place...it will need to be modified to fit...if you use them.

Sir Nuke

as stated MANY times....the stock speakers are 5 X 7's in the front (6X8's also fit with no mods to the door) and the STOCK speakers in the rear are 6's....but a 6 1/2 and most likely even a 6 3/4 or 7 WILL fit in the rear doors.....

the TWO things that cruchfields is NOT telling you is that if you use speakers of sized that WILL fit but different from the original you will be required to modify the rain guards if you intend to use them..AND, they also don't TELL YOU what your limit on mounting depth is.....and in the front doors its 2 1/2 inches...and about 4 1/2 inches in the rears.