getting at dash and d-pillar speakers?

[jontyrees]

Hi All - I've dug through lots of threads, but still haven't found any how-to instructions or pics on swapping out the dash speakers and d-pillar speakers in a 2010 CX-9. I took a chance based on a few posts from other car sites (mostly Corvette and Cadillac CTS) that Boston Acoustics SE35 3.5" speakers would be a good drop-in upgrade for the Bose speakers in my dash and d-pillars, and ordered 3 pairs at $35/pr from Crutchfield. I'll be left with one odd speaker, but hey, $35/pr is a great deal, so I'm only out $17.50! I also ordered a pair of the BA SE85 5x7" speakers to go in the rear doors. These are all high efficiency, 4ohm speakers, and I believe the Bose that are coming out are not too far off in impedence, so I'm hoping this works. The front door 9" woofers are 1/2 ohm, so I'm not going to mess with those.

Anyway - does anyone have any advice for removing the necessary grills/panels for the 3.5"s? I can figure out the rear doors.

 

[supradupe]

the grill for the 3.5" can be pried out easily. The D-pillar trim removal requires a lot of work and I never touched it. When you are done and want to sell the single BA 3.5", please let me know. As I have not replaced the center 3.5" speaker yet.

 

[jontyrees]

Cool, thx. I suspected that the d-pillars might be difficult - they usually require taking out a ton of paneling in the back of the car, at least it was that way in our old MPV.

Any idea if the center dash speaker requires removing the dash?. I may well be interested in parting with the extra speaker I'll have - save us both a few bucks!

Have you already used these particular speakers to replace the Bose? I'll be attempting to run them off the Bose amp, so it's going to be hit or miss - I may end up doing a whole rebuild of the system with new amps, etc, but I really hope I don't have to. Problem is my wife (who drives the CX-9) hates the Bose system as it is now. I've tried bumping the bass and treble, but that's about all I can adjust, and it's still really dull sounding. Even my 2008 Taurus with the Ford Audiophile 200w system sounds twice as good as the Bose, and I put a simple custom system into my kid's 2001 Crown Vic that blows them both away, so she has system envy. (Crown Vic = Kenwood Excelon HU, 4x Kenwood 3-way 6x8s, JL 10W3 in the JL designed vented box in the trunk, old approx 250w Rockford Fosgate 2ch bridged amp for the sub, cheap 4x60w Sony amp for the speakers - sounds really good and total cost was <$500. Craigslist is my friend!)

 

[supradupe]

Cool, thx. I suspected that the d-pillars might be difficult - they usually require taking out a ton of paneling in the back of the car, at least it was that way in our old MPV.

Any idea if the center dash speaker requires removing the dash?. I may well be interested in parting with the extra speaker I'll have - save us both a few bucks!

Have you already used these particular speakers to replace the Bose? I'll be attempting to run them off the Bose amp, so it's going to be hit or miss - I may end up doing a whole rebuild of the system with new amps, etc, but I really hope I don't have to. Problem is my wife (who drives the CX-9) hates the Bose system as it is now. I've tried bumping the bass and treble, but that's about all I can adjust, and it's still really dull sounding. Even my 2008 Taurus with the Ford Audiophile 200w system sounds twice as good as the Bose, and I put a simple custom system into my kid's 2001 Crown Vic that blows them both away, so she has system envy. (Crown Vic = Kenwood Excelon HU, 4x Kenwood 3-way 6x8s, JL 10W3 in the JL designed vented box in the trunk, old approx 250w Rockford Fosgate 2ch bridged amp for the sub, cheap 4x60w Sony amp for the speakers - sounds really good and total cost was <$500. Craigslist is my friend!)

I totally agree, the sound is dull and muddy no matter how you adjust it.

The bose amp is ok, I won't replace it if I were you. It is the speakers that are crap. I will leave the subwoofer alone as well. The problem is not about power, it is about the quality of the speaker. I replaced the dash with infinity kappas 3.5", the rear doors with infinity reference 6x8, and I'm in the process of replacing the front doors 8" mid range/woofer with another pair of infinity reference 6x8. To do so, I need to fabricate a mounting plate for the big hole (approx. 9"). Will post some pictures when I'm done.

To replace the center speaker on dash, you need to pull a few things out, but not as hard as the D-pillar.

 

[jontyrees]

I totally agree, the sound is dull and muddy no matter how you adjust it.

The bose amp is ok, I won't replace it if I were you. It is the speakers that are crap. I will leave the subwoofer alone as well. The problem is not about power, it is about the quality of the speaker. I replaced the dash with infinity kappas 3.5", the rear doors with infinity reference 6x8, and I'm in the process of replacing the front doors 8" mid range/woofer with another pair of infinity reference 6x8. To do so, I need to fabricate a mounting plate for the big hole (approx. 9"). Will post some pictures when I'm done.

To replace the center speaker on dash, you need to pull a few things out, but not as hard as the D-pillar.

Good to know that the speakers are most of the problem, I REALLY didn't want to get into a whole new system. I think those 9" woofers in the front doors are 1/2 ohm though, so you might have a tough time trying to power some Reference 6x8s - those are 2ohm aren't they? I'm going to try leaving them alone - hoping that better 3.5"s and rear door 6x8"s will provide the necessary highs and mids. Stock system has NO tweeters!

Are there any pictures of what I need to pull to replace the dash center?

 

[supradupe]

Good to know that the speakers are most of the problem, I REALLY didn't want to get into a whole new system. I think those 9" woofers in the front doors are 1/2 ohm though, so you might have a tough time trying to power some Reference 6x8s - those are 2ohm aren't they? I'm going to try leaving them alone - hoping that better 3.5"s and rear door 6x8"s will provide the necessary highs and mids. Stock system has NO tweeters!

Are there any pictures of what I need to pull to replace the dash center?

No, they are all 2 ohms. You will need a monster amp to drive 0.5 ohm speakers. I have the instructions to take out the center dash, send me a PM with your email and I will email you the instructions.

 

[jontyrees]

Tried sending you a PM, but I don't see anything in my Sent folder - did you get a PM from me?

 

[supradupe]

PM replied.

 

[jontyrees]

OK - phase 1 completed. Boston 3.5" installed in the corners of the dash, Boston 5x7" installed in rear doors. Huge improvement already, and I think they will improve with a little break in period. Just a lot more definition and range than the stock Bose, although maybe down a tad in volume, but that's what the volume knob is for. Not totally drop-in in the right dash corner - had to dremel and snap off a little fin on what I think is an a/c duct to get the larger magnet of the Boston speaker to fit. No big deal. I took pictures, and will post them as soon as I get a chance. Off to SXSW (South by South West music festival) in Austin now! The Cult at 6pm!

Phase 2 will be to install the dash center and D-pillar 3.5"s - maybe a little more challenging, but shouldn't be too bad.

 

[mainard1]

update? i did the reverse, i upgraded all other speakers and left the tweeters and the Bose amp

 

[mzd]

Yeah, any update and possibly pictures? How did you remove the center cover to get to the 3.5" center speaker?

 

[mainard1]

waiting for upgrade still