stock audio question

[Aberration]

About the component installation is it better to put a hole in the mirror triangle or put a hole right above where the stock speaker is in the door? Or better yet which is easier?
The other question I have is that I have a 2001 Protege ES and I swear the stock was 5 1/4 which I replaced with the same without any troubles or modifications... if I wanted to change it to a 6.5 would it be worth the effort of using MDF and such for the upgrade compared to just using a 5 1/4 component?
thanks

 

[chuyler1]

As far as I know, all 3rd Gens have 5x7s up front, not 5-1/4. It is not that much trouble to make an MDF baffle. All you need is a jig saw and a drill. Trace the outline of the stock speaker, trace the outline of the new speaker, cut the sum of those two, cut a center mounting hole, fasten it to the door, and mount the speaker.

Installing the tweeter above the speaker or in the mirror panel is about the same amount of work. However, should you sell the car and decide to keep your speakers it is much easier (and cheaper) to replace the mirror panel than it it is to replace the entire door panel.

As far as sound quality goes, you will get better imaging with them in the doors but you will get better stage height with them in the mirror panels. The difference is minimal. Get some double sided tape and play with mounting positions for the tweeters before you drill anything. After a few experiments you will get a better idea of where you want to mount them.

 

[Aberration]

As far as I know, all 3rd Gens have 5x7s up front, not 5-1/4. It is not that much trouble to make an MDF baffle. All you need is a jig saw and a drill. Trace the outline of the stock speaker, trace the outline of the new speaker, cut the sum of those two, cut a center mounting hole, fasten it to the door, and mount the speaker.

Thanks, saddly I was thinking of my friends car cause when I took the door off it was a 5x7 whch I decided to not remmember installing, anyway assuming the 6.5 and 5 1/4 are the same to install and are the same price then it's an easy call to get the 6.5 right?

if I did mount the tweeters in the triangle piece is there enough room and does it look good, do you mount it at an angle or just mount it flush and direct it?
Thanks

 

[chuyler1]

If you in fact have 5-1/4" speakers up front then it will not be an easy task installing a 6-1/2" speaker. You are better off sticking with the 5-1/4" size.

However, if you are incorrect and they are 6x8"/5x7" up front then I recommend upgrading to 6-1/2" instead of 5-1/4"

 

[hudnik]

ok time to resurrect this here thread
1sty another question inspired by laziness
i do know some about car audio, so i won't try to bore you
however i just got my 01 proto and well for some reason i'm only gettin audio out of one speaker in the back, i checked the kenwood hd and it's good as far as i can tell, so i guess it's time to replace the speakers, i though i spotted six spots for full speakers (not tweeters) two front door two back door and two rear deck, first of all, is that right or are two of those teasers?
second what are the sizes and what's the biggest they'll take
i haven't yet had time to tear into this car, in my old trooper i had a pioneer hd, a 200x4 external amp, JL components up fornt and rockford coaxials in the rear and it sounded great, i'm not really lookin to spend much money hear, but i definetly want the most bang for my buck, so if i can shave some off the speaker hole and fit a bigger speaker that's fine with me
what're your suggestions, and to get to the speakers, do i need to take the door molding off or do the screens pop off?

sorry for the newbie questions, i work 40 hrs a week and don't really even have time on the weekends, or at least not in the near future to give these things a look, so i'm tryin to take a few shortcuts here

 

[chuyler1]

Screens don't pop off. You have to remove the entire door panel. Info about speaker sizes and wiring harnesses can be found here:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8940

Keep in mind that with audio, more does not always equal better. Just because there are six spots for speakers doesn't mean that two can't sound great. In fact, if you want the best staging and imaging out of your recordings it is best to just install a set of components up front and a subwoofer in the rear. It's simple, it works, and it sounds great.

If you're not looking for killer bass then I suggest a 4 channel amp (do you still have that amp from your trooper?) to power speakers up front and bridge the rear channels of the amp to power a 10" or 12" subwoofer.

 

[hudnik]

i have a crappy, but louder than the hd, amp at home, but i'm just not lookin to do much more than stock size or slightly above for better sound reproduction, other than that, i'm tryin to save money, i'm plannin on a coupla performance/gas mileage mods to the little guy but that's about it,
i had my trooper done up pretty well, lift, tires, exhaust, intake, bumper, stereo, lights, trail damage
and i had empty pockets to show for it in the end, i'm tryin to be a bit more reasonable with this one and take the bang for the buck route, that's why i bought the car in the first place, got it on a steal, and i love it so far, but i'm just not lookin to spend more than i feel like i have to

thanks for the info,

also concernin the subs, i used to have a 626 as my first car and i ran 2 rockfrod power dvcs via a 800.2 that maxed at 1000w and after realizing that the head aches and money weren't worth it, i'm apprehensive on subs, i was thinkin of maybe runnin a bazooka in the back just to take the strain off the door speakers, but that's just a thought and not somethin i'll be doin in the near future, right now the stereo, intake, and a quiet but unrestrictive (oxymoron huh, not really just puttin a glasspack with the muffler) exhaust are the first things, and maybe a window tint

thanks again (thumb)

also, if i were to go with components for the front, would i need to fill in the original 5x7 spot?

 

[chuyler1]

There are a few 5x7/6x8 component sets on the market. Infinity and JL Audio come to mind. However, you can simply create a baffle that will allow you to mount a 6.5" driver in the oval shaped hole. It's pretty easy to do and if you're not up to the task you might be able to find pre-made ones made out of abs plastic.

 

[hudnik]

ok that's what i was lookin for thanks, i think i can handle it form there, bust out the ol jig saw and plywood (thumb)

 

[GearsForBrains]

C'mon guys....

Car stereos in cars are one thing. Ever since my parents gave away my car, I run my car stereo in my dorm room. Pioneer head, Infinity door speakers, and I just bought two Infinity 1042w subs. My RA hates me...on the first floor already. I live on the fourth floor. That's three floors of near solid concrete walls and heavy metal doors. I feel accomplished.