Speaker fit issues
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Speaker fit issues
Hey folks, I've been having some issues with speaker installation in my '03 RS. In the back, I was able to mount my old 4" Kenwood Excelons from my old car, but the front has been giving me nothing but trouble. I have a pair of JL Audio TR-600s that I had hoped to put in the front, but the bracket is too small to fit in the door, not to mention the issue of shallow mounting depth in these front doors. I went to the local car stereo shop, and they sold me a pair of Eclipse 6.5" speakers that met the depth requirements, but again, I couldn't mount the speaker in the door because the mounting basket around the speaker wasn't large enough to align with the screw holes in the door. At this point it looks like I'll have to go with some sort of mounting bracket/spacer to bump out my 6" JL speakers (I took back the Eclipse speakers and used the money I spent on those towards 2 12" JL 12W0 subs 
). Does anyone know of any good places where I could purchase brackets to mount my speakers and maybe space them out a bit? Manufacturing some is out of the question at the moment, I don't have any of the resources available to do so right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
). Does anyone know of any good places where I could purchase brackets to mount my speakers and maybe space them out a bit? Manufacturing some is out of the question at the moment, I don't have any of the resources available to do so right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Re: Speaker fit issues
Originally posted by Crazy Schizo
Hey folks, I've been having some issues with speaker installation in my '03 RS. In the back, I was able to mount my old 4" Kenwood Excelons from my old car, but the front has been giving me nothing but trouble. I have a pair of JL Audio TR-600s that I had hoped to put in the front, but the bracket is too small to fit in the door, not to mention the issue of shallow mounting depth in these front doors. I went to the local car stereo shop, and they sold me a pair of Eclipse 6.5" speakers that met the depth requirements, but again, I couldn't mount the speaker in the door because the mounting basket around the speaker wasn't large enough to align with the screw holes in the door. At this point it looks like I'll have to go with some sort of mounting bracket/spacer to bump out my 6" JL speakers (I took back the Eclipse speakers and used the money I spent on those towards 2 12" JL 12W0 subs ). Does anyone know of any good places where I could purchase brackets to mount my speakers and maybe space them out a bit? Manufacturing some is out of the question at the moment, I don't have any of the resources available to do so right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hey folks, I've been having some issues with speaker installation in my '03 RS. In the back, I was able to mount my old 4" Kenwood Excelons from my old car, but the front has been giving me nothing but trouble. I have a pair of JL Audio TR-600s that I had hoped to put in the front, but the bracket is too small to fit in the door, not to mention the issue of shallow mounting depth in these front doors. I went to the local car stereo shop, and they sold me a pair of Eclipse 6.5" speakers that met the depth requirements, but again, I couldn't mount the speaker in the door because the mounting basket around the speaker wasn't large enough to align with the screw holes in the door. At this point it looks like I'll have to go with some sort of mounting bracket/spacer to bump out my 6" JL speakers (I took back the Eclipse speakers and used the money I spent on those towards 2 12" JL 12W0 subs
). Does anyone know of any good places where I could purchase brackets to mount my speakers and maybe space them out a bit? Manufacturing some is out of the question at the moment, I don't have any of the resources available to do so right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 68
The easiest way I can think of would be to use the grills that your speakers come with. Most manufacterers make the grills that come with the speakers to be able to be used as a spacer as well. Just take your grill and pop out the wire mesh screen and flip it over. You can then use that as a spacer.
Another way would be to buy 6.5 inch spacers from any retail store like good guys, best buy, etc. they carry spacers for around $15.
I prefer to make my own outta wood.
The final way to do it and make any size speaker fit would be to unbolt your window tract.(not kidding) and space it out with spacers, or bolt it in deep so that you will be moving the tract further toward the outside of the car. The window will move up in a funny direction but still fit into the tract well and close well. it wont make any funny sounds either.
Another way would be to buy 6.5 inch spacers from any retail store like good guys, best buy, etc. they carry spacers for around $15.
I prefer to make my own outta wood.
The final way to do it and make any size speaker fit would be to unbolt your window tract.(not kidding) and space it out with spacers, or bolt it in deep so that you will be moving the tract further toward the outside of the car. The window will move up in a funny direction but still fit into the tract well and close well. it wont make any funny sounds either.
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im putting in mb quarts now. the best way to correct the fitment problem is to custom make a bracket from 3/4" mdf (medium density fiberboard, available at homedepot for 6.25 for a 2' x 4' sheet). mdf is the stuff they make sub boxes out of, its like a sound deadening particle board. anyway, today i did the passanger side speaker, tomorrow im doing my driver side and i will be taking pictures of each step to post for people in the same situation. also i will be posting my cardboard template i used to cut the mdf. the process takes a while but its fun and the sound is definately worth it. only problem i might have is a need for a 4 channel amp. anyway.. good luck. i'll post the process in a day or so.
RedBaaron
RedBaaron
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 177
From: CT
Car Info: 2004 Impreza Outback Sport
For a cheap and quick way to mount speakers, I reccomend like what another user suggested, make adapters out of the speakers grilles. I made them out of my old JBL 6.5" grilles and they worked perfectly. Just had to drill a two small holes in the door and a few in the plastic ring and I had them in perfectly.
For the back ones, I again took the advice of a poster here and I ripped the plastic off the factory speaker and used it to make an adapter for a set of 4" speakers. Worked perfectly.
For the back ones, I again took the advice of a poster here and I ripped the plastic off the factory speaker and used it to make an adapter for a set of 4" speakers. Worked perfectly.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 228
From: Herndon, VA
Car Info: 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX
Originally posted by RedBaaron
im putting in mb quarts now. the best way to correct the fitment problem is to custom make a bracket from 3/4" mdf (medium density fiberboard, available at homedepot for 6.25 for a 2' x 4' sheet). mdf is the stuff they make sub boxes out of, its like a sound deadening particle board. anyway, today i did the passanger side speaker, tomorrow im doing my driver side and i will be taking pictures of each step to post for people in the same situation. also i will be posting my cardboard template i used to cut the mdf. the process takes a while but its fun and the sound is definately worth it. only problem i might have is a need for a 4 channel amp. anyway.. good luck. i'll post the process in a day or so.
RedBaaron
im putting in mb quarts now. the best way to correct the fitment problem is to custom make a bracket from 3/4" mdf (medium density fiberboard, available at homedepot for 6.25 for a 2' x 4' sheet). mdf is the stuff they make sub boxes out of, its like a sound deadening particle board. anyway, today i did the passanger side speaker, tomorrow im doing my driver side and i will be taking pictures of each step to post for people in the same situation. also i will be posting my cardboard template i used to cut the mdf. the process takes a while but its fun and the sound is definately worth it. only problem i might have is a need for a 4 channel amp. anyway.. good luck. i'll post the process in a day or so.
RedBaaron
Thanks.
If you aren't tool adept or have free time drop me a line and I can help you get the exact spacer for that exact speaker
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 555
From: Bethlum, PA
Car Info: silver 2.5 tr 2006MT wrx
does the door molding fit nively over the top of the speaker or did you remember to cut out the plastic ribbing on the door, so it won't press up against the speaker.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 177
From: CT
Car Info: 2004 Impreza Outback Sport
For those of you with speakers made out of wood or MDF, do you anticipate any mold problems in the future? I'd imagine some water would eventually get in there and you'd run that risk. They look very nice and seem like it makes speakers easier to install than my home made spacers but I made mine out of plastic in the fear of mold becoming a problem in the future should they get wet.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4
From: Socal
Car Info: WRX
I just made up some spacers yesterday, worked great. Used plastic. I have a build report here.
www.tmz.com/wrx/fspeakers.html
www.tmz.com/wrx/fspeakers.html