Replacing just the speakers

[ZBoater]

The speakers started tricking in today, but the adapters didn't get here. That didn't stop me from installing the center channel speaker. I was impatient because I wanted to button the dash up to try my new a Dashmat Ultimat...

This is the speaker I bought.

Amazon.com : Pair Kicker 40CS354 3.5" 3-1/2" 90 Watt 4-Ohm 2-Way Car Audio Speakers CS354 : Component Vehicle Speaker Systems : Car Electronics


I can report that it fits. Barely and not very well, but it fits.



These are advertised as having "low protrusion" tweeters, meaning they don't stick out much. Well, we need ZERO protrusion tweeters. There is no room whatsoever. Luckily, they are very low protrusion, and I removed some small plastic parts (you didn't need those, did you?) from the grill and it fit. Barely.

The difference between the stock speaker and this Kicker is massive. The stock speaker is light and plasticky, and the Kicker is heavy and metaly. The speaker is held with two screws that didn't quite align, but after some repositioning, I got the holes to align and tightened the screws. Not too tight though. Tight enough to prevent rattles but not to strip them. You are ******** into plastic.





When all was said and done, the grill was a little cockeyed. Once installed and the plastic surround put back, you can barely notice. With the Dashmat on top, you can't notice period.



So how is the sound? Well, the center speaker is notoriously weak, and I didn't feel like "wow, what a difference". I could hear it, I could feel the grill vibrate when I put my hand on it (yes, my connections worked!), but that speaker is a bit pointless.

I feel better knowing I've got a much better speaker up there, but I wouldn't recommend it. I spend $50 on the pair, so now I have a spare which will likely end up in the Garage Sale section. Is it worth $25? From a sound perspective probably not. It may contribute to the overall sound once all speakers are replaced, but for now it's just making me feel better. YMMV.

Tomorrow the rest should arrive so we'll see...

 

[ZBoater]

More arrived, so I'll be doing this tonight.



I tried to do the doors during my lunch hour, because I read somewhere the fronts you could so by popping off the grills and not have to remove the doors.

On a 2013, that is not so.



The doors panels have to come off. All four of them. So this will take a little longer...

 

[ZBoater]

Ok, the door speakers are in. Verdict? Worth every single penny I spent on the door speakers. $110 shipped from Amazon.

If you already like your Sony system, you are going to like it even more. If you don't like it, I doubt this will make you change your mind. But if your budget is tight, this nigh be a good option for you.

This video is awesome for showing you how to remove the doors. Thanks to the guys that put it together. Very helpful.

http://youtu.be/yhdZIQ2x3rM

I took all four panels off first as I had my trim tool and screwdriver handy.



The new speakers were surprisingly lighter than the stock ones.



The Metra speaker adapters were a life saver. Made this truly plug and play.



I think, don't quote me, that the center channel speaker uses the same connector. I did that speaker yesterday before the connectors arrived so I spliced the cables together for that one then old fashioned way.

They look nice installed.



I'm about to reassemble the doors. Wish me luck. Taking them off seemed a lot easier..,

---------- Post added at 07:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:22 PM ----------

Oh, I forgot to mention, the sound is much brighter now. I think I may skip the tweeters. I'll wait until I do the sub tomorrow before I decide.

 

[apeezie289]

Nice!


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[ZBoater]

Ok, sad to report the Kicker woofer did not fit. By about 1/8", and no obvious way to McGuyver it in there. So installation failed. And it was a good thing too, because the wiring had me a bit stumped.

The stock woofer has a screw hole in the back that helps hold it in place that I doubt any other woofer will have.





There's some Pioneer subs that are probably low profile enough, but I also saw a couple of amplified subs that are a direct fit to replace the whole thing. But they are $500-600. So I'm abandoning this for now. Maybe after I buy my tuner and lights I may look into one of those subs. In the meantime I can live with it as is. I think the tweeters are also going back. I'll put those combined $150 to better use somewhere else.

 

[apeezie289]

Great job man, how did the door panel installation go?


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[ZBoater]

Great job man, how did the door panel installation go?

It went surprisingly well. The trick was getting the locks to thread through the holes in the panel while making sure the panel was pushed in and close enough to engage the hooks on the bottom. The handles and the electrical connections were cake. Keeping all the screws in the door panel pockets was very helpful. Everything went back and got buttoned back up great, the door locks and windows work! I was very pleasantly surprised. The video gave me a lot of confidence.

 

[apeezie289]

Cool deal I'll be putting my speakers & sound deadening material in next week. Think I could do all 4 doors in about 3 hours?


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[ZBoater]

Cool deal I'll be putting my speakers & sound deadening material in next week. Think I could do all 4 doors in about 3 hours?

Oh yeah, I did it in just under three hours, and I was slooooooww.

Be sure to have the right tools. A plastic trim tool and/or very thin flathead screwdriver to remove the plastic covers inside the door handles. A plastic trim remover will also make quick work of all the door switches and rear door trim.

Add about 30 minutes for the bio/beer break...

 

[apeezie289]

I got some special tools for the interior so hopefully I'll be good!


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