Speaker choices (9 speaker system) to not suck

[GTP]

Thanks. I am an audiophile but this is a noisy car environment and critical listening is not the goal. I just need it to not suck, for the thin sound brittle treble to go away.

I hear ya. It is hard to easily improve the 9-speaker sound system. It lacks any mid-bass and so it sounds thin. Even the tone controls won't alleviate this fact.

I hate to say it, but you're better off just listening to talk radio!

Sponsored

 

[Bassackwards]

I hear ya. It is hard to easily improve the 9-speaker sound system. It lacks any mid-bass and so it sounds thin. Even the tone controls won't alleviate this fact.

I hate to say it, but you're better off just listening to talk radio!

Why do you keep posting this? It is easy to upgrade and nearly everyone that frequents this group has already completed it.

Sorry you think it is such a challenge

 

[MD18EcoStang]

Why do you keep posting this? It is easy to upgrade and nearly everyone that frequents this group has already completed it.

Sorry you think it is such a challenge

Yeah, I respectfully disagree with those comments, too--just not really helpful. Replacing the speakers and adding a small sub made for a very listenable system for me. I disconnected my center, too. It sounds so much better than it did in stock form.

 

[MD18EcoStang]

I have the 9 speaker system in my 2019 Premium and I tried that Forscan disable and it did nothing, no change at all. I posted that info here and a couple folks who seem to know their stuff said it only works on the base 6 speaker system. I have no idea if that is true or not.

So now I've changed all the speakers except the A pillar tweeters, I'm not getting involved with airbags so they are staying as is. I used Kenwood KFC-X3C for the 3.5" speakers and I used the suppled crossover (filter?) as suggested by Crutchfield. The rear deck I used Rockford Fosgate P1650 2-way speakers and in the lower doors I used Audison Prima AP65 midbass woofers and went with 2 ohm as suggested by a local audio shop. Prior to that all the speakers were 4 ohm. It sounds way better than stock and there is bass coming out of the rear deck speakers.

If you want ear splitting volume and home theatre sound quality you would not be happy with what I have. But if you just want to make a major improvement over what you have now it doesn't sound bad at all.

I replaced my tweeters in the a-pillars. I recall having to do some custom trimming to get them to fit and look nice, but I can't recall messing with any airbags. Maybe I'm just forgetting.

 

[TonyT930]

I replaced my tweeters in the a-pillars. I recall having to do some custom trimming to get them to fit and look nice, but I can't recall messing with any airbags. Maybe I'm just forgetting.

I agree. The airbags were a non issue. I've had my a pillar caps off twice, no problems at all

 

[PoCoBob]

I replaced my tweeters in the a-pillars. I recall having to do some custom trimming to get them to fit and look nice, but I can't recall messing with any airbags. Maybe I'm just forgetting.

I agree. The airbags were a non issue. I've had my a pillar caps off twice, no problems at all

Thanks guys! I'll take another look at that. I had watched a couple videos about replacing the tweeters and it was mentioned if not careful it would be very easy to set off that air bag. That pretty much scared me off.

 

[TonyT930]

Thanks guys! I'll take another look at that. I had watched a couple videos about replacing the tweeters and it was mentioned if not careful it would be very easy to set off that air bag. That pretty much scared me off.

Yes, are the a pillar caps difficult to get off without breaking the front tabs that fasten to the dashboard? Yes, almost impossible. I have some pics of some older a pillar caps on my 2017 GT Vert if you want to see what I'm talking about.

 

[Evolvd]

Thanks guys! I'll take another look at that. I had watched a couple videos about replacing the tweeters and it was mentioned if not careful it would be very easy to set off that air bag. That pretty much scared me off.

Disconnect the negative battery cable ANY TIME you’re removing or installing airbags. This is a no brainer. They need electrical power to work.

 

[GTP]

Why do you keep posting this? It is easy to upgrade and nearly everyone that frequents this group has already completed it.

Sorry you think it is such a challenge

I used the word "easily". What is hard (to me anyway) for the 9-speaker system is getting a non-bass-filtered signal to the trunk, pulling a power wire and possibly a line-level cable through the car, and then building/buying a subwoofer and amp, etc.

All of this is a hassle for the 9-speaker car because the greatest flaw is the lack of bass.

Yeah, I respectfully disagree with those comments, too--just not really helpful. Replacing the speakers and adding a small sub made for a very listenable system for me. I disconnected my center, too. It sounds so much better than it did in stock form.

I agree with adding a small sub. How did you do it?

Also, I was the original poster about disconnecting the center channel a couple years back. That thread is many pages long now.

 

[Bassackwards]

I used the word "easily". What is hard (to me anyway) for the 9-speaker system is getting a non-bass-filtered signal to the trunk, pulling a power wire and possibly a line-level cable through the car, and then building/buying a subwoofer and amp, etc.

All of this is a hassle for the 9-speaker car because the greatest flaw is the lack of bass.






I agree with adding a small sub. How did you do it?

Also, I was the original poster about disconnecting the center channel a couple years back. That thread is many pages long now.

I followed the instructions found in this group, starting with a free trial of Forscan to flatten the eq.

Then I popped off a few pieces of trim and using the instructions here I extended the wires to the trunk where I mounted the new amp in the spare tire well.

I built my enclosure because I’m too cheap to spring for the JL 12”. Using my method of using a spare well liner from a junkyard really makes it easy to get a tight fit.

It hits really hard and seems like it interferes with your heart rhythm. most can’t tolerate full blast for more than a 10-20 seconds. It’s got plenty of bass with the top down at 70.

 

[MD18EcoStang]

I agree with adding a small sub. How did you do it?

Also, I was the original poster about disconnecting the center channel a couple years back. That thread is many pages long now.

Well, as you said, I got "a non-bass-filtered signal to the trunk, pulling a power wire... through the car, and then... buying a subwoofer and amp." Got a small Kicker sub - this one, I think:
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-XGZk1nGb1aL/p_206TCWC104/Kicker-CompC-44TCWC104.html
Can't remember which amp. Tapped into the rear speaker wiring to connect to the high-level inputs on the amp, and then changed whatever Forscan value needed to be changed to eliminate the bass roof. Worked great.

I'm more of a home stereo (aka 2-channel) enthusiast, meaning that I don't really listen to music through my home theater system, mainly because the center channel destroys the stereo imaging. I have a dedicated system for 2-channel listening at home, so doing away with the center in my car was a no-brainer for me.

 

[GTP]

Well, as you said, I got "a non-bass-filtered signal to the trunk, pulling a power wire... through the car, and then... buying a subwoofer and amp." Got a small Kicker sub - this one, I think:
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-XGZk1nGb1aL/p_206TCWC104/Kicker-CompC-44TCWC104.html
Can't remember which amp. Tapped into the rear speaker wiring to connect to the high-level inputs on the amp, and then changed whatever Forscan value needed to be changed to eliminate the bass roof. Worked great.

I'm more of a home stereo (aka 2-channel) enthusiast, meaning that I don't really listen to music through my home theater system, mainly because the center channel destroys the stereo imaging. I have a dedicated system for 2-channel listening at home, so doing away with the center in my car was a no-brainer for me.

This post is TRUTH.

Cool that you could disable highpass filtering to the rear speakers so that you could repurpose the existing speaker wires. Then just add the high level input amp and sub.

 

[GTP]

And I am l Iongtime 2channel guy too.
Www.BambergAudio.com is my website.

 

[MD18EcoStang]

And I am l Iongtime 2channel guy too.
Www.BambergAudio.com is my website.

Well, that's some cool stuff!

 

[S550HPP]

Source is everything. If using Bluetooth or Sirius sound will be terrible. If streaming over hardwire anything less than 256 kbps, or compressed same thing. Don't wast a dime on sound system if have poor sources will just sound worse.

Try it first with lossless like flac or hi-res stream uncompressed if possible like di.fm family. I have done this in Bronco Sport bose and S650 and they sound great.

Once you have the source down a cheap sub upgrade with pioneer etc along with sound deadening in doors, QTR panels, trunk would be worth while, DIay, and low cost high impact.

Next step would be active DSP amp like Audison or JL that fits in OE location and get what ever Hertz, Focals, Audison mid to high end etc calibre speakers can get a deal on. Running active 3 way front with active GZ 4" BMW center plus active 400+W sub and power matched sub sounds amazing.

35W channel.front stage is more than enough.

Sponsored