FAQ: Installing Front Speakers

Does anyone know how deep the front speakers are? I want to make sure before I order the Infinity 5022i's for the front. They're only 2 1/4" according to Infinity, but I'm worried that they may not fit. Thanks.

They fit... i have em in mine.

Were they easy to install, or was there any fuss with the screws?

Minimal fuss with the screws.. i think i thought i was gonna have trouble and then i got one screw in and it was fine. Should only take about 10 minutes to do both.

I just got some very nice Infinity Kappa speakers to replace my tired stock speakers.
Can I get to my door speakers without having to take off the whole door panel?

EASHER wrote:

I just got some very nice Infinity Kappa speakers to replace my tired stock speakers.
Can I get to my door speakers without having to take off the whole door panel?

Just remove the little plastic cover on the front speakers. Gently pull on a corner to get it started and go around the plastic cover until it comes off. Be careful because it will break if you aren't gentle with it. You might have to remove the door panel depending on how you are going to mount your crossovers.

Yes the front cover snaps off it's not too bad - BUT be sure to be acreful. It is held by little pins molded into the conver that attach to little clips on the door panel. If you bend the cover just wrong you'll get a lump in it where the pin is; if a genius has taken it off before you and messed it up it may actually be cemented down with urethane or some such. As 98RIV points out, Be Patient.

You may want to first go to a NAPA or CarQuest and get one of those screwdriver/pry bar looking Trim Removal Tools, they will help immensely. If you sue one of htem you're not likely to damage the speaker cover, it's what I've used and works great.

Albertj

Thanks for the help guys, I hope to be listening to my Metallica at very high volume soon.

I have the 5.25" speakers but i have no idea how to wire them. on the factory speaker after i unscrewed it there are two wires that are soldered in place, and there is also a 'trigger' clip that connects in. I am totally clueless on what to do here. Please Help!

I just got my new 5.25's in the mail and i started remove the stockers. when i pulled them out to see the wiring i saw one pair of wires soldered onto the speaker and another pair that had a clip on them that snapped into the speakers. i unsnapped the clip, and not sure what to do with the other pair that are soldered. Please Help!!!

You can cut the factory wires and use crimp style connectors like these to slide over the aftermarket speaker's terminals:



Some will say you should solder, but I don't unless I know I won't be changing anything, ever. Done correctly, crimps are reliable and a very good connection.

If your front speaker system has a component setup like mine does. The soldered ones are the tweeter that is located in front of the door release handle just above the window switch. I just clipped the wires and spliced them in with the new 5.25s in mine. If I was you. I would just splice in the wires with the new connection on your new speakers that way, you will not have to delete your tweeter system. If your new speakers are 2 way speakers, the extra tweeters will produce some pretty crisp highs.

Quote :

If your new speakers are 2 way speakers, the extra tweeters will produce some pretty crisp highs.

This may or may not sound good. The 2-ways you bought are designed to sound best on their own. Try disconnecting the factory tweeters (leave them mounted) and have a listen to your new ones in the factory cut-out locations. This is the way I did mine. Most of the time, the fewer speakers you wire into a system, the better it will sound.

What size are the front speakers? (Not the tweeters.) I've got one crapping out and I'm gonna try to replace them all next month.

5.25"

AA wrote:

Quote :

If your new speakers are 2 way speakers, the extra tweeters will produce some pretty crisp highs.

This may or may not sound good. The 2-ways you bought are designed to sound best on their own. Try disconnecting the factory tweeters (leave them mounted) and have a listen to your new ones in the factory cut-out locations. This is the way I did mine. Most of the time, the fewer speakers you wire into a system, the better it will sound.

I agree with you on that one. I have had great experience with the 2-way and the factory component combo. I have done this with 3 cars and all of these cars had a great sound. Although, Infinity has a great sound all around. Myself, I would test the 2-ways by themselves. If that doesnt fit your needs, then I would try connecting the factory tweeters and the 2-way setup.

98 Riviera - I just need to replace the speakers in my doors. Nothing fancy... Is there much to it? I am a newbie at this kind of thing but to me it doesn't seem like it would be rocket science. Is there a trick to getting the speaker grilles off first of all...I don't want to break them and I am OCD so that would drive me nuts! Can't afford to replace right now...she just got new shocks, all new gaskets and a paint job so I am essentially running on imagination. Can I put an inexpensive triaxial in there or do I need to keep them separate components. I have had to almost completely fade out the front speakers for the last several years because they sounded so horrible...all crackily I guess is how you would say it. She just looks so pretty now, trying to put a bandaid on all the little things I can and try and do it myself to save money. The trim plate around my shifter just broke a few weeks ago and I guess I am going to try some woodgrain film from Rvinyl to fix that...checked out the cost of a replacement and not an option! Always been a do it yourself kind of gal and pretty handy with things just need to know what I would be getting myself in to... Think I could do it? Appreciate it...

Hi Kellie. Just open the door and grab the speaker grill on the bottom edge, with both hands. Pull firmly away from the door, the bottom edge will pop. Now you need to be careful and wiggle the grill around until it releases the other tabs. There are plastic guide pins that you should take care not to bend or break.

Once the grill is off, you can remove the drivers with a screwdriver. I would leave the OEM tweeter mounted (but disconnected), and replace the 5 1/4 midrange with a quality aftermarket 2-way coaxial.

It's not hard with some patience. You can do it!

As far as the physical replacing of components is concerned it's that easy. But make sure you have selected the right components! The ConcertSoundII used a separate tweeter and has a line filter going to each speaker. It's all inside that same door panel/grille.

The main driver is not filtered; the tweeter has an inline filter. Whatever components you choose, if you connect them to the main wires, not the tweeter wires, you should be fine.

Thanks guys...appreciate it! Had talked myself in to trying this tomorrow! Just so did not want to break those grilles...patience! AA you placed those posts where I could put my hands on them and I thank you...read so much stuff today I didn't really understand just looking for the basics...my hair hurts...lol After more perusing I had decided as you noted to leave the tweeters mounted but disconnected. Just clip the soldered wires right? The others just connect with clips correct? When replacing the grilles should I start at the bottom again and go up or start at the top and pop the bottoms in last? Will do my welcome tomorrow and try and get a couple of pics up...still trying to figure this all out...new to this format also, although I have been following this sight for close to 6-9 months without registering. Really did not think I would see the day when she could get some money put into her...but it is here and couldn't be happier that she is back and so close to her former glory...I have had her since 2000! She now looks and still runs amazing... 98 SC 162k miles @deekster...glad yours is still in the family...my son is a Derek also!

Is anyone running 2-ways for their 5.25" speakers? Will they fit?

Do you just delete the stock tweeter and rewire it?

Thank you


edit: just found 2-way 5.25s with flush tweeters. Will this sound just as good as a set up with the tweeters separate?

Is 60w RMS for the 5.25s pretty good? What is stock RMS for front speakers to compare?

Thank you

The general consensus is to unplug the stock tweeters but leave them in to fill the hole. I'm personally running 2 ways in the front and they fit just fine. Be sure to get the metra adapter for the new speakers so you don't cut your stock wiring.

I covered the tweeter holes with Dynamat....and cut the wires. I'm certainly NOT putting the factory junk back in, ever.

Does anyone know what kind of power the stock stereo puts out?  I really need to replace at least my front speakers (luckily the rears are still functional for my own listening habits), but don't have the cash right now to replace the whole system.  I had just put all Alpine R hardware in my last Riv before it wrecked. Somebody in Michigan is going to score a great junkyard find.