Navigation & Audio New speakers, stock HU, no amp or subs
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, CO
Thanks nabeshin. I still didn't get the bass loss thing, so I called Crutchfield to see if they could explain it to me. The salesman said that you didn't loose it, but the speaker upgrade changed it into clarity which you are percieving as loss. Not sure if that makes sense or if I got it right, but that's what I understood him to say. He also said that you can get more bass out of those speakers by adding an amp, which can be done anytime in the future.
So the way you cut door panels, the speaker and wood stick through the enlarged hole. How much does the speaker stick out from the door? Obviously not beyond the cover's ability to completely cover it.
Can you take a picture of the final door? I'm interested in the tweeter covers and good shot of the woofers.
So the way you cut door panels, the speaker and wood stick through the enlarged hole. How much does the speaker stick out from the door? Obviously not beyond the cover's ability to completely cover it.
Can you take a picture of the final door? I'm interested in the tweeter covers and good shot of the woofers.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,237
Likes: 6
From: Lincoln, NE
The speakers and mounts ended up flush with the door cover. The tweeter only looks off center because of the angle. It is pointed in the same direction that the stock grill did, even though the stock tweeter wasn't pointed.
I talked with a local stereo shop and they said that since the materials with aftermarket speakers are higher quality, they are heavier than the stock paper cones, and take more power to move.
One other thing he said was that the crossover will not filter out the lows from the woofer, but only from the tweeter. All the bass loss I had was from the additional mass and power requirement of the new speakers.
They also said that hooking an amp to a factory deck could be done, but it is not recommended. Something about amplifiying a bad signal. The guy said you could get engine electric noise and static. I think he was trying to scare me into buying a new deck and amp system from them.
looks good, nabeshin. 
yah, for those larger magnet (motor) speakers, you need more power
than wat the HU can drive. but im sure it sounds fine.
another reason why i went for the 5250's. they are low-power drivers
that match the HU pretty well.
plus polks sound good.
i run 6550's (was it?) on my G35C with a small bazooka tube in the trunk.
yah, for those larger magnet (motor) speakers, you need more power
than wat the HU can drive. but im sure it sounds fine.
another reason why i went for the 5250's. they are low-power drivers
that match the HU pretty well.
plus polks sound good.i run 6550's (was it?) on my G35C with a small bazooka tube in the trunk.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,237
Likes: 6
From: Lincoln, NE
These sound amazing as is, all they need is a slight increase in the lows, something the Infinity BassLink will give. Then the soundscape will be complete.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, CO
Nabeshin, professional looking install. Really nice 
. I've asked that same question to numerous audiofiles and sales folk. The issue as I understand it is that the HU delivers amplified signals to the speakers. When you install an amp into that system you have to convert the amp'd signal to preamp'd and then amplify it. The conversion can be done with a specific component or a lot of amps can do it as well (just not as well I'm told). Unfortunately, everyone I talk to has a different opinion on how good the system will sound going this route. I've been told from imperceptable difference to muddy and everything in between.
Kenchan, when you say "low power drivers" I take that to mean the power required just to get the speaker to produce noise. So the Polks don't loose much if any volume but still improve the sound over the factory speakers?
. I've asked that same question to numerous audiofiles and sales folk. The issue as I understand it is that the HU delivers amplified signals to the speakers. When you install an amp into that system you have to convert the amp'd signal to preamp'd and then amplify it. The conversion can be done with a specific component or a lot of amps can do it as well (just not as well I'm told). Unfortunately, everyone I talk to has a different opinion on how good the system will sound going this route. I've been told from imperceptable difference to muddy and everything in between.Kenchan, when you say "low power drivers" I take that to mean the power required just to get the speaker to produce noise. So the Polks don't loose much if any volume but still improve the sound over the factory speakers?
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 8
From: Norfolk, VA
Looks good, Nabeshin. I'm really surprised you lost that much bass, considering the Infinity's pretty high efficiency rating of 95 Db/W-m. One possibility, however, is that the efficiency rating might have been measured at 1 kHz, rather than at a lower frequency. (1 kHz is a pretty common test frequency for audio manufacturers, since it often gives better results than testing the component over the full audio range.)
But like you said, adding a powered subwoofer will take care of your bass needs, and if the Infinitys really are inefficient at the lower frequencies, that just means that you don't have to mess with the "bass blockers" we talked about earlier for the interior speakers.
But like you said, adding a powered subwoofer will take care of your bass needs, and if the Infinitys really are inefficient at the lower frequencies, that just means that you don't have to mess with the "bass blockers" we talked about earlier for the interior speakers.
what i mean is the HU has enough power to drive the speakers
with decent signal to noise ratio.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,237
Likes: 6
From: Lincoln, NE
Does anyone know anything about a ground wire for a crossover that is supposed to increase power for the speakers? I was talking to this guy the other day about car audio and he said that a ground for the crossover would help pull electrons from the car and put them into the circuit for the speakers. Is this complete bogus?
I spent 5 hours last night, and 8 hours today installing the Infinity Kappa 60.9cs 6.5" speakers. It was my first ever install. It took a lot of time to figure out how to get the speakers to mount. I didn't any pictures of the driver's side. I attempted that first, so it was a thinking game. After I knew what to do, I did the passenger side, with many pictures. Note: The resolution and clarity you see is the best my camera could do...
Pulled the door panel off and removed old speakers:
Engineer speaker mounts/adapters out of MDF:
Manufacture said speaker adapters/mounts:
this is how it is done if you don't have a router, and your dremel is too weak.
Install the adapter/mount:
It does not need to be really neat, the speaker baffel fits into it just fine.
I didn't get any shots of the crossover install, but they are stuck to the inside of the door with super sticky 2 sided tape. The window clears the crossover and the wiring.
here are the speakers in:
When I tried test fitting the panel, on this side and the driver's, it became apparent that I could not keep the stock covers.
I had to dremel them out and use a coping saw to cut larger circles.
Here is the new larger hole, and another shot of my soon to be famous coping saw.
The new tweeters were also considerably larger, but they fit in the stock bracket. However, they stuck out and the grill had to be trimmed away.
You are looking at over 2.5 hours of hand work with an exacto knife:
And the final product, sorry for the bad lighting, I'll get better shots out in the sun later.
I mounted the new grills with 2 sided tape for now, untill I find a better way, or get some black 2 sided tape and spend the time to mount tape around the entire ring.
The sound is amazing. Very clear. I had to tweak all the stereo settings. With the crossovers, the bass up front is almost gone. I might have to get that Infinity BassLink to compensate. The stock deck had no trouble playing these speakers.
Anyway, after getting it all tuned right with a few songs by Andy Hunter, I played one of my favorite songs: Nothing But You, by Paul Van Dyk. That song never fails to get the hair to stand up on the back of my neck no matter how many times I hear it, but this time I was almost brought to tears. Never before had I heard it like this; new details and nuances, and a clarity and range I've never experienced before. It was beautiful.
These speakers are well worth the time, effort, and money to install.
Pulled the door panel off and removed old speakers:
Engineer speaker mounts/adapters out of MDF:
Manufacture said speaker adapters/mounts:
this is how it is done if you don't have a router, and your dremel is too weak.
Install the adapter/mount:
It does not need to be really neat, the speaker baffel fits into it just fine.
I didn't get any shots of the crossover install, but they are stuck to the inside of the door with super sticky 2 sided tape. The window clears the crossover and the wiring.
here are the speakers in:
When I tried test fitting the panel, on this side and the driver's, it became apparent that I could not keep the stock covers.
I had to dremel them out and use a coping saw to cut larger circles.
Here is the new larger hole, and another shot of my soon to be famous coping saw.
The new tweeters were also considerably larger, but they fit in the stock bracket. However, they stuck out and the grill had to be trimmed away.
You are looking at over 2.5 hours of hand work with an exacto knife:
And the final product, sorry for the bad lighting, I'll get better shots out in the sun later.
I mounted the new grills with 2 sided tape for now, untill I find a better way, or get some black 2 sided tape and spend the time to mount tape around the entire ring.
The sound is amazing. Very clear. I had to tweak all the stereo settings. With the crossovers, the bass up front is almost gone. I might have to get that Infinity BassLink to compensate. The stock deck had no trouble playing these speakers.
Anyway, after getting it all tuned right with a few songs by Andy Hunter, I played one of my favorite songs: Nothing But You, by Paul Van Dyk. That song never fails to get the hair to stand up on the back of my neck no matter how many times I hear it, but this time I was almost brought to tears. Never before had I heard it like this; new details and nuances, and a clarity and range I've never experienced before. It was beautiful.
These speakers are well worth the time, effort, and money to install.
You can use silicone to mount the tweeters. Easier to cut them out if needed and it holds well.
does the non HK system have a built in amp? I'm looking to do a speaker and HU upgrade, but don't particularly want to do an amp install for the cabin speakers.
nabeshin, good job on the install. any rattling from the speakers?
nabeshin, good job on the install. any rattling from the speakers?
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,237
Likes: 6
From: Lincoln, NE
There is no amp beyond what is in the head unit on non HK cars.
No rattling, but the doulbe stick tape holding the covers on gave out. I need to get some kind of adhesive caulk.
No rattling, but the doulbe stick tape holding the covers on gave out. I need to get some kind of adhesive caulk.
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