Thanks to all on this forum for the great input on replacement speakers for my JCW. New Focal 165/690 are IN front and rear and WOW, do they make a difference. Didn't amp up at this point as I want to hear them for a few weeks. Seems at this point like more than enough for me.

Again, thanks!

 

which model did you get? there seem to be several types of 6.5" and 6"x9" speakers available from Focal.

 

165VR and 690CVX.

 

Do you have the stock Mini system or the hi-fi upgrade? I'm looking to upgrade mine too, but don't know where to start.

 

I have the stock system.

I read everything I could find on this forum and did some research on other sites as well. I did not amp the stock system, as I wanted to wait and see if I really needed it.

At this point, I've decided I do not need the amp. I really love the sound.

 

If you think that Focal's are good with your stock amp they will blow your mind with some power added. They really come alive with their rated power.
Steve

 

This thread is perfect timing for me. I'm also looking into the Focals.

690CA1 for the rear and the 165VR3 for the front set-up. My question is will the 6.5 speakers fit in the door panel or do I need a custom fit?

I have the HiFi sytem, so tweeters in the A-Pillars. Has anyone removed the paneling with airbags? I'd like to replace the tweeters but I'm not comfertable tearing of paneling labled airbags

I need to do some searching to see if there are some threads on removing door planels. I'm a little nervous to start this project on a brand new car.
I've put systmes in my high school and college cars, but new I haven't.

 

The 6.5 fit just fine with out any modification to the door. Mine are already in there. The screw holes do not line up but that doe not really matter. BTW there is no room in the door for the crossovers. you will have to find another place for them. Probably the best place is under the passenger seat as there is no room behind the foot well panels.

The air bags actually reside above the headliner and below the dash cover. There is NO air bag in the A-Pillar. With a small srew dirver or plastic (hard) device pry off the little cover that says "airbag" then remove the torx screw behing it and give the cover a good tug.

This is the thread you need to read thru it has instruction for door pannel removal and some other very interesting info.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nt-how-to.html

 

Thanks Eric, I found that thread printed the whole thing.

Regarding the crossovers, do you need them or does the HiFi system already have crossover filters already applied?

 

OK Schatzy62...now you've got my curiosity up. Can you recomend a reasonably priced amp for the Focal setup? Thanks!

 

You do not actually need the crossovers but as the OEM amp does some crossover anyway. If you are not adding an aftermarket amp then i would recommend not using the crossovers. as the signal would then be crossover twice and probably not sound very good. Just adding the focals will mak it sound a whole lot better.

It all depends on how loud you want it to go. If you really think you need 500 watts then putting in a name brand amp (JL Audio, Rockford, Kicker, MTX etc) with that kind of power will be what you want. Of course that means that you have to find a place to puts such a large amp. Stay away from anything you woudl buy at Walmart etc.

For people that just want good sound and good volume (not enough to blow you out of the car) then something like an Alpine PDX series 4 cahnnel or 5 channel amp would work well. The PDX series will fit in the well under the passenger seat as long as you do not have SAT Radio. I am not totally sure if the amps will fit if SAT Radio is installed as i do not have it in my car.

Edit: Alpine PDX amps can be found on the web for much less than what crutchfield or others sell it for if you look around. I paid $349 for a PDX-5 they normally sell for $599.

 

 

Look into the pdx amp's from Alpine boys they are fantastic amps and fit into the rear panel in the boot.

 

I've been looking to upgrade my speakers as well. I have 09 JCW Convertible. I've heard nothing but good about the Focals. I'm looking at the VR3 kit for the front.

Will this kit be a direct drop in replacing all the speakers in the front?

Do I need to use the crossover that comes with the kit or can the radio's crossover handle the job?

Also are the rear speakers the same size?

Feel free to recommend speakers. I'm looking only to replace the speakers at this time. Fronts first; rear's later. I would like the install to be a direct fit no custom work.

Thanks

 

Since the VR3 have a 6-3/4" speaker, it may not just drop in. I had this problem with Image Dynamic CXS64 V.2 speakers. I cut a spacer so the speaker didn't go as far into the hole. That stopped the basket from hitting. That might work on the Focals. I didn't want to dremel the hole larger because it appeared that there wasn't much that could be removed without affecting structural integrity, but that was just my impression.

The Coupe has 6x9" speakers in the rear. I'm not sure about the JCW Convertible.

 

Instead could I changed both the lower and upper door speaker with a set from Infinity. like these

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...ce+6032cf.html

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...ce+4032cf.html


Thanks

 

You could...

I had Infinity Kappas in my HIFI optioned MCS Coupe and didn't like them. Some people do. I ripped them out and am in the process of adding an amp and Image Dynamic speakers. I haven't heard the Focals, but people seem to like them. Others have managed to fit them, it just isn't a simple drop-in install.

Do you have the standard audio, or HIFI?

 

The VR3 kit fits fine. The 6.5's are snug but they fit. With the PDX-5 amp and sub in the boot this system rocks.
Hearing loss is just a matter of time now, I can crank it up with out distortion until my ears are ringing.

 

How did the VR3's sound before and after adding the amp?

 

Where did you mount the tweeter and where did you mount the crossovers?

 

1st I have the HiFi sytem

step 1 I added the Focal VR3 and the 690. There was an improvement in sound, but bass was still terrible. Actually the rear 690's sounded terrible with no amp, because there is a separate channel for bass and highs in the OEM rear 6x9's.
I mounted the tweeters in the A pillars in the location of the stock ones. I had to do some cutting and dremel work to get them to fit. I kept the focals in the metal housing and glued them into the OEM plastic bracket.

Once I added the PDX-5 amp the improvement was unreal. The sound is more fuller, very well balanced and the bass is well tuned.
Keep in mind I also have a Rockford Fosgate 10 inch truck box sub that is in
the boot.

I only installed the speakers and had a shop do the amp and cross overs. Schatzy and many other found room unter the passanger seat for both the PDX and the crossovers. I have my amp under the seat. The shop created a mounting plate and hid the crossovers in the rear panel near the OEM amp. I have an R55 so I don't know how much room the R56's have in the back for crossovers.
I really like that I have the flexibility of being able to easily remove the truck sub box if I needed the extra space for traveling.

Adding a good quality amp will only validate the money you spent on the Focals, with out adding an amp I question the difference between Focals and cheaper speakers.

 

So, you are using the factory speaker wires? Do you know how/where they tapped into them with the PDX-5?

 

yes, I didn't feel like running the wires through the doors nor paying $$$ to have the shop do it. The 6x9's are direct to the amp

I think they tapped into them at the amp on the input side not output.