OK, I've got an 05 MCS with the stock/most basic stereo (no Harmon Kardon upgrade). I've already replaced the head unit with a JVC Mobile KD-R900, which is rated at 50 watts by 4 channels (20 watts RMS by 4 channels). I don't listen to rap or R&B or other music where a lot of bass is critical. Obviously, I don't compete in any audio competitions.

I want to replace my speakers, but I don't want to spend more on them than the head unit. I'm NOT rewiring the speakers, NOT adding an amplifier, and NOT adding a sub-woofer. I'm not an audiophile. I just want the system to sound better than those crappy stock speakers.

I asked Crutchfield's online advisors for a speaker recommendation and they rec'd Polk Audio db651s for the rear (a low-profile 6.5" 2-way speaker with a high sensativity) and Polk Audio db6501 for the doors (component 6.5" mids and 1" tweeters with crossovers).

My only problem with that is that the db6501 set costs $150 and the db651s set costs $75. I really only want to spend $150.

So...
Should I just put the db6501 set in the front and leave the rears?
Or...
Should I buy two sets (four total) of the db651s and put them in both the front and the rear?

 

JVC Head Unit:
http://mobile.jvc.com/product.jsp?mo...thId=54&page=1

Polk Speakers:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_107DB65...io-db6501.html

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_107DB65...io-db651s.html

 

What I found with numerous speaker changes is the rear area serves better for mid bass or bass rather then directional speakers. So my vote is place the better quality/sound speakers in the front area.

 

You should begin by not buying anything from crutchfield. They are a great source for information, but incredibly overpriced for an online retailer. Buy from pretty much anywhere else, like here for example.

Now that we have that out of the way, it sounds like you don't want to do a lot of work, just a quick remove-stock-speaker-transfer-wire-to-aftermarket-and-install-aftermarket...

If the 2005 speakers are the same as the 2003, you cannot just mount aftermarket speakers in their place. For starters, the stock speakers are only 5 1/4" (i think) so you will have to cut new rings to fit 6 1/2". In addition, the stock speakers use a goofy plastic ring to mount to the door. This ring is integrated into the speaker molding, so you can't do an easy swap for the same-size speaker either.

The rear speakers are 6x9's (again, unless 2003 differs from 2005) and I would replace with 6x9. The quality is not great, but since they are in the rear, and meant to give more bass, these are what you should go with. Like MiniCobra said, put your quality in the front.

The tweeters, like the mids up front, have a goofy plastic ring mount design, so you will also have to rig something for this.

All that being said, I don't know how much of a change you will hear if you don't amp your new speakers. I would never install new speakers without amplifying them, but I guess you would consider me an audiophile at that point.

Check out your speakers and make sure I'm not lying to you though (with respect to 2003 models being the same as 2005 models).

Anyway, I hope this helps.

 

You're right, Act04. The speakers will need adapters to be installed. That's the only real reason to go with Crutchfield. By the time you buy the add-on BS like adapters and connectors and such, you either don't save any money or you get buried with aggravating details. Sure, for a professional, or someone who really knows what they're doing, Crutchfield isn't the place to go. But for us hacks, its worth it.

I was wondering about the 6.25" speakers they recommended for the rears, since there's 6x9s in there stock. But I'm betting the 6.25" will be fine with the supplied adapters.

Thanks for the pointers.

 

Well if they give you all the adapters, then yes, good decision with Crutchfield. I would still go with 6x9's in the back. The 6.25 will be better quality, but they're in the back, and it won't matter. 6x9's however should give you more fill in the lower frequencies (more mid-bass/bass). BUT you may not be able to tell a difference either way since you're not amping them.

Good luck bud.

 

Thanks for the advice!

I'm not gonna sweat it until I get back from the Helix / Philly Tuning Event anyway. I've got to pay for that before I buy speakers.

 

I would say, definitely go with some kind of 6x9s in the rear, since the room is (obviously) already there, and they will produce stronger bass. If it were me (and it soon will be...), I would either go with the Polk db 6-1/2 coaxials in front (leaving the factory tweeters for dead), or the Polk db 6-1/2 separates; and the Polk db 6x9s in the rear.

I also looked into the Polk "MM" series, and they seem to be even better (and priced accordingly), but none of them...even the 5-1/4s...look like they'd fit in the doors, depth-wise, and I'm a little concerned that they're rated at 3 ohms, instead of 4. Our "Boost" radios were designed to work with the 5 ohm factory speakers, and it's well-known that common 4 ohm aftermarket speakers is no problem, but does anyone know if it could safely handle these 3 ohm oddities??