Quadratec Speaker upgrade

[Beemer533]

Interested int his- the mod doesn't look too bad. So basically the new speakers come with the round enclosure. Hold the enclosure up, trace the opening into the factory soundbar, cut away the factory soundbar areas, and then remount the new speakers?

Exactly, it wasn't bad at all. I will say that I did the mod in place and I think it would be a lot easier (not to mention cleaner) to pull the sound bar out and do it on a bench.

I guess pulling the sound bar out isn't too bad of a job.

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[Beemer533]

I went with what I did because I want to be able to return the vehicle back to stock as much as possible when I trade. Hacking up the inside of the sound bar just isn’t a feasible option.

Yeah I thought about that for a while, but for me I figure most people wouldn't really know the difference. It looks factory with the grills on and is definitely an improvement in sound quality.

I also looked around before I did it and I was able to find oem sound bars on ebay for $100-150. I saved all the original speakers so I could easily return it to stock.

I'm also planning on holding onto my Mojave for a long time, so resale isn't high up on my list..

 

[XraytecH]

I'd spread your money over 4 speaker locations.

 

[Panthers65]

I'd spread your money over 4 speaker locations.

Watched this video a few times, pretty interested in this setup. I'm not sure if it would be worthwhile, but maybe a combination on the new 3.5's in the dash, and some larger 6.5s in the soundbar.

I don't have much of a desire to put a sub in it, maybe put a small one if really needed, but honestly even with the facory speakers I'm vibrating my rearview mirror, so the base for me is fine.

 

[aceisback]

Watched this video a few times, pretty interested in this setup. I'm not sure if it would be worthwhile, but maybe a combination on the new 3.5's in the dash, and some larger 6.5s in the soundbar.

I don't have much of a desire to put a sub in it, maybe put a small one if really needed, but honestly even with the facory speakers I'm vibrating my rearview mirror, so the base for me is fine.

Don’t wimp out. The point is to vibrate everyone around you at the red light rear view mirrors!?

 

[bd100]

I'm not sure if it would be worthwhile, but maybe a combination on the new 3.5's in the dash, and some larger 6.5s in the soundbar.

In my experience, the 3.5" speakers in the dash are the most important upgrade, and also the easiest to do.

2nd: Stuff the area behind those speakers and also in the sound bar with polyfill to avoid buzzing and resonance.

3rd: 3.5"s in the sound bar. Also trivial to do.

4th: Sound-absorbing mat around the dash speaker pods, accessible by removing only the panel below the steering wheel and the glove box.

5th: Maybe the 4" in the speaker bar, although I found there to be little improvement except more highs.

With these upgrades, I can turn the Alpine to max without issues, and that's louder than I'd want to put up with anyhow. I'm done.

If this isn't good enough, then start to think about replacing the 4" speakers. But try with just the tweeter and polyfill upgrades first.

 

[Panthers65]

In my experience, the 3.5" speakers in the dash are the most important upgrade, and also the easiest to do.

2nd: Stuff the area behind those speakers and also in the sound bar with polyfill to avoid buzzing and resonance.

3rd: 3.5"s in the sound bar. Also trivial to do.

4th: Sound-absorbing mat around the dash speaker pods, accessible by removing only the panel below the steering wheel and the glove box.

5th: Maybe the 4" in the speaker bar, although I found there to be little improvement except more highs.

With these upgrades, I can turn the Alpine to max without issues, and that's louder than I'd want to put up with anyhow. I'm done.

If this isn't good enough, then start to think about replacing the 4" speakers. But try with just the tweeter and polyfill upgrades first.

Thank you! Sounds like a good game plan to me. the 3.5's sound like they'll give me what I want.

Don't need a lot, but when the kids are listening to Enchanto, I want everyone to know I'm listening to Enchanto....

 

[BrentMG]

As for not needing to take apart the whole dash, I got to page 15, skimming not sure where in the 81 pages regarding. Let me rephrase though. Both sides, center needs, HVAC, Bezel around radio, bezel around speedo, passenger air bag, glove department, oh sh*t front handle, lower section of steering wheel, headlight knob assembly, lower panel drives side, driver side panels of dash, passenger side panels and more. Cool to see what is going on back there. They do not make these to come apart, they are built then installed. It is possible to do the passenger through the glove box once removed but I did not see any saving there. Of course there is always another way.

As for how long ago, my first was in 1988 (?), 84/5 VW Golf hatch for a GF at the time. Professionally, 93-99ish. Here is a pic of me in Brattleboro VT, I think 95. Also worked at Tweeter in sales. I have always been both sales and install. Same as now in electronic security, Video and Access control.

There are a lot of screws but it is pretty simple. I did mine a few weeks ago. Almost all of the screws are the same size so you don't really have to worry about them getting mixed up and trying to figure out which screw goes where.

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