Speaker replacement

[Phil]

I am looking into replacing the factory speakers that were included in the "Premium Sound" package for my 01 Coug. I was thinking of getting 4 TS-A6865's (http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-WOx0wEdKZQ1/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=400&I=130TSA6865&o=P&a=1), and retaining the factory 6 disk in-dash CD changer.

I am not after making the system louder, rather I am looking to improve the sound quality when I do play the radio loud. Is this possible without getting a new head unit? If anybody has a suggestion for a set of speakers that would better suit my purpose, I am all ears.

Thanks,
-Phil

[EWF]

The Pioneers are certainly an option. But to recommend something to better suit your needs would depend on what your needs are. Figure out what kind of sound you're looking for and then listen to a variety of speakers. Get the ones that sound most like what you're looking for. 5X7s will work too if you don't want to build a baffle board for a set of round speakers.

[Dantzig]

Check out www.millionbuy.com for cheaper prices. You can get the TS-A6895's for only a few dollars more i/expressions/smile.gif Or you can get the TS-A6865's for way cheaper.

I was considering replacing the factory speakers and the Infinity KAPPA 572.1CF's (http://www.millionbuy.com/inf5721.html) and the TS-A6895's were my main choices because of cost.

[Phil]

5X7s will work too if you don't want to build a baffle board for a set of round speakers.
-I was under the impression that 5x7's, and 6x8's were both a drop-in fit in the Cougar. Does the 6x8 require any modification to the existing opening? I was also told that the front, and back pair are the same size and type of speaker. Is this correct?

Thanks again,
-Phil

[EWF]

Yes, 5X7s and 6X8 are both drop-ins. Front and back speakers are the same. No modification should be required. If you choose a round speaker like a 6.5" or 5.25", you'll need to make a 6X8" baffle board for the factory location with a round hole for the new speaker. Some of us (myself included), have component speakers installed. Some have a 6.5" woofer in the factory location, and a tweeter mounted somewhere else on the door panel. If you use a 5.25" component set you should be able to fit the tweeter on the baffle board too. I bought a set of Boston Acoustics ProSeries 6.5s. They have an installation option called Axis Mount where the tweeter clips onto the woofer so it can be installed like a coax but without the need for an additional hole cutout for the tweeter. This allowed me to go with the bigger 6.5" woofer (as opposed to the 5.25&quoti/expressions/wink.gifand get the higher quality sound of a component set, yet eliminate the need to modify the door panel for the tweeter.

[9lives]

I did kinda the same as EWF has explained except I went (4) JL TR 6.5 two way speakers. They are on the $$$ side but they are well worth it. Very clear and no distortion. Very clean at any volume level. They except tuning better than most speakers. I have to say the (4) 6.5's are way better than (4) 6x8/5x7. You can go with components but the need is minimal without a system.

[bunce]

everyone is talking about speakers and not the most important thing about good sound, POWER, replace your headunit to start and go to speakers from there. The best speakers in the world are going to sound like trash if you run them from the factory deck, not to mention underpowering your nice shiny brand new aftermarket speakers will cause the voice coils to burn, and you will be out looking for another set sooner than you would like to. Power first. Good luck

[APTCSVT]

Power first, yes. But the stock HU on the Cougar is decent. Replacing the factory speakers with efficient, better range ones will surprise you. If the stock HU puts out maybe 10wrms with fairly low distortion, most people would be happy with a very efficient speaker.

The Contour is a different can of worms. That HU is so distorted that replacing it and carefully limiting the frequencies, can sound quite well. But the Cougar uses the same speakers with a better HU. So, the weaklest link are the speakers.

Aaron

[rgrdpc]

Bunce
The Pioneers he is looking at are "recommended power range 2-50 watts RMS"
I think the Factory unit does more than 2 Watts RMS. I don't think he would be in fear of burning the voice coils.

Yeah, the more power he has the better the sound quality will be no matter what volume he plays at, but I don't think he is looking for a competition system.

1. The easiest way for him to improve the sound quality is to change the speakers. The stock speakers suck, they usually do.
2. Next would be a New HU. Better circuitry, cleaner power. Of course he would pay for it too.
3 Then an Amp, cleaner sound from the New HU cause he would have line level inputs to the amp, then the power of the amp.

But it depends on what Phil wants.

I personally prefer a system that has Tight bass and clean highs. I want to feel as if I am at a live club performance. Not roll thru the hood going. THooooomm. Thoooooom. Thoooooom. Thoooooom. Thoooooom. Thoooooom.

I normally use Jazz CD's or one of Queensryche's CD's like Empire, or Mindcrime to test the range and quality.
But again, that's what I like. To each his own.

[TxScott]

I have some 6x9's I want to use... is this possible with minimal cutting?

[APTCSVT]

<< I have some 6x9's I want to use... is this possible with minimal cutting? >>



How deep are they? I know that many have put 6x9's in Contours, but only have 2.75&quot; of clearance to work with. I don't know how much clearance the Cougar has. If there is clearance, the only thing you might need to do is drill new screw holes.

Aaron

[TxScott]

they are 3.7&quot; deep... guess that wont work