New front 4 speakers

ascended sayian · 08-03-2006, 07:36 PM

Hello - I'm new to the forums here and what an abundance of information and opinions on audio equip. Definately helped me out in narrowing things down.

So I guess I should start with what my thoughts were before jumping into the task. I JUST got the FJ last week today - love the car - wanted it to be my daily beater car cause it can take it. That being said - there were two things that needed IMMEDIATE attention: 1. Headlights / 2. Stereo

1 - Changed out the bulbs to PIAAs Super Whites - wanted straight white, the blue tints on the Xtreme bulbs are ... eh... not me - I've got HIDs in everything, but for the FJ - I'll stick the PIAAs for now. (please no flames on the use of HIDs here

This was more for the speaker side of things)

2 - So, anybody who's done some research on their factory speakers know well that the speakers are worthless (they are to me anyways)! and as my daily beater, I'm gonna be spending a good amount of time in it - I've gotta enjoy my commute.

Since I had just bought the car last week - I'm still crinching at the fact I've "bought" a car - the wallet was feeling pretty light. So I had a choice - either replace the head unit or replace the speakers - but for today, not both.

Went to my local shop - and with the fact that I'm keeping the HU stock (FJammer), got myself some components of OZ Audio 180CS. Warm sound and crisp. I listen to a lot of vocals, so I like full mids and crisp highs - but NOT where the highs end up sounding like screeches.

Wasn't an easy task to do, you'll probably want to leave it to the professionals, unless you're an audio veteran. Had a plate made to replace the 6x9 setup - to a 6.5; and a plate for the tweeters where the 3.5" dashes were.

The sounds are MUCH better. It sounds fuller and you can actually hear the sound from the dash too. You still know that the speakers are underpowered, but that can wait - the new speakers DEFINATELY make me a happier commuter.

I don't have any pics of installation - but everything does fit like stock - panels work to keep the "stock look."

Just wanted to be another one to confirm that speaker upgrades alone will make a difference. I usually don't haul people around - so replacing the rear speakers are not that high on my list - but "next" thing I'd probably look into would be the use of an amp - Gotta dig through my garage to see if I have any extras laying around.

**Sandi_k** · 08-03-2006, 07:45 PM

Great to hear, thanks for the post. And welcome to the community.

How much did the speakers run? Did you install them yourself? Did you have to cut anything for the installation? Did you add any sound-dampening insulation?

Sandi

Dale Ferguson · 08-03-2006, 07:51 PM

Did you do anything with the ceiling speakers? If not, do they still function and contribute to sound quality?

Tranman · 08-03-2006, 08:10 PM

Yes, welcome...and if you don't mind list specifically the speakers again and the cost of each. thanks.

ascended sayian · 08-04-2006, 03:51 PM

Thanks everyone.

I got the OZ 180CS speakers for $335 - Usually $500+ speakers. You can find more info on the speakers at OZ Audio's website (I guess I'm still too new - and it won't let me post a URL)

With the work it was going to take the replace the dash speakers with tweeters and the stock 6x9 with 6.5, I let the installers do it. In the mean time - dynamat was placed around the door speakers.

I'm not going to mess with the ceiling speakers - Definately not worth the time to rip up the headliner to get to those. They still function just like stock - since they're plugged into the stock head unit - I didn't look closely at schematics - but I'm pretty sure they piggy back the lines to the rear speakers. It's my opinion that once the rear speakers are replaced with something else, the ceiling speakers will become obsolete (I think they are already - but they will definately become obsolete).

I found two amps in my garage that I haven't used in ages - but I know still run - an MTX and the OLD school Perceision Power - Power Series amp (the Perceision Power amp is indistructable - I've blown 3 subs (JL/Boston Acoustics x2) with that amp and it still keeps kicking)

TVGenius · 08-08-2006, 12:08 AM

Forgive my ignorance (only had our FJ for four whole days so far) and I haven't had any ah-ha! moments whilst crusing the forum tonight, but I have a couple questions for anyone willing to take them on.

We've got a Voodoo Blue (like the color matters) that's CQ only. Base headunit, 2 in the dash, 2 in the front doors, 2 in the ceiling. Is that actually it? When you 'fade' the stereo to the back, there's nothing but the faintest whispers from the overhead speakers. Seems strange that they would allow you to fade if there were no back speakers (or that they'd skimp). Any chance it is wired for the rears somewhere and I can drop some $69 Crutchfield specials back there?

Like I said, I'm way behind where I should be at this point, so I'll appreciate any insight into the audio situation. I'm not trying to pimp the thing out (or even replace the factory stuff up front anytime soon...), just curious.

Thanks (feel free to PM if you want... whatever...)

ascended sayian · 08-08-2006, 03:24 AM

there's a set of 3.5" (actual the manual says they're 2.6" - but on a 3.5" bracket) that handle a whopin 9W - that are installed on the back pillars for the Upgrade Package.

Let me tell you - you ain't missing out on those. I haven't seen an FJ without those speakers in back - so I wouldn't be able to tell you whether they're prewired / or even have a cut out for those (in case you'd like to throw your own set in.)

ascended sayian · 08-08-2006, 03:30 AM

So I've been driving the car with the new speakers for a few days now... and I'm starting to ask myself - "is the full range going to the front speakers?" They sound very crisp - but I was playing with the sub and starting to think - there should be more low frequencies coming out of these speakers - in spite of the fact that they are underpowed by the head unit.

So I take a look at the System Diagram; being that I'm not a master in engineering - but I'm reading the diagram as the "Audio Head Unit" having outputs for the Front Tweeters - and the Door Speakers actually piggy back off the Tweeter lines. I would think it's the other way around - but am I reading this right?

If I am - that means the Head Unit is designed to send out only the mid/high frequencies to the Front - and sending low frequencies to the Rear, which the Pilar speakers don't push anything, and the condenser takes care of the Ceiling Speakers - which is why the Sub plays only when the Fader includes the Rear speakers...

So does that mean I have to somehow tap into the rear speaker line in order to get the full range to those front speakers?

TVGenius · 08-08-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

ascended sayian previously said:

there's a set of 3.5" (actual the manual says they're 2.6" - but on a 3.5" bracket) that handle a whopin 9W - that are installed on the back pillars for the Upgrade Package.

Let me tell you - you ain't missing out on those. I haven't seen an FJ without those speakers in back - so I wouldn't be able to tell you whether they're prewired / or even have a cut out for those (in case you'd like to throw your own set in.)

I think I see where those would be, there's what looks to be a cover that matches the rest of the pillar snapped in place. I might try to get one off and see if there's a lucky harness hanging there or something... in case I ever get ambitious. Installing our XM receiver's higher priority though for now. Thanks for the info...