Speakers: dealer tells me 5 1/2"?

Pete Magsig · 07-02-2004, 06:27 PM

I just went in to have some new 6 1/2" speakers put in my Insight, as well as a new Eclipse CD head unit. (Local car stereo store)

After installing the head unit, they told me that the car will only take 5 1/2" speakers.

I've read several posts that tell of drop-in 6 1/2" speakers. Could someone explain to me why the store is having problems?

bug_girl · 07-02-2004, 11:56 PM

Wow, i came in to the forum today with a speaker question!
the factory spots for rear speakers on my 2001 are tiny. they also point directly at the back of the seats--not the best for sound quality. I'm going to go with two 6x9s in a box mount on the rear deck, so the sound isn't muffled by....well, my butt, really

I'll let you know if the battery use affects the sound quality--i'm a little worried about that.

Tim Maddux · 07-03-2004, 12:06 AM

They are most assuredly 6 1/2" speakers, and no, I can't tell you why your dealer is having a problem. Perhaps the speakers they are trying to sell you won't fit the cradle because the magnets are too big. Here is an old list of speakers that fit:

http://www.insightcentral.net/owners/mods/speakers.html

I had great luck recently with some low-profile Kenwoods that had neodymium permanent magnets.

bug_girl · 07-03-2004, 12:15 AM

Tim, do you remember anyone just giving up on the factory mounts and going with box speakers, like me?
(i'm starting to feel a little funny about my plan....)

tbsi · 07-03-2004, 08:43 AM

I am thinking abou the same idea of a box. Crutchfield has boxes for 6x9 speakers. My concern is how to make them stable in the case I have to stop fast. I don't want them mowing around.

tbsi · 07-03-2004, 08:54 AM

I should not try to type before I have my coffee.

The Citrus Smoothie · 07-03-2004, 09:11 AM

For completeness, speaker diameters are actually 16cm but the closest imperial size is 6 and a half inches as stated above.

Bug_girl, I am certain there is no room to install speakers within the rear shelf; but were you thinking of sitting them on top behind the ledge?

Pete Magsig · 07-03-2004, 12:34 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I should have spent more time with the installers looking at the problem. I wish I could remember the name of the speakers I finally chose... they were by a German manufacturer... a name I can't quite remember. They had the most balanced spectrum of everything I tried out in the store. I actually looked at the Eclipse (they were my second choice), so maybe I will go with them.

Unfortunately, if the ones I liked don't fit, they don't fit. I don't want to chop up my door, although I'm not adverse to Dremel-ing the grill.

I would love to hear feedback on other speakers people have used. I'm going to lean towards compatible 6 1/2", since all of the fives I tried were pretty sad.

bug_girl · 07-03-2004, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Silver Streaker

Bug_girl, I am certain there is no room to install speakers within the rear shelf; but were you thinking of sitting them on top behind the ledge?

Yes, that was the plan. However, i junked the plan

I went with replacing the front speakers first, since they clearly were one of the main reasons for poor sound quality. We talked about an amp, and i just didn't want to run stuff off my battery without having time to research how that might affect MPG. And, also, i ran out of money

Tim Maddux · 07-04-2004, 12:18 PM

A separate power amp won't affect your MPG. Go for it (assuming you can find the money)!