Basic ICE Install

[Humph]

Hello - a newbie here.

From searching this site, I discover my 1992 MK2 16V has 6 speakers.

I intend to replace all with original size - nothing fancy, but a better sound quality.

Can anybody recommend some replacements - not to expensive.

Main question - how does the wiring work - are the dash speakers and front door pocket speakers running of the same wiring? Does this have an impact on the head unit I should be chosing. I am debating a JVC KD 341 (4x50W rating) - is this sufficient for running a 6 speaker set up?

Any help appreciated

Humph

[Chris 'N' Jen]

im not all that up on the where and what of mk 2 speakers but i can tell you that the head unit wont deliver 4x50. It will be about 4x20ish and sometimes not even that.

If you are wanting clarity in your music its adviseable to get a seperate amp to run them, especially if you are wanting to run all 6.

 

[Humph]

Thanks for reply Chris - I really do not want to go down the route of amps etc, just a reasonable upgrade to what is already present (factory speakers and tape deck).

My prefered unit will play mp3 and has aux socket for I-Pod, so that suits, unless people really think it is not up to the job. Not looking for massive volume, just loud enough for the motorway over the sports exhaust.

Noticed thread on FLI speakers and had seen a component set that looked reasonable - tweeters to go in dash and 13cm for the door pockets (car audio direct, as they have a lot of positive feedback on here). Is this senisble, or should I replace with 13cm door pockets and 8cm dash speakers, as per original set up?

Humph

[Chris 'N' Jen]

The fli speakers are quite good. i have 2 sets of the 17cm components in mine and they perform really well.

Spekers in doors and tweeters in dash you should get away with as long as they are possitioned well. The closer you have the tweeter to the speaker the better it will sound. (within reason, obviouslty not stupidly close) once again cant really help on that one as i havent seen inside a mk2, have you seen the 17cm do it your self door builds?

Your HU will do the job, but not very well compared to a seperate amp. If your going to spend money doing the sounds up you might as well stick an amp in. its really easy to do, and you will be well pleased with the results. as said, with the fly speakers, i think the 13cm rating is 80watt, if you run from the HU you are giving them about 20 watts.

 

 

[russ-vdub]

i'd go with a set of fli speakers. i not too sure on trying to get the tweeters close to the speakers. treble needs to be higher so i can be heard. one thing i'd advise is don't get co-axial, get seperate bass pins and tweeters with a cross-over, much much better quality.

for example: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-spe17sf-shallow-mount-p-6391.html?cadid=b1fb45571be0218098833c4959374c2a

[linz]

if upgrading you may even want to consider upgrading from the standard wiring to get the best out of your new speakers

[russ-vdub]

^^^good point, mk2 wiring aint all that!

[Chris 'N' Jen]

if you are going to amp em the wires will need to be replaced anyway.

As for the tweeters - i didnt explain clearly.

For example, the mid is in the bottom of the door with a tweeter in the top of the door/in the dash = good.
Mid in the bottom of the door with tweeter in door post = not as good (but still passable)

as you say the tweeters are more affective if they are ear height (ish) but miles away from the mid driver i beleive gives you 2 different sound zones.

Its a long time since i read about that so it could be utter BS.

Perhaps someone in the know could confirm this one way or another.

[Heyho]

If you really don't wan't to install an amp, I'd go for some of the more sensitive components with a simple cap/coil filter rather than a full crossover.  Crossovers absorb a percentage of the power available, which is not good if there's not much to start with.

As for the tweeter positioning, yes - the ideal place is as close to the mid-driver as possible, but in a car this means either mount your mids at dash height (not an option) or mount your tweeters down near the mids - this tends to pull the sound down.  Look at most of the cars winning sound quality competitions - they almost always have low mids and high (dash height) tweeters - it really does produce the best sound.  You want to keep obstacles out of the path of high frequencies as much as possible.

As for the wiring, I was quite surprised at the thickness of the standard speaker cables - you'd be wasting time and money replacing them.  If in doubt, cut them back a little to clean copper, and securely crimp on some new connectors.

Some of the new Alpine units have good i-pod compatibility, and have a relatively high output for a headunit.  Good luck.

[Humph]

Thanks to all for advice

Using a component set up (FLI one for £40 on car audio direct) will I get away with the tweeters going in the dash and the speakers in the door pockets?

OR

Am I better having 13cm in door pockets and 8cm in the dash as per standard set up?

Heyho - will look at the Alpine head units - thanks!

Humph