help with speaker upgrade

[drewsl2]

hello everyone:

i own a 94 SL2 Homecoming Edition with the factory CD player. recently ive noticed the sound coming from the stereo is less than perfect. ive been pleased with the sound in the past, but it is just less crisp. i am almost positive i will be replacing the speakers, but have no clue as to what i should even consider.

obviously, i am not an audiophile but rather just someone who wants decent sound from my stereo. i am not interested in upgrading anything more than the speakers (no new cd player, amp, etc.). i want to get something to fit directly into the factory speaker location.

another concern is that since i am using the factory system (and i am assuming it is not too powerful) i don't want to buy speakers that my stereo system has no way of utilizing. i would really appreciate any knowledge of what the stereo is capable of. as i said it is the factory system from 1994 CD player w/equalizer (no cassette).

is this a project i could handle myself or should i leave this to a professional?

all comments are appreciated!

drew
94 Homecoming SL2

[ElwayLite]

since you want to keep the factory head unit, look for some 6.5's ( 2 way is all ya need) that are 2-30 watts rms, anything more will require too much power for the stock unit....id recommend some nice infinity rs speakers, wont kill your budget and should hit in that watt range..some of the higher end stuff requires more power...but ive always had good luck with infinity and kenwood as far as middle quality stuff goes.

[Heartbeat - '95 SL2]

Using the factory low-powered unit, the key is to get speakers with high sensitivity, i.e. more decibels/watt. I like buying through Crutchfield since they will include the wire harnesses which attach to the stock wires, then to the speakers, so no splicing necessary. No sales tax and great customer service :o)

ElwayLite's correct, with one caveat -- a <i>good</i> 2-way is better than a <i>so-so</i> 3-way. The problem with 94 Saturns is that the front speakers cannot be too deep. They specify max depth of 2-1/8, but my speakers are 2-3/16 and I still have the factory plastic cup/rain guard behind them.

All things considered, my choice? Right now they have a sale -- buy 1 pr. of Polk Audio speakers, get 2nd 50% off.

Fronts:
Polk EX602a 6-1/2" 2-way speaker, $100/pr
Depth 1-15/16"
They'll fit depth-wise, but you'll need to drill holes to mount them, as Saturns take 6-3/4" speakers. I had a shop install my 6-1/2" speakers, no problem and they sound fine.

Rears:
Polk EX652A 6-3/4" 2-way speaker, $100/pr
<a href="http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-K2n6XNCPa7q/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=52100&I=107EX652A&o=M&a=0" target="_blank"><!--auto-->http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-K2n6XNCPa7q/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=52100&I=107EX652A&o=M&a=0</a><!--auto-->
Depth doesn't matter in rear, but these should fit the factory openings without drilling.

So you'd be looking at $150, plus $10 shipping via standard 2-day express.

I would have a shop install the speakers due to the drilling to mount the front speakers, and because people here have said that removing the rear shelf is a hassle. I paid $60 to install both front & rears.

Otherwise, you might be able to find a good deal at your local hi-fi store, and they may offer free installation. Al & Ed's Autosound here in So. Cal. run good ads. Good luck!

[drewsl2]

i checked out the link to crutchfield as well as some other ones. i am so horribly lost now!!

i have not a clue what to look for in terms of sensitivity, frequency response, power range, whether i want a 2 way or 3 way design, a dome or a balanced dome, or a speaker made from a poly material vs. metal. are any of these variables going to be noticeable. or is there one certain feature i should be looking for? i definately don't want to have to go through this process twice and want to do it right the first time.

also, am i correct in saying that i need a 6 and 3/4 speaker for both front and rear but need to limit my depth to 2 and 1/8 in the front? if so should i find somethign deeper for the rear deck? should i be looking for different designs for the front vs. rear? should i stick to one type of speaker and mount 4 all around or should i be seeking differnt ones for front and rear?

i apologize for my lack of knowledge on the subject, but if anyone can help me out its you people!

i have helped replace speakers in my friends car and know whats needs to be done to install them. i was more concerned with access to the speakers themselves. i have heard that some cars are more difficult to install into than others. where does my saturn fit?

--drew

[Heartbeat - '95 SL2]

Oops, sorry if my post was too much info! You have it right -- your 94 SL2 takes 6-3/4" speakers all around, with only the fronts having a depth limitation.

Using the low-powered factory system, you're not going to have to worry about <b>wattage ratings</b>. Most 6-1/2" and 6-3/4" speakers handle more than enough power.

More important is <b>sensitivity</b>, due to the low output of the factory radio. This spec usually ranges from 87dB/watt to 93db/watt, i.e. the higher the number, the louder it is per watt. An increase of 3dB is perceived as a doubling in volume. The Polk Audios I recommended get 92dB/watt, which is good.

<b>Frequency response</b> is the range of bass and treble the speaker covers. Humans can generally hear from 20Hz - 20kHz, but car speakers usually get only 50Hz - 20kHz. To cover the low bass range of 20 - 50Hz you need to have a subwoofer. Frequency response can be the most misleading spec, as it means nothing unless you specify that it achieves that range within -3dB (<i>usable</i> frequency response), because below -3db, you will not hear those frequencies. Most speakers of a given size and price range get approximately the same frequency response. More expensive speakers tend to give better bass and more accurate-sounding treble response. If an inexpensive 6-3/4" speaker touts bass down to 30Hz, chances are that is bass which is outside the usable range.

As for speaker material, dome shapes, etc., it's best to get rubber-edged woofers, they last longer. Everything else is rather unimportant on paper, because what you really should do is narrow down your choices on paper, then go listen to them at a local stereo shop (bring along a CD with which you're familiar). Make your final decision from this "test drive" in the store, but don't be disappointed if they sound different in your car -- they always do.

As for installing 4 of the same speaker, or mixing pairs, the most important thing is that the sensitivities match, otherwise one pair will be louder than the other at any given volume. Installing 4 of the same is optimal, but I found the choices very limited due to the front depth restriction. I recommended 2 different models of Polks because they are essentially the same speaker except for size.

As for ease of installation, the fronts are easy to get to, just pop off the grills, but you'll have to drill 4 mounting holes if you get 6-1/2" speakers. There was another speaker thread here which said the rear shelf was a hassle, but you'll have to read it to see if it's what you want to tackle.

Hope this doesn't confuse you even more!

[drewsl2]

thanks for all your input it honestly did help!

--drew