A little Polk Audio love for my Elise

[TurboXS_Nathan]

I'll start by saying that it's good to have friends in this industry.

I contacted one of my friends that is a project manager for Polk Audio a week or so ago about having them take a look at the Elise to determine what speakers of theirs would be a pure drop in affair. My contact at Polk said that he wouldn't really trust anyone else to do an install on the Elise so that is should just bring it up to Baltimore and they would take care of me.

While at Polk the car received a lot of attention. People from all over the building kept coming back to see the car. In fact I even had a nice conversation with Matt Polk himself. He spent about 10-15 minutes with me talking cars (he is a total car nut) and telling me about how he wanted to get an Elise for track duty (he currently drives an RS America). It was nice to see someone that really knows cars appreciate the Elise for what it is.

Thom at Polk took great care of the Elise while it was at Polk. He’s been doing custom installs for a long time and I was quite confident that his skills were up to the simple task of swapping out the stock speakers. Even given the simple nature of the task, he approached it with care. I appreciated the slow and methodical way he moved around the car to ensure that it wasn’t abused or damaged in any way.

At first glance it appeared that we would be able to drop in their DB525s in the front without modifications. We were wrong. The stock 4.50 inch mounts are just not big enough and to mount the larger speaker would require very minor custom work. As “custom work” wasn’t the point of the install they decided to drop in their brand new DB400s. These fit perfectly.

In the rear Thom installed a set of DB650s. Again a perfect fit. The only hard part about the install is the removal and reinstallation of the passenger seat.

After listening to the speakers I have to say that I am pretty impressed with the sound improvement over the stock speakers, especially so given that the DB series is Polk’s lower end line. The 6.5s in the back provide a good increase in bass response above the stock speakers and actually sound decent without a subwoofer. The fronts, while small, help the imaging tremendously. The Polk speaker grills are a much better fit with the car and look fantastic.

Overall I am pretty happy with the quick and easy upgrade, but Thom and I have more planned.

Polk has a new set of very high end components that will be hitting the market soon. They wouldn’t let me have their only set, but they assured me that we could switch over to the new series when we can arrange for a little more time for them to spend with the car. We also talked about building a small powered sub. The plan is to make a mold from the back shelf so that they can build a small 8 inch sub box/amp combo that will perfectly fit and is easily removable for track days, or autox. I figure I’ll give the car to them when I can stand to be without it for a few days. As of right now, I’ll have to go sub-less because I don’t think I can live without my daily dose of the Elise.
Once they make the first sub box, I have a feeling that it might not be all that hard to have them duplicate the effort. If anyone is interested in something like this, let me know and I’ll talk to my contacts up there about making a few.

After they finished up with my install, Thom took a few pictures out in their parking lot. They’ve got these pictures up on their website in the installs section. As we progress with the new audio system, I am sure my page will be updated. I am really excited about the new signature components as they use some very cool parts to create a very lightweight but powerful speaker. That design philosophy seems like a good match for the Elise and a fit for my personal views on the type of parts that one should install in their Elise.

Pictures can be seen here.
http://www.polkaudio.com/car/installs/view.php?id=76

I just won a CDA-9835 from an EBAY auction. I am sure that the speakers will sound even better with the extra clean juice from the Alpine deck. I’ll report back as my system progresses.

[JLElise]

Originally Posted by TurboXS_Nathan

As ?custom work? wasn?t the point of the install they decided to drop in their brand new DB450s. These fit perfectly.

Was going to use either the Polk's or Infinity Reference 6012si and 4002i. Besides knowing the Polk people, did you listen to any other speakers? Polk's web site references the DB400's as being used in your vehicle as opposed to DB450s.

[TurboXS_Nathan]

Originally Posted by JLElise

Was going to use either the Polk's or Infinity Reference 6012si and 4002i. Besides knowing the Polk people, did you listen to any other speakers? Polk's web site references the DB400's as being used in your vehicle as opposed to DB450s.

The website is correct, the fronts are DB400s. I was confused; I’ll edit the first post.

I've listened to a lot of other speakers both in the store and in an "in car" environment. I typically buy higher end component stuff, so by going with the DB series I’ve moved just a little down market from where I usually play.

The biggest turn off for me in a set of speakers is an overly bright tweeter. In many cases the speakers with the bright tweeter will sound good in the store, but lousy in the car. My previous Boston Pro components were this way, and I was never happy with them. In the case of the Polks they’ve redesigned the crossover to take just a little edge off of the tweeter and in doing created a speaker that I am very happy with. It’s true that I have some Polk loyalty but if I wasn’t happy with the sound improvement, I wouldn’t keep them in my car.

The DBs are not up to the level of a high end component set. Polk’s upcoming SR components will be more aimed at that market segment, but these DBs are still quite nice.

-Nathan

[Stan]

Do you want to be able to hear the music / news with the top off? A speaker that sounds best when parked / motor off / top on may not work as well on the move, no top.

[Prideauxx]

Great post there. I recently upgraded my stock rears to Polk DB650's while I had the car apart doing another mod. They sound spectacular compared to the stock speakers. I've been holding off on the fronts (I really wanted to go the Polk route, but heard about issues with front installs for the DB525's). After reading your write-up, I'm going to grab some DB400's for a quick install. Next will be the head unit. Wanting something more mature, less 'bling-bling' than the Acapulco stock unit.

Cheers!

Justin.

[Prideauxx]

It appears these are so new, not even the Polk store isn't offering them. Crap.

[IBCJ]

Originally Posted by Prideauxx

...while I had the car apart doing another mod.

What was your other mod? Since I'm looking to drop a set of rears in shortly (probably 650's) I'm curious what others are doing while they're in there.

[mpadgett]

Originally Posted by TurboXS_Nathan

Once they make the first sub box, I have a feeling that it might not be all that hard to have them duplicate the effort. If anyone is interested in something like this, let me know and I’ll talk to my contacts up there about making a few.

Nathan,
Definitely would be interested in a sub box. I am just about to remove the rear panel and make a mold so I can lay up a custom panel for a sub. I may hold off on that project for a while if the friendly folks at Polk have something working. Please keep us informed.

The DB400/DB650 plan looks great. Will head that direction as soon as I can get my hands on the DB400s. Any idea when these will be available?
Mike

[Prideauxx]

Originally Posted by cjl

What was your other mod? Since I'm looking to drop a set of rears in shortly (probably 650's) I'm curious what others are doing while they're in there.

A Passport SRX radar system w/LIDAR jammers. Very, very nice system. Supposedly one of the best integrated systems out there. I had to route some cabling from the rear, license plate LIDAR jammer, as well as the Radar unit which is just under the rollbar. I should really post some pictures, but I've just been so busy driving/waxing her lately.

[Prideauxx]

Originally Posted by mpadgett

Nathan,
Definitely would be interested in a sub box. I am just about to remove the rear panel and make a mold so I can lay up a custom panel for a sub. I may hold off on that project for a while if the friendly folks at Polk have something working. Please keep us informed.

The DB400/DB650 plan looks great. Will head that direction as soon as I can get my hands on the DB400s. Any idea when these will be available?
Mike

Count me in as well. I'd really like to get my hands on some db400's as well--I'm not far from Baltimore so I called Polk sales yesterday and got the "they'll be available any week now" line. I can wait though...patience builds character (or so I hear).

[TurboXS_Nathan]

Originally Posted by Prideauxx

Count me in as well. I'd really like to get my hands on some db400's as well--I'm not far from Baltimore so I called Polk sales yesterday and got the "they'll be available any week now" line. I can wait though...patience builds character (or so I hear).

I'll talk to the guys at Polk to see if I can get a time frame on the sub-box. I think the real key is to see how long I can be without the car. When I get an answer I’ll let you guys know.

By the way, I installed my new (new to me) headunit last night. The Alpine CDA-9835 makes the Polk speakers sound a lot better then they did with the stock headunit. Once I set the speaker time delay and such the whole system sounds pretty good. It could still use more bass, but I don't think any amount of EQ is going to fix that.

[knucklehead]

I have the DB525 in the rear (hand-me-downs from dmoney who tried putting them in the front). My question to those who have the DB400 in the front. With the grill covers from Polk being silver and pretty aggressive looking, is the reflection in the front windshield distracting? My stock front grill on the drivers side has popped off and the reflection is far more noticeable than with the black simple grills. If you talk to Polk can you ask if they have any solutions to this?

[Randy Chase]

Nice, but add my name to the list of people wanting a black grill.

[smura]

I also put the 650's in as rears but have not changed out the fronts. Looks like I'm also in the market for a set of 400's

[kepstein]

Originally Posted by knucklehead

I have the DB525 in the rear (hand-me-downs from dmoney who tried putting them in the front). My question to those who have the DB400 in the front. With the grill covers from Polk being silver and pretty aggressive looking, is the reflection in the front windshield distracting? My stock front grill on the drivers side has popped off and the reflection is far more noticeable than with the black simple grills. If you talk to Polk can you ask if they have any solutions to this?

I mounted my rear DB650's without the grills, because it was too much trouble without removing the passenger seat. I wonder if you could do the fronts the same way.

Ken

[Joetz]

Where do you guys get your DB400s? I can find the 525 on ebay and crutchfield, but don't know where to buy the 400s

[peck555]

I put in my db650's,and I put in Infinity reference 4" in the dash.the hardest part was removing the passenger seat.the setup with the new speakers and the stock H/U is wonderful,however I have this 60 watt Kenwood car amp collecting dust(guess what my next project is?)

[smura]

They're brand new (read first post) and will hit the market soon

[dmoney]

Originally Posted by knucklehead

I have the DB525 in the rear (hand-me-downs from dmoney who tried putting them in the front). My question to those who have the DB400 in the front. With the grill covers from Polk being silver and pretty aggressive looking, is the reflection in the front windshield distracting? My stock front grill on the drivers side has popped off and the reflection is far more noticeable than with the black simple grills. If you talk to Polk can you ask if they have any solutions to this?

If Polk won't provide a mesh grill, maybe you can paint the db grills flat black so they don't reflect. If there's still too much reflection with the speakers showing through the db grills, you might try using the existing blaupunkt speaker ring and mesh grill over the db400's. I seem to recall when I pulled the front blaupunkt speakers that the trim ring just rests on top of the speaker. I think the only concern might be if the trim ring is too wide and covers part of the db400 speaker cone, in which case you can dremel the excess plastic while leaving the mounting holes in place.

[knucklehead]

Originally Posted by dmoney

you might try using the existing blaupunkt speaker ring and mesh grill over the db400's. I seem to recall when I pulled the front blaupunkt speakers that the trim ring just rests on top of the speaker. I think the only concern might be if the trim ring is too wide and covers part of the db400 speaker cone, in which case you can dremel the excess plastic while leaving the mounting holes in place.

This would be a perfect solution IF my plastic OEM trim ring didn't warp into a square and is now unable to fit and hold the mesh grills, Ugh!!!