Speaker Upgrade

[POWR2W8]

I am new to Elise Talk. Just purchased a 2006 , solar Yellow, touring , sport pack , starshield, hard top (sold the top to a guy in Fla. don't need it in Ca.) Purchased it directly from Lotus ,it was the US president of Lotus's demo car. CA. license plate : POWR2W8 . Love it. I would like to upgrade the audio with limited modification to the car. I am looking for advice on replacement speakers. I have narrowed down to the Focals although I have not heard them. iI just don't like the grill look of the Polks. My car does not have the seat belt bar from the track pack, will the 6.5 inch Focals fit in the back with out modification or should I stick with the stock size. Has anyone simply upgraded to the Focals w/ the stock head unit ? Is the improvment worth the cost/effort? ( I have the stock exhaust) Should I stick with the CV100/CV130 or can I go up a size? Finally any advice on where to order these speakers.?
Thanks , the site is amazing.

[codymac]

I can't answer as to the size but can say this much...

IMHO, the improvement the Focals make, which is admittedly small, is equalled by upgrading the HU (thereby doubling the improvement). The benefit is that you don't have to go mad since pretty much any HU on the market is an upgrade over the Blaupunkt.

See Westrock's excellent thread:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38747

A couple of shots of my car:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...3&postcount=16

Be sure to check the speaker frames for cracks - it's something both I and another owner noticed on brand new speakers.

[peck555]

I think that you will find a big difference if you just change the speakers

[Mark16q]

I'm using the Polks in the dash with the stock grills, and in the back with no grill as I have the sector111 bar. Without the bar, I'm pretty sure the stock grill would fit there as well. And I found the front and rears for $100 total.

Mark

[30mpg]

I'm using the Polks in the rear with the polk grilles. They actually match the elise interior quite nicely. I'm using MB Quartz in the fronts.

[jasond]

I thought the stock sizes were CV100 and CV135? At least, that's what I have, and I believe it'll be a drop-in replacement (done the fronts so far, waiting to do the rears).

I'd start with replacing the speakers, and if not satisfied, replace the headunit and add an Alpine PDX4.100. An Audison SRx 4 would fit also, but I think it's more expensive?

[wrh3]

I have Pollk DB650s in the back with the grilles and Sector111 bar. I originally had Polk DB400s in the dash and then decided it was worth the hacking to get DB525 in the dash. I recently replaced the DB525 with MMC525 which sound even better. IMO, the best thing you can do is put 5.25" in the dash, much better sound

[dukenyc]

I put he 4" Polks in front under the stock grills, and used the 6.5" polks in back w/ polks grills. The polk grill looks good in the back, especially if your car is silver.

I also added the kenwood self powered sub behind the passenger seat, and it works well enough. No exposed wires, easy install, and you lose no space.

Overall, it sounds much, much better, and has adequate volume at 80mph with the top off.

[antinym]

I have just installed the kenwood subwoofer and I must say that it's the bigest bang for you buck. With the sub, I have no desire to change out the stock speakers.
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...hlight=kenwood

[tvacc]

Originally Posted by 30mpg

I'm using the Polks in the rear with the polk grilles. They actually match the elise interior quite nicely. I'm using MB Quartz in the fronts.

Same for the rears..but polks in the front with stock grills. Such a cheap mod and it makes all the difference.

Only thing I get upset about is that the car should have come with this quality.

[insane]

Originally Posted by 30mpg

I'm using the Polks in the rear with the polk grilles. They actually match the elise interior quite nicely. I'm using MB Quartz in the fronts.

What size MBQs, 30mpg? They go in without cutting? Sound quality/cost?
Thanks. I'm asking 'cause I'm not really happy with the 4" JBLs I put up front (6.5" rears are great, though).

[jordantii]

I just finished the polk db401/db651 set up. There is a definite improvement over stock. Still lacks bottom but now I can get the volume up to an audible level. I bought them at Circuit City for 144.00 out the door. Took about 2 hours to do the install. The fronts are a huge pain in the ass. The rears required the Dremel but they were cake.

I would say they are worth it for the money.

[POWR2W8]

Just installed the front DB401's a piece of cake and a good improvement.What is the easiest way to install the rears (DB651)? Seems I need to cut away some foam and redrill some holes. Bill's(wrh3) excellent post indicated a simple 1/8 mod w/ a dremel.No drilling.Which way do I cut/trim? Anyone with some more specific instructions? Just trying to reduce thinking time. Thanks

[wrh3]

Originally Posted by POWR2W8

Just installed the front DB401's a piece of cake and a good improvement.What is the easiest way to install the rears (DB651)? Seems I need to cut away some foam and redrill some holes. Bill's(wrh3) excellent post indicated a simple 1/8 mod w/ a dremel.No drilling.Which way do I cut/trim? Anyone with some more specific instructions? Just trying to reduce thinking time. Thanks

I didn't have to remove any foam in the rear, but did have to slot the existing mounting holes in the rear a little for the 6.5" screw holes to line up. If I had it to do over I would probably just run the 5.25" in the rear, I have the gains turned all the way down with the 6.5", you really won't get a lot of bass/mid-bass out of the rear speakers without some type of enclosure. I found baffles in the rear work but in the front bass is actually better without them. The BEST improvement you can make to the Elise sound system is to install 5.25" in the dash, 100% better than the 4".........easy enough if you don't mind hacking the dash a little and if you want someone else to assume liability a local shop should be able to do it. Good luck

[POWR2W8]

Thanks for the responce, My car has some fairly stiff foam where the stock speaker magnets seated . With a larger circumferance magnet the polks don't sit in well. Did you just jam them in and screw them down or did you cut away some foam??

[wrh3]

Originally Posted by POWR2W8

Thanks for the responce, My car has some fairly stiff foam where the stock speaker magnets seated . With a larger circumferance magnet the polks don't sit in well. Did you just jam them in and screw them down or did you cut away some foam??

For me the foam compressed enough that it did not need to be removed, no need to jam them in but you can carefully screw them down to compress the foam if you are lacking a little clearance, alternating screws as you tighten them down like you would when installing lugs on a wheel If it's too much you may need to cut the foam as others with deeper speakers have done. The spec for your newer model Polk DB651 is the same depth as my older DB650 so it should be possible (and I have additional foam baffles that would reduce the available room even more)?

[jlj3394]

Anyone use the new polk 651S which is supposed to have a shallower mount?

We're doing the upgrade soon...

[jordantii]

I did the 651's I had to remove some foam on the PS but not on the DS. The rears are a piece of cake. Hold the speaker flush in the hole with one hand and drill with the other. Now remove enough material so you can slide the screw clips over the new holes.