Which Speakers?

[chuck_risen]

Check out our website: Home_Page for the most advanced audio system for your Lotus. This system was in development for two years before being released to the general Lotus public.

Keys to our systems are:

1. Our custom built sub-box is the best in the industry for fit and sound.
2. All add ons are plug and play. (allows for future upgrades)
3. Systems are completely tuned with the best of today's audio technology.

Originally Posted by V-RAPTOR

The stock in the back are 5.25 and the 5.25 JL's will fit right in with a small modification to the foam on touring pack cars.
Yes the JL gill with work.

FYI you are going to have to remove the passenger side seat in order to install rear speaker on that side.

All in all very easy swap out for the rears.

[Smoky]

I saw your advertisement in the other thread as well. That's cool stuff, but I don't need "the most advanced" just "something that fits". But I guess that is all copy and paste advertisement anyway.

On your site you sell 4" JL speakers in the front. Jim recommended against using 4" speakers as it could put me in the same spot I'm in now (crappy sound).

I'm a little surprised by the lack of responses. Seems like so many of you are using 5.25" up front. Certainly not everyone was willing to melt their a/c ducts and there must be a 5.25" speaker that fits fine.

Or is there? Perhaps I made too many assumptions? Either there aren't as many speaker upgrades out there as I thought, or you all did indeed melt your a/c duct to fit a speaker.

But with so few replies it is difficult to tell. Maybe now that it's Monday we'll get more traffic.

Thx

[jim-clayton]

Originally Posted by Smoky

I saw your advertisement in the other thread as well. That's cool stuff, but I don't need "the most advanced" just "something that fits". But I guess that is all copy and paste advertisement anyway.

On your site you sell 4" JL speakers in the front. Jim recommended against using 4" speakers as it could put me in the same spot I'm in now (crappy sound).

I'm a little surprised by the lack of responses. Seems like so many of you are using 5.25" up front. Certainly not everyone was willing to melt their a/c ducts and there must be a 5.25" speaker that fits fine.

Or is there? Perhaps I made too many assumptions? Either there aren't as many speaker upgrades out there as I thought, or you all did indeed melt your a/c duct to fit a speaker.

But with so few replies it is difficult to tell. Maybe now that it's Monday we'll get more traffic.

Thx

A shallower speaker might not sound good. Just get your hair dryer out and soften up the ac tube. No biggie. It may take 5 minutes. No harm to the car.

TR's drop right in on some cars. It just depends on the ac vent install.

You have the rings and the speakers, "just do it" .

[Smoky]

While I appreciate the motivation, and your skills, I'm saving that for a last resort. Though it's quickly coming to that point! lol If I can put the 525's in the rear and find a drop-in for the front I would prefer to lean that way. But I'm not seeing as many choices as I thought there were for the front stage. So maybe if by Wed I find no other options I'll get to melting. I have a nice heat gun for shrink wrap so I can use that if needed. Thx Jim

[...m...]

...there's nothing wrong with four-inch fronts if your system is properly balanced for three-way or four-way operation in concert with the rears and (possible) subwoofer, which chuck's complete systems are...

...if you're pressing them to do full-range duties, though, four-inch fronts are going to sound pretty anemic...

[Smoky]

Exactly.. I just wanted to replace the front speakers to bump the quality up a bit, and leave the rears for fill. That was the goal anyway. I surfed on JL Stealthbox's, amps, and full systems but just don't want to spend that much right now.

Melting is cheaper... lol Prob just end up going that route. I guess I just thought, or misunderstood, that there were a plethora of 525" solutions available for the front speakers because of JC's brackets. I hadn't pulled the speaker out myself until the other night and noticed the obstructing duct (that I never hear anyone mention on the forum until now, but maybe just missed it).

But Jim's right... too shallow of a speaker/magnet and the whole thing becomes pointless.

[goldfive]

I think I read some where on LT... that the Boston Acoustics SC50 5 1/2" speakers are shallow enough to fit in the dash. However, there is a metal "ring" that has to be removed. But I dont think the AC ducts need to be modified.

I am in the process of getting an audio system together for the car, and I went with BA SC50's all around. I may not install the tweeters in the rear though, just use the woofer part as a midrange/midbass. That way the soundstage will favor the front. I plan on mounting the tweeters on the dash, near the A-pillars and facing into the cabin rather than up towards the windshield.

[Smoky]

Thx! I'll surf on the Boston's and check them out.

[Smoky]

Because I find it annoying when folks do not follow up on their threads, and leave questions hanging, I am back to report on my conclusions and results.

After much experimentation and staring I decided to get the JL CX-400 speakers up front, and install the TR525's in the rear. Sounds 100% better than before. The mids are really clear now, and of course the high's are great. Still almost zero low frequency response. Maybe I need to fiddle with the head unit some more, but it seems like anything below 80hz is inaudible.

It took almost two years but I'm finally starting to crack...I might need more bass. lol I told myself "NO!" to audio when I bought this car. I purchased a head unit to make it easier to manage the ipod. Now the speakers. I know this isn't what the car is about and it just feels WRONG to put a subwoofer in this car... But I might yet just crack. Every car I've ever owned had a KILLER stereo in it. And I don't need my heart to skip beats on bass hits.... I just want to hear it at least. Maybe feel it a little.

Maybe I need to put that little Kenwood KSC back in. I was hoping I wouldn't feel like I needed that with the JL's.

Anyway, current problem solved... As Jim and Chuck mentioned the 4" from JL fits just fine, and is a much beefier speaker than the stockers. The CX line are quite nice and well built for a 4" speaker. The grill took some getting used to. It is actually subtle and attractive, and has two concentric silver rings on the grill trim that perfectly match the interior silver colors. It just took an evening to get used to seeing a color on the dashboard surface, rather than just black. Personally, I would prefer an all black grill, but these aren't bad. Just takes some getting used to.

Thx for everyone's input!