Audio question

[poonamibaxter]

I'm about to replace the stock receiver and door speakers in my 93 tomorrow. I've searched the forums and can't figure out what guys are doing about the dash speakers. I have no desire to replace them and I want them turned off. Can I simply cut the wires going to them? I have ther same question about the rear speakers.

Also I plan to put alpine spe500 in the front doors and am considering 6.5" Focals for the rear doors, has anyone done this? What am I in store for? I already borrowed my buddy's dremel.

Thanks

 

[tlin]

As to dash and rear speakers, it's my understanding that yes, you can simply cut and abandon in place (or remove). With your receiver/head unit (HU) replacement, you'll wind up abandoning the stock amp (located behind the glove box). This, too, can be abandoned in place or completely removed but you will need to at least cut the leads to it (running power exclusively via the new HU's amp).

Front/rear door speakers - I went with 6.5" Pioneers in both locations. The fronts fit behind the stock grill just fine. The rears required that I only drill in some new holes for the screws that hold them in place. Those don't fit behind the stock grills and are visible on the door itself but otherwise was pretty easy to get them in.

Hope this helps....but yes, there are plenty of threads here describing some audio details. Plenty of folks have had success with Scion HU replacements (the wiring is very plug-and-play although the current dash trim needs to be cut so as to fit in the wider Scion HU itself). Others go with aftermarket receivers and some even allow for color matching to not look so Vegas.

Good luck....

 

[poonamibaxter]

thanks

Im going with a Pioneer head unit from Crutchfield and I think I have studied enough threads here for that to go smoothly, I know it won't though.

The rear door speakers are what have me nervous about the install. I have that Dremel and am preying that I don't have to use it. The stereo place is right down the road so if it gets hairy I may return the Focal for an easier to install speaker.

 

[JCruse]

I also just got a Pioneer HU, a DEH-80PRS. I'm putting component Polk DB 6.5's in the front and nothing but an Infinity 12" sub in the back. A JL Audio amp will deliver 55 wpc to the front doors and 140 to the sub. No thumping here though, I'm after high fidelity on a budget, and I figure this gear should do that with the sub being run more as a regular woofer. (High crossover, modest cutoff - maybe 40hz, and moderate volume)

 

[poonamibaxter]

I'm going to run the wires for an amp while I have the dash apart but am going to wait to hook one up. I'm considering a couple different options on it. First I am gonna see how the 4 speaker system sounds running off the HU, pioneer deh-x6600bs. Next I'm thinking of adding a 3 channel amp for the front speakers and adding a 10" sub. Lastly considering adding a 5 channel for amplifying all the door speakers and a sub. If I can avoid the last two options I'm that much closer to getting the lift.

 

[Proven]

I saw an 80 that had the front speakers dedicated to his CB and the door speakers were running his music.

 

[bulldog1402]

I did Polk DB651 speakers in all 4 doors. Fronts were a breeze. Rears took a bit longer but not too bad.

Put in an older Alpine 9831, ran all new wires, and running off an amp I mounted in the back cubby.

Sounds great, way better than what the PO had. Yanked all the old POS components, speakers, and amps. I don't like having unnecessary stuff in there. No plans on doing a sub either. The speakers sound great.

I also opted to ditch the factory antenna. It was toast. Replaced it with a stubby rubber one. Reception is way better and install was a breeze.

 

[Shiftie]

No need to cut any wires anywhere. The dash speakers can be unplugged as can the amplifier. In fact you can wire your head unit or aftermarket amp at the factory amp location behind the far right dash speaker. I would guess that Crutchfield sent you a Toyota adapter harness for your head unit. That plug can be found at the factory amplifier.

As for the Focal speakers in the rear, You'll be cutting sheet metal to get those in there.

 

[DeuceMakesAsplash]

I went with an alpine system. Replaced the dash speakers with tweeters. You can buy the combo speakers that come with tweeters. It sounds 10xs better now. Rather than disconnecting the sub in my center console I got an amp that gave me control to turn it all the way down. Don't be mad when they can't put the stock covers back on the new speakers. The doors are too shallow.

 

[JCruse]

Is the smaller of the two grey connectors behind the HU the one with the power supply?

If so what else is part of that grouping? Antenna power? Remote turn on?

 

[poonamibaxter]

Is the smaller of the two grey connectors behind the HU the one with the power supply?

If so what else is part of that grouping? Antenna power? Remote turn on?

I just got done of a hellish day of install. I still need to hook up my amp and blue tooth phone mic. It was awful.

If you wanna shoot me a pm I will give you my phone number and help any way I can.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

I just got done of a hellish day of install. I still need to hook up my amp and blue tooth phone mic. It was awful.

If you wanna shoot me a pm I will give you my phone number and help any way I can.

I feel your pain.

the pre-95 dash bezel is a cruel mistress.

 

[Shiftie]

I feel your pain.

the pre-95 dash bezel is a cruel mistress.

Indeed.

 

[poonamibaxter]

It was a tough day. I ended up going with Focal IC 165s in the front and Focal IC130s in the rear. No cutting for the front but I had to use spacers to get em to sit in and now I have small bulges by doors by the speakers that I can live with. The rear required cutting the sheet metal to make the hole bigger then also using spacers which, you guessed it, leaves me with slight bulges. Again, I don't mind. I am thinking of just super gluing the stock grills to the doors in the back. Anyone see any real reason not to?

Next came hooking up the receiver. Taking the dash apart wasn't too bad and after fighting with the speakers it seemed easy. I bought an Alpine head unit 4 channel amp but didn't buy the rca cables to hook it up so I skipped that part. I also forgot to hook up my blue tooth mic so when I hook up the amp....

It sounds really good and I am really glad I did it but my hands are cut up, I have a bunch of trash to take out, my thursday was shot, and I have no clue how to stop the HU from doing the mix track stuff its on. All in all it was a miserable day that I am glad is over but was necessary.

 

[Trock]

I've got the Focal 165 KR's and am busy installing them at the moment.. The mounting depth is way deeper (72mm) so I'm mounting them lower on the door.. I've got spare door cards that I'm going to cut around the baffles and then make a fibreglass pod with the grills to form part of the door storage.. I was going to make sealed door pods but it seems infinite baffle is a good route to take combined with sound deadening..

 

[bulldog1402]

Wow that is too bad everyone is having so many problems with it. Sorry to hear.

Maybe my only saving grace on my 94 was that the PO snapped the plastic bezel just to the right of the steering wheel. Now mine is in 2 pieces. Kind of makes me mad, but no big deal.

Frustrating things are that much more enjoyable in the end.

 

[richxd87]

I also opted to ditch the factory antenna. It was toast. Replaced it with a stubby rubber one. Reception is way better and install was a breeze.

Which antenna did you use? Did you have to run a new wire back to the HU? Interested in this as my stock antenna has horrible reception and doesn't even extend all the way up anymore due to damage...

Thanks,
Richard

 

[bulldog1402]

I went to Napa and they carried one of those short stubby rubber ones. I gutted the old antenna motor and wire.

Running the new one was a piece of cake. Just used the old one to fish it through. All said and done, it was a 30 minute job.

And let me say, the FM reception is so much better. Not even a comparison.

 

[poonamibaxter]

Can anyone post a pic of the factory amp? I have the glove box off but I'm not sure which box is the amp.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

it's more over behind the speaker grille. Long skinny box with a wee heatsink at the bottom.