Front Door Speaker Upgrade

[ehanes75]

4xoddic has a thread about an speaker install in a 97 LX450:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/232865-sacred-measurement-=-speaker-related.html

The thread says that 96 & 97 owners have about 1/2" less room to play with because of the extra thickness of the door reinforcement.

There is a picture of the inside of the door in post #7. It is hard to tell from the perspective if the reinforcement bar inside the door is larger than what is shown in this thread. This is probably only an issue if you want to retain the original grills.

 

[cruiser37]

4xoddic has a thread about an speaker install in a 97 LX450:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/232865-sacred-measurement-=-speaker-related.html

The thread says that 96 & 97 owners have about 1/2" less room to play with because of the extra thickness of the door reinforcement.

There is a picture of the inside of the door in post #7. It is hard to tell from the perspective if the reinforcement bar inside the door is larger than what is shown in this thread. This is probably only an issue if you want to retain the original grills.

Compare the inside door pic (first pic) from post #7 to the second pic in my first post. The door reinforcement is there on my 95. What you are seeing in post #7 is the metal window channel, which is present in mine as well. You can see the door reinforcement behind the window channel in both pics. If you compare the width of the door reinforcement to the width of the window channel in both pics, it looks like they are the same. Judging by this, I would say the changes apply to the 95-97s and these speakers should work.

 

[BP22]

Polk Audio DB651 6.5-Inch Coaxial Speakers are currently on sale at Amazon for $34.99 a pair shipped!

Amazon.com: Polk Audio DB651 6.5-Inch Coaxial Speakers (Pair, Silver): Electronics

 

[subosche22]

Just ordered mine from Amazon 75 bucks shipped!!

 

[lndcruz]

ARE YOU KIDDING? I bought mine on amazon last week for $44. Ohh well only $10 bucks.

These speakers sound amazing compared to the crap sony ones that were in my 80.

 

[MrOffshore]

I know it goes without saying, but this post is extremely informative. I really want to retain the factory grills and in this case these speakers won't work. I did find a pair of JVC speakers...JVC CS-V525 that are just 1-25/35" deep, these would likely clear the window track, but I am not certain.

Drawbacks, they're only 5.25 speakers...do you think there's a lot of sound difference between a 6.5" and a 5.25". The search for a 6.5" speaker with shallow mounting depth is very difficult. The Rockford Fosgates listed above are discontinued and quite frankly reviews were not good that read.

You for an SUV, you would think there would be more room and an a much easier install than what Toyota has left us...sort of odd to me. Thanks for the great post!!

 

[MrOffshore]

I also saw the 6.25" counterpart the JVC CS-V625, it has a mounting depty of 1.75"...I have to imagine this is pushing it a quite a bit...any thoughts? Link to the speakers is JVC Mobile Entertainment \ 6-1/2" Coaxial Speaker - CS-V625 \ Specifications

 

[firetruck41]

I know it goes without saying, but this post is extremely informative. I really want to retain the factory grills and in this case these speakers won't work. I did find a pair of JVC speakers...JVC CS-V525 that are just 1-25/35" deep, these would likely clear the window track, but I am not certain.

Drawbacks, they're only 5.25 speakers...do you think there's a lot of sound difference between a 6.5" and a 5.25". The search for a 6.5" speaker with shallow mounting depth is very difficult. The Rockford Fosgates listed above are discontinued and quite frankly reviews were not good that read.

You for an SUV, you would think there would be more room and an a much easier install than what Toyota has left us...sort of odd to me. Thanks for the great post!!

Yes, I think there is a big difference between a 5.25 and 6.5 speakers. I have the Polk 6.5 in front, and they sound MUCH better than the Polk 5.25 that are in the back doors.

I think the Polk speakers are a great value, I prefer them to the similar priced sony/jvc/kenwood/pioneer that I have heard at the electronics stores.

 

[Stone]

I also saw the 6.25" counterpart the JVC CS-V625, it has a mounting depty of 1.75"...I have to imagine this is pushing it a quite a bit...any thoughts? Link to the speakers is JVC Mobile Entertainment \ 6-1/2" Coaxial Speaker - CS-V625 \ Specifications

I think the Pioneer 6.5" 2 way speakers that many, including myself, have used are superior to the JVC product. I listened to the JVC and Pioneer side by side, and the Pioneers are much better. Granted, they are not high end by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm fairly happy with mine.

 

[autobon7]

I'm looking at a set of Alpine 6.5s and the spec reads that it is Top Mount Depth: 2.32 Inches . Would this fit in the front doors?

 

[70sguy]

Will the Polk db651 speakers fit in a 97? I read somewhere there are fitment issues with the 97 because of extra steel reinforcement in the door

Nice write up cruiser37
I just upgraded to the Polk db651s in front doors of my 97. Huge improvement over the Pioneers behind the stock grilles.
No issues with the steel reinforcement in the doors. When installed as per cruiser37 they don't even seem to touch the window track like my Pioneers did.

Now for a nice 4 channel amp.

 

[honda maniac]

so u did 6.5s in the back 2

 

[deanf]

Hey did your spacers fit flush where the old speaker was (flush up against the sheet metal)? The spacer I got is just a little but larger than the depression for the factory speaker . . . .

 

[jynx]

Mine did not. I actually used a utility knife to cut a bevel onto the rings which also cut most of the ear that the screw mounts to off. I just drilled new holes and screwed them thru the the door panel straight into the metal behind.

 

[deanf]

That's about what I did but I didn't cut the bevel. I just screwed the spacer ring down to the metal nice and tight. Screws that hold speakers and grills in just mounted to sheet metal through door panel. Looks/works fine.

Rears next.

 

[Montymitch]

so u did 6.5s in the back 2

I have these in my rig and I installed the 6.5s front and rear. The rear required a bit of modification to the door panels, but they work. I used tin snips to make .5" cuts radially around the hole and then folded the resulting tabs inward. Opened up the hole a bit and its a solid fit, doesn't look too big for the door or anything. These sound sooooo much better than what I had before it isn't even a contest.

 

[wxm]

Replaced the driver side speaker with DB651 today. Followed Cruiser37's idea and mounted the bracket that came with the speaker inside the panel. It serves as a spacer, and then installed the speaker out side. All went well except when I put everything together, the grill is touching the side of the dash. I have read a few threads here stated that there was enough clearance, but not in my case. (The door still close but it was definitely touching.)

In the end, I decided to leave the cover off. Personally, I kind of prefer the look than the shinning cover. Just hope I won't kick the speaker by accident.

 

[wxm]

Come to think about this a bit more? Could it be the case that members have no clearance issue with the grill are those who purchased the DB651s? The way I understand that the DB651s is thinner than the DB651 at the front side.

 

[Billy Skaggs]

I moved mine down there is a second hole not round but speaker size if u made a ring like i did . it will work .2 pcs of 3/4 plywood glassed together then painted .wiith a foam baffle on back to keep moisture out and a little sound improvement. memphis 6.5" mclass.And a 8" woofer in center console to help with front mid lows.

 

[moneytimetycoon]

I moved mine down there is a second hole not round but speaker size if u made a ring like i did . it will work .2 pcs of 3/4 plywood glassed together then painted .wiith a foam baffle on back to keep moisture out and a little sound improvement. memphis 6.5" mclass.And a 8" woofer in center console to help with front mid lows.

Nice work on the center console. I have a couple JL 8s sitting around...... It looks like I found the placement.