Need help with speakers for a 1992 FJ80

[krazygl00]

I want to update the stereo system from factory stock for this 1992 that I bought last October. It is amazing the head unit works as well as it does (I can still play CDs) but the sound is pretty weak and some of the speakers are scratchy and distorted.

So I just want to update it to a modern system that sounds great and has enough power to hear over open windows on the highway (If I want). I don't need a booming system that can rattle the doors -- of the car next to me -- and I don't need to spend thousands on it. No amplifiers and all that stuff; I just want a replacement for the OEM system that is an improvement over the stock system and is as drop-in as possible.

I think I've decided on a head unit from Crutchfield (Pioneer AVH-X3500BHS) which seems to do enough for me as I don't want GPS in the dash. The problem is when it comes to the speakers. Crutchfield tells me I am limited with the FJ80 LC because of the speaker depth. They were recommending "RetroSound" speakers that are popular with car restorers, but I have never heard of that brand and they seem like new manufacture stock equivalents. I'd like at least a little bit of an upgrade.

The other problem I've encountered is that Crutchfield says the vehicle has 8 speakers but I've definitely counted 10 total: two tweeters in the dash, two 6.5" in the front door, two 6.5" in the rear door, two unknown size (I haven't measured yet) in the panels to the sides of the 3rd row and two smaller ones in the headliner above the rear gate.

So, what are some good-quality speakers for this vehicle? Am I foolish to want a better brand-name over the "RetroSounds"? Do I have a strange number of speakers? Are two of them possibly aftermarket?

Thanks!

 

[poonamibaxter]

I replaced the HU with a pioneer and replaced the door speakers only. I disconnected the factory amp and subwoofer. It sounds great and is loud enough for me. I went with Focal speakers that were a pain to get in the doors. I had to use spacers and cut sheet metal on the rear doors. It was a real pain. I went to a couple stereo places here that told me Alpine spe 500s would fit so you may want to look into those.

I did all the work myself. The HU was actually easy. I would do that part myself again but I would pay someone to do the door speakers. For the amount of time and frustration involved I would rather have been working on my engine.

And don't forget to remove the glove box and unplug the factory amp, I didn't and well it's a funny story now but it wasn't that funny when it happened.

 

[tlin]

I went with Pioneers in both sets of doors: TS-A1675R (they sound phenomenally better than stock - don't hesitate and the "mounting depth" Crutchfield warnings have been observed to be very conservative by many).

Fronts - fit just fine behind factory grills. I also lined both front doors with GTMat to help with sound deadening. That product has a better overall high-temp resistance and being in Arizona, temps are important to me.

Rears - flush on the doors, won't fit behind the factory grills so visible. All I did to accommodate was drill tiny pilot holes to get the provided screws to take in the door sheetmetal and voila.....

Front dash speakers disconnected but will possibly add new Pioneer 4" 2-ways at a later date if I ever do a CB. Rear tweeters (third row - up high) - considering trying to replace with 4" x 6"'s but not committed yet.

Sub and HU thread of mine right around the corner.

 

[JCruse]

I just put in a whole new system with Polk DB6501 6.5" components in my front doors and they are fantastic! I only went with the components to get the tweeter up above knee level so it could be heard better and the sound from these is excellent. They were $125 shipped. (The coaxial version are only about $70 a pair and would be more than good enough IMO) I paired it with a Pioneer DEH-80PRS HU and a JL Audio JX360/4 70wpc RMS amp with a 12" Infinity sub bridged on the second channel for 170watts RMS. I've been listening to it on and off all day and the sound from this system is truly outstanding. And it's not even properly set up yet.

So I'm running tweeters and mid woofers in the front doors and nothing but a 12" sub in the back to round them out for stunning clarity and high fidelity sound in the drivers seat, and that's all I care about.

Either Polk speaker option will drop right in the front doors with the supplied spacer and four screws in four new holes. Easy job.
If there are truly better sounding speakers out there for this money I would really love to hear them.

 

[murf]

I went with all Pioneer: 6.5" 3 ways in the front doors, 4" coaxial in the lower dash, and 5.25" 3 ways in the rear doors. I left the rear tweets alone in the ceiling but did add a 10" sub and seperate amp to balance out all the mids and highs.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Front dash speakers disconnected but will possibly add new Pioneer 4" 2-ways at a later date if I ever do a CB. Rear tweeters (third row - up high) - considering trying to replace with 4" x 6"'s but not committed yet.

You may want to check the mounting depth there. i think a 4x6 would have to be mounted in a box on top of the headliner.

maybe if they have neodymium magnets they would only have to stick out an inch or so.

 

[tlin]

You may want to check the mounting depth there. i think a 4x6 would have to be mounted in a box on top of the headliner.

maybe if they have neodymium magnets they would only have to stick out an inch or so.

Yup yup - and sorry for what might feel like a hijack. The tweeters in the current location are almost non-existent (decibel-wise) so replacements are more a thought than anything I've spent time looking into.

Have realized on more than one occasion that separates up front would have been a slightly better approach (mention above from JCruse) - something for the OP to consider. The Pioneers I went with do sound great (esp. for the $$) but the point of origin is definitely "low" in the cabin.

 

[Steep n deep]

I am also looking at changing my speakers out and have been reading a number of posts and they all mention that the mounting depth in the door speakers is quite small. Does anyone know what the max mounting depth is?

 

[murf]

Not sure of the # but shallow mount speakers are required for the doors and there are plenty in the market to choose from. Mounting the speaker from the outside with a small spacer and replacing the factory grill with the one provided with the speaker helps too.

 

[lumbee1]

Shallow mount speakers refer to the amount that speaker protrudes above the mounting service. For instance, Polk db651 (normal) and the db651s (shallow mount). The db651s has a recessed tweeter and does not come with a mounting bracket. But both the db651 and db651s have a mounting depth of 2". Get the db651. The mounting bracket behind the door skin provides just enough clearance for the speaker to not hit the window channel.

I just installed db651's in the front and rear doors. The sound is amazing and very musical. The kenwood's I had before sounded very stale and flat like a clock radio. The speakers in the rear doors are 5.5" and it will require cutting to make a 6.5" work. Reviews on the Polk db551 (5.5") speakers have not been nearly as good as their 6.5" so it is definitely worth the extra effort.

I took lots of pictures during the rear door install and will be documenting everything shortly.

 

[Booger weldz]

I used 6.5's in all 4 doors. The rears required a series of cuts to flare out the sheet metal hole a tiny bit to clear the wider OD than the factory junk. Also a notch in the bottom of the hole where the wires plug into the Bigger speaker was needed(one barely touched the sheetmetal and put the headunit into safety mode). I surface mounted to the door panel material, but drilled pilot holes into the sheetmetal and used 1 and 1 1/4" screws. 4" fit in the dash spots, but i had to unbolt the tcm(assuming thats what it was) behind the passengerside to free up some space. A 92 wont have anything back there with the a440, im assuming.

If someone could confirm a decent speaker fit in the back headliner areas id love to get some sound up off peoples legs when full of passengers??

I bought decent level leftover 2013 stuff pretty discounted as the 2014 stuff is on the shelves making last years collect dust.

I have an amp and subwoofer in the back. Unplugged the headliner and single rear quarter panel speaker. The deck is a cd/dvd/ipod/etc din touchscreen which is much easier to use safely while driving, imo.

 

[krazygl00]

Uhh, what are coaxial speakers?

Haha, I don't really need an answer to that as I can google it myself, but that is about my level of knowledge on car stereo stuff.

Definitely lots of information to sort through so far so many thanks to all.

One question: is my 10-speaker setup out of the ordinary? Why did Crutchfield think there should be only 8 for the '92 LC? Sounds like most of the posts so far refer to 10.

 

[AATLAS1X]

Uhh, what are coaxial speakers?

Haha, I don't really need an answer to that as I can google it myself, but that is about my level of knowledge on car stereo stuff.

Definitely lots of information to sort through so far so many thanks to all.

One question: is my 10-speaker setup out of the ordinary? Why did Crutchfield think there should be only 8 for the '92 LC? Sounds like most of the posts so far refer to 10.

2-dash
2-front doors
2-rear doors
2-rear upper headliner
-sub
=9

Unless I'm wrong.

Shane

 

[rubberducky700]

There is some machines out there with 5 speakers. I have a '92 that has

• 2 in the dash
• 2 at the back doors
• and the rear sub passenger side panel 3rd row.

My dads '92 has

• 2 in the dash
• 2 at the front doors
• 2 at the back doors
• 2 at the upper "D" pillar in the headliner
• 1 rear sub in the passenger side panel 3rd row.

I have just squeezed some Polk DB651's in my rear doors as those were shot shot shot. Not the easiest or quickest install I have ever done but they sound great over a JVC HU (installed before I purchased) Lots of cutting, filing, testing, drilling, and short proofing. I am glad the old 5.25"?s are gone but its not a 2 hour job getting the rears swapped. I took a few pics that I will include in a thread soon. I am also planning on trying a Kicker 6.75" shallow sub woofer in the back. I have seen a few others on here that look promising.

As for dads. He will get a whole list of items to make it better. Pioneer DDin HU, Speakers are undecided yet(he wants to keep them under factory grilles) rear sub will most likely see the kicker as well and probably some 4"s for the rear uppers and dash speakers. (YEAH) Pics to come.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

rubberducky, If you ever want speakers in the front doors, the wiring is already there in the 92's. It was in ours.

 

[M32H32is]

Mine has the 5 speaker package.

Are the wires in the front doors hot? What else would I need to install speakers there?

 

[roostabunny]

Mine has the 5 speaker package.

Are the wires in the front doors hot? What else would I need to install speakers there?

After some searching I need to give this one a bump. I'm curious about the front door speaker wires and this is the first time I've read a reference to a "5 speaker package". I'm wondering if that's the answer to "everyone's talking about door speakers, so where are mine?" (maybe it also explains the absence of a sunroof and factory roof rack).

Anyway, curious for anyone with experience working on the audio of 3FE era 80's, and if the same shallow depth issues exist as in the 1FZE models? And has anyone taken the "no speaker hole" door panel, busted out a saw, and gotten a speaker grill to plop in there?

 

[M32H32is]

Ive been planning on wiring my 6.5's up to that plug forever, but just havent.

Will report if / when I do.

 

[roostabunny]

Ive been planning on wiring my 6.5's up to that plug forever, but just havent.

Will report if / when I do.

Cool, thanks! OK, so, your front doors had no factory speakers installed?

 

[roostabunny]

Oh, and I'm thinking 5-speaker is, 2 x dash, 2 x rear door, sub?