Installing bigger door speakers?

[WydRyd]

Audio guys, I'm just wondering if you experienced installers use some form of weather protectant cover when you fit new/bigger doors speakers in your 911?

How do you ensure rain won't get to and wreck your expensive door speakers?

I'm going to be installing a pair of high-end 6.5" Focal PolyKevlar component speakers in my car and want to ensure it's done right (without having to pay a Pro hundreds of dollars to install them)

[WydRyd]

Bump! Anyone know?

I've heard there are plastic/foam speaker shields or "speaker umbrellas" which can be used to protect the speakers from rain?!?

Have you guys fit any such device in your speaker upgrades?

I'd really like to tackle the install myself, for personal satisfaction and also to ensure things are done neatly and right.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by WydRyd


I've heard there are plastic/foam speaker shields or "speaker umbrellas" .

I use them. Costs about $8 at any car stereo shop.

Some like the speaker completely sealed, some say completely sealed "muffles" the cone. I cut out the lower part to vent into the door. I used some Dynamat on the door tin to create a nice flat mounting surface and help lower resonant harmonics from the tin. I also used threaded rivets instead of sheet metal screws.

I also used a wedge to angle the speaker up and center.

I use 6.5 Focals.. dynamite tunes.

[Bill in OKC]

Maybe these?
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-13woSU3GBbZ/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=762&avf=N

[911pcars]

Hmmm. Half the reviewers on the Crutchfield site realized the tiny foam enclosures introduced distortion and reduced sound clarity. The other half thought the effect was great. I guess good sound is in the "eye" of the beholder.

I'd go with Ron's suggestion and cut out the lower portion of the foam. I should do this too.

Sherwood

[randywebb]

Actually, the speaker should be mounted in a rigid, non-resonant enclosure of the proper size with design to minimize back reflections. Ain't gonna happen in yo' door.

There is an old thread where a guy tried to use flex. pipe to give the spkr something like the above. No idea how well it worked.

FWIW, mine are just stuck in there w/o nothing else. Everybody needs to decide what level of performance they want and how much effort, time, hassle & - oh yeh - $$ they are willing to expend to get it.

So decide where you are on the spectrum and have at it. Recognize that it will never sound as good as a Lexis with the Mark Levinson (an audio genius) sound system in it.

[Steve W]

I have 7" Focal Kevlar speakers in my doors mounted on 1/2" birch plywood attached to the doors sheet metal, with closed cell weatherstrip foam. I don't have any 'umbrellas' over them and never really had a problem with rain going in the doors. The speakers should be pretty weather resistant - the cones are make of encapsulated Kevlar, and the surrounds are butyl rubber, the frames in cast aluminum.

[wholberg]

Originally posted by 911pcars
Hmmm. Half the reviewers on the Crutchfield site realized the tiny foam enclosures introduced distortion and reduced sound clarity. The other half thought the effect was great. I guess good sound is in the "eye" of the beholder.

I'd go with Ron's suggestion and cut out the lower portion of the foam. I should do this too.

Sherwood

If you read the "hands on research" on the crutchfield speaker baffles, it says not to use the foam baffles that are called 6.5 inch baffles, but to use these.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-PpFYXOI0sWK/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=762&I=237XT60

I installed Infinity 6.5's in my doors with these baffles. I have 75W going to each speaker and they sound pretty good. No, I don't get booming base, but I don't expect that and I also don't have any distortion. I did cut a 1/2 inch diameter hole in the side to run the wires through.

[RANDY P]

Duct tape the upper 1/2 of the speaker. Choice of the pros.

Seriously.

rjp

[mjshira]

I have a custom set of door panels which used to house my focal 165w utopia set (top set they sell). The speakers are up on ebay and I am willing to sell the door panels for a fair price, just let me know. I tried to PM you but it tells me you don't get them so sorry for this long post.

[khamul02]

just cut them in half so you basically have a top cover (no distortion). I have done this with several iasca sound systems with no problems & a bit of protection for a $500 set of front speakers.

[randywebb]

good idea -- he is talking about those covers, folks -- not the speakers themselves...

[khamul02]

thanks for the save randy, yes the covers. hey, if you have two cars one set will take car of both

[randywebb]

Heh - "ya' never know" (quoting Chris Rock)

& with 400 views, somebody might just cut the speaker cone...

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Steve W


I have 7" Focal Kevlar speakers in my doors mounted on 1/2" birch plywood attached to the doors sheet metal, with closed cell weatherstrip foam. I.

Wood mounting can be very technical, I think?

When Steve mentioned this a few years ago I took the subject seriously in my reading. I dampened all the tin + door skin only, and had the wood idea as an option as the job was hr intensive to begin with.

Install turned out good enough.. till I get back in there


IMP maybe.
The wood's ability to complete its transfer task affects clarity. I read that indoor speaker cabinets should transfer the speaker case harmonics to the floor to sound better than a cabinet sitting on a carpet. You can buy these brass cabinet mounts that are pointed to penetrate the rug.

The best brass formula is another story.

Then I found out that maple is the technical best for the transfer. And the best maple is so called "old" generation maple. So for the last few years I've been stopping around on trash night looking for old maple.

I've read that plywood is best for auto speakers. Don't know about flavor?

Eventually I'll figure out this tear in the universe...

[piedogger]

I am the one who used a sealed inclosure with flex pipe. This is by far the best way to get acurate sound in your doors. That being said in the real world it is not always possible. At my shop we use the foam rubber cups cut in half. If I used duct tape (although it works) I would be fired.

[khamul02]

Duct tape, electrical tape, just plane any tape would have got my fired quick when I was an installer

[randywebb]

piedogger - Thx - want to post the URL for your thread to help out those who want to copy it?

[piedogger]

Sure, here it is.

MY ultimate stereo system

[randywebb]

THx - FWIW, you need to adjust the size of the enclosure for your size (and brand speakers) - a good manf. will give the enclosure size.