Anyone replace Carrera speakers recently? Looking for stock appearance..
 

I really, really like that my 87 Carrera has its original Blaupunkt headunit. I do not like that all four speakers seem to be shot. I read a few past threads, many which point to dead links or are willing to accept non stock appearance for better audio. I want the radio to be audible when its on but I'm not very picky besides that. Anyone have a recipe for a very stock looking way to replace the 5.25's in the front and the 4x6's in the back? The rear speaker covers are cracked, so something that includes the grill/surround would work best. I for sure don't want to cut anything.

Thanks

...and cane someone post a few photos of stock speakers? If the PO spent $5 on the speakers in my car I'd be surprised...

I just scored an older Chicago which looks older, but plays CDs. I'm looking forward to pulling out the Pioneer "Christmas Tree" POS someone put in. I had to take the face off and put it in the glove box because it was so distracting. Modern car stereos are such a mess...

Thanks,

Franny

Sure, I'll take some pictures of my stock speakers in a bit. I'm nearly positive they're as installed, 1987

That's great. Thanks!

The radio install is on my list for today :)

f

Here's my starting point...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388174473.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388174497.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388174514.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388174529.jpg

I love the sound of the upgraded speakers that the PO had installed in my Targa, but I hate the cheesy speaker grills that came with the speakers. I wonder if some simple, plain metal surrounds like those sold by Parts Express would fit and look a bit more 'stock'.

Likewise, I wish someone would style their newer radios to have a more vintage look. Hate the boy racer graphics on most of the newer receivers, but love some of the iPod and iPhone connectivity. Bluetooth could also be nice as we will have a hands free law starting in 2014.

All that original equipment really goes well with the car and adds a touch of class.

Mine is a cab so I think the rears are like the fronts? I'll have to go look.

Thanks for the photos. Looks great!

Franny

Are you sure the fronts are original? I have only seen round fronts from the factory.

Nope not positive, but I've yet to find a non-stock part on my car so I presumed. Could have been replaced a while back.

Forget what I said. I only looked at 2 cars before I posted. I looked further and did see a couple of cars with speakers like yours.

Can you reuse the grills and find 3rd party speakers that will fit?

I posted on a slightly older thread where the second poster says he got the factory grills over Polk db521s, which are reasonably priced... but have god awful grills as supplied.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/771833-front-speaker-question-87-carrera.html#post7826040

Amazon.com: Polk Audio DB521 5.25-Inch Coaxial Speakers (Pair, Silver): Car Electronics

they look correct to me as the pictures depict the same units I have in my 87 930 front and rear. head unit looks similar too.

I changed out my speakers and radio last year. I used sony 5.25 in the front and they fit great also used sony 4x6 in the back. The rear speakers were bigger than original but I found a nice set grills on Amazon. Will show some pictures later.

I also have an 87. Mine already had an aftermarket Sony head unit which is not too bad looking and sounds decent, so I left it alone. My car came with a set of speaker grills that had the same shape as stock, but were made out of aluminum. They are very well made. I'm guessing they were aftermarket since they were a bright blue on both sides - I sprayed the tops of them satin black.

As far as speakers... The car came with a set of Kenwood 4x6s that looked relatively recent and sounded OK. I replaced the fronts with a set of Boston Acoustics coax SC55 speakers that I've been very happy with and they fit perfectly in the stock location.

Paul

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a good number of 5.25" fronts should work.

Anyone know the difference between a "plate" and I guess non-plate 4x6? See some options from Polk here: 4x6 speakers at Crutchfield.com

What am I looking for in a 4x6?

I put these in the door:
Focal Access 5.25" speakers.

They are hooked up to an amp under the seat, and that connects to my iPhone using a JL audio level controller and sound really great.

My only regret was installing them in the first place- I barely ever listen to it b/c I'd rather hear the engine.

In my 1987, I replaced the speakers with Pioneer A series speakers. They are available on Amazon at very good prices. Plug and play 4x6 and 5.25's. The back speakers grills are unobtainium. I bought reasonably close ones on eBay for $15.

[QUOTE= The back speakers grills are unobtainium. I bought reasonably close ones on eBay for $15.[/QUOTE]


The original grills rarely show up for sale used, and if they do, they are probably cracked and expensive!
Here's a rear speaker grill with EXACT replacement dimensions, made in Germany. They just have a different appearance. They look great installed though.
Available from a PP competitor, so don't want to post the link here! PM me if you want info.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388193593.jpg

Thanks everyone.

Michael T - when you say the Pioneer A series were plug and play, do you mean that the original grills can be reused both front and back, or did you use the supplied grills?

The fronts were the original, I just redid the paint. The backs needed new grills like yours. The ones posted above look good, a little more original than the ones I bought.

Okay good enough for me. Don't want to over think it, just replace the ancient speakers in there. I'm going to order the Pioneer A series.

Amazon.com: Pioneer TS-A1375R 5-1/4" 3-way car speakers: Car Electronics

Amazon.com: Pioneer TS-A4675R 4" X 6" 3-Way Speakers: Car Electronics

These are the pics.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388200579.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388200608.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388200645.jpg
The fronts fit good. The backs needed a thicker grill. Found these on amazon there by audiobahn

Here's what came out of the car. Blaupunkt with disintegrating paper cones. Just about anything from this century should give me a pretty sizable bump in quality.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388245578.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388245598.jpg

Porsche had a spacer available for some of the 4x6 speakers. I think it was a part used on the 944. I have a pair if someone needs them.

JR

I machine covers from ABS to the same size and profile as the original, with the exception that they are raised to accommodate newer speakers with a higher tweeter.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/789182-rear-speaker-covers.html#post7827274

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388258053.jpg

If you're interested please see my ad on the 911 for sale forum.

Cheers

if you ever make a 5 1/4 round front PM me.... those look great.

Not sure I'll get around to making front covers/grills, as there's plenty of availability for them, if I do I'll drop you a note.

Cheers

New speakers installed
 

Following up - I went with Pioneer's top of the line "D" series, which are available on amazon for literally few bucks more than the "A" series. They drop right in place and fit comfortably under the stock grills. They sound great for their size, and fulfill their mission nicely - letting me listen to music or news, at any speed, with a reasonable degree of quality. At less than highway speeds they even sound pretty damn good. And all this without any rear speakers - those were backordered and arrive next week.

Amazon.com: Pioneer TS-D1302R 5.25 In. 2-Way Speaker with 180 Watts Max. Power: Car Electronics


Difference in materials and magnet size is hard to miss...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388432807.jpg

My rear Pioneers arrived. They don't seem to sell 4x6's in the top of the line "D" series so I bought the "A" series. They look a little cheaper, showier, but they sound pretty good. Anyone who says rear speakers don't do anything... should try a before and after. I'd venture to guess the rear glass helps in reflection.

However... these speakers don't fit under the stock grills and I'm presuming they will also not fit under the perforated grid style speakers shown by Uwanna on page 1 of this thread. The repros that Matt Kellet posted above seem like they will work and I love the stock look, but they're more than twice the price of my speakers...

So I'm debating returning the pioneers for a set of "plate" style 4x6's that may or may not sound better but will almost certainly fit the GRILL. Whether or not they're deeper on the bottom side as a result, I don't know. Can anyone weigh in?

http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio--6-Inch-Plate-Style-Speakers/dp/B000P0NJOO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1388871012&sr=8-2&keywords=polk+4x6+plate

See my post 24, above.

JR