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Speaker recommendatuons?


Guest EDBS0

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I just put new factory speakers in mine. I didn't think that I could outguess the engineers who designed this system for the Reatta. The speakers are still available. <BR>Part number for the front is 16072934 and the rear is 16052530.

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No disrespect but speakers make a huge difference. Am currently looking at the Sony ES line <A HREF="http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-RgQNjmL5zPJ/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=52300&I=158XSV6955&o=M&a=0" TARGET=_blank>http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-RgQNjmL5zPJ/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=52300&I=158XSV6955&o=M&a=0</A> Their big selling feature is "2-way built-in crossover (instead of typical in-line crossover) increases midrange clarity" I can get them for $139.99 and would like other opinions. <P>Others...<P>Robert

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My preferance is for Infinity's Kappa series have installed in a number of my cars over the years and have been very pleased with them, link to specs thru inexpensive dealer:<BR> <A HREF="http://www.usavemoney.com/kap6x9threew.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.usavemoney.com/kap6x9threew.html</A> <P><BR>Crutchfield's page on same:<P> <A HREF="http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-BtFXOi5mwDl/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=52300&I=1086933I&o=&a=" TARGET=_blank>http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-BtFXOi5mwDl/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=52300&I=1086933I&o=&a=</A>

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Are you looking for front, rear or both? My '90 uses 6 x 9 in the rear and component 5.25" midwoofers in the lower door and a tweeter up higher. I used Pioneer TS-6946 6x9's in the rear and Polk EX2550 component set in the front. Both are very efficient speakers and work well with lower powered amps like in dash radios. I have tried the Kappas, which are good speakers, but I believe you need to have more amplifier power than the stock radio to take full advantage of them. Just my .02.

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I know what you are saying about efficiency. My home speakers are a pair of 15inch Tannoys in 6 cubic foot boxes with a Sensitivity: 92 dB. <P>These are going into the Riv. I like the idea of MB Quart Sensitivity: 86 dB and the Infinity's Kappa sensitivity 89db but just have the regular factory unit and do not want additional amps etc. Even though the door cut out is 5.25 I am going to make the 6 x 9 fit with lots of dremel work the ES Sony have a sensitivity of 92. If I recall 3db is twice as loud there should be a major improvement over factory. Have old Phoenix gold Sapphire series 6 x 9 in back.<p>[ 10-09-2001: Message edited by: Drive it like I stole it. ]

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So, let me ask Y'all a question, Is having the 6X9 speakers in the back like on the '90 and '91s an "improvement" over the 5-1/4" and seperate tweeter unit that was on '88 and '89s as Buick claimed? I always perceived the changeover as a cost cutting move on the part of GM. I am planning on changing out the rear speakers on my '89 and if there is a consensus that the 6X9 is in fact a better sounding way to go, I can easily change my '89 to that setup by getting the mounting brackets from a later year's model. Opinions?

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The 6 x 9 was not necessarily a cost cutting measure. There sre cheap 5.25 and cheap 6 x 9 speakers. generally speaking manufactures make several different lines of speakers and several sizes in all lines. For this illustration there will be 3 lines. Line 1 basic, line 2 better, line 3 best. A 6 X 9 speaker in each line will sound better than a 5.25 in that line. It is simple physics. Sound is air waves and the bigger the cone the more air you can move. This helps the bass notes. For me it is a no brainer to upgrade to the 6 x 9. The following is a cut and paste from <A HREF="http://www.crutchfield.com/infolib/S-hvKOBkexqfe/carindex.asp?id=speakers-lead" TARGET=_blank>http://www.crutchfield.com/infolib/S-hvKOBkexqfe/carindex.asp?id=speakers-lead</A> <P>How to Buy Car Audio Speakers <P>Replacing your factory-installed speakers can make a night-and-day difference in the sound of your car audio system, particularly if your vehicle is more than two years old. That's because most factory speakers are cheap paper-cone jobs that don't stand up to months of heat, cold, moisture and high-volume tunes. <P>What advantages do you gain when you install name-brand speakers? <P>Name-brand speakers have stronger magnets and heavy duty voice coils, so they sound better and handle high volume better than factory speakers. Their woofer cones are made of rugged materials like poly-propylene to withstand climate extremes. Some even have surrounds made of rubber, which extend speaker life and improve bass response. <P>You'll notice the biggest difference in the treble output. Name-brand speakers have real tweeters, instead of those little paper megaphones, to reproduce the highs. You can choose a pair with cone tweeters (the most economical) or go with dome tweeters (the type found in most home speakers). Dome tweeters are made of metals like titanium for extended high frequency response or a fine cloth like silk for a smoother sound. <P>I could fill a book, in my humble opinion all should replace factory speakers with something better, Robert

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I don't know what the 6" speakers sound like so I cannot compare but the comments about larger cones moving more air is certainly true, although there are long excursion speakers out there that help their smaller size by moving further. The Pioneers I mentioned are 93db and the Polks are 92db. I tried three different sets of front speakers before I settled on what I finally kept. Music choices, volume levels, interior design etc... make some of this choice a cut and try. For what it's worth, I have also changed my stock radio to a Pioneer CD unit with about 50% more power than the stock radio, plus it has front image enhancement to keep the rears from overpowering the front. This all was done a few years ago so there are better units available today. This is such a subjective topic, you really have to decide what sounds right to you.

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Hi,<BR> my wife's '88 Reatta Coupe I have installed Bang & Olufsen speakers front and Bose in the Rear. They sound great, though Bang& Olufsen don't make speakers for the Cars, however I had a pair that had damaged cabinets, hence I removed them from it made good use of them, the sound is really crisp and clear, especially when listening to classical music, the Bose in the Rear as combination makes all the difference.<BR>Can anyone tell me what is the Wattage of the Amplifier in R.M.S, and where is this Amp located?

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Consultants_1; The Sony is a fine speaker especially once you move up to the 2-way built-in crossover. But sound is subjective. In any event I won't be using them because the Midrange and tweeter stick out too far infront of the speaker and I do not want to use the Sony wire basket. I just can't push them far enough back.<P>Second question why does my dremel never cut as well as the one in the commercial frown.gif" border="0 <P>CD when played through the FM radio plays with poorer quality. Highs are not as high don't know about the lows. Sound is still sweet and use is very convenient.<P>MP3 is just terrible YUCK - compressed way too much, Robert

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Hey there Robert,<BR>Like you said, sound pref' is really subjective, but I'm sorry to hear that you can't use the Sonys. In the '90, the rear surrounds have a piece of cloth over a plastic vertical-slated grill that covers the rear speakers. The cloth is very easily removed (intact) and, since only glued on with cheap adhesive, easily replaced if you change your mind. The point is, since you <B>DO</B> have the Dremel, you may want to think about flush-cutting the plastic grill to surround your Sony's grill, using the grill and just removing the cloth. Depending on your interiors colors, this could look really cool, or really nasty. The best part is, if it doesn't look right, just adhere (with good adhesive so that it doesn't rattle loose) open wire mesh to the outside of the plastic covering the hole you cut (use the plastic face's shape as your guide), and replace the fabric with the original or new fabric (use old as a template). Reattach to grill to housing, and no one would ever know the difference. Just an option for you.<P>Oh yeah, as far as the FM mod'd CD-changer, it's a love/hate relationship. On the one hand, I never have to worry about compatibility with the head unit, as it gives me complete flexibility by being independant. I don't suffer from the prob you do with the highs, but (on the other hand) I do get channel drift interference every now and then. That's the hate part of it. If you can get one that allows flexibility in channel selection, that'd be what I consider heaven. Due to the way these things hook into the antenna directly, they should be producing the strongest signal, and thus other than drift interference, should be a great compromise to the limitations inherent in an in-dash unit (i.e. having to keep a slew of cd's in the front of the car and losing, in most cases, your ability to play cassettes).<p>[ 10-10-2001: Message edited by: Consultants_1 ]

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What are folks feelings about the double din units on the market. If one wanted a multiple disc changer added to the single disc capacity, you would still have the direct vs. FM debate. But for those who can live with changing the cd every hour or so, it seems like a viable option. Opinions from those who know better?

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As to the argument of 6x9's to 5-1/4"'s, I have this to say... Yes, the 6x9's are louder, have a higher wattage capacity, and fuller bass response (in my opinion), but these advantages cannot be fully realized without amps and equalizers to enhance the sound and remove the subtle distortions caused by some of the more reasonable (sub $150) speakers. Matched 6-1/2"'s would, in my opinion, be better replacements for the factory installed speakers in the '88-'89's, if they can be made to fit properly. I understand that you have fpour speakers back there to our two. I've recently heard the quality with the computerized stereo and actually feel it to be "cleaner" than the '90's. Not sure about the '91, but if it wasn't changed, can't say I would perceive a difference of opinion. I've changed my '90's for aftermarket already. The 6-1/2"s will increase the bass response of the rear speakers without overpowering the front bottoms (which, btw, I would match with the rears if possible) while keeping the factory tweeters. They are are unusual resistance, but the factory system seems to love them and I've found nothing that will give the same quality in your highs (and still fit in the doors).<BR>As for the brand... I'm still experimenting, but I didn't like the Sony Xplod's, (sorry Robert). The highs were not clear enough for my tastes, but then, I love Jazz. <BR>Whatever you decide, be wary. I never realized before just how much presence those rears have when sitting aimed at the back of your head. If you're not careful, you can drown out your fronts and never get proper quality of sound without changing the head unit to something that does positional sound displacement. Good luck.

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Side note... GM uses a 1-1/2DIN size. The Double DIN won't fit at allin a '90-91 and I seriously doubt in an '88-89 as well. Also, whatever dash unit you buy, be prepared to do some modifications (like in tearing down, or more accurately punching out) to the plastic in the front of the radio housing's interior. The factory radio is shorter in length than a standard DIN in the '90-91. Best bet is to get a 1-1/2DIN made to fit GM/Chrysler to avoid this, but few on the market will give you the cassette + tuner + cd option, and they are range from $400-$1K for one that's worth the trouble. If you go this route, <B>DO NOT BUY CHEAP!!!</B> Cheap units can easily have minor defects and will definitely have a shorter operational life span. They are <B>VERY</B> expensive and complicated to service, due to the tight integration of componentry. Otherwise, these units are truly a viable option for those who want, or can deal with, the ability to load CD's at will. Some of the higher end ones even come with 3 and 5 cd changers. Check out the new offerings in many of the high end vehicles today. Many of these units will fit the Reatta (although may require a kit). Just stay away from anything that's double DIN (which basically can be identified because it's twice the hight of a standard aftermarket radio).

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A CD playing through an FM modulator that offers several different frequencies with a remore control offers a great improvement in convenience and sound quality over cassettes!<P>Speakers are done. grin.gif" border="0 Interesting results. Being unable to make the Sony's fit in the doors I moved the Phoenix Golds from the back to the doors. Again no easy task fitting a 6 x 9 into a 5.25 spot. Lots of dermel work and lots of construction adhesive. Once installed they are completely invisible. There is no way that you have any visual indications that there are 6 x 9s there and the windows still have their full range of movement. 100% WAF ... not too bad.<P>However your ears definitely can tell that the speakers have been upgraded. The speakers are very musical. As expected there is much more bass without being boomy. Unexpectedly the midrange and highs are clearer and the imaging and soundstage are greatly improved. The soundstage is wider, richer and the speakers completely disappear and there is just music. This was an unexpected result especially considering the cheap multi stranded speaker wires that messes up the signal path. <P>Don't know what I will put in the back. Currently am using stock speakers. They will be a simple two minute switch once I decide. Robert

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