Speaker installation

mct601 · Jun 7, 2012

Alright so I'm reading and looking and can't find a clear answer. So far the one speaker I know people are not having issues with are the Kickers everyone is raving about. My budget is a little higher and I like great quality (I like Kicker but never overly impressed) so I intend on going with JL Audio, Alpine, Pioneer, Focal- whatever. However Crutchfield is recommending a bunch of 5-1/4" speakers, yet I see people putting 6x9s and 6.5s in their doors on here. I don't have stuff like a dremel available to me to do modifying so I need to keep it as drop in/plug and play as possible for now. I am looking to do the doors and rear first, then worry about the dash (L door is blown).

and thanks for any replies, I am running on very basic knowledge of car audio.

quietpeen · Jun 7, 2012

i think where most of the problems come from is the depth of the speaker, so most cases there wouldn't be cutting to make a 6x9 fit, but spacers are usually required to get the deeper speaker to fit. I don't know first had as my truck still has stock speaker and the last time i dealt with it was in an 05 ram, but it seems that has been the main issue through the model years

mct601 · Jun 7, 2012

I installed Boston 6x9s in my '05 with little issue. I don't know what I'm dealing with on this one

blackout11 · Jun 7, 2012

ive always used pioneer but i installed the kickers in mine and they sound much better then them

MidnightRambler · Jun 7, 2012

Are you in a rc/qc/cc? And what kind of head unit? That makes a big difference. Better tuning options on higher end decks always helps. Great speakers wont help a mediocre signal, and a great signal wont help mediocre speakers. Keep in mind the fab you'll have to do may not be worth the effort for a marginal sound improvement over already great sounding 6x9 kickers, especially if you change out your dash 3.5's. Go 8 quality on everything and get a factory like fit, instead of 10 quality on something's. Just my 2.5 cents.

mct601 · Jun 7, 2012

Regular cab with the 430, but once I make my new ATV investment in a few weeks, a new head unit will come.

Graygoose · Jun 8, 2012

replace with just Kicker KS or DS69's, going down to 5.25" you sure lose alot of cone area...(output)

Trupiano · Jun 8, 2012

From what I've read here, you should be able to fit 6x9's in all four doors. Why install smaller speakers when you can fit larger ones in there? Much better sound!

mct601 · Jun 8, 2012

Trupiano said:
From what I've read here, you should be able to fit 6x9's in all four doors. Why install smaller speakers when you can fit larger ones in there? Much better sound!

Thats what I wanted to hear. Now on to the depth issue... Crutchfield says most 6x9s won't fit. What measurements have people gotten away with without doing minimal or no modification to make it seat properly?

2K10HemiRam · Jun 8, 2012

mct601 said:
Thats what I wanted to hear. Now on to the depth issue... Crutchfield says most 6x9s won't fit. What measurements have people gotten away with without doing minimal or no modification to make it seat properly?

I'm actually working on a DIY right now for this but I can tell you that ion the front doors you have just shy of 3" of depth to work with. I have kicker KS693's in my doors and they are about 3 3/16" in depth so to make them fit in the front doors and not have the magnet resting on the window brace I had to cut and install 1/3" spacers. I also needed to remove some plastic to fully clear the magnet although I know some people didn't have to do both or either.

There is no depth issue with the rear doors however, unless you can find a 6x9 that's like 5" in depth, lol

mct601 · Jun 8, 2012

Gotcha. So with the dash and the rears I shouldn't have any issues, just the door. Appreciate the info, this allows me to start looking at different 6x9s with the intent to purchase.

2K10HemiRam · Jun 9, 2012

The only issue I will say with having to use spacers on the front speakers is, and depending on the speakers themselves, that the tweeter could rub against the speaker grille on the door shell. Example again, my 693's do rest on the grille and do push it out some, enough that the parking brake handle will rub the door a little, and you can see where the cone on the tweeter is pushing the grille out. But it's not bad enough to make me want to attempt anything else after today's attempt at installing baffles.

mct601 · Jun 9, 2012

I don't know why Dodge always has to make something a PITA with the sound system for us lol

2K10HemiRam · Jun 9, 2012

lol, yea...they like challenging us.

DIY is up btw if you want to look at it

Speaker DIY

mct601 · Jun 12, 2012

Thank you sir, you make the life of people such as myself a LITTLE bit easier lol

fsharp1 · Jun 19, 2012

Awesome question, I was planning on doing all JL audio as well... I will stay tuned for more info from the thread...

MADDOG · Jun 19, 2012

Front door fit is shallow, 2 7/8" max depth.

I upgraded to Infinity Reference speakers and liked them a lot.

I eventually went with a set of Hertz HSK 165 component speakers in the front.

Speaker installation

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