Anybody upgraded rear speaker size??...

[Ramblin Fever]

I know the '97 calls for 4x6 speakers in the rear ceiling mounts, but has anybody put in bigger speakers?

Or has anybody just plainly upgraded the factory speakers to aftermarket - if so, do you like them and what brand/speaker is it?

Upgraded the stereo today, to a Panasonic CQ-C3303U CD/Mp-3/I-pod/XM/Serius system with 50x4 watts - also installed new front Infiniti 4021i speakers in the doors.

I believe this set-up has good potential, sounds good already, but seems I still prefer the sound of the old rear speakers over the new front ones - if that makes any sense.

I seemed to have lost my Bass - not that these trucks came with a lot from the factory, but seems the old front speakers had more bass to them. And now I only get more bass if I direct more of the music out of the back speakers (OEM).

Could it just be that I got so used to the way it sounded versus the way it SHOULD sound? Or is it because the factory rear (oem) speakers are so much lessor quality then the new Infiniti's - and would it bring back my bass if I bought new rear speakers?

Basically what I'm asking, is there such a difference in quality that they're clashing versus working together?

FWIW - we mainly listen to soft rock, country, oldies, etc; nothing heavy metal or rap. I don't expect, nor do I want that "thump, thump" that you hear out of other cars, and I don't need a subwoofer (don't have room to install one), just want some bass.

[explicit408]

Do the new speakers come with a built in crossovers? They could be blocking the bass. Don't expect much bass from a 4" speaker though. 4x6s probably sound better because they are bigger and now getting more watts with the aftermarket head unit. Some aftermarket 4x6 speakers should give you more output and bass.

[Ramblin Fever]

Hmm, think I figured out part of the problem. Truck came with OEM 5 1/4" fronts, installed 4" Infinity's cause that's what I was told was stock size.

Going to call them - Cartoys, and see if I can't exchange these for bigger one's.

[Gizmo42]

Another reason is that aftermarket speakers take much more power to push them. The factory ones being low wattage didnt take all that much to get all the sound from them. If you swap out the rear ones to aftermarket they will be more balanced but probably also lacking in bass.

The best option is to also get a small (50 watt should work) 4 channel amp to drive them. It should be small enough to hide pretty easy.

HERE is a discussion on the planet about that.

[Ramblin Fever]

So are you in a way suggesting that the stereo alone, being a 18w RMSx4, isn't powerful enough to drive them?

Kind of leary of switching out the rears, every post I read on the planet with the years of 95.5 - 97 with rear speakers mounted in overhead boxes said that when they put in aftermarket rears they lost all bass altogether. I at least still have some....

If I install an amp, can it plug into my new headunit?

[AWILLIAMS64]

also make sure you have the polarity right on the front speakers. If it is out of phase you will get no bass from the fronts at all. Try fading all the way to the front and then balance all the way to the left and then all the way to the right. If you get bass from them when you do this they are out of phase from each other.

[Gizmo42]

All new head units should be set up for connecting to an amp. I'm eventually going to change out my fronts. Not sure where I would put an amp to drive the speakers properly though. The 6x9's I put in the rear help out with the bass in mine (much better then the stock 4" at least) but I still get better bass from the stock fronts for now.

[Ramblin Fever]

Did you have to do any re-wiring for your 6x9's, or did you just use the rear wiring from your 4" speakers?

Thinking about installing 6x9's in the rear & seeing if that does the trick - just not sure where to put 'em. I have 3 dogs that ride in the back and can't afford to loose floor space.

Thanks for your help Gizmo - never really was into stereo upgrades, just kind of always settled for what I had I guess.

[Ramblin Fever]

After more research, I can forget installing an amplifier - cheapest one I can find is another $100, I'm not looking to spend what would be $350-400 in a total stereo upgrade.

I know that sounds cheap in comparison to what most have probably done, but I have to keep these extra expendures to a minimum as the daily cost of living is going up all the time.

Not only that, but if the truck were to get stolen, I'd be out just that much more, and I've already got a lot of upgrades on this rig.

I wished I'd done more research in the complaints of aftermarket speakers before I went and spent $70 bucks for a set of front speakers that I don't feel were worth it.

Gonna call CarToys today and see if I can return them for a set of lessor quality, i.e Pioneer TS-G1041R's, these supposedly call for a good sound around 20 RMS versus 35 RMS of the Infinity's.

Definitely would highly recommend others to try their new headunit's before thinking they automatically need new speakers. I'm just SOOOO glad I didn't rip out the rears at the same time!!

[Gizmo42]

I just cut the connectors off the stock rear speaker wires and connected some regular speaker wire to them then ran it behind the plastic to where my 6x9s sit. Mine are in speaker boxes so I can move them to wherever I need at the moment.

If I ever get to the point of replacing my fronts and put in an amp I will probably run all new speaker wires instead of using the cheap thin stuff thats stock.

[Ramblin Fever]

Ok, here's the deal - polarity WAS backwards - OOOOPS!

Trimmed the front door panels, and installed 5 1/4" Infinity's in place of the 4" - same speaker only bigger. BIG BIG difference!

So, for anyone who's looking to upgrade - I'm now having excellent results with factory rear's and Infinity Reference 5 1/4" fronts, no amp.

[Ramblin Fever]

Appearantly I just wasn't meant for having Infinity speakers - one of them blew up last night. Don't know why honestly, didn't have stereo very loud, no amp, no extra bass, etc.

Got a full refund, so no biggy; I now have the JBL 5 1/4" component system in the front of the truck, these ones are WAYYY better then the Infinity's, deeper bass and just an overall fuller sound.

Didn't feel like messing with installing tweeters & crossovers, so I had CarToys do the dirty deed - did a wonderful job.

[Gizmo42]

Nice!

I've never liked infinity to begin with. They've always sounded harsh and tinny to me. Not that the panasonic cheapies that I put in back are all that great but I dont expect them to sound like bose for the price LOL.

Hope you have better luck with the JBL's, I've always liked them.

[660Ryder]

Is there a good replacement for the rear ceiling mounted speakers? I put in some Panasonic 4x6's up there and it sounded WORSE than the stock equipment. Being as excited as I was, I had installed them in the parking lot and then promptly went back in and returned them - service desk was like "that was quick..". Any good (cheap) alternatives for those rear speakers aside from separate boxes?

[Ramblin Fever]

Thank you Gizmo - yes, the Infinity's were very tinny and something about them that I just didn't like - can't figure out how to explain it, just not the sound I thought they'd have.

My 2nd day in the truck with the new set-up, and I can't believe how good it sounds with just your basic stereo system, no amp and factory rear speakers. And, it's SOOOO very nice to have a CD player now!!

Got to be honest with you, 660Ryder, I will NOT be replacing my rear speakers until they either blow up or rot, so many people that have, have been bumbed by the lack of bass and good sound.

And honestly, I spent the whole 2hrs while Cartoy's was putting in my front speakers/tweeters, listening to ALL of the 4x6" speakers they carry mixed with the JBL's for front sound. Not a single rear speaker they had sounds as good as the one's we currently have in the rear.

If your factory rear's are still in good shape, I'd just keep them personally. With the new 5 1/4" I have up front and the factory 4x6 in the rear, my truck sounds great!