300TD Stereo speaker Upgrade suggestions?

[obwielnls]

I am getting ready to upgrade the stereo in my wagon. I think the biggest problem is the speakers kinda suck, I replaced the 4 that are there with some high end ones and still get little bass. I have been looking for newer front door panels that have the speaker there, but so far have had no luck.. I noticed on the board that someone had built a box for the rear that didn't interfere with the third row seat but I use that space with all of the seats folded down quite frequently. What else has anyone done to get some better sound from one of these? Stuff a sub somewhere? the spare tire/jack storage area look like possible candidates to me for larger speakers but I hate to start cutting holes there..

[Shawn D.]

I used Pioneer TS-G1041R 2-Way speakers up front, Pioneer TS-G1641R 2-Way speakers in the rear hatch, and Stinger 300 Hz Bass Blocker Passive Crossovers with the front speakers. I had to mill the back of the front grilles for a bit of clearance. FWIW, I found the front speaker P/Ns by searching the site here.
PIOTSG1041R Pioneer TS-G1041R 2-Way Speaker, PIOTSG1641R Pioneer TS-G1641R 2-Way Speaker, STISBASS1 Stinger 300 Hz Bass Blocker Passive Crossover Component

[babymog]

I'm installing the later door panels in my '87 also, need to do some significant trimming to the inner-door steel to make the speaker assemblies fit.

I'm not sure it's worth it for just the speakers, I wanted the wood and leather. If it were just for door speakers I think I'd measure the depth/clearance and surface-mount the best that will fit after trimming the door panel and steel.

[jkoebel]

I bought Polk Audio 2-way 5.5" speakers and cut the hat deck to make room for 'em.

[rwthomas1]

Speakers in the doors suck as do speakers in the dash. If you are going to start modding and cutting things consider this: Build a set of kick panel enclosures that will hold high quality 5 1/4" coax's or better yet separates. The doors you end up hearing only the passenger side and the dash location just colors the sound as it reflects and sounds tinny off the windshield. If you like music the kick location is unbeatable. I am working on a set for my 123 right now. Bass is easy in a wagon. Sealed 10 woofer in the cargo area in removable box.

RT

[Chad300tdt]

I just put a 10" subwoofer in the spare tire cover and the amp in the spot where the first aid kit goes. I used 4" Boston Acoustic single unit component speakers in the front and back. I am customizing the speaker covers. I had originally ordered some MB Quart speakers, but they ended up being a back order item so I went with speakers that required some modification.

The subwoofer fits in the recess of the spare tire and still allows clearance for the hatch floor to lift up and down. It was tough to find one that fit, but the Rockford Fosgate p400-2 amp fits in the first-aid kit spot with some modification.

[babymog]

Good point on the door location, on my '91 that's where Mercedes put the subwoofers as the low-frequency is fairly non-directional and unneccesary for imaging. The dash is a good place for tweeters, but not too much else, perhaps midrange/tweeters, which leaves the kick-panel and rear deck for full-range speakers.

The wagon panels and speakers I have for my sedan have the subwoofers in the front doors, mid & tweeters in the rear armrests, I have decent co-axial speakers in the rear deck and same in the dash, should be able to create a fairly flat full-range output from that. Larger subs could possibly go in your rear hatch, my LandRover has them there and it works well.

[Bio300TDTdriver]

A 10" subwoofer will just fit in the center of the spare tire on a 124. That is where I have mine.

[europower]

On my 87td i installed alpine 4 inch speakers under the dash grills and they were a perfect fit,they sound pretty good and cost about 65 dollars a pair.On the doors i made a mess and installed jl audio 5 inch speakers xr series,best sounding speaker ive heard.otherwise you can go rainbow audio but they are high dollars.

[obwielnls]

I like the idea of the sub in the spare tire cover I think. I have some decent speakers in the stock locations, it just lacks bass.. So you guys have an amp driving a single sub that mounts in the spare tire cover, so that the back of the sub fits where the center of the spare tire is? Do I have this right? 10" will fit?

This is all for my wife, she likes her music, but isnt an audiophile. If I get her some "thump" I think she'll be happy.

[Chad300tdt]

Originally Posted by obwielnls

I like the idea of the sub in the spare tire cover I think. I have some decent speakers in the stock locations, it just lacks bass.. So you guys have an amp driving a single sub that mounts in the spare tire cover, so that the back of the sub fits where the center of the spare tire is? Do I have this right? 10" will fit?

This is all for my wife, she likes her music, but isnt an audiophile. If I get her some "thump" I think she'll be happy.

I just wanted a fuller sound, not a bass machine. That's what our Acura is for.

A 10" sub will fit, but, consider how deep the sub is. Remember that the magnet will move in and out with the bass hits and could tap the spare if the sub is too deep. I wrapped the magnet of my sub with foam rubber tape to cushion it in the case of a heavy hit making the magnet tap the spare wheel. An 8" sub would fit even better.

[Bio300TDTdriver]

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

I just wanted a fuller sound, not a bass machine. That's what our Acura is for.

A 10" sub will fit, but, consider how deep the sub is. Remember that the magnet will move in and out with the bass hits and could tap the spare if the sub is too deep. I wrapped the magnet of my sub with foam rubber tape to cushion it in the case of a heavy hit making the magnet tap the spare wheel. An 8" sub would fit even better.

I agree the 10" fits, but it is tight. I would use an 8" if I did it again. My amp is on the other side next to the rear window washer fluid container.

[vstech]

the magnet moves in a sub??? hmm I was unaware of this (aside from vibration that is...) I would think the magnet would be mounted to the frame of the speaker,and the cone inside the magnet would move...
another thing that can be done to improve the sound in these cars is TOTALLY cover the outer skins (from the inside of course) with deadner... dynamat is great for this... although pricey.

[Chad300tdt]

Originally Posted by vstech

the magnet moves in a sub??? hmm I was unaware of this (aside from vibration that is...) I would think the magnet would be mounted to the frame of the speaker,and the cone inside the magnet would move...
another thing that can be done to improve the sound in these cars is TOTALLY cover the outer skins (from the inside of course) with deadner... dynamat is great for this... although pricey.

The magnet doesn't move independently, but when mounted to the spare tire cover, the flex in the cover allows the whole sub to move and the magnet can tap the spare. Perhaps there's a way to make the spare cover more rigid while still allowing it to be removed easily?

Here are some pics of my sub and amp locations.

[vstech]

Ahh, that makes sense.