Hey guys, is there a difference in speaker size in the newer models. I have a 99tl w/ POLK DX6's (6 1/2) in all four doors, but I tried to use a different POLK series, still 6 1/2 and a Kicker series speaker,still 6 1/2, but they would not fit. I had to use a 5 1/4????. Does my 9tl have a 5 1/4 and the POLK DX6's are just a special fit compared to other 6 1/2 speakers???? The reason I ask, is b/c I may want to use a diferent model speaker, JL or MB Quart, but I do not want to use them if I have to use a 5 1/4 speaker compared to the Polk DX6 6 1/2...

any info

thanks

 

becasue of the factory brackets u are limited in use of speakers. You will have to get brackets made. I got components up front and 2 ways in the back.

 

What size and model are your component speakers?

thanks

 

STAMP,
I think your assessment of the situation is accurate. I don't think that there is any difference between the 99 and 02, 03...

The Polk DX6s are smaller than some 6-1/2 inch speakers. They are LUCKY to fit. That's why there has been such hype about them. A lot of the other more expensive and potentially better sounding speakers probably won't fit without custom spacer work and custom door frame cutout work. I liked some MB Quarts in the store, but NO WAY would they fit... they are on the LARGE size for a 6'1/2 inch speaker. I also had some Diamonds that I liked, but the same problem. I would have had to go to the smaller 5-1/4 inch size for them to fit.

Acura/BLOSE didn't make it easy for you...

Good Luck!
Southbound

 

Southbond,
thanks for the info. I was just curious. To be honest, powered by the AMP, the PolkDX6's really do sound great. Listen to what I did a few weeks ago. I have a pair of DX6s in the front and the rear. I wanted a component set in the front so I added a pair of 1" silk dome tweeters in the plastic triangular piece, where the CL's and most newer cars have stock tweeters. I noticed that the front of the car was way too bright ( the DX6's and 1' tweeters) But I really wanted a component set for the front, but since a regular 6 1/2 component would not fit, and I did not want to settle for a 5 1/4 component set, I decided to disconnect the DX6's tweeter. I took the DX6 out and clipped the little wire on the back of the speaker connecting the DX6's tweeter but keeping the 1" silk dome tweeters in the triangular spot. I know I know, it sounds crazy, but now I have a 6 1/2 component set in the front and the regular DX6's in the rear.
It really sounds great, really loud, clear and not too bright.
I have read most of your audio threads and you seem to be someone who is well respected on audio mods.....what are your thoughts about my mod? Have you ever thought about this? Did I do something or anything that will come back to haunt me? Your advice on this would be appreciated.

thanks

 

My comps are the Alpine type R 6 1/2.

 

Stamps,
You have come up with a nice mod. It gets the tweeter up higher off of the ground and places the directional image of the sound stage nearer your ears. This could also make things sound louder.

As far as having something come back to haunt you... IF YOU KEPT BOTH TWEETERS CONNECTED, you could present too low of an impedance load to the amp and cause it to eventually fail due to prolonged heat. Since you have now "snipped" the Polk tweeter out of circuit, you should be fine. How did you feed the NEW tweeter? Did you simply parallel the new tweeter across the input to the POLK MIDRANGE INPUT? IF so, the bass will eventually destroy the new tweeter. I doubt that you did things that way, because the bass would cause noticable distortion in the tweeter. Also, this configuration could cause too low of an impedance to the amp as well. You need some sort of crossover between the Polk DX6 midrange and the NEW tweeter. A SIMPLE 4.7UF/35VOLT NON POLARIZED CAP IN SERIES WITH THE POSITIVE LEAD OF THE NEW TWEETER WOULD SUFFICE. That would duplicate what was installed on the Polk coaxial speaker, and is a typical crossover frequency for car audio speakers.

If you've complied with all of those basic concerns... ENJOY!!! If you do find down the road that the sound is a bit bright... as long as you are driving things with the stock amp, you can easily add a series resistor to the NEW tweeter as well. 2.7ohm/5watt to 4.7ohm/5watt is the range that you could play with before worrying about heat in the resistor. IF YOU ADD AN EXTRA MORE POWERFUL AMP, then the resistor would have to be larger in wattage. What is the efficiency of your new tweeter? I'm surprised that it's not too bright, especially being up closer to your ears. It may not be quite as efficient as the Polk tweeter, and therefore doesn't need the rolloff mod. In any case, the only thing that matters, IS YOUR EARS... If you like it, don't mess with it...

I LIKE YOUR IDEA! In the beginning, I almost did the same thing you have done with the STOCK BLOSE speakers. I thought about just adding a tweeter to gain some highs, until I stumbled on to the DX6s. However, I'm quite sure now that I NEVER would have been happy with the MUDDY BLOSE MIDRANGE. While Acura specs out the door speakers as 6-1/2 inch, they are really more like a 6 inch speaker. Therefore, a lot of TRUE 6-1/2 inch speakers won't fit (without a lot of work, and then some are still too deep to fit at all) I, too didn't want to resort to 5-1/4" speakers because of the typical loss of bass response. However, I suppose, there could be some really nice tight sounding ones out there if you also upgrade the subwoofer to make up for the lack of bass. But it doesn't really seem worth the money, time, or effort at this point to replace the DX6s... UNLESS YOU ARE DOING A COMPLETE SYSTEM UPGRADE AND REPLACING ALL AMPS AND THE SUBWOOFER AS WELL. So far, I have not upgraded my subwoofer, even though I'd like to "magically" make it happen.

Thanks for the great post and the good idea of moving the tweeter up higher in the door. My mods were all designed around the principle of "cheap and Easy" without having to modify the door panel or door frame while still providing a nice level of improvement. Your mod could very well sound better than the simple Polk DX6 replacement, due to your tweeter placement. I noticed that the highs REALLY SOUNDED A LOT NICER WITH THE DOOR PANELS OFF!!! The door panel plastic with the 1/4inch holes and fabric covering the speakers REALLY muffles and mushes the sound! I thought things sounded a lot more crisp and clear before I put my door panels back on. In your case, the tweeter is not covered by that bogus door panel... so you just might be onto something good...hmmmmmmm! I have thought about taking my door panels back off and trying to cut out the plastic speaker covering. I'm just worried about messing up and cutting the grill clothe as well. the plastic is about 1/4 inch thick. Also, someones knee could now bang into the tweeter or stretch the fabric and cause it to look wrinkled, etc. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try it, but if anybody else out there is brave enough... GO FOR IT! If anybody has the Polk DX6s installed and wants to experiment... Take the front door panels off and drive around with the music cranked... see if it sounds cleaner, crisper, and louder to you as it seemed to sound to me? Anybody else try this or notice this???

Thanks everybody!
Good Luck!
Southbound