anyone know if it is possible to just add front tweets to achieve better highs up front. i have read all of the posts by southbound and others, but i have not found a pr of dx6's. will ex'x work as well?

 

Yes... You could simply add tweeters to the stock speakers. Just put a 4.7uF/50volt "unpolarized" cap in series with the positive lead. Just parallel the speaker terminals from the BOSE, only put the cap in series with the positive wire up to the tweeter. You will still have to go through some mod process to find some place to mount the tweeter... and if you go to that work, you might rather want to replace the entire stock speakers with a better component system or a suitable coaxial speaker. The problem is that not many speakers will fit the door frame cutout without custom spacers, etc. Also, unless you are planning to replace the head unit and EQ and add an additional amp, don't look for speakers that are REALLY bright in the store... THEY WILL BLISTER AND HISS AT YOU IN THE STOCK TLS BOSE SYSTEM. Pick something with toned down highs... The POLKS have silk dome tweeters which are not as bright as the titanium metal type tweeters.

Unfortunately, the POLK DX6s have been discontinued and they were an easy fit and easy install with much better sound over the stock speakers. I would gamble on trying the POLK EX series speaker. I examined a pair of the EX-365, and they are actually 3db more efficient than the DX series. However, they only have a 3/4 inch tweeter as opposed to the DX's full 1 inch tweeter. Then again, most of us are finding that the full scale tweeter produces too much highs with the factory EQ in circuit. It looked like the EX series 6-1/2 inch coaxial speaker would fit, except that you would have to drill ONE hole at the top of the speaker frame to line up with the factory door hole screw pattern. The hole would be easy to drill, because there is already an indentation in the gasket material on top of the speaker frame, but they just didn't drill it out for some reason? Check it out on the POLK website, when you look at the picture of the EX-365, it's the TOP hole that would need to be drilled. The stock door screw holes use three screws in a triangle pattern with one screw at the top. That shouldn't be much of a mod process, and they should sound very close to the stock volume only cleaner and tighter bass with some REAL highs. It wouldn't be a super system, but it should be cheap and easy to do with very worthwhile results.

I would go that route before simply adding tweeters to the crappy BOSE mid range speakers. The BOSE midrange and bass is still mush when compared to the POLK DX6s in my TLS. You might as well upgrade both parts of the speaker while you're at it. Once you see the BOSE speaker for yourself, you'll know why I'm saying this...

Hope this helps. If you do put POLK EX-365 speakers in your car, LET US KNOW HOW THEY FIT AND SOUND! They do have a rotating tweeter that would help aim the highs from off the floor.

GOOD LUCK!
Southbound

 

Thanks Southbound! I think I am going to go with the EX and give them a try. I know to bend up the terminals and cut out the basket and INSULATE everything. The only thing I am not sure about is the spr mod that you had previously discussed. Is it absolutely necessary to do this mod w/ the little round resistor or whatever you had called it? Thanks again for your info. I will report back when I install them!!

 

Hey dawg,
No, it's not necessary at all to install the resistor/capacitor terminator mod. That is just a final refinement mod to get the absolute ultimate detail out of a system. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about installing it. It doesn't sound like the mod is suited for you. Also, I was assuming that you had a 2002 or 2003 TLS. I keep forgeting that people with older models also use this site. I'm not sure as to the size or fit of any speakers except for the 02/03 model year with the 5 speaker Bose system.

You will have to rely on others for that clarification. Hopefully they are all still using the same sized hole cutout and spacer basket, etc.

Good luck!
Southbound