I just bought a 2003 v6 Mustang, and want to know what are the sizes of the speakers, and what the factory watts limit are for them. I have an Alpine 60watt X 4 channels Head unit and want to get it installed, but am afraid that it will blow out the factory speakers. I also want to know if anybody has installed 1" tweeters in the the doors ( where the mirrors are)
Speakers
- Thread starter wallfruit
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GREENBIOCH
Founding Member
I know 94 to 98 stangs its the 6x8 speakers in the front and back, I would assume they are the same size for 99+.
So here is the low down, the factory speakers are 6x8's but if you want to replace them your going to want to go with 5x7's in the rear (you could do 6x9's with some mod but huge pain in the a$$) i have fitted 5.25 components in the fronts with some slight mods. Dont worry about the power handling of the speakers because your deck is probably only doing about 25 watts of RMS. The biggest thing is to not push through a ton of bass (turn your bass way up) It will make your speaker bottom out or Pop this is very bad. So fine tune the stereo. Turn the stereo up where you usually listen to it then adjust the bass so that its just below that point. This will save the speakers life. Also keep the Treble about two notches higher than the bass, (my stereo goes by 2's so i have it set at 4 and the bass at 0) remember that in order to reproduce low tones properly you will need a driver of appropriate size to do so.
Mean03V6
New Member
wallfruit said:
I just had a similar Alpine unit installed in my Stang yesterday and I have no complaints with it.
Just do like someone else already said..make sure your bass isn't up too high. Whoever installed my unit really jacked up the bass and when I got in and turned it on, I thought I was gonna blow the speakers right out.
'66 coupe
Founding Member
Onimere said:
Why use a different size?
Yes, 6x8 is an odd sized employed by Ford and Mazda. But you can get decent aftermarket speakers in this size. Pioneer and the other aftermarket brands aren't gonna ignore the huge chunk of the market that includes Ford and Mazda. They have stuff for us.
As for watching out for the stock speakers...go to Best Buy and buy speaker savers. They're only like $6 and they limit the amount of power getting to the speakers. They're made just for people who want an aftermarket deck but don't want to change out their speakers.
So many choices
the good thing about after market speakers is that they can handle more abuse, I went with the 5.25 in the front because they have a much cleaner mid-bass sound. There isnt much choice when looking at 6x8, so you will find more options when looking at 5x7's they fit in the factory location without modifications at all. As for why Ford does crazy sizes with the speakers is the same reason that chevy has tied in the air bag with the factory head unit. Its all about the money, most people will just go out and accept that they have to stay with the factory equipment, or will go to the manufacturer and buy better equipment at some rediculous price. Just learn your options and listen to the speakers before you buy.
the good thing about after market speakers is that they can handle more abuse, I went with the 5.25 in the front because they have a much cleaner mid-bass sound. There isnt much choice when looking at 6x8, so you will find more options when looking at 5x7's they fit in the factory location without modifications at all. As for why Ford does crazy sizes with the speakers is the same reason that chevy has tied in the air bag with the factory head unit. Its all about the money, most people will just go out and accept that they have to stay with the factory equipment, or will go to the manufacturer and buy better equipment at some rediculous price. Just learn your options and listen to the speakers before you buy.
ChaosStarter
Founding Member
Onimere said:
Actually, 5x7s and 6x8s are the same thing. It's just the mounting points on the speaker are different. At BB, we now have about 5 different models, if not more of 5x7/6x8 speakers including Rockford, Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, etc. Unfortunately, we don't carry MB Quart, Memphis, JL or any brands like that, but if you just want good speakers for a good price, check those out.
ChaosStarter said:
Oh geez....Best Buy knowledge strikes again. Sorry dude, you're wrong.
5x7's are smaller than true 6x8's. Sure, most of them have been designed to drop into 6x8 openings, but WHY would you want to sacrifice a larger woofer?
As '66 coupe has stated, many companies do manufactuer true 6x8 speakers, and unless you're installing round components (which is also nutz considering there are 6x8 components too) you'd be a dumbass to downgrade to a 5x7 just because it'll drop in.
Some cars actually do require 5x7's, but the Mustang isn't one of 'em. And if you have a car that does, go ahead and try to install a true 6x8....
To everyone: Don't ever go to BestBuy.
Yeah I have 6x8 components in my car in the front andregular 6x8s in the back and they are definately different than 5x7s. As for Best Buys, I disagree about not going there. I think they have pretty good deals on car audio stuff and especially computer stuff as long as you follow the weekly ads.
01White5spd said:
Ok, you're right. Go there if you know exactly what you want and you can get a good deal....but don't go there and expect them to be able to provide you with accurate answers.
While I'm sure there are exceptions, most of them are completely clueless, and rather than admit it they'll just fill you with bull****. The same is true for most audio chains (Circuit City, Bernies, etc...). The only place I've gone that has had consistantly knowledgable sales staff is Tweeter.
'66 coupe
Founding Member
xneox said:
Well...I work at Best Buy, and all the stores are different.
One reason you may be running into unknowledgeable employees could be because the store you're in likes to move people between departments A LOT. So someone could be trying to learn everything about TV's and DVD players one week and be trying to match a sub to an amp the next.
I know in my store people don't get shifted around too much unless they know their stuff. If there's an opening in one dept., it's easier to train a new employee than to move one over there, fill their spot, and then you're having to train two people.
Also, employee discounts are so cheap on Car Audio stuff at Best Buy(about 50% off everything), that almost every guy in the store has a decent system in their car, giving them a small amount of personal experience.
GREENBIOCH
Founding Member
6x8 and 5X7 are the same size, it is the mounting bracket that is different and depends on if your talking about the mazda which uses 5X7 or the Ford which uses the 6X8.
plus I put 6X9's in the back of mine, I just bolted them on from the underside rather then dropping them in the moldings. Which really isn't that much of a pain.
plus I put 6X9's in the back of mine, I just bolted them on from the underside rather then dropping them in the moldings. Which really isn't that much of a pain.
if 5x7's and 6x8's were the same size wouldnt they all be called 6x8's? lets think about the logic, the 6x8 has more surface area for the woofer which is great but there are more companies that make 5x7's. Best Buy might have some decent selection but I really doubt that they have any master installers working for them. So yeah a chain like tweeter or Car Toys will generally have more knowledgable staff. Car Toys employ's (forgive me if i have the numbers wrong by a little bit) 9 of the 12 master installers in the US. So here is the real deal if you are looking for MBQuart's to put in your car and you want the top of the line "Q-Line" you will not find 6x8 or 5x7's but lets say you dont want top of the line second step up is "Reference" they do have component 6x8's. I guess its boils down to really how much of an audiophile you are and how much you want to spend. For me pioneer will never touch my car, sony is alright but still not high enough, they seem to lack some luster, and fosgate needs to stick to amps. i will give sony props they make some good products, but for me I am doing MB Quart, and Infinity Kappa currently, with only Phoenix Gold amps. When I do step up I will go with either Phoenix Gold all the way around has to be the Octane R series or I will go with Gold amps and Focal utopia series speak's all the way around.
Ghostalker
Member
I bought mine used with a Clarion head unit and alpine speakers in the rear deck, awesome sound out of those, still debating putting in and Alpine Sub and Amp in the trunk =/
I also bought an extra pair of speakers for the front lower doors, because i thought something was wring witht hem (buzzing) then it magically went away after i bought them and before i installed them =/
I also bought an extra pair of speakers for the front lower doors, because i thought something was wring witht hem (buzzing) then it magically went away after i bought them and before i installed them =/
