Bit early but starting to think about what Santa can bring me this year (might as well get something useful).

 

Can anyone recommend a pair of front speakers that will be an improvement over the OEM ones I have fitted now?

 

Would want straight swap (I know I will need adaptor rings, which ones?) and make a good enough difference to sound quality to make it worth doing.

 

Also is it worth slapping on some sound deadening at the same time? if so whats best value one? have used dynamat in the past but it was expensive. 

 

 

I already have a Kenwood DAB double din head unit which improved the sound quality even with the original speakers and a small sub in the boot.

 

 

Thanks 

 

Short answer....

Speaker MUST be 62mm deep maximum or you'll hit the window mech bar behind.

You might need a foam spacer or bumper on the door card if it hits the frame of the new speaker.

6.5" components with proper crossovers for the front.

Plastic spacers are available from a couple of the usual suspects via caraudiodirect or similar or eBay. Or get MDF ones and fettle to fit.

 

Much discussion and topics abound in the Fabia 1 and In Car Entertainment sub-forums.

 

IMO you might want to investigate noise reduction kits. Not cheap but anything to reduce road and engine noise will help the ICE and your hearing.

 

J.

Thanks vindaloo.

 

Think I need to do some proper research and forum reading!

It's bit of a pain replacing the front door speakers as they are riveted on.

Talk to Karl at ultimate audio in bromsgrove, dude is a legend

I have Rainbow Audio Components fitted in mine by the guys at Source Sounds in Sheffield. I can't remember the model number but they are a significant improvement over the factory items. Rather loud and very clear. I'd recommend them happily.

I have Rainbow Audio Components fitted in mine by the guys at Source Sounds in Sheffield. I can't remember the model number but they are a significant improvement over the factory items. Rather loud and very clear. I'd recommend them happily.

Some pretty prices on Rainbow kit.

How much did you pay for the speakers and install, are they seperately amplified or powered by the headunit?

JRJG

Have you already installed a sub woofer of some description Duck? As that will increase the wave range massively, a much better improvement than upgrading the front door speakers anyway. It doesn't have to be a huge box with a 12" sub, an 8" would be fine, adding a lot of richness, warmth and depth to the sound quality.

JRJG

Some pretty prices on Rainbow kit.

How much did you pay for the speakers and install, are they seperately amplified or powered by the headunit?

JRJG

If I recall correctly, I think the Components were £150.

 

I paid £850 for everything, which included:

 

Alpine HU- CD, MP3 etc

Rainbow Audio Components

Hertz Amp- powers everything

JL Audio 10inch boxed subwoofer

Installation, sound deadening in doors and tailgate etc.

 

It might be a fair bit to spend, but worth every penny all day for me. I got a professional, subtle install that is miles apart from the factory system plus Infinity Basslink sub I previously had.

Have you already installed a sub woofer of some description Duck? As that will increase the wave range massively, a much better improvement than upgrading the front door speakers anyway. It doesn't have to be a huge box with a 12" sub, an 8" would be fine, adding a lot of richness, warmth and depth to the sound quality.

JRJG

 

Hi, yes I have a little sub screwed to the back of the rear seats, cannot remember the make/model off the top of my head but it was recommended on a forum.

 

I already have 3 different amps in the loft not being used but now I have a decent head unit I may dig one of them out and use with new front speakers.

 

I was hoping someone would come along and say "I brought ..insert make/model...and they are a big improvement over standard speakers" as looking on-line at page after page of speakers I cannot tell the difference apart from the prices.

 

I may post in the entertainment/ice section of the forum when I have a firmer plan on what to buy etc for opinions.

 

 

I was hoping someone would come along and say "I brought ..insert make/model...and they are a big improvement over standard speakers" as looking on-line at page after page of speakers I cannot tell the difference apart from the prices.

 

 

I think you'll find any decent make of speaker will be an huge improvement over the OEM fitted models which will be built to a price point and designed to work well with the installed radio for speech.

 

I think you need to find a) Speakers that will fit in the OEM position without too much fettling/custom builds and b.) ones that you can afford and will match your set up.

 

Back when i used to run MK2 Golfs I made many custom build door pockets from MDF, filler and covered with vinyl into which I'd fit Focal or JL Audio 7" drivers and the crossover with the tweeters higher up the doors or in the dash locations (I found them a little harsh when they were too high up).  This along with a 10" sub in custom boot builds with side mounted amps and a custom built MDF parcel shelf with some 6" coax speakers for rear fill. 

 

It was a LOT of effort and time and money but sounded great. You needed good sound to overcome the harsh ride, wide tyres, stiff suspension and sports exhaust.

 

I'd still advise to get something to fit and forget for not a massive amount of money. It's a case of diminishing returns when you start spending a lot more.

Edited 4 November, 20169 yr by Golf-Fiend

Well I ended up ordering:

 

http://www.audioboffins.com/excursion-sx6c-2-way-component-set-6-5-16-5cm/

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260828108071?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400912642712?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

I have 2 'old school' amps, one 2x180w the other 2x90w so will use one of these to power them :-)

Excellent. I'd experiment with the position of the tweeters before final fixing. Use some sticky pads to try different positions. Sometimes if they are too high up they fire into your ears and get a bit tiring after a while.

I am hoping the tweeters can fit into the original position as I would prefer to have them hidden away out of sight, as long as its an improvement over standard I will be happy.

I have 2 'old school' amps, one 2x180w the other 2x90w so will use one of these to power them :-)

 

Not much 'new school' in amplifier design for 50 years or more, in fact newer generally means more cheaply made and sonically inferior.

I brought them in the early 1990's and when I looked up the model numbers today they seemed to be called 'old school' amps on the forums, the Kenwood KAC-921 was a nice amp back in the day.

I brought them in the early 1990's and when I looked up the model numbers today they seemed to be called 'old school' amps on the forums, the Kenwood KAC-921 was a nice amp back in the day.

 

Blimey, 25 years since you were last allowed a life. Kids finally grown up or did you kick the missus out?

Edited 16 November, 20169 yr by sepulchrave

Old Skool Amps = Old Skool Rave ????

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck6IZaoPftE

 

 

Blimey, 25 years since you were last allowed a life. Kids finally grown up or did you kick the missus out?

 

Pretty much sums it up, family = no space in boot for amps and subwoofer boxes

 

 

 

Old Skool Amps = Old Skool Rave ????

 

I'm pretty sure Prodigy Firestarter has been through the amps a fair few times in the past  :sun:

Pretty much sums it up, family = no space in boot for amps and subwoofer boxes

 

 

Have you had a look at a under the seat sub? Something like this http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/subwoofers/hideaway-sub-boxes/focal-integration-ibus-20

 

To get good amounts of bass from the fronts will require a decent installation of the front speakers i.e Mdf spacers or a complete enclosure preferably, plenty of sound deadening and much trial and error. Much easier to have the sub do that job for you.

 

For sound deadening speak to these guys they will sort you out. http://www.deadening.co.uk/

 

Also an amplifier for the front speakers is a must the head unit will not do them justice.

Edited 17 November, 20169 yr by theezenutz

Hi theeezenutz, I have one of these bolted to the back of the rear seats, I am tempted to move it to under the passenger seat to get it into the cabin but I think it will get in the way of rear passenger feet.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inphase-USW10-Compact-Active-Subwoofer/dp/B00379UM7M

 

The MDF spacers have arrived and I have a 2x180w or 2x90w amp I can use to power the new speakers.

 

Just got to make time to fit it all properly with no rushing.

I 2nd the sound deadening comments. Especially the front doors. It makes heaps of difference. Well worth the effort even if you have to drill out the door carrier rivets and re-attach afterwards. It really is worth it. Just don't put it on the outside of the door unless you want to look like you are driving a citroen cactus!

Hi theeezenutz, I have one of these bolted to the back of the rear seats, I am tempted to move it to under the passenger seat to get it into the cabin but I think it will get in the way of rear passenger feet.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inphase-USW10-Compact-Active-Subwoofer/dp/B00379UM7M

 

The MDF spacers have arrived and I have a 2x180w or 2x90w amp I can use to power the new speakers.

 

Just got to make time to fit it all properly with no rushing.

What are the depth of your spacers? I had to double mine up to get the clearance.

 

 

Even then it was touching the window bar which caused one of my speakers to pack up so I had to replace them for a set of Hertz shallow mount. (the morels were 62mm depth)

 

The most important factor of front speakers is the installation. But regardless your setup should sound much better than the original set up.

The MDF rings are 30mm thick, I hope they are the correct size as the description for them said Fabia Mk1

I used 18mm thick spacers x 2 but your speakers are not quite as deep so you might be ok. Only one way to find out.