Do Infinity still make the Kappa K693 6x9 speakers , they were the 'in thing ' years ago if i remember rightly!!! If not what have they replaced them with? Im thinking along the lines of the infinity front door speakers , combined with a new MDF rear shelf (so as not to cut the original , it can then go back in on resale) trimmed as near to stock as possible , with a decent set of rear 6x9s , continuing to use stock HU and changer. Any opinions on this set up?

Duncan,

The Infinity 6953i's are just that, 6x9 3-way speakers with a 300w max power rating. They are

Just about managed to resist the urge of a subby, apparently with the shelf reupholstered in acoustic cloth the speakers can be removed if the car is ever sold without it being obvious they have ever been there, of course the standard rears are still in situ (getting wet all that time) but just disconnected, so only the fronts to swap back over and the connection on the rear and hey presto (not forgetting to remove amp!).

Really wanted to keep stock HU for two reasons. Firstly with clever parcel shelf nobody will know it's non-standard (until they hear it). Two, got ****ed off with forever taking the pop off panel out of the Alfa.

It's all going in next Saturday, if any of the Northern tribe wanna peek (listen) then I'm sure I could make any meet up planned after that, though diary is pretty full for March, still an hour or two one evening should be OK.

My configuration so far for "acceptable" sound quality in my Rs is as follows:

JVC kd sh909 H.U with MP3-compability. Real aluminium front/face! Looks great!(Info/pictures)

JVC 12cd-changer

DLS 2way component set-up for the front(

info/pictures)

Stock speakres in the rear with tweeters disconected.

In the trunk I just recently installed a small vented box(26l) with an Infinty Kappa Perfect 10.1 This 10 inch driver produces extremely tight and HiFI-like bass with great control and accuracy. A bonus is that it can do this obscenely loud Info/kappa

To get this little sub to move some air(and it sure does) I use a pretty powerfull amp. It delivers actual 400wrms in 4ohm mono and 600wrms in 2ohms, mono.

I must say I am pretty pleased with the overall sound quality but I do think the front doors should need some damping since they are not airtight for the front bass/midrange. This affects the reproducing of the lower frequencies negatively since the whole inside of the door acts as a "box" for the speaker.

I apologize in advance if anything is misspelled or poorly described and if so... Sue me! :cheers: '

Regards / Christian

Hi All,

thanks for everyones input! Soon we'll have to ask for an ICE forum.

As more Briskodian's become more interested upgrading their ICE or just gettting the best out of the standard set-up such a forum would be good. I don't think "we're" quite ready for it yet though as interest is just starting.

Keep on sharing your views/experiences etc.

Cheers.

Adrian.:cheers:

Good info so far!! My nearest ICE installer is Sungold Autosounds in Newcastle , Im sure they do 'proper' acoustic rear shelfs for most cars , trimmed to look stock , or at least they used to! I suppose i better find out if they do one for the Octy before i start upgrading my stereo. I dont want anything flash , just a slight improvement over standard , I will have the door speakers fitted first and take it from there , but deffinately wont be changing the HU.

I can confirm that the Infinity 652i speakers are a doddle to fit and greatly improve the sound from the standard Skoda head unit. I managed the changeover in a little over an hour this morning and flush with success may even attempt to change the rear speakers.

In case anyone is still umming and arring you will only need some cable strippers, cable cutters, crimpers and 4 suitable spade connectors (2 broad, 2 narrow). Not a stanley knife, a pair of pliers and some blu-tak.

The slightly 'underwater' sound quality in the front is now......crisp!

:speaker: :speaker: :speaker: :speaker:

Replying to myself. A bit sad.

For those with stout hearts the speakers to go for are Sony XS-A1326,

That will be a Torx 20 screw head then. Perhaps a small 1/4 in drive ratchet with torx 20 bit in. (Draper do a very nice LITTLE ratchet that has male and female connections and takes bits perfectly. B&Q do it for about

Where were you between about 12 and 5 when I was losing my rag in a big way? Yes, the screwdriver was too bloody long!!! I was impressed (with myself) that I'd bought the screwdriver in the first place.:eek:

So many ICE threads now wasn't sure which one to "reply" to:p

Well fitted my new HU; took around 30 minutes.

Good advice from Manny to remove the glove box. When doing this remember to remove the light connection; will get the 'box out of the way and probably stop the 'box light from disassembling.

Still to play around with the settings (just set it to one of the preset equaliser settings for now) and the sound with the standard speakers wasn't too bad. Turn up the volume though and the usual bass vibration comes through (as to be expected).

So got myself some Infiinity 652is and fitted them in 30 minutes. As Rich previously mentioned you just need 4 spade connectors, a pair of pliers and a screw driver. I did try to get the VW speakers connection adapters but Halfords didn't have any in stock; would have taken even less time then.

Pleased with the overall result; sound quality is good and no bass vibration.

I think I'll pass on the rear speakers......for now.

Has anyone else noticed the spongy material behind the front speakers? Is this the same stuff as mentioned in a rear speaker thread? The standard speakers are deeper than the 652is and I'm now wondering whether it is this material which was vibrating at the higher volume levels.

Sorry about the long posting.

Cheers.

Adrian.

Originally posted by rich1068

For those with stout hearts the speakers to go for are Sony XS-A1326,

A short screwdriver and strangely child like hands...

Spade connectors for aftermarket speakers are what you want. With the VAG socket there are two positives and two negatives. Cut the socket off, bind the two positives together and attach to the broader connector, bind the two negatives together and attach to the narrow connector. It sounds so easy now!:eek:

Even after fitting the Infinitys in the front I found that when pushed, the bass would still distort a little. With better than standard speakers in the back I can have a slight rearward bias with a little extra bass and no distortion. As I've already said I wasn't after sounds that rattled the car to bits just better quality.

Originally posted by rich1068

A short screwdriver and strangely child like hands...

What are you implying?! :p

Ah, you cut the socket off, rather than using my trick of wedging

the wire between the contacts in the socket with a pointy

screw. Cutting would've been neater and easier, but I

was trying to make sure I could put the standard speakers

back on easily.

I'm not sure how loud I have to get mine to distort - on the

motorway I tend to have the volume set to somewhere

between 15-20, but I have that autovolume set on either 7 or

9, so I don't know what the final volume ends up with when I'm

doing, er, 70. At this volume it's only bass-intensive dance

tracks that tend to distort. Probably more due to it shaking

the parcel shelf and surrounds though...

Rob.

I

I've taken the plunge as well, 652i's for the front and my old pair of 6953i's for the rear - any idea's for the parcel shelf as I'd rather not damage the original?

How much would a replacement shelf cost, and where would the best place be to get one - as I don't want to shell out

Guys,

I dont know too much about speakers and like many others I'm not totally satisfied with the standard Octavia ones.

I assuming mine are the same as everyone elses, Blaupunkts with code 140035411A written on the back of them. Does anyone know what the specs are on these speakers or has anyone seen what model number they are on the Blaupunkt website.

I haven't seen the Infinities, which is what everyone else is changing to but I can get a good price on the Blaupunkt speakers GT420, GT317, GT220, GT217, and was looking for feedback on them.

In your opinion,

- which ones would fit the front and back (where the original ones are mounted)

- be compatible with my Headunit (Blaupunkt Modena CD51)

- would they be any better than the standard speakers

- would there be any cabling issues

- and just the general positives and negatives of each one.

I think the GT317 and GT217 would be the only ones possible to fit the front as the originals are 165mm diameter (from reading this post).

Would the GT213 be the correct size for the back and do you think there would be any improvement with them compared to the standard ones.

Thanks for your help.

Originally posted by GAFF

Does anyone know what the specs are on these speakers or has anyone seen what model number they are on the Blaupunkt website.

Not really sure, but I think their main weakness is the flimsy

material used to make the cone, so Blaupunkt speakers you

pay for will probably be a lot better....

I haven't seen the Infinities, which is what everyone else is changing to but I can get a good price on the Blaupunkt speakers

The Infinity's are excellent speakers, and they're a good safe

option, but by trying something different you might find

something better

- which ones would fit the front and back (where the original ones are mounted)

Not too sure on the specifics of the models, so I'm going to give

gneric advice. The front's are 170mm the rears 130mm. The

165mm ones (such as the Infinity's) do fit in the front though.

One thing to watch out for on the back is the shape of the

speakers - it needs to be flush across the top due to the

mounting. I suppose a way round this would be to not tighten

the screws that hold the speaker in place that much, so it would

sit lower...

- be compatible with my Headunit (Blaupunkt Modena CD51)

I'm guessing they all should be compatible from a "stastical"

point of view. Whether they sound good is a personal opinion!

- would they be any better than the standard speakers

If I sat there and sang it would be better than the standard

speakers. And I'm a terrible singer

- would there be any cabling issues

I'd imagine it will be the same issues as with any other speakers.

There are plenty of posts for clues, but I am willing to type out

a dedicated posting if you would like something comprehensive

Personally I would upgrade the rears if you disconnect the rear

tweeters, as I struggled to hear the standard rears when I did

this. Also if you like a bit of bass rumble off your dance music,

it would be worth upgrading

Rob.

Thanks for the feedback Rob.

The main reason why I was going to go with the Blaupunkts is I can get them trade price and thought that it would be just a matter of disconnecting the standard speakers and connect the new ones due to them also being Blaupunkts, without messing with the cabling.

As I don't know much about the speakers, I was afraid that the new ones might not be any better than the standard one but as you said Blaupunkt speakers you pay for will probably be a lot better....

I've also just fitted the Infinity 652i's - they're a noticeable improvement.

One thing though, I got what I thought was the VW adapter kit which just left me with a screeching noise in the speakers, whichever way I connected the existing connectors into it.

I'm a techy novice but I gave up in the end, cut the existing connectors, bound the wires (as Rich1068 suggested) and they work fine. Wasted my money on the VW thing - maybe wrong part ?

By the way - as the new speakers mean I won't bother changing the headunit or multichanger, I have some VERY NICE top-end Blaupunkt equipment (from my previous car) for sale in the For Sale forum.

This must be the most viewed post of all time. so long in fact i cant remember who put in a bit about changing the rear speakers to infinty 552is. can some one paste it again. hey what happened to founder member status.:(

I tried the 552is (see page 3 of this thread). The only way I could see that you would get them to fit would be to mount 4 spacers between the speaker and the underneath of the parcel shelf and use very long screws. The spacers, I'd guess, would have to be at least an inch long maybe a little more. The reason for this is that if you look at any of the Infinitys from 'side on' not only does the tweeter stand proud but also the flexible rubber edging to the speaker cone. Shame really as Infinitys all round would have been nice.

If you do have a go at fitting the 552is I would imagine the drivers side would be even more of a sod to fit due to the reduced space after fitting spacers.

Good luck!

Could you not use something like an 8mm but to space it out?

Just a thought.

Cheers

'8mm but' - Explain?:confused:

Do you mean the plastic/rubber ring that goes round the fitting?

No I mean putting the nut between the speaker and the shelf at each fixing point ( ie your screw/bolt thread would pass through the speaker and new nut) . As you said it was held in by screws, a nut between the speaker and shelf would space the speaker out equally. If you mean the speaker is held in by loose nuts on a fixed thread , then perhaps larger nuts would do just the trick between the speaker and shelf. That way your speaker would not foul on the shelf above allowing you the speaker of your choice.

Cheers