Leon Speaker Upgrade options

[Jarre]

Yeah I get a few rattles now! I know they need to be 165cm speakers but how deep can they be?

They can be fairly deep. The SAK-3103 adapters basically act as a buffer that is quite thick. 7cm at a guess from memory? If you take a speaker grill off and remove a speaker you will see why they're needed.

Where abouts are you based? EDIT: Just seen

 

[AndyG_TSi]

I've just measured up an original speaker.

The mounting depth is 60mm/6cm - 2.5 inches in old money!, inclusive of ther black moulded plastic the original speakers are mounted in

so you should be alright fitting any 165mm (16.5cm) diameter speaker which has a depth of 60mm/6cm give or take a few millimeters.

As far as the co-axial or mid bass replacement argument is concerned, that's really your choice.

But bear in mind, that if you go for a co-axial speaker, be that 2-way or 3-way & disable the original tweeter, then ALL the sound will be coming from the area below the knee (from the bottom of the door)

IF you do choose a co-axial, the better ones have a swivelling tweeter, so that you can position the tweeter upwards to enable the higher frequency sounds to be heard better,

If you are a bit of an audiophile and prefer better sound staging, then its far better to use components, or just uprate the mid-bass driver to a better speaker. This ensures the high frequencies are seperated fully from the low frequencies. This ensures better 'sound staging'

totally up to personal reqirements/taste etc.

EDIT:

In addition, the SAK-3103 speaker adaptors WILL require a little fettling to get them to fit because these are actually made to fit the VW Golf and they have a larger ring at the top this has to be removed in order to get it to fit the Leon door card.
I snapped off the ring with a pair of slim pliers & then used a sanding block to smooth off the rough edges

Jarre, Those co-axial's you have a very good mate

 

[AndyG_TSi]

here's a decent 2-way co-axial speakers - in additon to the one's Jarre posted, which are also good.

JBL GT 2 way co-axial:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JBL-GT-Se...5?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item4aa698fbb1

 

[Jarre]

As I said earlier - I didn't want to buy any without listening to them before. I'll admit there will be many speakers out there that are probably better than mine, but I didn't want to take a risk with not liking any and not being able to return them

 

[cooperdj]

Trip to Halfords at the weekend I think and see what's what! I completely agree on both your points really - happy to spend a bit extra to replace just the mid/bass and keep the tweeter but also essential to be able to listen to them first.

 

[Benzy]

Can I b a real annoying d1ck and ask what all this mid range and mid bass stuff means? Iv put a new stereo in mine and I'm still rather disappointed with the sound. But all I no about speakers is when I press play they make a noise haha sorry guys

 

[AndyG_TSi]

Can I b a real annoying d1ck and ask what all this mid range and mid bass stuff means? Iv put a new stereo in mine and I'm still rather disappointed with the sound. But all I no about speakers is when I press play they make a noise haha sorry guys

Different speakers produce a different range of sound across the acoustic range of hearing frequency, this acoustic range is measured in hertz.
Frequency response is a term used to describe the range of tones that a speaker systems can reproduce. Typically a system is capable of frequency response that ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz,

20hertz is very low frequencies (bass) where as 20kHz - kilohertz is very high (tweeters)

So a bass speaker is looking to cover very low frequency response

A mid-bass would be tuned to handle the low to very low frequencies

A mid-range is tuned to best cope with frequency response in the middle of the frequency range,

Tweeters are looking to cover the very high frequency

Having speakers to cover certain frequencies across the range gives a better harmonic sound to the ears.

That’s the best I can come up with to explain it, but I’m sure that I’ll have missed something or someone can explain it better

 

[Benzy]

Ok nice one mate that makes perfect seance! So in an idea world u would want a sub to give the bass, some mid range and then tweeters so ur getting the full spectrum. One would presume then that the door speakers r mid range?

 

[Jarre]

Ok nice one mate that makes perfect seance! So in an idea world u would want a sub to give the bass, some mid range and then tweeters so ur getting the full spectrum. One would presume then that the door speakers r mid range?

Correct

 

[AndyG_TSi]

Nice one Jarre, beat me to it lol

In an ideal world, you’d be looking to set up a system in the car that is like a home cinema surround sound system with separate amps & different speakers

At home, I have a surround sound system made up of hi-fi separates, so I have:

Amp
Active Subwoofer
Front left & right full range speakers (incorporating mid bass, mid range & tweeters)
Rear left & right satellite speakers (incorporating mid range & tweeters)

Typically though, unless you’re going to rip your car apart to do a professional aftermarket install, putting in a sub in the boot, mid bass, mid range & tweeters, then to just get a better overall sound over standard, just replace the stock mid range with either:

A 2 way/3-way co-axial, or, an aftermarket mid range replacement

Another good pointer when choosing what to go for is to look at the range of frequency response the speaker is good for, the wider, the better (I think)

 

[generationgav]

The problem is with Component speakers and keeping the existing tweeter are that component speakers usually come with a crossover device, which needs wiring in and placing; although it does look like the Vibe speakers have a crossover in the tweeter; which the Leon existing speakers will as well.

So I guess the question is what the crossover frequency is; if the tweeters than come with the Vibes are higher than the Leon you'll miss out particular frequencies, if it's lower then certain frequencies will be doubled and louder.

To a lower extent will be volume matching, but this should be corrected by the EQ in the car with some tweaking.

 

[Benzy]

http://www.vibeaudio.co.uk/car/blackair-component-speakers/

How would u guys rate these? And would they fit? I have a mate who won a pain in a competition but they don't fit his car so he's flogging them cheep.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[andyccr]

I'm just updating one of our price lists for Feb 2013 and all of the JL Audio TR range have come down in price.

You can now get the 6.5 coaxial TR650CXI for £75.99, and amazingly the component version TR650CSi for only £85.49 !

This was compared to £129 for the component set before the Feb 13 price list !

 

[cooperdj]

So now i'm actually more confused after shopping around. Went to the car audio centre and they seemed dead set on selling me anything made by "inphase"... from a 1000w amp to an under seat sub woofer.

They were insisten that upgrading my door speakers would make "no difference". I'm skeptical.

All i want is some nice Components that preferably some guy can fit for me that won't cost the earth! I'd fit them myself (i've looked at the instructions on here) but I don't really know what i'm doing with the crossover (and really don't want to take off my door card to change the tweeters)

 

[James_85UK]

No question.... you have to buy Alpine Type R all round!

 

[cooperdj]

No question.... you have to buy Alpine Type R all round!

Just had a quote from Epic in Oadby for Pioneer eMotion components in the front and eMotion coaxials in the back including dynamatting on doors and fitting - comes in at £430 tho which is more than i wanted to spend really

 

[James_85UK]

Just had a quote from Epic in Oadby for Pioneer eMotion components in the front and eMotion coaxials in the back including dynamatting on doors and fitting - comes in at £430 tho which is more than i wanted to spend really

Wonder how much of that will be Labour, wouldn't you consider fitting yourself? It's a shame really my mate was an ex-halford technician but he's done plenty of installs but he's moved to London.

 

[cooperdj]

Wonder how much of that will be Labour, wouldn't you consider fitting yourself? It's a shame really my mate was an ex-halford technician but he's done plenty of installs but he's moved to London.

fitting is £100... which is not TOO bad...

I've always done my own speakers and would be happy to change the drivers but not up for taking the door cards off. didn't mind doing that stuff on old bangers but now i've actually got a nice car I don't want to mess it up!

I've still got my old infinity 6x9's which I love but dont wanna chop up the parcel shelf. anyone used a stealth shelf? do they even still do them?

 

[crigisback]

In phase is car audio centres own brand hence why they would love to sell it to you!

They must have a massive mark up on it.

I have never listened to it but I used to be on www.talkaudio.co.uk quite a bit and they are not rated well.

It's like swearing on that forum.

But like I said personally I have never heard them. They be ideal for a low budget full install.

 

[cooperdj]

In phase is car audio centres own brand hence why they would love to sell it to you!

They must have a massive mark up on it.

I have never listened to it but I used to be on www.talkaudio.co.uk quite a bit and they are not rated well.

It's like swearing on that forum.

But like I said personally I have never heard them. They be ideal for a low budget full install.

I'm not really after anything Major though just a couple of speakers. would rather get something a bit better I think.