Component Speakers with Stock HU?

[tom slick]

I'm want to upgrade the 6x8 (4 total) door speakers in my 2004 F-150 Super Cab. The Infinity Reference 6820cs get good reviews and there is a spot for the tweeter behind the door grill. They also won't break the bank.
Are component speakers worth it with a stock head unit?
Are they worth it in the original locations?
Should I just use a regular co-ax speaker (6822cf) and save a little $$$.
Should I get the 6x8 shape or make a plate and use a round speaker?

I mostly listen to rock and talk. I'm certainly not an audiophile but want crisper sounding highs.

 

[stranger706]

IMO, Infinity coax speakers are some of the best car speakers you can buy. They are priced decent and are very efficient with whatever power you give them. I'd stick with those, especially since you are keeping your stock HU. Component speakers pretty much need an external amp to sound good. You'll love the Infinity coax's.

 

[Tosh]

Good speakers are always worth it, even with 'normal' power head units. If you compare sensitivity specs (~88dB/W/m is in the normal range), keep in mind that 3dB better is the equivalent of doubling the amp's power.
Making a round adapter will give you a bigger selection of nice speakers to choose from. If you wanted to save money, then buy cheaper speakers for the rear. You might find that only adding a very good tweeter to the front (and keeping the stock speakers) will be a huge improvement.

 

[brianl703]

In the 6x8 size, Pioneer 3-way speakers have very good high frequency response. They are what I put in the Ford vehicles I owned.

 

[BuickGN]

Infinities have harsh tweets. Mine used to make my ears bleed at any sort or high volumes. They're a good speaker to use with a factory HU and no amp due to their efficiency. With the ID components I have now I can crank the volume even with 150 watts per channel and it doesn't fatigue the ears like the Infinities did. The IDs also have more detailed highs and more midbass but require some power to sound right.

 

[Shaman]

Buy the coaxs and put in a tweeter too. I spent $10 on tweeters after the coaxs didn't get the acoustic guitar clean enough. The radio was a different radio with the tweeters in. It was with an aftermarket head unit, but 45w Max, the normal for most headunits.

 

[brianl703]

My Mustang has 3.5" speakers in the dash and 6.5" speakers in the door, wired in parallel with a bass blocker on the 3.5" speakers. The 3.5" are two-way speakers.

My Saab has a similar setup, except that the dash and door speakers are on different amplifiers.

That combination works very well in either car. I have heard that the dash is the best place to put tweeters.

 

[BuickGN]

You don't want two sets of tweeters up front. It presents many problems. Get one set of high quality tweeters. Even going to a 3way setup with 6.5-7" woofer, 3" mid, and a tweeter takes a little tuning to get it right.

 

[brianl703]

Neither the Saab nor the Mustang have tweeters in the door speakers. In such a setup, if it comes down to it, you can always disable the tweeter in the door speaker with an x-acto knife.

 

[swalve]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
In the 6x8 size, Pioneer 3-way speakers have very good high frequency response. They are what I put in the Ford vehicles I owned.


Couldn't agree more. Put a set of Pioneers in my Ford and the radio sounded 10x better.

 

[widman]

Here is what I put across the back. Built out the cabinet about 6" with a separator

 

[BuickGN]

Nice install.

I've learned installation is everything and I learned it the hard way.

Went from something that sounded ok with an $4,000 price tag to an awesome sounding setup that requires half the power for the same volume from proper installation and an awesome sub box.

If I had it to do over again, especially with the unique sub box I have now, I could save money by running only one sub and a smaller amp. I literally more than doubled the sound level and sound quality just by running a different style box designed for my car's characteristics and my subs.

 

[tom slick]

Just to recap the reccomendations:
Skip the components since they need some power to make a real difference.
Infinity co-ax work good with the stock HU (they claim 92dB sensitivity)
Take a look at Pioneer 3-ways, they sound good too.
Nothing inherently wrong with the 6x8 size.
Did I miss anything?

I have room in the door for an enclosure and I can make them no problem, would it be worth it? The door panels are thick so I have room without hitting the window and door apparatus.

 

[widman]

BTW, since this is rear engine, I have Dynamat hoodliner on each side of the firewall and eDead 80 on the entire floor, including inside the box. Also a layer of the edead on the firewall, so the engine is separated from the speakers by Dynamat, steel, eDead 80, Dynamat.

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: swalve
Originally Posted By: brianl703
In the 6x8 size, Pioneer 3-way speakers have very good high frequency response. They are what I put in the Ford vehicles I owned.


Couldn't agree more. Put a set of Pioneers in my Ford and the radio sounded 10x better.


I agree with both. I put a set in my 00 F150 and when I got rid of it I put them in the Escape. Both sound great with the speakers.

 

[mjoekingz28]

I tried hooking up a 5.25 component with a crossover to the head unit and it wouldn't work. It either made a bad sound or was silent I cant remember but I do remember it not working. It requires a minimum wattage and even an aftermarket radio isnt enough wattage.

If your factory amp is powerful enough then it should work, otherwise get coaxials or an amplifier.