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Upgrading Front Door Speakers

Bigwol

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Location
Birmingham
Car
Accord 1.8 VTEC
I've got a 2001 Accord with standard front door speakers, the fixing is by 3 screws in a triangular mount - where can I get an adapter to fit 6.5 inch aftermarket speakers with 4 hole mounting

Here is a pic of the standard speakers

accorddoor1.png
 
I also want to upgrade the speakers in my 6th gen, was it hard to get the door card off?
 
I've got a 2001 Accord with standard front door speakers, the fixing is by 3 screws in a triangular mount - where can I get an adapter to fit 6.5 inch aftermarket speakers with 4 hole mounting

Here is a pic of the standard speakers

accorddoor1.png

the standerd hole will take a 13cm / 5.25 inch with an adaptor to change it from 3 to 4 holes

If your like me then a angle grinder is the best option. need a larger hole for the magnet and then a custom adaptor for the speaker.
 
Ebay MDF adapter rings.

Here's a cut & paste of a post i did on the ATR forum -

Unscrew the speaker and the disconnect the connector again by squeezing the sides and pulling it apart

FSpeakers41.jpg


This is the surround of the OEM speakers, but there is nowhere to attach the new ones, so I used an MDF ring again –

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As per the rear, mark up the holes

FSpeakers44.jpg


Drill

FSpeakers45.jpg


Screw on the MDF ring

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I used slightly longer screws as the MDF ring is wider

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Attach the adaptor if you have one (or cut and crimp some spade connectors if you haven’t) and connect the speaker.

FSpeakers48.jpg


Put the speaker in place and check the clearance behind for the windscreen. Mine was tight. But just enough room. Then screw in the speaker

FSpeakers49.jpg


Check the window goes up and back down without catching the rear of the speaker before you put it all back together, just to be on the safe side.

Putting back together is a reversal of taking apart. But feed the door in from the wing mirror end first and you will find it much easier. Don’t forget the clip the bar back on behind the handle too. And try not to lose your temper getting the two big screws under the door pull handle back in as they are ******s.

All fits, no need to trim the speaker cover either.

Now I’ve warmed up, I’ll go and do the other side.
 
P.s. you might get some more help if you introduce yourself in the Newbie section ;)
 
Lol, maybe not then
 
Taking the door cards off -

How to Replace OEM Speakers with 5.25” Speakers


First off, door removal.

Full open the window. This will make it easier to remove the door trim and also you can make sure the speakers fit without hitting the based on the window this way.

Start by removing the triangle bit of trim the other side of the wing mirror. You can do this by pulling it from the top by I found it easier to gently lift off the tabs from the bottom using a screwdriver as a lever and then pull out the clip at the top –

FSpeakers27.jpg


Here is the back so you can see where the clips are –

FSpeakers28.jpg


Just below this is a trim clip than you need to push the middle in to release it. It should then just pull out –

FSpeakers29.jpg


FSpeakers30.jpg


Next off use a small screwdriver to remove the screw cover in the door handle and then remove the screw

FSpeakers31.jpg


Pull the handle surround to the front of the car and it will click out so it can be removed

FSpeakers32.jpg


There is a purple clip holding a bar to the handle which needs popping and moving out the way. You may be able to get your fingers in there, but I used a small flat blade screw driver

FSpeakers34.jpg


Twisted out the way

FSpeakers35.jpg


The lift the handle off the bar.

Next undo the two screws under the door pull handle. One of them will be hard to get completely out, but will fall out when you take the door card off so be careful not to lose it.

FSpeakers36.jpg


That is all the screw done. The bottom of the door is held in by trim clips. I find it easiest to get a screwdriver under the door and when it is right next to a clip, carefully lever if off. Then get your hands on it and pull the door car off all the surrounding clips.

Starting at the lock end, lift the door card over the lock –

FSpeakers38.jpg


Lift the door car off. You can disconnect all the connectors behind, or just carefully twist it round and rest the end on something –

FSpeakers39.jpg


Same as the rear, just the 3 screws

FSpeakers40.jpg
 
nice right up on removing door cards:D

thats good for 13cm but hes trying to fit 16cm :eek:
 
Yep nice one :)
 
nice right up on removing door cards:D

thats good for 13cm but hes trying to fit 16cm :eek:

If they fit in the hole in the door, then it shouldn't be any different. May have to use slightly larger mdf rings.

The main problem is fitting a 4 hole speaker to a 3 hole fitting, which is where the mdf rings come in.

Need to do the same on the rear too. 6.5" fit fine in the rear.
 
If they fit in the hole in the door, then it shouldn't be any different. May have to use slightly larger mdf rings.

The main problem is fitting a 4 hole speaker to a 3 hole fitting, which is where the mdf rings come in.

Need to do the same on the rear too. 6.5" fit fine in the rear.


Does the MDF need painting - it tends to swell if it gets moist doesn't it?
 
Having checked the fitting, a standard mdf ring won't work for a 6.5 inch Pioneer speaker (the screws into the car would have to go through the speaker cone!)

There is a further option - a stepped mdf ring, allowing the lower of the two to screw into the existing holes in the door, and the narrower upper ring mounting the speaker, time to measure up!

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Speaker outer rim to door - 1 inch (25mm)

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Hole in door - 4 inches (100mm)

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Existing screws screwed further in as needed for a 9mm MDF lower ring - plenty of clearance with the window wound right down.

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No clearance problems and a flat face on the door to mount the ring - all good.

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No clearance problems

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Speaker goes further into door than it will need to - OK there.

Dimensions.png

Outer and Inner ring both with OD of 165mm inner ring 130mm ID outer ring 145mm ID

speak2.png

Top to bottom - Speaker (Pioneer TS - G1712i) , Compound Ring, Door

9and12mmRings.png

Translucent rendering of the two rings in their positions with drillings

9and12mmredring.png

CAD with top, left, right and perspective views

speakergraphic.png

Simplified side view showing screw positions in rings - speaker to ring, and ring to car.

P11204281000.jpg

Bargain MDF sheet waiting for me to cut into rings!!

Inner ring designed to be from 9mm mdf, outer ring from 12mm mdf, total thickness is 25mm inc speaker rim

I'll keep you posted, but it looks possible!
 
Taking the door cards off -


Lift the door car off. You can disconnect all the connectors behind, or just carefully twist it round and rest the end on something –

FSpeakers39.jpg

You can remove and disconnect the door's switch panel just after removing the interior handle, which makes removing the door card whole lot easier.

doortrim1000.png

spring the switch panel up at the front from the front clip, then move it forwards to remove it, there is just a plastic lug at the rear which doesn't need any force to disengage.

doortrim4000.png

Front Clip

doortrim5000.png

Rear Lug

doortrim2000.png

Free from door, Disconnect connectors by depressing the locking latch in each connector to release.

doortrim3000.png

The connectors will now come through the hole easily when you take the door card off.
 
Very nice writeup guys. Just read this thread too. Just love the way in which yoyo guys have taken it to another level and fabricated what you needed. Really nice work guys.
How does the end result sound?
 
Made the rings in 9mm and 12mm MDF today

1000.png

Elf and Safety - MDF has some things in it you don't want in your lungs - boring, but safe!

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Start the rings by drilling a starter hole for the jigsaw

2000.png

Then cut the rings - inside first, then outside

3000.png

They came out as designed and fit the grille we won't be using, but useful as a size check.

4000.png

Filed out the indents on the inside of the top ring (clearance for screw heads) and pilot drilled speaker holes,
drilled 5mm clearance holes in lower ring for factory door screws.
Glued the top and bottom rings together with white pva glue.

6000.png

Screwed the rings to the door

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Then screwed the speaker to the rings after connecting.

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The fit is good

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The window winds all the way down without hitting anything (Phew!!)

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And the door card fits over the speaker and the clips snap in OK - job done!

I'm pleased with the results - worth the effort.
 
I've completed my upgrade of the stereo in my 2001 Accord 1.8i Sport

Having made the speaker rings to allow 17cm speakers in the front doors, I finally settled on Pioneer TS-G1723i speakers which are rated at 250W, and have 3 way drive units (Bass Midrange and tweeter) in a compact chassis which installed in the front doors with no further modification needed.

P11207411000.png


These are driven by the JVC KD-R921BT - a head unit which gives hands free phone via Bluetooth, audio via bluetooth, and a USB connection capable of handling iphone and ipod, plus DVD CD and the usual FM radio stuff, with some of the cleanest audio I've come across due to top flight op-amps.

Amazon KD-R921 info


Allows full customisation of display colour to match your dash

P11207461000.png


Looks good - works great!

P11207531000.png
 
This is Top Class stuff Bigwol, thanks so much, really appreciate that :lol: OMg only 60K on clock??? :eek:
 
Hi any of you guys that have changed the speakers In Scotland or Birmingham and fancy doing it for me
Don't mind paying a fair price for labour and time etc...
 
Ive just stumbled across these in the cupboard, they're speaker adapters from a mk3 Astra/Calibra, the same 3 point mounting as the 6th Gen

IMG_1168_zps55fc6acd.jpg

IMG_1167_zps1970bf53.jpg


Would these not fit? they're designed for aftermarket 6.5 inch speakers

They're readily available on ebay so could be helpful and save alot of hassle if they fit, Even if you have to re drill new mounting holes in the doors it would be easier than making mdf ones
 
Hi guys

I managed to changed my front door speakers without broken all the clips inside the door card. thanks to the great article by BigWol

however i have run into another problem now. the base sound really flat....i tried swap the wiring around, but without knowing which wiring is positive or negative, i thk i still got it wrong.

any brother knows the factory wiring colour for the speakers?

thanks in advance
 
Wire orientation won't be your problem, I would guess it's speaker/Hu combo.
Also sealing the speakers to the adapters and oors with masting helps
 
The headunit itself is a 4x40W output and speaker are 150W .....tbh i feel the original factory speakers able to pump out more base....
 
The negative to the speaker will be the wire with black init something like gray/black....brown/black.


Those are peak figures don't mean much tbh, when your not driving speakers from a amp then matching them to the hu is very important....do you know the speaker model numbers so I can look up the freq response and if you used plastic spacers did you seal the speakers to the spacers and then seal them to the car with caulk or similar. this can make a big difference.
 
Wire orientation won't be your problem
I would tend to agree, but, it is possible that if they are wired in anti-phase then you will get a reduction in bass, depending on frequencies, distance apart, vlume of air in front of the speakers, and volume of air behind.
 
Possibly, it's worth putting the wiring right first and see if that sorts it.

Though having a inverted signal 'may' sound off I would imagine will produce the same amount of bass after all it's movement of air?
 
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