Replacement Speakers 850 Premium

[kamuro]

I have a 1994 850 T with a origianal SC-810, the trunk mounted Volvo CD changer and 8 speakers (I think it was called the "premium" system") ...dash, F &R doors and the rear deck. I want to replace all of the speakers as they are either coming apart or just don't work anymore. but....keep in mind my budget is limited to under $400, hopefully....no laughing!!! I just want to unplug the old, maybe replace the connectors, if I have to, and plug in the new. I am not looking for a thumpin' bumpin' loud system. Just something to listen to hold me on the road till I get home. I've been looking at some Infinitys and Blaupunkt and Clarion, just cause they seem to fit the dimensions, but any suggestions would be appreciated. Please don't snicker...I know alot of you spend thousands of dollars on your car audios, but I've got two sons in college and tuition gets most of my money (and all of theirs!!)

thanks for the help and I'm glad I brought some laughter into your day!!!

Kathleen

kamuro@att.net

[wattsat]

If you are planning to keep the factory Head Unit it will not be easy to replace all of the speakers in your car. As mentioned in prior posts the rear speakers are 8ohm. To my knowledge you cannot buy car speakers that are 8ohm.

Here is what I suggest, given your budget and listening style.

1. Unplug the Dash and rear Door speakers.

2. Replace Front door speakers with a good set of 5.25 Coax speakers.

3. Replace the back deck 5x7's with a good set of 5x7's.

By doing that the factory HU will still see the correct 4ohm load on all speakers. Your cost should stay under the $400.00 price tag and it is something you can do yourself.

As far as speakers go. That is all a matter of personal preference. Everybody's ears are different. Remember though, what a speaker sounds like on a showroom wall may not be what is sounds like in your car. When you audition the speakers, make sure and tell them that you want to hear what they sound like with DECK power.

I don't think you will need to install new connectors. I absolutely hate to cut factory wiring, however on a 10 year old car I could probably live with it. What I usually do is put a male spade connector on one end and plug that into the factory plug. Then put a new female connector on the other end to connect to the new speaker. While this is not the best way to go for a competition stereo, it is perfectly acceptable for what you require.

Hope this helps.

[theunderlord]

wow, you're like the coolest mom ever! Listen to wattsat... he knows what he's talking about. :)

[kamuro]

Andrew,

You say get a "good " set of speakers.....what brands should I limit myself to....I guess Wal Mart's out of the picture, huh???!!

I don't even know where a car audio shop is around here, but I am a price shopper on line, so also need the best place to shop on line for the goods.

I will venture out into the unknown realm of car audio shops and try to listen to a few sets...maybe take my own jazz CD to listen to, find some I like, then price shop, since I am not in need of a custom installer, I really have no alliance to a local car audio store by any means!

Thanks alot for your help and when I want to get a really custom job, it seems this is the board that has the best installers and customizers!

Kathleen

[kamuro]

Kevin,

I am going to make my sons read what you said!! I haven't been called cool since way back when!!! I'm cool, I'm cool, I'm cool!!!

Kathleen

[theunderlord]

Kevin,

I am going to make my sons read what you said!!  I haven't been called cool since way back when!!!  I'm cool, I'm cool, I'm cool!!!

Kathleen

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Kathleen,

Any mom that comes on Volvospeed and searches out car stereo help is VERY cool. As for brands, it's all about how much coin you want to spend... Infinity makes a good product, as does JBL, Kenwood, Sony. You can certainly get better speakers, but you'll definitely pay for it. Where are you located? I would tend to shy away from the Best Buys and Circuit City's of the world, since their installers are "junior varsity" compared to say a higher end car stereo shop. You sound like you're gonna do your homework which is key when dealing with salesmen, don't let them talk you into the big dollar speakers if you're not willing to spend the money.

As for where to shop online, i'd reccomend : Sounddomain and Crutchfield . BUt if you buy from them, you're on your own for installation. Most shops will only install the gear that THEY sell you. Good luck, and fire any other questions you may have at us... Hopefully bing will chime in, he's the resident pro installer who knows far more than I about car stereo. :)

[kamuro]

Kevin,

thanks for the who's who in the photo.... you are broadening my group of friends, but must say you are the only one I have that wears a bandana and has uttered the word "bling"!!

Okay...serious question here. I was on the infinity website looking at kappa something or other (5 1/4's and 6x9's) anyway...what is that crossover thing and since I do not have an amp..nor am I getting one....can I use that type of speaker?

Also, do you know off hand...without me going out there and sweating trying to measure the darned hole....do I need 5x7 or 6x9 in the rear deck. I am trying to keep the same grills, if at all possible, again less work for me having to work with rims and adapter rings, or am I actually going to have to go outside my air conditioned home and so a look see (in South Florida)

I would not go to Best Buy or Circuit City (hate that place, anyway) to get any installation done...they are strictly buy what you need off the shelf. I do have a local Sound Advice that installed a Blaupunkt HU in an 83 240 wagon . I installed the Alpine CD changer in a 93 940T wagon side storage bin...still works and no rattling!!

Anyway, let me know what you think about the crossover stuff and the sizing of the deck mounts.

your bandana-less but yet way cool Mama

[theunderlord]

haha... that's not me, nor is it jake or brett..

The speaker sizes I'm not 100% sure about since I have an S70, not an 850. Someone will chime in here on that one...

A crossover is a transition frequency separating two regions of operation, such as the crossover frequency of a speaker system between bass and midrange or between midrange and treble. Crossover networks divide audio signals into these separate frequency ranges to permit individual response adjustments within the ranges and to separate the signals driving the corresponding speaker elements.

Basically a crossover is a part of two different speakers, a woofer and a tweeter. A compnent system is these three items. A two way, or three way speaker is an integrated system of woofer and tweeter and crossover all built into one speaker. Some find the component systems to produce a better sound than just a two or three way speaker. They can be more complicated to install however. I would reccoment replacing the stock volvo head unit and going with an aftermarket one. here are some pics of my system. My Cardomain Page

[Bing_0]

hey Kathleen, welcome to the board

where are you located?

my opinion would be similar to wattsat's except instead of rear deck speaker, i would do just hte front and rear door, i really hate rear deck speakres with a passion.

but here is something to consider, are you going to upgrade in the future. if you go for some relatively cheap but decent speakres now, which are more suited to powering off the headunit, then, when time comes to do a nother system with an amplifier or two, you will be forced to buy new speakres...see my point?

in my opinion, for headunit power, the best speaker that will give you the performance/price ratio, and one guranteed to fit, is the Infinity reference coaxial...you should be able to find them on the internet for around 60 bucks a pair, for a 5.25"

b

[beachnut]

Hey Kathleen .. welcome! Where in SoFL are you? East or west coast? Just curious as I'm in Cape Coral.

Keep the replies coming guys. I'm watching this thread too with the exact same questions as her.

Bing, how come you don't like the rear deck speakers?

[BenW]

Hey Kathleen,

Welcome to VS. We all want to help out.

I think that a lot of guys here would back Bing up on the INfinity Ref. coax's.

Tho I havent used that particular speaker, they seem to get a lot of good talk. And the fact thtat they are a drop in is a good thing.

Regarding ditching the rear deck speakers, i think that this revolves around the whole staging issue. It can get complicated but basically, you want the sound infront of you, like a concert or live show, not behind you like rear deck speakers will do sometime. The rear doors will do this to a lesser extent but not as obviously.

[theunderlord]

Regarding ditching the rear deck speakers, i think that this revolves around the whole staging issue.  It can get complicated but basically, you want the sound infront of you, like a concert or live show, not behind you like rear deck speakers will do sometime.  The rear doors will do this to a lesser extent but not as obviously.

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dreams of subwoofer grandeur also are helped by rear deck speaker removal. I don't have mine in there at all anymore either. :D

[kamuro]

Scott, Bing,

Thanks for the advice....here's my thinking on a system for me, just need to get the specifics worked out....I would, at this point, rather invest a small amount of money, use the existing SC 810 HU, and just upgrade the speakers. Due to the above listed financial constraints, that will in all probability, exist for the next few years or so (a mere blink of an eye in my Volvo's lifespan!!) I am willing to hold off getting a "el supremo" sounding system till I spend at least a few hours a day in my car versus the few hours a week I currently spend in it.

I am looking at the infinity web site and they don't list the size of the rear door speakers....only the deck. The car will be gone for a bit now, as my son is driving it to school in Tennessee (MTSU), so I am left with the wagon, but I am planning on installing these at Christmas time, while he is around to help his mother read the fine print!! I digress....anyway I thnk I will probably leave the deck empty and replace the door speakers....easier and quicker. Now, Bing, you suggest the Infinity REF5002I two-way, do they also fit in the rear doors? I can get my son to measure, should have done that before, but alas, sometimes in my menopausal stupor, I tend to forget things. These should just be drop ins, correct?

By the way, I am in South Florida, Boca Raton, on the east coast. I have actually been a board member since Sept 2002, but spend most of my time lurking and learning from all the posts. I love it!! The boards are great and I have recommended VS to quite a few new Volvo owners. Thank you all for your support, commentaries, and pix (bandanas and all!!)

Kathleen

[wattsat]

my opinion would be similar to wattsat's except instead of rear deck speaker, i would do just hte front and rear door, i really hate rear deck speakres with a passion.

Bing, my only concern about using the rear doors instead of the deck is that the 5x7's should produce more bass / midbass than the rear doors. If the rears were 6.5 then I would certainly not use the rear deck.

The rear deck speakers are 5x7. There is no way for a 6x9 to fit there without some serious mod work.

I think the rear doors are 6". Since I am not using mine I cannot say for sure. I originally tried to put in a 6.5" speaker but they certainly do not fit and I thinka 5.25 is a little small.

As for speakers. Infiniti's are a good way to go.

[bogelo]

You can get replacement for all your volvo speakers from a local volvo junkyard. I believe you can get it all for less than $300 (maybe less than $200?).