Component speakers in dash

[GreyCactus]

I replaced the four 4” in speakers with Focal acx-100. Kept the stock 6.5”. I also installed the kicker key amp. The sound was much better than stock but after listening to them for a few weeks I was still not satisfied with them, but couldn’t pinpoint why.

I then realized that I didn’t like the sound all coming from the dash speakers. So I went and ordered a set of focal rse-165 component speakers. These came with a 6.5” woofer, a separate tweeter and a crossover. I installed the 6.5 in the kick panel location and the tweeters in the dash location in place of the 4”.

Reran the DSP and the stereo is so much better now!! I no longer hear all the music from the dash. There is so much depth and the soundstage is vastly improved.

For many of you that did the obvious like I did and upgraded the stock 4” with a coaxial 4”, I suggest you think about selecting component speakers instead. You will not regret it.

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[Its Brawnco]

What'd the final setup run you? I know nothing about stereo equipment but am unhappy with the stock speaker sound lately

 

[BroncoAZ]

I was thinking I might feel the same as you about having full range on the dashboard and in the kick panel. Thanks for posting.

Are you running rear speakers at all, or just the front components? I had a few trucks with just a nice set of components up front and a sub, no rear fill at all. If I wasn’t running any rear fill I could biamp the components and get more out of them.

 

[GreyCactus]

What'd the final setup run you? I know nothing about stereo equipment but am unhappy with the stock speaker sound lately

So far I’m in about $700, but I’m also planning to add a subwoofer sometime in the future. I purchased all of my equipment from crutchfield except for the plug and play harness.

 

[GreyCactus]

I was thinking I might feel the same as you about having full range on the dashboard and in the kick panel. Thanks for posting.

Are you running rear speakers at all, or just the front components? I had a few trucks with just a nice set of components up front and a sub, no rear fill at all. If I wasn’t running any rear fill I could biamp the components and get more out of them.

I have the 4” focals in the rear. I don’t hear anything from them sitting in the driver’s seat so it’s essentially for backseat passengers. I have my fader balanced between front and rear.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I have the 4” focals in the rear. I don’t hear anything from them sitting in the driver’s seat so it’s essentially for backseat passengers. I have my fader balanced between front and rear.

Good to know. There will never be rear passengers who need to hear anything in my 2 door. Maybe I’ll just start with components and a sub.

 

[fitterhappier]

I'm in the same boat - I went through a bunch of 4" speakers in the dash and like @GreyCactus, I wasn't happy with the sound but couldn't pinpoint why. It really comes down to the fact that any 4" speaker (with external amplifier or not) is simply trying to do too much up in that dash location. Ultimately, you're left with this soundstage where the dash speakers sound like they're putting out 80% of the sound, and you can't hear any of the other speakers. Adding the Kicker Key amp helped, but no amount of fiddling helped.

Solved mine by going with the Audison 2" mid/high drivers in the dash - it brought balance back to the front soundstage and I have separation between the dash drivers and kickpanel drivers (I'm with the group here - I can't hear the rears either, but they fill out the sound for the rear passengers).

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