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S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faff?

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 10:20 pm
by bobbler
Anyone running aftermarket front speakers want to chime in with models etc that will fit in the front doors without too much messing about.
Dont mind doing a little work (spacers or a bit of modding to brackets), just dont want to do anything not undoable.

Alternatively any ideas on the depth and size of the speaker mounting area so I can have a look around myself at all?

Just going to uprate the fronts to a decent set of components and amp them to get some better sound quality in there.

Cheers

RE: S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faff?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 3:28 pm
by ZeroK66
I am running rainbow slx 235 deluxe speakers. They work very well, but you would ideally need an aftermarket amp to run them.

You need an adapter to allow you to fit the woofer to the standard mounting spot, the tweeter can be fitted to the standard tweeter spot no problem. It also comes with a large cross-over that needs to be mounted in the door, easily done though.

Problem with the B5 is the woofer "box" is not a box, the woofer just mounts to the plastic door card... if you put any power through it you will get distortion as the panel vibrates.

RE: S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faff?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 4:32 pm
by bobbler
Yeah, amps a definite to get some quality sounds. Will be putting a 2 channel hidden out of the way somewhere.
I have done quite a few installs in the past which required all manner of door builds and jiggery pokery so not massively adverse to it, just want to avoid it if possible by buying speakers of the correct depth.

Can you get away with putting some brown bread/dynamat anywhere near the speaker hole to deaden that vibration at all?

Edit:

Also do you happen to know the sizes at all for the fronts? I had a look for the model you listed but can only find references to a 230 and 265, no 235

RE: S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faff?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 4:57 pm
by Peakz
Bobbler, give Audioscape a call they make bespoke door pods to a very high standard. At the very least you'd need to beef up the door trim with some extra fibreglass or MDF bracing.
I think you'd be safe with any 5.25" component set, the Rainbow's are quite expensive but sound very smooth, much better than Alpine, JBL etc.

If you need any sound deadening send me a PM, I have a full large sheet of the stuff.

Re: RE: S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faff?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 5:34 pm
by bobbler
Peakz wrote:Bobbler, give Audioscape a call they make bespoke door pods to a very high standard. At the very least you'd need to beef up the door trim with some extra fibreglass or MDF bracing.
I think you'd be safe with any 5.25" component set, the Rainbow's are quite expensive but sound very smooth, much better than Alpine, JBL etc.

If you need any sound deadening send me a PM, I have a full large sheet of the stuff.
Thanks for that Peakz, but I think that Audioscape builds would push the price through the roof for the installation (which would take an extra £200 judging by their prices on the site). Fibreglass and MDF would also be into the realms of faffing about which I wanted to avoid if possible.
Just wanted to bung some decentish speakers in the existing holes (with an adapter if required), run some cables to an amp and play.

RE: Re: RE: S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faff?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 6:20 pm
by clived
I'm running Dynaudio in the front, but you absoutely need an amp....
Focal's in the back - not bad, but not a patch on the Dyn's

RE: Re: RE: S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faff?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 6:27 pm
by Peakz
Sounds like a nice bit of kit in your car, got any pix Clive?

I used to run a Genesis Four Channel with SEAS speakers.

RE: Re: RE: S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faff?

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:35 pm
by ZeroK66
I currently run a 200.4 phoenix gold amp... a little lacking in power to run my 2 x 10's in the back.

I really need some expert advice/help tweaking my install to be at its best. Anyone with suggestions please pm me.

As for the rainbows, sorry it was the 230's. I have adapters in the doors to fit the 5.25" cones. Most of the equipment came from caraudiodirect.com - they have all the adapters needed so you dont have to cut a thing in the standard loom, makes life much easier.

Re: RE: Re: RE: S4 B5 - speaker upgrade without too much faf

Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 8:08 am
by clived
Peakz wrote:Sounds like a nice bit of kit in your car, got any pix Clive?

I used to run a Genesis Four Channel with SEAS speakers.
I haven't, but I guess I could take a couple at the weekend...