Hi all

I am about to install some clarion 6.5 inch splits in my 2nd gen front doors.

I have the full set of verada door trims with speaker pods ready to go. I have taken these apart to have a good look at them and as far as i can tell it does not look like the speakers (factory or aftermarket) are mounted onto the door pods or trim. Is this correct?

From the pics i have found of the front door insides it looks like there is a large hole with three screw holes meant for speakers. And the door pods simply hide/protect the speakers.

Did the factory speakers simply mount straight on the metal door frame or was there some kind of bracket/spacer that the speakers mounted on and that was then screwed to the door frame?

I think the speaker just simple screws on to the door where the hole is.

Doors have huge plastic bits in them, and the speaker sits in that. Speakers do not mount to the door cards themselves. You need these as well as the door pods. Can be made from MDF if you can't get the door inserts.

Thanks, i thought there were some kind of inserts i was missing. Think i will have to visit upullit on the weekend and find some.

Another question. Where is the best place to mount the tweeters?

Most seem to mount on the dash or A pillar. But i have seen some mounted in the door.

I was actually thinking them of mounting them in the dash where my 4inch speakers currently are but now I am thinking that would hinder there performance being down in those holes with the glass right above them.

Oh and happy easter everybody.

Best bet is to get some blue tac, and audition around the car where you think they sound best.

Make up a template and sink them into the factory locations... Some 5 mm MDF should do the trick..
This will stop them from sinking down in the holes.

Mine are mounted in the dash where the original ones were. I used some of that strip metal that comes with most head units the one with multiple holes. They seem to work ok in there but then again I am not a music purist in that regard.

mounting tweeter high up near the glass is the best way to project their sound

i use the factory 4Inch dash spots. I also put sound deadneing matt under the tweeter and fill the factory hole so the tweeter sits just under the trim

I put them up the top in the 4" holes and they sound great

Well i started this yesterday. Went and got the front door speaker mounts from a wreckers. Also got a verada boot liner at the same time all for $10.

GOt as far as mounting the drivers side speaker and bringing the wiring through to the center console

Glad i got the mounts otherwise i would need to be mounting straight onto the door metal and would need to drill new holes. Don't like the idea of that plus vibrations might be an issue.

The 6.5's i got don't line up with the factory holes on the mounts but not a huge issue coz you can still just screw new holes into the plastic wherever you need to and still holds the spaker in place firmly.

The biggest issue i had was with the door trims. I have the full verada door trimes with speaker pods, courtesy lights and arm rest meant for power window controls. My plan was to use the trim and simply swap the arm rests and make a hole for the window winder. Realised when i swapped the arm rests that the hole in the trim for the power window control wires to go through is alot larger and the non pwr windows arm rest is pysically smaller and dosn't totally cover this hole. And i can't just keep the power windows armrest as its to big to allow the window winder to rotate 360 degrees.

Sooooo after stuffing around doing all that i am probably just going to cut a speaker hole in my original trim and put the verada speaker pods on the original trim.

Finished this today, well everything but cutting the hole in passenger door trim and putting it back on. Ran out of day light and had to go out for dinner.

Ended up putting tweeters on the top of the dash speaker covers. Drilled a hole through the cover to bring the wires up then screwed the tweeter mounts to the cover. Might change position in the future but will test it out for while

Sounds better than the cheapo 4 inch's i had in the dash, definatly clearer. But i was expecting the 6.5's to have more punch since they are essentially just woofers. Think i need to get an amp next, low end sony head unit is probably struggling running the splits and the 6x9's in the back.

Also wired up the verada clock that i have had for a while.

Check the Wiring on the woofers.. you may have them wired incorrectly causing a drop in low end..
I have an Entry level Sony Deck with Subout and it drives my 6x9's and 6.5 inch Splits with plenty of punch..

Its best to have the deck set to Zero on Bass and Treble when setting up.. this will allow you to detect a change in frequency response.
If you have wired the speakers incorrectly they will go out of phase resulting in a boost in treble and a drop in Bass...

Best way to check is to use the Fader control and the Balance control..
Fade the speakers to the Front, then use Balance, left and right, if the Bass response is stronger on one side and then gets weaker when you go back to the middle, then the speakers are out of phase.
Do the Same with the Rears, Fade to the rears, then fade left and right, They should sound equal with no drop in bass response..
Then set everything back to the middle, so all speakers are sounding and fade from front to rear.. If it drops in bass response, then re-wire BOTH rear speakers to the opposite that they are now and check again..


Once this is all done, time to Level Set..
Basically, turn the volume up till it just distorts then back it off 2 points on the volume, then adjust the treble and bass to taste BUT listen and make sure it does not distort..
You may have to sacrifice volume for Bass.
Its best to do this in a remote area...as you can be suprised just how much noise the head units can pump out.. Doing it at home can have the neighbours complaining in no time..
Hearing damage may Occur so use precaution

Thanks for the advice magnat, will try that out.

I don't think they are wired incorrectly as from my previous experience is if you reverse the positive and negative you just get very low almost non existant volume. I definately get volume out of them as i tested fading 100% to the front then 100% left and right. They just don't seem to be as bassy/punchy as i was thinking they would be over the 4"'s i had. Plus I deal with speaker wiring almost daily now (AV installer) so i doubt i would have done something as simple as reversing the wiring.

Strangely my old head unit which was just the cd player out of a 3rd gen VRX seemed to sound better with the current 6x9's and old 4"'s. Only reason i replaced it was the cd player was starting to have issues reading cd's. As soon as i put the sony head unit in i noticed the speakers seemed to loose some punchyness (if thats a word...).

Yes.. it is true..
The stock head units for some reason, bring Bass frequencies in alot lower then the aftermarket gear... I have also noticed this when going from my parents Stock 6 speaker TH to my aftermarket install..

Yeah the stock head unit in my work van (holden combo) can suprisingly do real low and punchy bass but sucks for vocal. Constantly have to turn the bass down and the treble and mid range up and then i still find my self cranking the volume up to hear vocals.