My front speaker swap review
10/30/12, 03:20 PM
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My front speaker swap review
First step to upgrading my base 4 speaker system was new front speakers followed POSSIBLY by an amp to the front 2 and then a powered sub in the trunk.
I went with infinity kappa 6892cf
During instal I managed to put a huge scratch in my tint. My fault I know but $80 bucks for that fix plus $88 for the speakers and adapter puts me in at $168 total
Three things noticed after install in order from most noticeable to least.
1. Volume has to be turned up much higher to get the same volume out of it.
2. Base is much lower with these speakers
3. Maybe, MAYBE it sounds a little clearer with a little cleaner high end
Yes they are installed correct with correct polarity.
Worth it... No
I don't feel like adding an amp or sub now as I feel I will still be disappointed in the end.
If I could do it over I would of bought the infinity reference or the kicker speakers as those who have owned all 3 of these non amped say the reference and kickers have more base and are louder. I know going ahead and getting them amped will take the quietness away but then I still need a sub and I guess I just don't feel like finishing.
Just fixed my home entertainment sub so when I want to blast I will do it at home
What you should take away from this.
1. Don't get kappas if your not adding an amp,the reference from reviews are louder with more base and just as clear.
2. Roll down your window before removing plastic piece that goes over the door lock, otherwise it's a screwdriver to the tint
I went with infinity kappa 6892cf
During instal I managed to put a huge scratch in my tint. My fault I know but $80 bucks for that fix plus $88 for the speakers and adapter puts me in at $168 total
Three things noticed after install in order from most noticeable to least.
1. Volume has to be turned up much higher to get the same volume out of it.
2. Base is much lower with these speakers
3. Maybe, MAYBE it sounds a little clearer with a little cleaner high end
Yes they are installed correct with correct polarity.
Worth it... No
I don't feel like adding an amp or sub now as I feel I will still be disappointed in the end.
If I could do it over I would of bought the infinity reference or the kicker speakers as those who have owned all 3 of these non amped say the reference and kickers have more base and are louder. I know going ahead and getting them amped will take the quietness away but then I still need a sub and I guess I just don't feel like finishing.
Just fixed my home entertainment sub so when I want to blast I will do it at home
What you should take away from this.
1. Don't get kappas if your not adding an amp,the reference from reviews are louder with more base and just as clear.
2. Roll down your window before removing plastic piece that goes over the door lock, otherwise it's a screwdriver to the tint
10/30/12, 10:41 PM
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10/30/12, 11:48 PM
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Yes it will be great with a amp. I have a set of kicker speakers (95 RMS watts) in the rear powered by a Sony amp and they bump the car they even rattle the car a little. So then i added a set of 12s in the back as well but that's a different story.
10/31/12, 04:20 AM
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First step to upgrading my base 4 speaker system was new front speakers followed POSSIBLY by an amp to the front 2 and then a powered sub in the trunk.
I went with infinity kappa 6892cf
During instal I managed to put a huge scratch in my tint. My fault I know but $80 bucks for that fix plus $88 for the speakers and adapter puts me in at $168 total
Three things noticed after install in order from most noticeable to least.
1. Volume has to be turned up much higher to get the same volume out of it.
2. Base is much lower with these speakers
3. Maybe, MAYBE it sounds a little clearer with a little cleaner high end
Yes they are installed correct with correct polarity.
Worth it... No
I don't feel like adding an amp or sub now as I feel I will still be disappointed in the end.
If I could do it over I would of bought the infinity reference or the kicker speakers as those who have owned all 3 of these non amped say the reference and kickers have more base and are louder. I know going ahead and getting them amped will take the quietness away but then I still need a sub and I guess I just don't feel like finishing.
Just fixed my home entertainment sub so when I want to blast I will do it at home
What you should take away from this.
1. Don't get kappas if your not adding an amp,the reference from reviews are louder with more base and just as clear.
2. Roll down your window before removing plastic piece that goes over the door lock, otherwise it's a screwdriver to the tint
I went with infinity kappa 6892cf
During instal I managed to put a huge scratch in my tint. My fault I know but $80 bucks for that fix plus $88 for the speakers and adapter puts me in at $168 total
Three things noticed after install in order from most noticeable to least.
1. Volume has to be turned up much higher to get the same volume out of it.
2. Base is much lower with these speakers
3. Maybe, MAYBE it sounds a little clearer with a little cleaner high end
Yes they are installed correct with correct polarity.
Worth it... No
I don't feel like adding an amp or sub now as I feel I will still be disappointed in the end.
If I could do it over I would of bought the infinity reference or the kicker speakers as those who have owned all 3 of these non amped say the reference and kickers have more base and are louder. I know going ahead and getting them amped will take the quietness away but then I still need a sub and I guess I just don't feel like finishing.
Just fixed my home entertainment sub so when I want to blast I will do it at home
What you should take away from this.
1. Don't get kappas if your not adding an amp,the reference from reviews are louder with more base and just as clear.
2. Roll down your window before removing plastic piece that goes over the door lock, otherwise it's a screwdriver to the tint
10/31/12, 11:48 AM
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10/31/12, 11:52 AM
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I'll try the new speakers with the old head unit before replacing the head unit. I'll let you know what happens.
10/31/12, 06:36 PM
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Which head unit unit front cover ( don't know what it's actually called) are you going with to replace the oem controls?
11/1/12, 04:15 AM
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The final components were delivered yesterday, so tonight, I solder wires on the head unit harness. I'm probably going to wait until this weekend to put the speakers in because I may have to modify the speaker harness adapters, but I don't want to just assume that I have to.
Do you know what Metra part number your speaker harnesses were? You had to mod yours, right?
I have the 72-5600's. I've seen mixed reports. One guy with a 2005 Mustang said he had to swap the connectors, while another guy with a 2010 didn't mention having to swap. I wonder if the requirement to mod the harness depends on what speakers you're hooking up...
Last edited by jsimmons; 11/1/12 at 04:17 AM.
11/1/12, 05:21 AM
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If you're replacing the front and back speakers and using the metra harness on both sets, it won't make any difference. The reason you hear a difference when only connecting one set is the front and back speakers are 180 degrees out of phase with each other, thereby canceling each other out and reducing the relative sound pressure level. If both sets of speakers have positive and negative reversed due to the metra harness but are in phase with each other, it will sound fine. Yes, I'm aware phasing can make a difference in high-end sound systems, but you'd never hear it with just the factory power.
That's really weird about the metra harness. I wonder why they reverse them??? I used Scosche harnesses in mine.
And the Kappas are a definite improvement with the Shaker500. The highs are much more pronounced with more presence. I didn't notice any bass loss at all since the factory subs would overpower them anyway, and the volume actually seems a bit louder than stock. I guess the base system just doesn't have enough gonads to drive them.
That's really weird about the metra harness. I wonder why they reverse them??? I used Scosche harnesses in mine.
And the Kappas are a definite improvement with the Shaker500. The highs are much more pronounced with more presence. I didn't notice any bass loss at all since the factory subs would overpower them anyway, and the volume actually seems a bit louder than stock. I guess the base system just doesn't have enough gonads to drive them.
11/1/12, 06:41 AM
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Same metra 72-5600. It is weird but when you connect the harness you can see the positive and negative wires connect opposite from the factory harness. Somebody screwed that one up ha ha. Above is right though, if all your speakers are connected the same way you won't be able to tell the difference.
11/1/12, 08:39 AM
#14
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If you're replacing the front and back speakers and using the metra harness on both sets, it won't make any difference. The reason you hear a difference when only connecting one set is the front and back speakers are 180 degrees out of phase with each other, thereby canceling each other out and reducing the relative sound pressure level. If both sets of speakers have positive and negative reversed due to the metra harness but are in phase with each other, it will sound fine. Yes, I'm aware phasing can make a difference in high-end sound systems, but you'd never hear it with just the factory power.
11/1/12, 01:06 PM
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11/1/12, 03:19 PM
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I also have the shaker system - I noticed better sound quality, less muddiness. I can actually turn the bass up a bit. Car shakes when I want it to, and the sound is much improved. Base system might need a sub or an amp...
give it a few weeks to "break in" the speaker before you give your final opinion. Mine sound better today then when I stalled them a few months ago.
give it a few weeks to "break in" the speaker before you give your final opinion. Mine sound better today then when I stalled them a few months ago.
11/1/12, 07:57 PM
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11/3/12, 04:39 AM
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