Need help picking speakers
 

Hey guys! I need some help in deciding what speakers to get for the rear spots. I know, I know. I've read all the back and forth about whether or not rear speakers mess up the soundstage in the car and all that, and I've decided I like having the sound all around me.

What I need help on is deciding what speakers would be the best and what speakers fit. I know the rear spots are supposed to hold 3.5" speakers, but I've also read a few threads where people said that they put 4" speakers back there. Can they really fit? Or at least, can they fit with only MINOR modification?

As of right now, the speakers I'm looking at are

Infinity Reference X REF-3002cfx
Infinity Reference X REF-3002cfx 3-1/2" 2-way speakers at Crutchfield.com

Polk Audio DXi350
Polk Audio DXi350 3-1/2" 2-way car speakers at Crutchfield.com

Sound Ordnance P-35
Sound Ordnance™ P-35 3-1/2" 2-way car speakers at Crutchfield.com

Polk Audio DB351 3.5-Inch Coaxial Speakers
Amazon.com: Polk Audio DB351 3.5-Inch Coaxial Speakers (Pair, Black): Car Electronics


Any suggestions? Is there another brand that's better that I'm missing? I appreciate your help in advance.

Just for reference, at the moment I have Alpine SPR-60C component speakers and an Alpine R SWR-12D4 Sub with a Kicker 400W amp. I hope to switch this out soon to the Alpine PDX-V9 amp to power my components.

I had the Polk DXi350 in the rear of my sport touring they are definitely not a bolt in.

what all did you have to do to get them in? custom adapter rings?

I had to modify the trim panel b/c that where the speaker bolts to plus when I was all done the magnet was hitting the rear structure b/c there is no room behind the panel.

You could always fab up your own enclosures to sit on the parcel shelves behind the seats. They will not need much air space, and should be fairly simple to build.

I would do polks in the rear, you have to cut/trip the surrounding area where the speaker bolts to. Also make sure you have some speaker wire because you will need to run new wire to your head unit, and if you have a stock head unit you will need pins to add to the blanks of the stock harness for wiring.

Big actually makes some great enclosures for that spot, but I keep detailing stuff and my sunshade in those spots.


Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new fangled science stuff

Polks and Infinitys have been around and have good rep. Did you look into JL's as well? Any will do for rear fill because your ears will have a difficult time distinguishing between the speakers you've narrowed down especially with your headers and CF exhaust that you have. Whatever you decide, protect them from low freqs and get some form of high pass crossover with a decent slope.

I thought about the jl's, but they didn't have anything that seemed to stand out. I was hoping for alpines cause that's what I've always used and had nothing but great results with them, and that's what my whole car will be.

Big, what speaker wire do you recommend? That's something I haven taken the time to research.


Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff

Hertz

Lol not an option, I'm not rich. Thanks for the suggestion though, maybe in a few years I'll have a hertz or focal build.


Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff

Db351

I've had great success with JL's in my competition days in the 90s. They made mostly subs around that time and came up with comps later on. Subs made in the US, speakers made in Germany. The newer Evolutions sound good esp for rear fill but not sure where they are made nowadays. Lastly, if you can find a good used Morel go for it. These are good SQ speakers as well.

I used the DXI350's.. ended up taking them out tho.. The fill wasn't worth the disturbance to the soundstage. I assumed going into my build that Big's view on soundstage and not using rear speakers was crazy, but I have to admit that he's 100% right. I found zero benefit to having them :( Anyway, I've still got my DXI400's and DXI350's for the time being. They're boxed up and ready to ship back to Crutchfield.

I didn't see anything about a specific budget? The best option is largely dependent on how much you want to spend (hence the Hertz suggestion from that other guy).

The Polks are be very popular- good performance for the cost.