Budget stock Audio upgrades (XL) - plan, research, options and experimentation

[JaxMav]

Thanks...I understand brand loyalty and driving customers to purchases. When I first saw the speakers and prices, I thought to myself, too good to be true. So, you confirmed that it's just too good to be true. So, I'm going to stick with the 6 3/4" subs and the Kicker 2 Chanel amp. I'll review placement/enclosures because I don't want too much bass, nor thumping bone rattling bass. Just good full solid and balance sound. Perhaps some bench test work is in store.

I'll wait on the final decision on component speaker upgrade choice until I read about your new speakers.

Thank you BootXL76 for your work, postings, information, willingness to help others. Your opinion has become a valued source.

If you don't mind me adding my two cents in on the 6.5" subwoofers.

I went with a more economical choice but I am enjoying the CT sounds 6.5" meso. They have two different box builds on their site for them. A SQ enclosure that is sealed which sounds like you are leaning towards this. I went with their ported enclosure specs and I am very happy with it, but I also like EDM along with all other types of music. So I try to find a middle ground.

I was able to squeeze the box inside the storage bin under the back seat without any modifications.

https://www.ctsounds.com/collections/meso-series-subs/products/meso-6-5 $110

Box Specifications:
Port Area	12 in2
Displacement	0.05 ft3

Flat Response Curve (SQ):
Sealed	0.2 ft3
Ported	0.13 ft3
Tuning Frequency	50 Hz
Boomer Response Curve (SPL):
Sealed	-
Ported	0.25 ft3
Tuning Frequency	42 Hz

Later when I feel like upgrading to something a little more expensive I was looking at these three. I'm sort of leaning towards the Audio Dynamics.

https://adcaraudio.com/store/product/ad2206-d4-copy/

I know JL is always good and they also come with the price tag

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_1366W3V34/JL-Audio-6W3v3-4.html?tp=111

These Sundowns X series 6.5 also peaked my interest too.

https://sundownaudio.com/lv/sa/subwoofers/x-series/

Just food for thought if you haven't already purchased the Kickers. If you have I look forward to hearing your opinion on their sound!


I am impressed with how a 6.5" sub can sound in the right enclosure and it makes it way easier trying to find space for it. So I like the way you are leaning.

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[Jwhisl]

I can vouch that ct sounds is a good brand. Their amplifiers generally do more than rated and I like that they still offer class AB for an affordable price. I have been running the meso series 3 way components and 5x7 in my f150 powered by a focal amp for 2 years. I have owned 5 of their amps from the low end to mid top tier and have been pleased with all of it. My musical tastes range from classical, metal, rap, electronic, dubstep, acoustic, and lossless audio tracks.

 

[jewc75]

First thing i do on any vehicle is scrap the stock speakers. I already have my Eclipse amps and Morel speakers for the maverick that is being built.

 

[JaxMav]

First thing i do on any vehicle is scrap the stock speakers. I already have my Eclipse amps and Morel speakers for the maverick that is being built.

What morels do you have? I have been checking different components they offer. Every forum for car audio most ppl say morel when ppl ask for suggestions.

 

[jc888888888]

First thing i do on any vehicle is scrap the stock speakers. I already have my Eclipse amps and Morel speakers for the maverick that is being built.

which Morels are you leaning towards ,I am getting ready to order front door 6.5,s and would love your thoughts

 

[jewc75]

I have the Tempo Ultras. I have them in my GTI and Colorado. I have the ks series from kicker in my mustang. All driven by the same amp and the Morels sound 100x better

 

[BootXL76]

I have the Tempo Ultras. I have them in my GTI and Colorado. I have the ks series from kicker in my mustang. All driven by the same amp and the Morels sound 100x better

I wanted the tempo ultras…. Ended up ordering the hertz Cento flat profiles tho (and sure enough I go to put them in the brackets last night (got here yesterday) and one of the terminals posts snapped off when I barely touched it Thankfully I ordered from crutchfield and they’ll swap it out easy)

 

[JaxMav]

I wanted the tempo ultras…. Ended up ordering the hertz Cento flat profiles tho (and sure enough I go to put them in the brackets last night (got here yesterday) and one of the terminals posts snapped off when I barely touched it Thankfully I ordered from crutchfield and they’ll swap it out easy)

Damn, that has to be very frustrating!

Give us update on how you feel about the Hertz sound quality. I'm not upgrading anytime soon, but I have an idea which direction I want to go with an upgrade down the road.

 

[BootXL76]

Damn, that has to be very frustrating!

Give us update on how you feel about the Hertz sound quality. I'm not upgrading anytime soon, but I have an idea which direction I want to go with an upgrade down the road.

One silver lining…. I ordered the scratch and dent to save $20 bucks (have I mentioned I’m cheap? ), they only had the one set so they’re sending me a “new” set

 

[jc888888888]

I am thinking about putting these Morels in My Mav ,No amp just want to upgrade the front door speakers .Will they fit and what do you guys think ? I am not ready to tackle the back speakers figured I could fade the sound to the front a bit. i picked the coax as i didnt want to fool with the crappy tweeters in the dash?
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210MU602X/Morel-Maximo-Ultra-Coax-602-MKII.html

I dont know very much about this so any thoughts are welcome

 

[jewc75]

Hertz was a good brand back in the day when i competed in USACI. I think they should have gotten better over time.

 

[BootXL76]

I am thinking about putting these Morels in My Mav ,No amp just want to upgrade the front door speakers .Will they fit and what do you guys think ? I am not ready to tackle the back speakers figured I could fade the sound to the front a bit. i picked the coax as i didnt want to fool with the crappy tweeters in the dash?
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210MU602X/Morel-Maximo-Ultra-Coax-602-MKII.html

I dont know very much about this so any thoughts are welcome

For some that would be fine, me personally if you’re gonna do it I’d go for the tweeters as well…. They’re pretty damn easy to access
going with the coax you’ll sacrifice some mid-bass but they’d still sound good(just really depends on what you’re wanting)

 

[JaxMav]

I am thinking about putting these Morels in My Mav ,No amp just want to upgrade the front door speakers .Will they fit and what do you guys think ? I am not ready to tackle the back speakers figured I could fade the sound to the front a bit. i picked the coax as i didnt want to fool with the crappy tweeters in the dash?
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210MU602X/Morel-Maximo-Ultra-Coax-602-MKII.html

I dont know very much about this so any thoughts are welcome

TBH, taking the A Pillar off and getting to the tweeters is fairly simple. Well, as long as you spend a few dollars and get a trim removal kit from somewhere like amazon. Its easier than taking the door panel off imo. It took me about 20 minutes to install the tweeters.


Just lift up on A Pillar and it should pop out easily. They have a elastic hair tie for lack of better term holding them tight, but you can rotate it out of the way carefully. My tweeter access popped up with A Pillar almost as one piece which was kinda annoying.

I would go for the components it will most likely sound better imo. I am going to try some rigging this weekend because I bought infinity kappa tweeters but they are so small they are just loosely fitted down in the original tweeter spot. I'm leaning towards using foam insulation to wrap around them to fit snug into the hole.


Also, I had to splice my wiring as it was after thought and didn't want to wait for adapter for the wiring, lol. I would definitely get the adapters to make it true plug and play.

I would go with these since they are similar in price.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210MAXIM62/Morel-Maximo-6.html?tp=106

 

[BootXL76]

TBH, taking the A Pillar off and getting to the tweeters is fairly simple. Well, as long as you spend a few dollars and get a trim removal kit from somewhere like amazon. Its easier than taking the door panel off imo. It took me about 20 minutes to install the tweeters.


Just lift up on A Pillar and it should pop out easily. They have a elastic hair tie for lack of better term holding them tight, but you can rotate it out of the way carefully. My tweeter access popped up with A Pillar almost as one piece which was kinda annoying.

I would go for the components it will most likely sound better imo. I am going to try some rigging this weekend because I bought infinity kappa tweeters but they are so small they are just loosely fitted down in the original tweeter spot. I'm leaning towards using foam insulation to wrap around them to fit snug into the hole.


Also, I had to splice my wiring as it was after thought and didn't want to wait for adapter for the wiring, lol. I would definitely get the adapters to make it true plug and play.

I would go with these since they are similar in price.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_210MAXIM62/Morel-Maximo-6.html?tp=106

exactly…. I actually just ordered 50 feet of gasket foam and may have to do something like that with these new tweeters cuz they seem more like 24mm than 1 inch

 

[uh50]

If you don't mind me adding my two cents in on the 6.5" subwoofers.

I went with a more economical choice but I am enjoying the CT sounds 6.5" meso. They have two different box builds on their site for them. A SQ enclosure that is sealed which sounds like you are leaning towards this. I went with their ported enclosure specs and I am very happy with it, but I also like EDM along with all other types of music. So I try to find a middle ground.

I was able to squeeze the box inside the storage bin under the back seat without any modifications.

https://www.ctsounds.com/collections/meso-series-subs/products/meso-6-5 $110

Box Specifications:
Port Area	12 in2
Displacement	0.05 ft3

Flat Response Curve (SQ):
Sealed	0.2 ft3
Ported	0.13 ft3
Tuning Frequency	50 Hz
Boomer Response Curve (SPL):
Sealed	-
Ported	0.25 ft3
Tuning Frequency	42 Hz

Later when I feel like upgrading to something a little more expensive I was looking at these three. I'm sort of leaning towards the Audio Dynamics.

https://adcaraudio.com/store/product/ad2206-d4-copy/

I know JL is always good and they also come with the price tag

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_1366W3V34/JL-Audio-6W3v3-4.html?tp=111

These Sundowns X series 6.5 also peaked my interest too.

https://sundownaudio.com/lv/sa/subwoofers/x-series/

Just food for thought if you haven't already purchased the Kickers. If you have I look forward to hearing your opinion on their sound!


I am impressed with how a 6.5" sub can sound in the right enclosure and it makes it way easier trying to find space for it. So I like the way you are leaning.

Thanks for the info. I have not purchased anything and because of having to buy a new computer, I've been delayed but upgrading is something I will do. I appreciate any information, especially that based on experience. So, thanks again.

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