R & R 3S dash speakers?

Yes, indeed.

Never mind the rest of the system for now, but Steve (2fnloud) and Bob (OhioSpyderman) have helped me to kill a few birds with these stones-


Two each Vifa NE65W-04 2" Full Range Woofers Vifa NE65W-04 2" Full Range Woofer 264-1046, set me back about $64 before shipping-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010057.jpg

These were purchased to replace the stock 1G dash-mounts and augment a 2.1 component system I am converting to 3.1.

Steve rooted these out for me, and they share some fortunate coincidences of dimension with the stock speakers and prompted a few chat exchanges with Bob, who offered two of these-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010053-1.jpg

-2G Infinity (1st iteration) units as surgical candidates.

These are different from the standard 1G units in a way that makes them, at this point, and as far as I know, the best option for my purposes, because of-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010054-1.jpg

-the little nubbins that secure the speaker to the nacelle I wish to salvage.

Grinding them down separated things-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010055.jpg

-and allowed me to size things up.

The best ID/OD measurements I could take from the empty nacelles and the new Vifas put the speaker at +.010, so game on-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010056-1.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010058-1.jpg

A quick peek at new vs. old, and the depth looks good for the in-dash fit - I used my index finger to index that, btw - but here's what counts-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010062.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010066-1.jpg

Anyway, time for fitment.

I could tell by trial that the speakers needed to give relief to the nacelles right at the points where the dash-clips crossed the driver's frame, so out came the Dremel, and about 60 seconds later, 4 reliefs, a few down-and-dirty thousandths-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010059.jpg\\

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010063.jpg

-as you can see (un-cut on left)-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010064.jpg

Works a treat:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010066.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010065.jpg

Final step is to fix the driver to the nacelle - RTV Blue - and set them aside to dry.

I'll throw in a few pics of that process here tomorrow...and here they are - one with the buttress still in place, the other with it removed-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010034-1.jpg

-and the reverse view, to show the extra RTV I laid in to get a little more purchase on the driver because of it's weight-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010035-1.jpg

Anyway, the speakers are pretty weighty, in a tiny-speaker sort of way, and I will be wary of them dropping out until they convince me they aren't going to...I may put some sort of soft shim between the mags and whatever lies beneath them in situ.

I'll polish this up as needs.

Thanks for looking, and thanks to Steve and Bob for their help! :)

Very nice work and research! I would put a soft shim there just because. I think I may have to do this now. Thank you for sharing. :)

Do you know what the difference is on the 1G's? If not Ill pop mine out this weekend real quick and snap a photo..


Let us know how they sound!

Good stuff!

Here you go, Tret:

Here's the 1G (pre-Infinity) dash-speaker-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010070.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010022.jpg

This is the speaker that gave me the idea - it is still dimensionally correct for the modification and will fit the Vifas, but reclaiming the nacelle would be a bit more involved, as you can see from the photo.

For comparison, here are a few more pics, 1G on the left, Infinity on the right, then the three of them together-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010068.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010067.jpg

-and for approximate depth-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010066-1.jpg

I will be using some CDT ES-02 in the dash. If I don't like it I will give those a try.

Looks to me like I would just have to cut the bracket holding it in.. Unless theres more than Im seeing or they are glued in. Either way, thanks for the idea. :)

I would also cut out the "+" behind the grill, I would not want my surround slamming into that. Just a thought guys. I had no problems using dikes to cut it out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by terrets

Looks to me like I would just have to cut the bracket holding it in.. Unless theres more than Im seeing or they are glued in. Either way, thanks for the idea. :)

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Actually, removing the screw that goes through the bracket into the magnet allows the whole thing to fall apart - snip the wires and it's in two pieces - sux that I just RTVed the Vifas to the Infinity nacelles, which precludes comparison :sad: but it came apart clean-as-you please.

I have pics, will post them later.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2fnloud

I would also cut out the "+" behind the grill, I would not want my surround slamming into that. Just a thought guys. I had no problems using dikes to cut it out.

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Good idea, Steve, and I will, but I think it might be well to leave it in place until the RTV is dry; I'm doing a two-step process - a perimeter bead around the driver flange (about 3/32"), that I will follow with a heavier smudge-bead to add a bit more strength.

I'll leave the cross where it is until the whole thing sets, then snip it out.

The new rigs are soft-clamped, atm.

I'll do the finish bead tomorrow and take a few more snaps.

Okay - didn't wait:

Here's the 1G dash speaker-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010022.jpg

-out with the screw-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010024.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010023.jpg

-snip the +/-, and voila-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/P1010025.jpg

-the bridge-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010026-1.jpg

-has to go-

]http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010027-1.jpg

-and...no step at the clips, so there goes that-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010028-1.jpg

but wait - flip it over, and there's a slight step where the OE driver sat-

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010030-1.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...P1010032-1.jpg

I have yet to check the ID of the recess, but I'll bet taking those locator nubbins out might turn the trick - I'll put a caliper on it tomorrow.

EDIT:

I measured the recess at 2.70", which will definitely accept the speaker OD of 2.56" - only concern might be the Vifa's frame rising far enough above the nacelle's surface to obstruct the OE metal grille seating properly, but where there's a will, there's a way, right? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spyder

I will be using some CDT ES-02 in the dash. If I don't like it I will give those a try.

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Boy, if you don't like the CDTs...that's some badass little drivers, there. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by j2k4

Anyway, the speakers are pretty weighty, in a tiny-speaker sort of way, and I will be wary of them dropping out until they convince me they aren't going to...I may put some sort of soft shim between the mags and whatever lies beneath them in situ.

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To prevent them detaching over time maybe you could put a slight notch in the sides of the tabs of the frame and loop a thin wire across the bottom of the magnet anchoring it in the notches.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimvr4

To prevent them detaching over time maybe you could put a slight notch in the sides of the tabs of the frame and loop a thin wire across the bottom of the magnet anchoring it in the notches.

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Thought about doing something like that, Jim, but if they do come out, there's really nowhere for them to go, and not much chance of damage, so I'll wait, if, as, and when.

In the meantime, I wouldn't mind knowing how well the RTV works, and if my read on what it took to do the job was correct. :)

so these are the new 220 GTO's? :suspect:

can they be made to fit with a toilet gasket? that was WAY easier.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IPD

so these are the new 220 GTO's? :suspect:

can they be made to fit with a toilet gasket? that was WAY easier.

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The 220 GTO's did not look OEM, this does.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2fnloud

The 220 GTO's did not look OEM, this does.

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i'll give you that. the mount looked oem though. and WAY easier to do.

mine are currently covered by a dash-mat, so i don't think it would make a difference either way.

Post redundant

The tweeter is mounted in the flush mount cup...it should come out.

looks like the tweeter should twist lock by looking at the three slots around the perimeter of the flush mount cup.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2fnloud

The tweeter is mounted in the flush mount cup...it should come out.

looks like the tweeter should twist lock by looking at the three slots around the perimeter of the flush mount cup.

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Ah - so what I'm currently seeing as the speaker is two pieces - I'll check that shortly - thanks, Steve. :)

yes the casing with the flange and the tweeter that is in the "cup"

upon looking over your pictures more closely, if you look at the surface cups you see three tabs, those are most likely the tabs that are locking the tweeter into the cup.

Got it, Steve - wasn't looking at it either/or.

Piece-o-cake, now. :)

Just remembered to finish this-

The Vifas sound GREAT.

Range is very good, even a bit of bass-ish response - very crisp and clear, and the staging is exceptional.

The Precision Power tweeters are a great compliment to the Vifas, too.

It sounds good enough that it took me a few minutes to discover the passenger's door speaker wasn't even broadcasting (wasn't even hooked-up! :lol:).

Highly recommended speakers, for sure.

I'm running about 75WATTS to my tweeters, How would you rate the sound quality of this for a tweeter? Does it produce good high's?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BigBoris

I'm running about 75WATTS to my tweeters, How would you rate the sound quality of this for a tweeter? Does it produce good high's?

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I'm pushing 100W at them and I haven't heard any objections at all, Boris.

I would describe the sound as accurate, uncolored, and capable of excessive/overpowering volume without losing character - they really only required a quick leveling to fit anything I threw at them, and I listened to them fully to either side, through every cross the HU had.

Keep in mind that I am using these with the Precision Power tweets, which are basically, what, just above 14-15K?

I had them tuned all the way in-and-out of the mix, too...the only other things the amp is driving are the PP 6-inchers.

I really couldn't be happier with them, Boris.

I'll call them a 9 - for the price, they are stunning.

Hats off The Guru for locating them. :)

EDIT:

I would say they are perfectly capable of carrying the front end/dash burden with no augmentation.

the absolute best dash speaker for our car is a Pioneer stage4 062prs 2-5/8"(fits perfect!) a bit pricey($450 a pr.)but they are so worth it trust me! i have over $8,000 in my audio system in my 3000gt and these are my most valued piece(though not the most expensive piece in my car!) you would never believe how loud/clear

I can think of many MANY other speakers to put in there that once properly set up and balanced your ears would not even tell that you didn't spend 450.00 on speakers.

I'm still rocking the 220gto's. I'm not gonna throw components in there, but I'd entertain other options in the $100 range or less. And I'm ok with using a toilet flange as a mount...just like I have in there now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2fnloud

I can think of many MANY other speakers to put in there that once properly set up and balanced your ears would not even tell that you didn't spend 450.00 on speakers.

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As one who chose that route, I can vouch for this man's veracity.*



*Unsolicited commentary, there ^^.:wink:

if you want a really high end speaker($450 a pr) get the Pioneer Ts-S062prs they can be had for $325 on sale but so worth it the sound almost as good as my $750 polk door speakers loud/clear and go unbelievably low for such a small speaker(these are mids not tweets! they add a ton to the front stage(especially vocals!) oh and fit perfect in our dash location!

Because it wasn't picked up the last time:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2fnloud

I can think of many MANY other speakers to put in there that once properly set up and balanced your ears would not even tell that you didn't spend 450.00 on speakers.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by spaceace60

if you want a really high end speaker($450 a pr) get the Pioneer Ts-S062prs they can be had for $325 on sale but so worth it the sound almost as good as my $750 polk door speakers loud/clear and go unbelievably low for such a small speaker(these are mids not tweets! they add a ton to the front stage(especially vocals!) oh and fit perfect in our dash location!

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Pics installed?