Seeking recomendation for front/rear speakers for '96 Camry Wagon
Ladd Morse
condition, but the sound system produces very thin and anemic sound -
much, much worse than that of either of our current '87 Camrys which are
still running the factory setup from when we bought them new.
The speakers don't sound blown and one can raise the volume reasonably
loud, but they simply don't produce good sound.
Thinking that there is a greater chance that the front and/or rear
speakers are the weak points rather than the Toyota
radio/cassette/CD-Changer unit that's in the dash, I am leaning towards
replacing one or both sets of speakers rather than the electronics.
I suppose I could test this supposition by pulling the radio from either
of the '87 Camry's and see if that makes a difference.
Anyway, assuming that I end up replacing one or both sets of speakers in
the '96 wagon, any advice from folks who have done this in like cars
would be greatly appreciated.
I would guess that the front speakers are identical to the sedans of
equivalent years, and the rear speakers may or may not be what are used
in the rear of the sedans.
Most likely I could take the car apart, remove the speakers and visit
any local car stereo shop and find replacements that may work, but a
better deal on the higher-quality speakers might be had over the
internet if I knew what brand(s) and model(s) had been succesfully
installed by others.
Prefer speakers that will fit exactly or with only very minor
modifications required.
Price range around $70-$100 per pair most likely exceeds my ability to
judge additional quality; it may or may not exceed the capabilities of
the Toyota radio, cassette, CD-Changer unit that's in the dash.
Thanks in advance for any specific or general help and advice.
%co...@esper.com
First suggestion, be carefully with the radio swap. Toyota does change
radio connectors occasionally.
Second, I'm not sure about the rear speaker size, but usually, toyota
usually puts a 4" round in the dash. This is not a "standard" 4", as
the bolt pattern is smaller than off-the-shelf 4" speakers.
Recommendation 1) Try swaping speakers from your older Camrys first,
or any decent speaker you might have to test the speaker theory.
Recommendation 2) Crutchfield at www.crutchfield.com has several
choices in speakers that would fit almost every application, even
Toyota's special 4" round, usually labeled 4T.
ladd....@his.com (Ladd Morse) wrote:
=============
"Death. Inevitable. If death is inevitable,what is left?
Style. Only style." -"Lucifer's Hammer"
Ladd Morse
> I have a couple of suggestions, and a couple of recommendations:
>
> First suggestion, be carefully with the radio swap. Toyota does change
> radio connectors occasionally.
>
> Second, I'm not sure about the rear speaker size, but usually, toyota
> usually puts a 4" round in the dash. This is not a "standard" 4", as
> the bolt pattern is smaller than off-the-shelf 4" speakers.
>
> Recommendation 1) Try swaping speakers from your older Camrys first,
> or any decent speaker you might have to test the speaker theory.
>
> Recommendation 2) Crutchfield at www.crutchfield.com has several
> choices in speakers that would fit almost every application, even
> Toyota's special 4" round, usually labeled 4T.
Thanks for the tip regarding differening radio connectors. I guess I had
figured that if the connectors match, they would work. It didn't occur
to me that the connectors might match but the wiring would be different
and possible damage may occur.
My older Camry's have the front speakers in the dash, the "new" '96 has
the front speakers in the door. The grill cover isn't round; my first
thought was that it was a 6'x9' speaker, but to be candid, it looks like
it's set up for a mid-size round speaker and a small tweeter.
The speaker setup in the back of the '96 wagon is also different from
the '87 wagon. There are two large 6'x9'-ish grills in the inside
tailgate and two small tweeter-types high up on either side of the
C-Pillar.
I had been to Crutchfield's and they didn't have overly specific advice.
Entering in the data for my car returned two dozen listings covering a
wide range of sizes (why so many different sizes?) and all the speakers
fit into the category of "modifications needed". Confidence was not
inspired. :-(
Ladd
Darryl Schnarr
These sound incredible compared to the factory doors (which are single 6
1/2" btw) but I have yet to swap out the rears. They are 6"x9"s. I paid
about $250 CDN for the pair, but the problem was that the bolt pattern
didn't match, and because they were components, I had to cut a hole for the
tweeter. It was totally worth it though. It now sounds (and looks) like a
million bucks.
Reply by e-mail if you have trouble with the door handle, it's kinda tricky.
Otherwise, the installation went pretty well.
DS
"Ladd Morse" <ladd....@his.com> wrote in message
news:1ei71md.6roehbiad08nN%ladd....@his.com...
Michael Cerkowski
is reversed, you'll get the 'tinny' sound that you
describe, if memory serves...
--
"Against ignorance, the Dogs themselves contend in vain."
Ladd Morse
> Just an idle thought: if the speaker wire polarity
> is reversed, you'll get the 'tinny' sound that you
> describe, if memory serves...
An excellent suggestion - I'll be sure to check that.
Actually, I could see that being more likely than poor electronics or
speakers. While I'm sure the electronics and speakers are nowhere near
the best that could be had, for "normal" people, I don't think they
would be absolute crap. And, as pointed out before, my '87 Camry wagon
has better sound and how much worse could things get in a couple of
years?
Thanks.
Roger
Boston Acoustics speakers are, in my opinion, the
best speakers you can buy. Especially if you like
sound quality. Figure out what size you need and go
with the "RX" series.
http://www.bostonacoustics.com
Roger
Myles Carson
wrote:
Simply buy a nice ampolifier and power your stock speakers. Trust me
ouwill love it. Don't scrimp on the amp spend at least 300 for a good
one.
>My wife and I recently purchased a '96 Camry wagon in excellent
>condition, but the sound system produces very thin and anemic sound -
>much, much worse than that of either of our current '87 Camrys which are
>still running the factory setup from when we bought them new.
>
>The speakers don't sound blown and one can raise the volume reasonably
>loud, but they simply don't produce good sound.
>
>Thinking that there is a greater chance that the front and/or rear
>speakers are the weak points rather than the Toyota
>radio/cassette/CD-Changer unit that's in the dash, I am leaning towards
>replacing one or both sets of speakers rather than the electronics.
>
>I suppose I could test this supposition by pulling the radio from either
>of the '87 Camry's and see if that makes a difference.
>
>Anyway, assuming that I end up replacing one or both sets of speakers in
>the '96 wagon, any advice from folks who have done this in like cars
>would be greatly appreciated.
>
>I would guess that the front speakers are identical to the sedans of
>equivalent years, and the rear speakers may or may not be what are used
>in the rear of the sedans.
>
>Most likely I could take the car apart, remove the speakers and visit
>any local car stereo shop and find replacements that may work, but a
>better deal on the higher-quality speakers might be had over the
>internet if I knew what brand(s) and model(s) had been succesfully
>installed by others.
>
Ladd Morse
> On Sat, 7 Oct 2000 16:48:56 -0400, ladd....@his.com (Ladd Morse)
> wrote:
>
> Simply buy a nice ampolifier and power your stock speakers. Trust me
> ouwill love it. Don't scrimp on the amp spend at least 300 for a good
> one.
I agree insofar as I have no real way of knowing if it is the speakers
or the electronics that are the weak point.
mmwal...@my-deja.com
from them (at least $250) and you're a new customer, you get $25
OFF by giving them a current customer's referral number!
It's called the "Friends" program and all you need to do is enter a
current customer's referral number into the "Special Messages"
box on the Checkout Form. If you use my referral number, I'll get a
merchandise credit as well. My number is 17882737.
If you're ordering by phone just tell the operator the referral
number.
In article <1ei71md.6roehbiad08nN%ladd....@his.com>,
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Douglas Riggs
my experience that is the case. When I had to buy a new Cassette Stereo
for my 91 Corolla I bought through Crutchfield and found their installation
kit to be pretty much idiot proof. When I bought speakers a month later, I
used Crutchfield to get some ideas about what would work and then I bought
a pair of Pioneer TS-1018 4T 2way speakers through ebay for half the
price. There is a big difference between these speakers and the speakers
that came with my Corolla. The Pioneer speakers handle 40 watts where as
the Toyota stock speakers only handle 10 watts. More importantly the range
of sound is quite noticeable. Crutchfield also showed some4 inch Polk
speakers that fit Toyotas, but they were more expensive than I was willing
to handle right now, about $80 though Crutchfield. The Pioneer speakers
are $50 in Crutchfield as well.
Douglas
Jeff Sundin
the front and back of my 98 Camry. They came with both sets of wiring
harnesses and the technical support staff is very patient with the silliest
of questions and will walk you through the installation if needed.
I did the work myself and only had to drill new screw holes for the speakers
in the back desk, but that was no problem. I used a flexible bit adapter to
get in there at a 90 degree angle with my cordless.
I guess on a wagon, you won't have that problem, though!
J
"Douglas Riggs" <ha...@erols.com> wrote in message
news:39F96CBF...@erols.com...
Ladd Morse
> I would have to agree that Crutchfield is as good as it gets, at least in
> my experience that is the case. When I had to buy a new Cassette Stereo
> for my 91 Corolla I bought through Crutchfield and found their installation
> kit to be pretty much idiot proof. When I bought speakers a month later, I
> used Crutchfield to get some ideas about what would work and then I bought
> a pair of Pioneer TS-1018 4T 2way speakers through ebay for half the
> price. There is a big difference between these speakers and the speakers
> that came with my Corolla. The Pioneer speakers handle 40 watts where as
> the Toyota stock speakers only handle 10 watts. More importantly the range
> of sound is quite noticeable. Crutchfield also showed some4 inch Polk
> speakers that fit Toyotas, but they were more expensive than I was willing
> to handle right now, about $80 though Crutchfield. The Pioneer speakers
> are $50 in Crutchfield as well.
I have not bought thru Crutchfield previously, but figured the were
really charging full hit retail for their speakers. But clearly they are
providing a service for the uninformed (i.e., me), and unless I
dismantle my car first and haul one of the speakers around to the
various shops in my local, I wasn't going to have the necessary
information to purchase a suitable product elsewhare.
Ladd Morse
> Ditto all the good press on Crutchfield. I bought Pioneer speakers for
> the front and back of my 98 Camry. They came with both sets of wiring
> harnesses and the technical support staff is very patient with the silliest
> of questions and will walk you through the installation if needed.
>
> I did the work myself and only had to drill new screw holes for the speakers
> in the back desk, but that was no problem. I used a flexible bit adapter to
> get in there at a 90 degree angle with my cordless.
>
> I guess on a wagon, you won't have that problem, though!
I appreciate you taking the time to let me know of your experience.
Regards,
Ladd
Ladd Morse
> I've had great luck ordering from www.Crutchfield.com. If you order
> from them (at least $250) and you're a new customer, you get $25
> OFF by giving them a current customer's referral number!
>
> It's called the "Friends" program and all you need to do is enter a
> current customer's referral number into the "Special Messages"
> box on the Checkout Form. If you use my referral number, I'll get a
> merchandise credit as well. My number is 17882737.
>
> If you're ordering by phone just tell the operator the referral
> number.
Thanks for the tip!
Ladd
Aaron and Lindsey Hammett
don't mean BestBuy or WalMart Backyard Bob Installation shops, either. Sure,
I work in the industry, but have seen many a DIY try the Crutchfield way and
end up screwing something up cosmetically or electrically in their vehicle.
If you have a good working knowledge of your vehicle in these manners, then
go for it. There is nothing wrong with Crutchfield, if you don't mind paying
full retail for everything you buy in car audio, but there are better ways.
Taking your vehicle to a REPUTABLE installation shop will net you a lifetime
installation warranty and professional advice on what works and what does
not in your Camry Wagon. Sure, 6.5" and 6x9's fit, but what type will sound
best in your doors? Some 6x9s don't sound very good at all (no bass) unless
they are playing into a trunk. Some 6.5" speakers don't handle bass at all
and make horrid flapping sound when asked to do so...you can't demo a
speaker from Crutchfield, but you can at your local store.
Also, look out for internet-sold equipment. Many good brands are not
warrantied when sold through unauthorized dealers (Rockford Fosgate, Eclipse
and Kicker come to mind). And what happens when you have problems with your
equipment? You have to remove it yourself or pay someone to do it...ship it
back...wait...and wait...and wait...then put it back in. Lots of wasted
energy when an install shop could do it for you...free.
One more thing. The indash units are built by Clarion or Fujitsu Ten
(Eclipse) and the indash Changer is Nakamichi. None of these "cheap" units
are inferior to anything aftermarket. Quite the opposite, in fact. Properly
interfaced amplifiers to these systems produce remarkable results. If you
find a real tweak out there, you can have him/her modify the unit to produce
true line-level output, as opposed to the speaker level output. You might
have an external amplifier already, however, as is the case with the
CD/Cassette units. The connections between the radio and amplifier are a
Balanced Line RCA level and can be modified relatively easily to work with
your standard 4 channel amplfier. Again, a qualified install shop should
have the 'techies' that know how to do this.
Regards,
Aaron Hammett
American Car Audio, Des Moines IA
Myles Carson <tcr...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l0m8usosrltlqq56v...@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 7 Oct 2000 16:48:56 -0400, ladd....@his.com (Ladd Morse)
> wrote:
>
> Simply buy a nice ampolifier and power your stock speakers. Trust me
> ouwill love it. Don't scrimp on the amp spend at least 300 for a good
> one.
>
ashanr...@gmail.com
thanks