Installing speakers...need some help!

Experimental · 01-13-2007, 03:00 PM

Hope everyone is having a great new year so far.

I purchased two pairs of Pioneer 6.5" 3 -way speakers - model TS-A1671R for my fiancee's '05 non-JBL Prius. I was able to get a fantastic deal on them, and I'm fairly happy with how Pioneer speakers sound for the money. The two big selling points for me.

I've seen Sparky's write-up on his install, and while it has been very helpful so far, I have reached a snag. Unlike his Infinitys, these Pioneers did not come with adapters to mount the speakers into the door. After calling several car audio shops including the local Best Buy & Circuit City car audio departments, I have come to the conclusion no one makes adapters for the Toyota Prius. In fact, I get the feeling that most (if not all) installers prefer to just drill holes.

While I have been given the green light to drill holes, I have come along another problem. The speaker hole in the doors are so big, the speakers are about ready to go all the way through the doors...thereby leaving very little, if not any, room to drill the mounting holes I need. I'm basically out of ideas and looking to you all for help.

What have you all been doing to mount your speakers? I don't mind using brackets...in fact I have done it in the past with other cars. Thanks in advance for your help!

Brian

kDB · 01-13-2007, 03:35 PM

The simple thing to do would be getting some thin plywood (or decent sheet metal) and make your own bracket. Just cut a piece that will cover the hole in the door, with a hole in the middle to mount the speaker to. The door panel gives plenty of room.

Presto · 01-13-2007, 04:04 PM

Drill out the oringal spacers and then use them to make a stencil for the spacer (I recommend MDF). Make sure the holes line up perfectly. Then all you need to do is cut a hole for the speaker, which is easy to size if the speakers include mounting rings to use as a stencil.

priusenvy · 01-13-2007, 04:17 PM

You could also get a pair of plastic adapters from Scosche (sp?). I used a pair for the speakers in the rear doors.

priusenvy · 01-13-2007, 06:53 PM

I looked up my order - I used Scosche SAC656 adapters.

IIRC, I mounted the metal rings that came with the speakers to the adapters (with short machine screws and nuts from Home Depot), and then attached the speakers to the rings using the supplied hardware. I used two of the existing holes in the car door, and drilled a third one.

GeoGeek · 01-13-2007, 09:58 PM

Fo a detailed look at an install using MDF baffle rings, have a look
at DocVijay's site at: http://mysite.verizon.net/ressmxii/id13.html
This is the route I'd recommend.
Good Luck!

Beryl Octet · 01-13-2007, 10:53 PM

Crutchfield sells some adapters like this, although not specifically listed for the Prius look like they should work. That may be an option for you if you've not got the tools or the time to make something out of MDF.

Experimental · 02-06-2007, 07:41 PM

Just to follow up:

Thank you everyone for your replies. I used MDF board to create my own speaker brackets, and they work pretty darn well. It gives plenty of clearance. It's easy to cut to the specific shapes needed. It really worked out for the best.

On the downside...the Pioneer speakers are having issues. I will post that in a seperate topic and insert a link to this post for further info. Thanks again for everyone's input!

Brian

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Installing new speakers and amp.	coachlewis	Audio and Electronics	10	11-19-2007 08:55 PM
Help with installing speakers in pillars	rcrodriguez2	Audio and Electronics	4	11-20-2006 10:25 AM
Better Speakers?	genalex	Prius Main Forum	2	09-01-2006 09:15 AM
rattling speakers	kfarad	Prius Main Forum	5	05-05-2006 11:50 AM
Missing midrange tones after installing Kappa speakers	egumpher	Audio and Electronics	6	04-19-2006 12:34 AM

01-13-2007, 03:00 PM	#1
Experimental Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 12 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hope everyone is having a great new year so far. I purchased two pairs of Pioneer 6.5" 3 -way speakers - model TS-A1671R for my fiancee's '05 non-JBL Prius. I was able to get a fantastic deal on them, and I'm fairly happy with how Pioneer speakers sound for the money. The two big selling points for me. I've seen Sparky's write-up on his install, and while it has been very helpful so far, I have reached a snag. Unlike his Infinitys, these Pioneers did not come with adapters to mount the speakers into the door. After calling several car audio shops including the local Best Buy & Circuit City car audio departments, I have come to the conclusion no one makes adapters for the Toyota Prius. In fact, I get the feeling that most (if not all) installers prefer to just drill holes. While I have been given the green light to drill holes, I have come along another problem. The speaker hole in the doors are so big, the speakers are about ready to go all the way through the doors...thereby leaving very little, if not any, room to drill the mounting holes I need. I'm basically out of ideas and looking to you all for help. What have you all been doing to mount your speakers? I don't mind using brackets...in fact I have done it in the past with other cars. Thanks in advance for your help! Brian

01-13-2007, 03:35 PM	#2
kDB Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fenton, MO Posts: 243 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The simple thing to do would be getting some thin plywood (or decent sheet metal) and make your own bracket. Just cut a piece that will cover the hole in the door, with a hole in the middle to mount the speaker to. The door panel gives plenty of room.

01-13-2007, 04:04 PM	#3
Presto Has his homepage set to PC Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,187 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Drill out the oringal spacers and then use them to make a stencil for the spacer (I recommend MDF). Make sure the holes line up perfectly. Then all you need to do is cut a hole for the speaker, which is easy to size if the speakers include mounting rings to use as a stencil.

01-13-2007, 04:17 PM	#4
priusenvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 1,758 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	You could also get a pair of plastic adapters from Scosche (sp?). I used a pair for the speakers in the rear doors.

01-13-2007, 06:53 PM	#5
priusenvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 1,758 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I looked up my order - I used Scosche SAC656 adapters. IIRC, I mounted the metal rings that came with the speakers to the adapters (with short machine screws and nuts from Home Depot), and then attached the speakers to the rings using the supplied hardware. I used two of the existing holes in the car door, and drilled a third one.

01-13-2007, 09:58 PM	#6
GeoGeek Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Auburndale, FL Posts: 240 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 4,294,967,295 Times in 4,294,967,295 Posts TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 0	Fo a detailed look at an install using MDF baffle rings, have a look at DocVijay's site at: http://mysite.verizon.net/ressmxii/id13.html This is the route I'd recommend. Good Luck!

01-13-2007, 10:53 PM	#7
Beryl Octet Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Abingdon VA Posts: 1,294 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Crutchfield sells some adapters like this, although not specifically listed for the Prius look like they should work. That may be an option for you if you've not got the tools or the time to make something out of MDF.

02-06-2007, 07:41 PM	#8
Experimental Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 12 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Just to follow up: Thank you everyone for your replies. I used MDF board to create my own speaker brackets, and they work pretty darn well. It gives plenty of clearance. It's easy to cut to the specific shapes needed. It really worked out for the best. On the downside...the Pioneer speakers are having issues. I will post that in a seperate topic and insert a link to this post for further info. Thanks again for everyone's input! Brian