Front speaker installs - and reviews...

Long post warning: It's long.

First off - I used a Scosche 6x9 to 6.5 adapter - it fit the Infinity, but for MB, the 6.5 does not go flush - so I drilled longer screws, and made it fit even as best it could (2" screws to make it fit strongly).

I would *highly* recommend *not* using the adapter. It is very flexible, and can't be good for bass etc. Please post an alternative is you can - the Scosche is thin plastic, and not a good idea - unless you want a cookie cutter thing (which I have). I'm guessing (unless someone know differently) I will need to buy a hunk of wood, cut out the opening, and mount it properly - but for now, I have the Scoshce....

EDIT AND ON SECOND THOUGHT: I wish I had the old speaker (trash) - you could very likely use it to mount the 6.5s (with slight modification) - and you get a nicer custom mount which fits, and gives more room for bass...
END EDIT

Since many will be in the realm of upgrading front speakers - thought this may be a good time to hear what others have done - pics, reviews etc.

Post your opinions and reviews...

My take:
Stock - the stock (meaning really stock - no JBL) speakers sound decent after a HU upgrade. I've run both random Chinese 2DIN, and high-end Pioneer - the speakers are very adequate for music etc. They will sound better after you do the HU upgrade.

Upgrades (Infinity review - then MB Quart review):
Infinity: I put in Infinity Reference 6020s in my latest GenIII - they made a very big difference (as would be expected). Original install pics etc here: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-audio-electronics/79495-my-avic-navi-install.html

Text/review from original install:
I only needed the stock Scosche (or Metra - I think any 6x9 to 6.5" adapter would be fine) adapter kit. If you do an install, I recommend using the stock connectors (though there is some soldering) - it just makes things easy.

Back speakers are still stock...

The Infinity crossovers were mated with the 'squaker' modified connector. This makes the whole front install easy. After you connect the things (Toyota modified connector, wires, front tweeter) - the Infinity crossover slides into the opening - then you plug in the Toyota wire plug, then slide it further down. On the left side, you have to twist it a bit, but it slides in fine...

Sound is amazing - but now I am thinking it is almost too much treble on *certain* applications (some FM channels that I have listened to - but mostly everything is great).

AM, DVD movies amazing - some FM, XM seems to much detail on the high.

I've had many very very highend systems for home - and this is just different from normal car stuff - which may be part of the listening experience. Imaging and sound in general on DVDs is amazing (but that is Dolby encoded). AM sounds great (but that has a limited bandwidth). XM seems very very good on average. FM seems to be bright with too much treble (on some stations/music - I have not run any kind of real analysis - this is my feel).

To get a nice good soundstage in front of you is nice. I still have not moved any settings - so who knows what that might do. I do know that this is as close to nice highend (home) as I have heard to date. That on certain tracks, and certain sources.

I also know it sounds harsh on certain tracks/sources.

My thoughts move towards break-in (which does exist on some speakers) - or just moving the settings from flat to (???). The speakers cost almost nothing relatively speaking ($110 current) - but install is a massive pain - I took little notes - so whoever does it must use an ohmmeter, and have some basic soldering skills - along with an assortment of: random sized wire nuts, crimping kit, good strippers, nice drill set etc.

The other thing I did not mention - ohming out your connection - when you check it, the difference between side one and side two is 3 ohms. So if you have a cheap DVM, make sure you really look at what the connection is.

If someone has the base Prius electrics, I'd be happy to lend a kind ear This forced me to play around a lot, and waste way too much cerebral energy last night..

Edit: I used 100% stock wiring - even re-used the wires from the 6x9 connector that went to the speaker cones (copper) - I just cut it off at the speaker - that gives enough play that you can solder its end to the Infinity. Then after mounting, just plug into the Toyota wire harness.... I did slather much electrical tape to keep everything insulated at the connections...

MB Quart (216 - 6.5" mid/bass, 1.5" "tweeter) Thoughts and pics:
Install was much more difficult than original Infinitys because I used way too much hot melt mounting the Infinity speakers. I had to use a heat gun to melt the hot melt - it was a hassle. Next time (MB Quart), I will be more careful.

Once I got the Infinitys out (see other threads on speaker removal and replacement), I noticed the MB Quart had a far larger tweeter. Had to take the plastic housing, and grind/sand it down to mount flush to the curved A pillar (not hard - but time consuming). Used a few bits of hot melt to put the tweeter housings on the A, and the tweeters in the housing (enough to allow a change later - but knowing the mess from the Infinitys, not too much). You can use screws etc - I like the way hot melt can be pushed around, then sticks well.

Crossover had to be put in a different location than Infinity (the Infinity fits in the old Squaker location - the MBs have a huge crossover box - impressive in look and feel for a speaker - they mounted in the foot compartments).

Sound is far different (and unexpected) from the Infinitys. Maybe it's the larger 'tweeter' - but it seems far more content comes from the tweeters. You can also tell the 6.5s are running.

Some songs are amazingly reproduced and the soundstage is very realistic (horns in 'Girl from Ipanima" is an excellent example). The tweeters seem far more like the squakers in the information being portrayed. I haven't looked at the specs but am guessing these have a wider range (???).

Bass is definitely tighter and more controlled.

On the negative side, there are times when I can notice the 'speaker pair' directionality. Meaning the bottom 6.5s and top 1.5s not meshing seamlessly - I had this on the Infinitys - but it may seem stronger on these - hard to tell. Don't know how you would get around that - except for mounting the mids in the dash too...

Between the Infinitys and MBs, looks-wise, they (IMHO) are equal. The Infinity comes with a silver housing to match the A pillar (nice) - and is smaller. The MB Quart is far more substantial - maybe it's a guy thing - I like its looks better...

Overall - they are cheap (I think Amazon says retail is $5xx, but they sell for $120), and IMHO far better in detail and content to the Infinity - almost another universe better (and I liked the Infinity).

I believe they (tweeters) could be dialed back a bit via crossover settings (-3db?) - I have them set at 0db right now...

Pics of MB Quart 216 (see post link for Infinity pics).







Infinity Reference 6020:

 

I won't bother to respond to Thai further - other to state that the current setup (JBL/stock) has a tweeter/squaker up front (a reflected sound is pretty much identical in time to ear), and mid/woofer down low.

Unless someone tries to mount mids in the dash, there is no way to bounce around that fact.

Last night we sat in the car (vs nice home stereo) listening to a nice Billy Joel concert - because it sounded nice....

Now - please post your experiences for the better of our little Prius society....

My personal opinion is Thai has detracted - not added to the Prius world. Noted is his post claiming "he finally added something" - good god - to taught your own horn in such a post is.................