Speaker Upgrades

jdubya · December 3, 2009

Ok, so I went to upgrade the rear door speakers on my 07 NBS Extended Cab with some MB Quart Speakers I had laying around and after I get the door apart and get to the speaker, I notice that the speaker size is 5" and not 6 1/2" as I thought. But to top it off the speaker is actually built into the plastic mount which which when removed leaves a square hole in the door about 6" X 10"....

Anywho, before I go and build some custom mount for this thing i was wondering if anyone has tackled a replacement and if so, Did you find a manufactured mounting plate specific for this truck or did you make a custom mount?

Thanks....

Bish · December 3, 2009

I got new brackets/mounts from Crutchfield. They fit in the stock door locations. and install with one bolt through the factory hole.

jdubya · December 3, 2009

I called them they said that it will need to be custom fabricated...

They must have them for the 4 door trucks, just not the extended cab door....

dlewis1111 · December 4, 2009

I called them they said that it will need to be custom fabricated...

They must have them for the 4 door trucks, just not the extended cab door....

Same shitty bracket for the front and back. The one bolt installation rattled like hell. 6x9's will almost fall into place on the rear doors of the extended cab. I put a set in the front and back with just a little trimming. Door panels fit perfectly over them.

jdubya · December 4, 2009

I called them they said that it will need to be custom fabricated...

They must have them for the 4 door trucks, just not the extended cab door....

Same shitty bracket for the front and back. The one bolt installation rattled like hell. 6x9's will almost fall into place on the rear doors of the extended cab. I put a set in the front and back with just a little trimming. Door panels fit perfectly over them.

I started fabricating a custom mount last night at work. I think they will work a lot better. I am going to mount a set of 6 1/2" speakers in the front and back and replace the tweeter on the window pillar. I was going to just hook them directly to my Kenwood headunit but I think I may add a 4 channel amp since I have to go through all of this....

Bish · December 4, 2009

I called them they said that it will need to be custom fabricated...

They must have them for the 4 door trucks, just not the extended cab door....

Same shitty bracket for the front and back. The one bolt installation rattled like hell. 6x9's will almost fall into place on the rear doors of the extended cab. I put a set in the front and back with just a little trimming. Door panels fit perfectly over them.

If you dynamat the opening, the adapters fit real snug and produce no movement or vibration. I will agree thought that without dynamat or equivalent, there is plenty of looseness.

If you can custom fab something, in the end it would probably be a better solution if you have the time and skills.

csheatz · March 2, 2010

Bring this one back, It is possible to get 6x9's in the ec rear doors? with a little cutting and a "make ur own bracket mount" But I can get these in there? Do I have to do anything to the door panel or they just fit? I was worried that the factory grille in the door panel is not going to be big enough to get the sound out from the speaker and the panel would muffel the sound?

dlewis1111 · March 8, 2010

Bring this one back, It is possible to get 6x9's in the ec rear doors? with a little cutting and a "make ur own bracket mount" But I can get these in there? Do I have to do anything to the door panel or they just fit? I was worried that the factory grille in the door panel is not going to be big enough to get the sound out from the speaker and the panel would muffel the sound?

I did it to my GMT900, not sure about the GMT800. Mine fit with a little trimming and the panels go right on there. It looks like GM designed the doors for 6x9 and then cheaped out with the 6.5.

csheatz · March 9, 2010

I got some 6.5" kenwood 3 ways for the fronts, and 5"x7" matching kenwoods for the back doors. A little trim work with the dremel and they fit perfect, and sound is 1000 times better!

jdubya · March 9, 2010

My GMT900 didn't even have the 6.5" in the back it was more like a 5" speaker. Did you have an upgraded sound system?

I think you would get better sound by going with a 6.5" component set up rather than the larger speaker. They have less tendency to distort under higher volumes.

dlewis1111 · March 11, 2010

My GMT900 didn't even have the 6.5" in the back it was more like a 5" speaker. Did you have an upgraded sound system?

I think you would get better sound by going with a 6.5" component set up rather than the larger speaker. They have less tendency to distort under higher volumes.

If you properly match the amp to the speakers and then tune it properly this won't be a problem. That is unless you are pushing 1000 watts through them, and then you need the super high end component set ups. I just think for the money a quality set of 6x9's are hard to beat in all around performance. I am very jaded though. When I was 15 I bought my first car, a 1985 Honda CRX Si, with money I saved mowing lawns. I ended up building an enclosure for the back (the cars only came with front speakers) that held four of the original Pioneer 4 way 6x9's hooked to an amp I can't recall. Was awesome at the time. I guess I revert to that speaker because of the memories that it brings back......

dlewis1111 · March 11, 2010

My GMT900 didn't even have the 6.5" in the back it was more like a 5" speaker. Did you have an upgraded sound system?

I think you would get better sound by going with a 6.5" component set up rather than the larger speaker. They have less tendency to distort under higher volumes.

If you properly match the amp to the speakers and then tune it properly this won't be a problem. That is unless you are pushing 1000 watts through them, and then you need the super high end component set ups. I just think for the money a quality set of 6x9's are hard to beat in all around performance. I am very jaded though. When I was 15 I bought my first car, a 1985 Honda CRX Si, with money I saved mowing lawns. I ended up building an enclosure for the back (the cars only came with front speakers) that held four of the original Pioneer 4 way 6x9's hooked to an amp I can't recall. Was awesome at the time. I guess I revert to that speaker because of the memories that it brings back......

jdubya · March 12, 2010

I just like the cleaner sound of component speakers over the 3 ways. I do not think the sub size difference between a 6.5 and a 6x9 will make much difference, amplified or not.