Door speaker install questions

nightfire · Post by **nightfire** » March 4th, 2007, 12:54 pm

Hi everyone!

Sorry if this has been discussed before; I did a couple searches and didn't find an answer.

I'm installing some component speakers in the front of my new MX3 and I've got a couple questions.

1. Is it possible to run new wires through the door into the cabin? I had a lot of trouble doing this on my Escort; it used a plug and was sealed tightly at the joint. I'd like to run 2 16 gauge pairs per door back to the trunk so I can biamp the tweeters/woofer.

2. Does anyone know of a company that makes angled brackets for mounting tweeters? I'd like them to be aimed back, say, 60 degrees into the cabin instead of pointing at the dash.

3. What's the best place to run heavy gauge wiring back to the trunk? I'd like to relocate the battery to help weight distribution a bit (as well as lighten it with an SLA battery), so I'll need to run a 3-4 gauge wire all the way back. I'll probably run the speaker wires back with it as well, and pass the 6 RCAs somewhere else.

Also, somewhat offtopic

but I found the stock passenger side speaker was soaking wet. I didn't find any obvious places where water might be leaking in, but is this a common problem? Is there some place in particular I should check? Is it better to fix the leak, or get some sort of sealed speaker enclosure?

Thanks

chew* · Post by chew* » March 4th, 2007, 4:45 pm

Yes wires can be run although it is not necessary. The biggest secret installers do is wire an amp to the rear speaker wires, this sends the signal to the front of the car behind the radio. You then join the rear speaker wires and front speaker wires behind the radio and save a lot of time.

I run 2 runs of 1/0 gauge in mine which required holes drilled on the drivers side firewall.

Battery placement is fine since the tranny is lighter and the engine is placed closer to the passenger side.

Pointing tweeters at you or towards you to much will sound like poo.

This is the best way to get good clean sound and imaging from an mx-3

The polks you see used in this picture are water resistant and reccomended for marine use so water would not be an issue.

nightfire · Post by **nightfire** » March 6th, 2007, 3:37 pm

Ok, cool. I'll install mine there too.

Thanks.

SuperK · Post by **SuperK** » March 7th, 2007, 2:22 pm

LOL chew, you're going to drive me nuts with the squshed picture.. the squisture.

I ran my own speaker wire to replace the factory wire. I enjoy some nice 12-14 guage wires going to a beautiful set of polk momo's. However, much pain and suffering comes along with rewiring.

Fed the wire through the boot

This was frustrating. I used my drill and drilled out the portion of the harness that WASN'T used for wiring and fed 2 wires through.

SuperK · Post by **SuperK** » March 7th, 2007, 2:37 pm

Also note you have to do something with your crossovers.

Chew I know and some others just put their crossovers behind the door. Easiest, most painless way of wiring.
I enjoyed the aesthetic aspect of my crossovers, so I mounted them on the center console

and I think it looks pretty nice and stays out of the way. There are some tumbtacks that secure the side panels. I removed them and reused the threaded holes and screwed the crossovers right in.

Meh, I like it

nightfire · Post by **nightfire** » March 7th, 2007, 6:40 pm

Thanks SuperK. That's exactly what I did on my escort, except I ran the wires back to the trunk and put the crossovers there. I plan to bi-amp eventually anyway.

Nice work!