Finally got the SR 6500's in

unrealii

I've had these drivers sitting in my room for a while. I've been quite busy and finally broke down and decided to let Al & Eds install it. My life moto is, "If you want something done right, do it yourself."

Boy, should I have stuck to my moto. I wanted them to do it because I also had some dynamat sitting around and I wanted wood spacers made as my factory plastic ones are crap. I had also bought new door clips so that once my panel is removed, the clips can be repalced to prevent panel rattle. I took it to them, they said they'd take care of it, I was like you sure. Came back later, they just put the speakers and dynamat in. Guess its a good thing they forgot the wood spacers and the new clips at the same time. I complained...just going to have them make the spaces and I'll take care of the rest myself ...I trust no one now ... not even myself for letting them molest my car.:eek:

Ok, to the sound. These are replacing DB6510 speakers (old school db's). Unbroken in, they sound better than these db's. Keep in mind, I didn't have any dynamat in there, so I cannot say for sure how much of an improvement they are. The SR tweeters were eating up the midrange db's alive. Can't wait until these puppies break in. I've got 100, 80, 63hz (6, 12, 18, 24db slope) on my hu for high pass, and 0-200hz (@ 12db fixed ... I think) on my amp. I'll do some reading to figure out the best setting.

1996blackmax

Pretty cool that you got those puppies in .


I had heard some bad stuff about Al & Ed's, but this is back when they were Mobileworks. Guess things have not changed much....

unrealii

I dunno, they're pretty cool there. When I had issues with my steering controls/pac swix, they let me buy one, try it out in my car to diagnose, then let me return it if I didn't need it. I'm picky and it seems they dont pay as much attention to detail as I had wished.

1996blackmax

It's all in the details .

PoweredByDodge

geez - SR's are really taking off - this is cool beans

Thom

You say they forgot the wood spacers? But the speakers fit? So I guess you didn't need spacers, then? If you did, maybe they used the Polk- supplied plastic ones which is a better option because the plastic won't swell up when they get wet like wood does. I've seen many MDF (plywood takes a bit longer and doesn't swell as bad) rings swell up like crazy from moisture in doors.

exalted512

little resin goes a long way:D

congrats on the SRs, as soon as I get my new amps for my g/f's car ill be biamping hers. That and the Pioneer 880PRS i just picked should have her car sounding very, very nice.
-Cody

unrealii

I always assumed wood would be a better application in this instance as it dampens more than pastic. I didn't even bring the plastic spacers. Never thought about moisture. They used the factory bose ones (these do not seal well) which my dbs were mounted on.

Now that I realized that moisture can be an issue with the wood spacers, should I scrap the wood idea and use the plastic SR ones?

Greg Peters

Thom wrote:

You say they forgot the wood spacers? But the speakers fit? So I guess you didn't need spacers, then? If you did, maybe they used the Polk- supplied plastic ones which is a better option because the plastic won't swell up when they get wet like wood does. I've seen many MDF (plywood takes a bit longer and doesn't swell as bad) rings swell up like crazy from moisture in doors.

I've usually made baffles or spacer rings out of MDF for a couple of reasons. It doesn't resonate as much as plywood (more acoustically dead), and is easier to make complex shapes out of.

I shoot it with a few heavy coats of automotive paint before I install it (build up coats until the MDF no longer absorbs any paint), and water actually beads off of them. The cheap paint in a spray can does the job. Gloss or semi-gloss gives you a good idea if the surface is saturated, and MDF sucks the paint up pretty quick for drying time- handle in 5-10 minutes, warm weather.

1996blackmax

unrealii wrote:

I always assumed wood would be a better application in this instance as it dampens more than pastic. I didn't even bring the plastic spacers. Never thought about moisture. They used the factory bose ones (these do not seal well) which my dbs were mounted on.

Now that I realized that moisture can be an issue with the wood spacers, should I scrap the wood idea and use the plastic SR ones?

I think you are correct about the MDF vs. the plastic mounts. That is one of the main reasons people use them.

Alot of the guys over at Maxima.org have these and have had no water issues with them. I plan on doing this when I get the time. I already have some MDF in my garage to make them.

Greg Peters

unrealii wrote:

Now that I realized that moisture can be an issue with the wood spacers, should I scrap the wood idea and use the plastic SR ones?

If the supplied SR spacers fit your application, use them- they are very nice. They are keyed to fit securely to the rim of the speaker basket. Use the supplied gasket material, and if you install over a Dynamat type product it will compress a bit when you tighten down the speaker to seal up the back side.

Butyl rope calking (like they attach the water seals on inner doors with) worked around the base of the spacer does a really good job of sealing the small gaps. I went to Speedy Glass to buy some and they gave me a roll (lifetime supply?) for nothing.

unrealii

Ok, I've decided to go wood. To combat any moisture, I've applied a coat of varnish to the spacers:D They have lots of time to dry as my cordless drill is being recharged.

Stupid installers slapped the middle of the gasket on the back of the door and I dont see the rim anywhere at all :eek: I'll just use some weather stripping. Guess this is the price I pay when I get lazy and let someone else touch my car.:mad: Dynamat job isnt too bad though. I wouldn't have known what to do with it...

1996blackmax

Good choice .

unrealii

Alright, fronts are completely done. I moved my old db6510's to the rear and thsoe are done except I have to put the door panel back on. Dealer said I only needed 2 clips for the rear door panels, apparently, I need six. Guess their comp was wrong.

Will post pics soon. I sealed these very well. I put some weather stripping on the speakers (idiot at al&eds didn't even use the gasket and threw it away!), weather stripping on the back of the spacers and caulked the door where the spacers contact.

I've got a set of db5510's I dont need anymore. Anyone want them? There is some evidence of exposure to moisture, but I didn't see any damage, rust, or whatnot on the speakers.

unrealii

here are some install pics:

1st pic: Check out that seal!
2nd: driver's side
3rd: pass side
4th: db6510 moved to the back

MacLeod

Now THATS how you build a baffle! Excellent work there. No vibrations **** up your speakers for you!

1996blackmax

Nice job . That is exactly what I plan on doing for my front speakers.

unrealii

Just be careful and not make them too big. I had to take a hacksaw and saw off .5cm of wood for the rear driver's side door (not shown in the pic) because I mounted it off center it interfered with my door panel clip.

1996blackmax

Will do on the front. It may be a little difficult to try to do this on the rear as my car's rear speakers are on the rear deck. I am running the same rear speakers as you .

unrealii

Haha, yeah, those rear deck's will kill yah.

1996blackmax

That is one thing that I do not enjoy doing on my car. It is not hard, but still a PITA .

unrealii

I would just like to add that these SR's sound phenomenal

1996blackmax

Glad you like em .

MacLeod

Just think, the best is yet to come. Once they get broke in and you get them dialed in, youll love em even more!