Upgrading OEM speakers

[Madtoady]

Just upgraded my entire sound system. Makes a hell of a difference.

Would recommend changing the head unit for an aftermarket one though.

If your keeping the OEM head unit I would just change / upgrade the speakers - straight swap using existing wiring.

If your going to add an amp in the boot, then your best of going for a head unit that has RCA outputs so that you can connect easily to the amp. Then run new speaker wire to each speaker location from the amp. If your running new speaker cable and RCAs then I would recommend running these in the middle of the car under the centre console and under the rear compartments then into the boot via the rubber grommet hole on the passenger side. This will reduce interference, feedback and alternator whine on the speakers.

Thank you for the information. I agree that a new head-unit would be a massive improvement but I really want to keep the original but improved as much as I can. Being a complete novice a straight swap would be the best option but I wasn't sure how possible that it is.

If it helps at all this is the head-unit I've got.

I've seen that others on the forum have used these:

Hertz DSK130.3 2-Way Car Speaker 120 Watt 13cm
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008B5J64W

Would they be a straight swap whilst keeping the original head-unit as others have combined those speakers with a new headunit.

Thank you!

 

[Jjim]

Thank you for the information. I agree that a new head-unit would be a massive improvement but I really want to keep the original but improved as much as I can. Being a complete novice a straight swap would be the best option but I wasn't sure how possible that it is.

If it helps at all this is the head-unit I've got.

View attachment 74353

I've seen that others on the forum have used these:

Hertz DSK130.3 2-Way Car Speaker 120 Watt 13cm
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008B5J64W
View attachment 74354

Would they be a straight swap whilst keeping the original head-unit as others have combined those speakers with a new headunit.

Thank you!

Those are the same speakers I have gone for in the front of mine, good choice

If your going to use the existing head unit the speaker signals will already have been split between mid-range and tweeter (although not as good as using the Hertz crossover). You can just unplug the mid-range speakers in the foot wells and plug in the new Hertz speakers.
The tweeters need to be glued into the door 'pod' location, where the current tweeters are and then to connect the wiring just cut and join the existing wiring and new wiring.

If it was me I would run new wiring from the speaker outputs at the back of the OEM headunit for the front speakers to each of the crossovers (mount them next to the mid-range speakers in the footwells). Then connect the Hertz crossover mid output to the footwell speaker and then cut and join the tweeter crossover output to the current wiring. The existing tweeter cable feeds that go to each door are located behind the speaker in each foot well and are easily identifiable once you have the speaker removed. Just cut and join these to the crossover outputs.

 

[Madtoady]

Can those speakers also be used in the rear but without the tweeter?

 

[Jjim]

Can those speakers also be used in the rear but without the tweeter?

I would recommend using the coaxial versions of the same speaker - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hertz-130m...qid=1519401328&sr=8-1&keywords=hertz+130+coax

As these can just be connected straight up. This is what I did and fitted the above speakers. I did find that I was very, very limited on space and they were a little too big and needed to cut away a bit of the trim and the space between the trim panel, speaker and seat belt was small.

If I did it again, which I am going to do in my other Z3, I will be using the slightly smaller Hertz 100 coaxial - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hertz-DCX-...pID=41CCDCEkWfL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[Madtoady]

I would recommend using the coaxial versions of the same speaker - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hertz-130m...qid=1519401328&sr=8-1&keywords=hertz+130+coax

As these can just be connected straight up. This is what I did and fitted the above speakers. I did find that I was very, very limited on space and they were a little too big and needed to cut away a bit of the trim and the space between the trim panel, speaker and seat belt was small.

If I did it again, which I am going to do in my other Z3, I will be using the slightly smaller Hertz 100 coaxial - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hertz-DCX-...pID=41CCDCEkWfL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

You're amazing, thank you for the info. Whilst researching I've read that people have decided not to use coaxial speakers in the rear as it messes up the sound stage? If you've said that yours sounds amazing then that's good enough to me!

So overall those smaller Hertz Dieci 100.3 and the Hertz DSK 130.3 speakers should all be a straight swap and will massively increase the sound I've got now?

 

[Jjim]

The setup works well for me and I'm happy with it.

I'm running a custom sub enclosure between the roll hoops, upgraded speakers and JL Audio amp:

Link to my update - https://zroadster.org/threads/jims-z3-journey.19286/page-7

 

[Madtoady]

Those are the same speakers I have gone for in the front of mine, good choice

If your going to use the existing head unit the speaker signals will already have been split between mid-range and tweeter (although not as good as using the Hertz crossover). You can just unplug the mid-range speakers in the foot wells and plug in the new Hertz speakers.
The tweeters need to be glued into the door 'pod' location, where the current tweeters are and then to connect the wiring just cut and join the existing wiring and new wiring.

If it was me I would run new wiring from the speaker outputs at the back of the OEM headunit for the front speakers to each of the crossovers (mount them next to the mid-range speakers in the footwells). Then connect the Hertz crossover mid output to the footwell speaker and then cut and join the tweeter crossover output to the current wiring. The existing tweeter cable feeds that go to each door are located behind the speaker in each foot well and are easily identifiable once you have the speaker removed. Just cut and join these to the crossover outputs.

I've installed the rear speakers no problem but a little unsure on how to wire the tweeters in. I'm not sure how to wire the Hertz crossover, I've installed it currently without it.

Is that OK?

 

[Jjim]

Are you connecting the speakers to the existing wiring or are you running new speaker cable from the back of the stereo?

If you are using the existing wiring, you should have a fairly good signal going the the mid-range speaker (in the footwell) and the tweeter (in the door).

If you are able to run new speaker wire from the back of the stereo, from the black connection block you will run the front left and right outputs into the cross over on each side. On the crossover on one end there will be 2 wires and INPUT will be written on the box. Use the speaker cables from the stereo to connect here. The on the other end of the crossover will be 4 wires in pairs. One will be labelled TW for Tweeter and the other WF for the Mid-range woofer (in footwell). You will get a better frequency split on the speaker cables by using the Hertz crossover.

 

[Madtoady]

I'm using the existing wiring. It's all wired up and the tweeter and the speaker are both working. The tweeter sound very tinny but I think that's normal?

 

[Jjim]

The tweeter does the high pitched tones, and if you put your ear near to it you won't feel any base or deep notes.

If you are able to, whilst everything is still stripped out, it might be worth trying to wire in the crossover to give you an idea if it would be better with or without it.

If you decide that it is better with the Hertz crossover, to permanently wire in the tweeter on each side there will be a pair of twisted wires behind the footwell speakers on each side. These are the cables going to the door for the tweeters, if you cut these and then splice in some new cable from them to the crossover it makes the installation a lot easier.

 

[Madtoady]

I really appreciate this information, and thank you but installing new wires and splicing things is definitely going straight over my head .

I think I understand what your saying though. I can keep the footwell speakers wired in as they currently are. To install the crossover just for the tweeters I can cut the wires that go to the tweeter and put the cross over in there?

 

[Jjim]

If you're not going to run new wires from the back of the stereo (speaker outputs) to the speakers, I would probably not install the crossover. As it might cause you more problems.

They way you have it now should do.

Once you have the speakers wired up, leave the trim panels off and start the car up, turn the stereo on and give it the engine a bit of a rev. This is to make sure you do not get any engine or alternator whine through the speakers. You most likely will not but it's always good to check before putting everything back together.

 

[harvey210]

I have harman karden speakers in my 2002, i was just swapping the speakers like for like. without adding an amp. the rear center speaker has 4 wire connections. anyone know why and can it be replaced with a speaker with 2 connections. cheers