[ax0n]

Well, my stock speakers are toast. The driver's side front was blown when I bought this car more than 7 years ago, and I just dealt with it (unhooked it, actually)

well, the rears are going, too. The Clarion I put in it back in '98 (45x4Watts... lol) is just a tad too much for the stock speakers Literally, just a tad too much.

I'm in the market for speakers. I am not an ICE guru, and I'm lazy and don't know much about the stock system.

First off, somewhere, a long time ago, I read that the front speakers were low profile or something, and that many replacements won't fit (i.e. can't roll down the window or something) Is that true? If so, what are most people using as a cheap front speaker in this thing, and what size are they? 5 inches?

Also, what's the size of the rears?

Right now I can get discounts on the following brands (and more, but these are what I'm kicking around... I know they're all cheap brands):

Jensen JX2 series, Fusion Powerplant series, Pyramid Power Series or Super Blue series, Pyle "Dryver", or Lanzar VX Series.

Don't laugh. I know you want to... but I simply can't afford Polk, Audiobahn, Clarion or Alphanonik equipment (even WITH the discount)

I'm looking for some decent sounding reliable speakers, but I'd rather stay close to $100 for all four, which I could do with most of the ones I listed.

Any suggestions?

 

[FordBoy4ever]

i believe our stock speakers are 61/2" all around (sedan) and i believe something goofy like 5 1/4x 3 1/2 in the rear not positave on that one. for the doors you can get thin mount speakers. i have some infinity referance 6 1/2" speakers for my doors they are "thin mount" speakers only protruding like 2 1/4 inches behind the door. good luck

 

[highanddry]

For the hatchback (I gotta believe it would be the same for the sedan): Fronts are 6-1/2"; Rears are 5"x7". Stock stereo and speakers are complete garbage.

I'm sorry your budget is so restrictive, because you really can't do much for yourself in terms of quality. For $200, you'd get 4 much better speakers. I don't like a single brand you mentioned unfortunately; but I don't like any Clarion product either. Therefore, I'll refrain from recommending anything. But yes, inside, I'm laffing at you.

The fronts are a bit of a problem in terms of depth. You'll still be able to roll your window down, but the beautiful grille overlay will not quite snap over over any speaker with a real magnet and real depth. Low-profile (or low-depth) speakers by definition are just not as good - that's the way it is.

 

[MadBrad]

For my fronts, I mounted the speakers on top of the panel and then shortened my crank handles so I could roll the windows up and down. This gave me a lot of room behind too. I did it not for the room behind, though. I did it because the door panel would have bulged out from the mid and tweeter in front. Some guys just live with that bulge but my bulge is much bigger than most guys' bulges :lol:

 

[ax0n]

I'm sorry your budget is so restrictive, because you really can't do much for yourself in terms of quality. For $200, you'd get 4 much better speakers. I don't like a single brand you mentioned unfortunately; but I don't like any Clarion product either. Therefore, I'll refrain from recommending anything. But yes, inside, I'm laffing at you.

First, thanks for the input on the size...

Next... I love my music, but I'm broke. I believe that horrible sound is actually WORSE than not having any sound at all. Now, my stuff finally sounds bad enough to where I draw the line at when it's actually better to just not turn on the HU than to deal with it. I deliver pizza in this thing, and that means I spend hours and hours in this car 4 days a week. If it had a halfway sporty exhaust note, I wouldn't mind listening to that once in a while, but as it sits, it's pure hell driving this thing with no tunes at all.

Let's say, given some absolutely wonderful miracle, that I can drive it for the next few weeks and MAYBE save up more cash, without losing my mind. What would you recommend? I am kind of eyeing Polk's db Series as well. I can get all four (two 6.5 and two 5x7) for just a smidge under $200.

If you can find something better for around $200, what would you recommend? Like I said, I love my music, but I'm a n00b when it comes to speakers. I can install alarms, remote starts, amps, LCD's, HU's, and all that, I just completely lack the experience to know what's best for my car at this point.

Thanks for everyone's help so far 8)

 

[highanddry]

I need music in a car too, but I firmly believe that investing a lot of money in car stereo equipment is a complete waste.

I've always run Alpine head units and speakers. To me, they are an appropriate balance between quality and cost. You can pick up the four Alpine speakers for $200. Polk is a decent name in audio also and makes legitimate home loudspeakers, so I would recommend them, even though I have never had any. Speaker preference is invariably subjective, based on what the individual likes to hear. I'm waiting for Paradigm to make car speakers but they never will. Paradigms are just plain excellent (and Canadian too).

Brad's right about the bulge thing. Well, to the extent that I have no clue how big his "bulge" is and I really do not want to know :lol: .

 

[Bigracefan]

The Infinity 5X7's (from Circuit City) will not fit the 5x7 holes, the Polk 5X7's fit a little better. I'm pretty sure you need a Ford 5x7 adaptor to get a perfect fit with aftermarket speakers. Your best bet is to bring your old speakers and compare the hole pattern.

 

[96EscortLX]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the rear stock ones in the LX Hatch a 4X6 if it doesn't have premium sound???

 

[highanddry]

I've never heard of 4"x6" as a speaker size before.

Mine did come with "Premium Sound" though, so I shouldn't speak for all LX hatchbacks. I just can't see that any other size would have been put in there.

PS - If "Premium Sound" isn't a misnomer, I don't know what is. I can't believe that "Premium Sound" was an optional upgrade - I'd hate to see the base model sound system. I don't know how the original owner tolerated that crap for six years.

 

[96EscortLX]

I didn't know if all had premium sound, but I had heard of it from some escort owners, not sure if it was just for specific years, and as for the 4X6's I found some at futureshop, and they did look awfully small, but the one shop where I live told me that their system said 4X6, so I dunno! I'll be honest, I don't do much on my own with my car.... I hooked up my stereo, but that's been about it. I'm good with wires and electronics, as I've been fixing electronics (mainly computers) for the past 2 years.

 

[MadBrad]

Whatever anyone heard about 4x6 is bull. All hatchbacks are 5x7, premium or not.

 

[808EGT]

crutchfield.com they have all the info u need. they are expensive. use them for info an buy some where else.

 

[escortlx96]

crutchfield.com they have all the info u need. they are expensive. use them for info an buy some where else.

They usually have some good deals.I have bought some stuff from them.If you buy a deck there they give you all the parts needed to add the deck or speakers to your car with info sheets.What I mean by parts is harnesses so it is plug and play and tools to remove the old radio out or as in the case of the 3rd generation escort a new deck surround for the climate controls.