Anything wrong with buying locally?

[baxtej44]

Well I am on spring break this week, and really just got the urge to upgrade my dash speakers like I have been meaning too.


I was going to wait until summer a bit longer to save up money, but I decided that I have $200 from work that I feel like I could go spend on some full ranges (i think??? what is your opinion) for my upgrade of 4" (says crutchfield) dash speakers in my 1988 ford ranger xlt.

not sure if it's got the premium sound system or not, does that change anything for me?


My main question on here is:
Is it okay to buy speakers from a store locally?

We have specialty car audio stores like (car audio dynamics and shit like that), but we also have bigger stores like Best Buy and Nebraska Furniture Mart.

 

[flyingbrick]

If by full range you mean coaxial speakers, 4'' will make a difference but it wont blow your socks off.

If you do have a premium sound system the only real difference will be in the harness for replacing the HU.

I strongly encurring buying locally, you KNOW your getting a warranty, and customer service.

And finally, if you do buy local buy it from a local audio shop, i buy all my gear from a small shop here in town that's been around for long time, my brother works there so i know everyone, and i feel better that i am helping keep him in business even if i can buy the same stuff cheaper online.

 

[Pistons23]

theres nothing wrong with buying locally. i can usually find what im looking for online at a cheaper price. even if you factor in the shipping. i would definitly comparison shop before comitting to a purchase. have fun upgrading.

 

[baxtej44]

If by full range you mean coaxial speakers, 4'' will make a difference but it wont blow your socks off.

well is it worth it to put components in the dash?

 

[rjppunk]

I'm not the largest can of coaxials just because the tweeter is positioned properly like they should be. I had coaxials in the rear of my car with resistors on them to tune em waaaay down just to add fill. I put some aurasound 3" full ranges in the dash which added great fill for the component systems. I don't know what I would recommend for just stand alone in the dash and 6x8 in the rears.

Also there's nothing wrong with buying locally from audio shops but I just don't feel right with the amount of overhead they charge. www.onlinecarstereo.com you have the most risk with but you save enormously. www.crutchfield.com , www.madisound.com , and www.partsexpress.com aren't going to screw you over on sending you something broken. They are very respectable companies which I trust with my stuff.

 

[baxtej44]

I'm not the largest can of coaxials just because the tweeter is positioned properly like they should be. I had coaxials in the rear of my car with resistors on them to tune em waaaay down just to add fill. I put some aurasound 3" full ranges in the dash which added great fill for the component systems. I don't know what I would recommend for just stand alone in the dash and 6x8 in the rears.

Also there's nothing wrong with buying locally from audio shops but I just don't feel right with the amount of overhead they charge. www.onlinecarstereo.com you have the most risk with but you save enormously. www.crutchfield.com , www.madisound.com , and www.partsexpress.com aren't going to screw you over on sending you something broken. They are very respectable companies which I trust with my stuff.

the only thing about component speakers that i'm concerned with is the fact that i don't like surface mounted tweeters.. or at least i think i don't like them, and I'm not too keen on using power tools with my truck (to cut out the mount for the tweeter)


they say not to put them in my door panels, but that'd probably be the easiest place IMO for me to install... unless I can just put them right next to the midrange in the dash...

I know I don't really want to pay a place to install them, as they charge way too much... but I might be able to get somebody to help me install them.

 

[rjppunk]

the tweeters aren't always mounted like that. in my last car i just had to drill 2 small screw holes for each tweeter and had them on the window well.

 

[baxtej44]

the tweeters aren't always mounted like that. in my last car i just had to drill 2 small screw holes for each tweeter and had them on the window well.

is that surface mount?
i appreciate the flush mount look... buuuut idk

 

[rjppunk]

idk if u can see it that good but thats the smallest amount of drilling possible

 

[baxtej44]

idk if u can see it that good but thats the smallest amount of drilling possible

no other pics? not a big deal.. but did it stick out alot?


also, what part of the car/truck is that called?


i've heard alot of locations thrown around, and i have no clue what they are

 

[rjppunk]

most people who sat in my car never noticed they were there. They stick out about a half to 3/4 of an inch. I call that the window well but it might be something else to other people. Thats the only pic, I sold the saab a month ago so I cant take any more pics.

 

[Loud Ranger]

heres where i put mine, flush mounted. 1st time mounting tweets so i wanted to do it on a piece that would be easily replaced if i screwed up but it was very easy i just got a 48mm holesaw and drilled 1 hole in each panel

 

[baxtej44]

possible locations

heres where i put mine, flush mounted. 1st time mounting tweets so i wanted to do it on a piece that would be easily replaced if i screwed up but it was very easy i just got a 48mm holesaw and drilled 1 hole in each panel

some possible locations?


"window well"

slightly behind my head... above the seatbelt

near door crank, in the actual door panel

in dash next to the midrange (obviously this is ALLLL if I buy components)

same view, different side and zoomed up... "window well"

the window well pieces are very easy to get off, they are just screwed on
i like the idea of above the seat belt, but I think you aren't supposed to mount a tweeter behind you... plus that is like RIGHT in my ear, so it might cause hearing fatigue... PLUS it would be way too far away from the midrange, unless i did components in the back instead.. still pushing the distance there though.. so i'm thinkin that location is out of any quesiton.

 

[rjppunk]

right on that pillar there between the window and windshiled wouldn't be too bad.

 

[baxtej44]

right on that pillar there between the window and windshiled wouldn't be too bad.

ya the only thing i am wondering about is that it's not a flat piece.. it's beveled or something.. dunno the correct term for it


you can see the line in the last picture running down the middle... idk how i would do that since most tweeters are like 1" diameter right? idk if it would fit on either side.. so can I do it in the middle?