Dear All

One of many things I have had to do was install a Radio and speakers (as the car came with none - didn't even realise I needed speakers until I was installing the radio and found there was nothing behind the covers). As the car is inthe UK I did not have any Corvette OEM options .... so went out and picked up four 6" pioneer speakers. It works but does not sound that great. (I have an 89 Vette in Canada which really does sound nice so I know the 92 can sound better)

This week I picked up 4 orignal speakers of a 1990 ZR1 (grabbed some other bits too as the 92 really needs some work) I HAVE NOT PAID FOR THEM YET THOUGH - PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR ADVISE AS THIS COULD SAVE ME $100

So my question is - can you good people see any problems in me trying to fit the 1990 speakers (they are Jensens not Bose?) in my 1992? Will I need to do any additional wiring for the power plugs on the side of the jensens or is my 92 already equipted for this.

I will be back in the UK in a couple of weeks time and will be getting this on-going project back underway

Sure appreciate your time

I am not 100% sure on the "stock" ZR1 speakers being Jensen. FWIW, Jensen are not generally considered top of the line speakers. I wouldn't even consider them mid grade.

Did you put in an aftermarket stereo or a stock one to replace the missing unit? If it's aftermarket, did you run new speaker wiring from the headunit to the speakers? I would recommend that.

Let us know a little more about what you replaced and then we can help you better.

Matthew

Quote:

Dear Matt

Thanks mate for your time - yes new aftermarket radio and wire has been run and here is a link to the Jensen speakers

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBa ... ewitem=&item=300256256285

the speakers I have installed just don't have much depth - was thinking about an amp for the new stereo

here is a link to the stereo I have already installed

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... eName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015


thanx again for your time
kev

Kev -

After I posted I remembered you put in that dvd unit. Lol.

As far as the ebay speakers, I would pass. As I stated before, Jensens are not very good. If you noticed, two of the speakers in the pictures were pioneers, anyways. They are also not stock Z speakers, so they should tie into your current wiring no problem. Personally, I would figure out what kind of budget you have for speakers and go from there. It can get pricey once you start adding an amp, sub, speakers, etc, but the sound quality will be better. I don't know exactly what you're looking for, but the corvette is not the most well designed for speakers, anyway.

Personally, once I upgrade mine I'll just be putting a decent set of coaxials in the front and probably some 6x9s in the rear. That should be enough for me.

Matthew

Quote:

Cheers Matt

In essence they should work though right .... really not happy with the none-vette stock speakers I have in there right now and for a $100 bucks (including shipping) for all 4 corners I figure I will still be better off than I am now (plus the 6" pioneers I have in there not only barely fit but just dont sound right.

Once installed - Do you figure the new stereo will require adjustments for the front/back balance (right now with the 4 pioneers it comes out louder in the front so I have to adjust the front/back balance) I guess my question is are stock vette speakers pre-disposed to the correct front/back balance settings (or is this down to the stereo and not the speakers)

Far as my budget goes .... tight as I am trying to restore 2 Vettes in 2 countries all with the blessing of 1 girlfriend (gotta admit she's been a great sport to this point but I do not wish to push my luck) So where I can at this point I am more than happy to settle for used speakers if they fit/sound better - I'm hopin they will and thanks for your confirmation they will fit I will be paying for them tomorrow

Thanks a million Matt (well thanks $100)

When you say the speakers barely fit now, I'm wondering if that is part of your problem. How are they mounted? Are they in the original pods or are they just stuck in there haphazardly?

As far as the speakers being compatible, like I said - you just hook up the new wiring from the headunit directly to the speakers. Bypass the circuit boards shown in a couple of pictures.

As far as balance, it's not uncommon to have to adjust a system for bass, treble, fade, etc. In my vette the rear speakers offer a little bit of fill, only. The majority of the sound comes from the door speakers. Those are more important.

It's your money and you can spend it how you want. I personally wouldn't buy these speakers, and I don't think they will give you any increased sound quality level.

For $100, you could buy some speakers locally to save on shipping and get better quality, IMHO.

Matthew

Dear Matt

Thanks pal

The rears took the pioneer 6" speakers OK. But as you know the mounting area in the front is limited to say the least and only just took the 6" speakers - they are mounted OK but after seeing the shape of the Jensen units I figured this was the way to go.

You said to by-pass the circuit boards (take it they server no purpose for me then) forgive me but under what conditions would you use them (I was of the impression that they were mini-amps for each speaker ... guess not)

Because of the unusual shape of the front speaker mounting space - what would you recommend in there - there is nothing under the door sill panel(s) to speak of that resembles front speaker mount points (figure if there was anything it got gutted when the stereo and speakers were removed.) Thats part of the reason I was thinging these Jensens were a better option than what I have now

really do appreciate your time - I am not 100% sold on getting them anymore .... guess I could live with what I have for now and wait for the right things to come down the road - what would you figure the cheapest and best route would be (not an easy question I know)

warmest regards
kev

I need to think about this one... there is so much to say and no time to do it!!

How about some MBQ's mounted in the stock housing.





No matter what you do, add an amp.

Quote:

cheers pal (nice!) - I do not even have the stock housing - nada - nothing - zip - only a badly mounted 6" in a space clearly designed for the shaped housing you have in your picture (ie stock housing)

mine sounds like chit too !

thanks - do you know if there is anyway to buy empty front speaker stock housings? I imagine I will have to source both (have seem them for $200 bucks a corner on ebay - which is why the all 4 corners for $100 originally seemed like a deal

thanks
kev

Kev -

As I suspected earlier, the speakers are mounted poorly, that's a big reason they sound crappy. You would be better off with the speaker pods as Jeff illustrated. I don't know how much they cost, maybe Bogus can chime in since he has a 92. I would find a set and install the speakers in them. You'll probably get a much better sound. Otherwise, you can try to fabricate your own set out of mdf and fiberglass, but that is time consuming and difficult for a DIYer.

It might not be a bad idea to pick those pods up if you think it's a good price.

Matthew

PS - as far as the "amps" on the pods now, they were originally for the bose system that used different impedance speakers. You would not use them.

Quote:

Cheers Matt - I actually got all 4 speaker corners for $50 (including both front and read housings) + another $50 for the shipping - making it $100 for all 4 - I also ordered a rear shade, center console + a new glove box door - all for $210 (this included the shipping too) so I feel I got a pretty sweet deal

So bypass the built in electronics on each speaker then - just run em straight - OK pal will do.

Sure appreciate all your time fella's
kev