Have a protege5 and I bought a pair of Polk components for the front, 6.5 s, and a set of 6.5s for the back. However, the fronts do not fit. People tell me I need a special plate...what do I do? All I am doing is replacing the factory components with the new ones. However, the factory's are 5x7's. All suggestions would be appreciated, since you guys seem to know this stuff. Thanks.

 

HA! Flattery is fun, but don't over state the case here!

Yes there are plastic adaptor plates that you can purchase that will fit the 6.5 into the 5x7 hole as best possible. Or, if you are inclinded they are not too hard to build yourself, outline 5x7 on some particle board, then outline the 6.5 on top. Cut out the 5x7 shape, and then remove the inside of the profile of the 6.5.
A good mounting will require a extra hole or two be drilled into the frame of the door to secure the larger speaker. Just measure twice, watch for any rubs on the new speakers cones and install once!
I am sure one of the other guys who know their stuff will chime in here...
Good Luck! The Polks are nice sounding speakers to me by the way...

 

Yep - you need adapters. You can try Crotchfield, but it's just as easy (and cheaper) to make them yourself out of MDF.

Only issue is that you may have to trim the little ring on the door panel behind the speaker "grille" section - you'll see what I mean. When using adapters, it can push the speaker further out from the door, where it will contact that ring. Just trim it off and you'll be all set.

~HH

 

I'm sorry, but was MDF? Thanks

 

Medium Density Fiberboard. It's like denser particleboard, and is used in all kinds of applications, like building sub enclosures and such.

~HH

 

Thanks....also, do I screw my template on first then put on the density material or do I put on the density material first and then the template?

 

Ummm....the MDF will BE your adapter plate. So the MDF gets cut to the proper shape, attached to the door (you can use the existing screw locations), then the new speaker gets attached to the adapter.

Are we confused?

~HH

 

HiHoslva just a thought- did you take pictures of yours? Might be worth posting up for folks to use as a reference. I could swear I saw a posting with your speakers installed once....

 

Ya dave - I might have some pix somewhere. They'd be of my Infinity speakers (now gone), but no matter. I'll try to find them if I can.

I deleted my Webshots album that had my audio stuff on it. Dunno - a few people posted in the guestbook and recognized the neighborhood. They were nice and all, but I got a little paranoid about theft, so I trashed the audio album just in case.

But I'll see what I can find if it will help.

~HH

 

Aight, found the pic:


Here's a shot of the adapter plate and speaker in the door:


Hope that helps. These were made of simple plywood, but I have since re-made them with MDF when I changed these speakers (again ).

~HH

 

Oh man- nice adaptor!!

Seems like folks make nicer stuff than you can purcahse prefab from China- huh?

Now surely you are not casting aspursions at you friendly neighbors there in Long Island, are you?

I understand, I have done photos of the exteriors of cars, but try to not show too much of where the car is, or the license plates! I like you in many ways prefer to be unknown- although the darned burnt orange color of the mazdaspeed makes it hard.

That is a quick story, the big university football program here is of course Oklahoma, OU. The other school in the state though, Oklahoma State University, OSU, has orange as it's color, so everyone is now asking am I an "aggie".


Now I went to school at the University of Virginia, and Law School at the University of North Carolina- the closest thing I have to A&M is mutuial love of eating beef!

SO- I am trying to figure the perfect wording to say NO I am not an OSU fan (Not much of an OU fan either to tell you the truth) and the car is that strange orange because, we that was the luck of the draw...

Thanks for the post of the picture, it is worth a thousand words at least!!

 

The pic helped a lot. Thanks for the tips. I am new at this, but I determined to learn myself. Anyway, I know I will be asking more questions, so please be patient.
Thanks

 

IF folks don't act patient, then slap us down!! Remind us that you are new and have questions, and that we all started once upon a time the very same way-
Alright??
Thank You!

 

pics from my project

Click here