$100,1HOUR,HOWTO/MUST DO,SPEAKER UPGRADE(PICS)

[SRTRICKY]

I just fried one of my Polks. I guess keeping the top down and the volume at 32 will do that. Maybe it was because my wires were backwards? It sounded so good though! I think I'll spring for the $200 6 1/2" speakers this time. Maybe they will last longer.

Sh***y there that bad eh! Was black your positive or negative?

 

[Viperfreak2]

I went back to my original post on installing these to see how long I'd had them. August 16,2004! So I destroyed them in just 10 months.

My wiring was green + and black - from the beginning. That's the way I was always taught wiring should be. I listened to it both ways when I installed it and thought it sounded better this way. I'll try both again with the new speakers.

 

[jk]

Do you think it was defective speakers or over-driving the amp into distortion? You mentioned that you needed to turn it up higher due to the lower efficiency of the Polks. May long term low levels of distortion is what affected the speakers. As somebody mentioned replacing the speakers will probably require an amp upgrade.

 

[29OUTLAW]

I went back to my original post on installing these to see how long I'd had them. August 16,2004! So I destroyed them in just 10 months.

My wiring was green + and black - from the beginning. That's the way I was always taught wiring should be. I listened to it both ways when I installed it and thought it sounded better this way. I'll try both again with the new speakers.

Original post stated that in our cars, green is - and black in +. Still, running a speaker out of phase doesn't hurt it. It just cancels out the sound of the other speakers running in phase.

 

[poweradded]

well i can tell you that the 250 dollar focal coxals dont fit in the doors so forget about them

 

[SRTRICKY]

well i can tell you that the 250 dollar focal coxals dont fit in the doors so forget about them

I was originally thinking about doing Focal's as well!

 

[poweradded]

my buddy owns a stero shop with like 7 brands instock and the polks are the only drop ins that will reuse the factory grill

 

[blonzz]

What is the impedance rating of the stock SRT-10 door driver?

John

 

[blonzz]

Hello;

More comments on the sound difference's, please?

I feel that because of the MUCH larger magnets on the Polk's that there will be a pretty noticeable drop in volume and efficiency. I don't imply that it won't sound better on a factory/Polk "in-door comparison.

However: when I tried upgrading my door speaks (in SRT-10) to some JBL's, the JBL's needed A LOT of power, and they imbalanced the rest of the system in the SRT-10. So, I took them out. The JBL's also had a very potent high-end that overpowered the rest of the stock system.

With the Polk's installed, how do they balance with the rest of the factory system to your ears?

Thanks,

Jim W.

The Polk db650 has a 92dB efficiency rating. What model # and rating were the JBL's you tried?

Does anyone have the specifications of the factory SRT-10 stereo system?

John

 

[poweradded]

no but i can tell you, out of a dozen speakers the polks are the only ones to fit, and they sound better than stock. so if you dont want to hack up your car spend the 90 bucks and move on to go fast parts

 

[blonzz]

From what I can tell it looks like the factory 6.5" driver in the door is not full range and is high and low bandpassed. Or the speakers are just rolling off the upper frequencies.

I am going to try the midrange driver from the db6500 component series and not use the outboard crossover that comes with the set. I have a pair of db650 coaxials coming as well for comparison.

John

 

[SRTRICKY]

I just recieved my polk audio speakers today just curious if anyone has a solid answer on the negative positive connection situation!

 

[poweradded]

green pos, black neg, the speakers are marked

 

[WANTED]

green pos, black neg, the speakers are marked

WRONG - READ MY ORIGINAL POST and look at pics in how to #4

hope this helps. do a sound check to verify this before screwing speakers to door.

 

[blonzz]

WANTED,

How did you determine speaker polarity? Check phase with the subwoofer? Or with an SPL meter?

Thanks,
John

 

[poweradded]

wrond my ass, both speakers came with positive and negative markings on them, if you have them hooked up backwards mabey your running them at 2ohms or something

 

[jwwiii]

Speakers will blow much quicker when the amplifier is sending a distorted signal.

Sort of like you will cut yourself with a dull knife much easier than with a razor sharp one.

The Big Magnets on the Polk's mean lots of control on the voice coil and cone excursion. That control takes power! Now, efficiency also comes into play, and the new speakers can be louder, OR suddenly your other stock Viper speakers/tweeter's become very sizzly and noticeable.

It's the "balance" that can throw everything into a mess; the new speaks are sucking juice and sound great, but we turn up the volume and now our little tweater's are really sizzling away...=harsh sound that will tear you up.

Now, there are "Pads", or resistors that can be used to tame the sensitivities/efficiciency of the speaks that are "too hot" in output, and they are not expensive. Just time consuming.

After saying all this, I would still like to try these Polks. I feel that the ultimate solution would be a new "Multi-Channel amp" with volume buttons for each channel. You know, like having dimmers on your various lights in your living room, dining room, etc. Change the levels until you get the balance that looks good to you.

My 2 cents,

Jim W

 

[Racer Robbie]

nice idea on the speakers. i have never turned my radio on, the engine is music to my ears

 

[poweradded]

i have the bass at -3 and the rear fade at -3 and you can play any song at 35 at it sounds good enough to listen to. the stock stuff crapped out at 25

 

[Nsane1]

Green/Black

I hate to open this can of worms, but I just did the upgrade. Since the stock speakers were labeled, and green went to +, black - (like its supposed to be), I came back here to be doubly sure... No disrespect to the first post, which is HUGELY helpful, but I had to check this out since the stock stuff was so nicely labeled.

Well I plugged it in both ways, and the Green + way sounded more in phase. Just t o be doubly sure, I plugged in my trusty volt meter, and ran it both ways, the green + peaked at the right times, and was very consistent, the Black + way was all wrong, as far as the volt meter was showing me, it valleyed off during intensive bass (it helps to listen to techno), and peaked at strange times, and quite simply fell off the meter at strange times.

So.... given that its labeled that way, it's convention that, way, it sounded better to me, and that the voltmeter seems to point me in that direction, I have it green +, black -.

I could be WAY wrong, I am no elec engineer by any means, and no disrespect intended, I know it takes a boatload of work to do a walk through like you did, so thanks so much!

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: Green/Black

The only can of worms maybe if you're talking about the speaker wires on your GTS and we are talking about the SRT-10?

 

[poweradded]

Re: Green/Black

im talking bout my 2004 srt

 

[Nsane1]

Re: Green/Black

2003 SRT, people are allowed more than one car you know (but one picture), but thanks for assuming I'm an idiot, posting in the Gen 3 area, with pictures all over of an SRT, and talking about a gen 2.

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: Green/Black

You read an emotion into a typed question. There wasn't any intended.

My point was that we have people posting very contradictory information. I want to make sure there's no difference in the wiring between someone dropping these into a GTS, 2003 SRT-10, 2004 SRT-10 and 2005 SRT-10. Who's to say DC didn't flip flop the colors? Someone posted that they are clearly marked....

I can't tell from my old pics, I know the Polks are clearly marked but not the stock speakers.

 

[blonzz]

Re: Green/Black

Nsane1,

I noticed that your results response somehow showed up in another thread about exhaust.

Agh, forgot the results!

Sounds great, stock got crappy at 25, this gets crappy starting at 35. A lot more mid, and very much more "bright" (must be from redundant tweeters). I had to lower the treble a tad, overall great upgrade for $80.

I am going to install the midbass drivers from the db6500 component set this weekend. This should produce a richer midrange and not brighten up the highs.

Thanks everyone for their result reviews.

John

 

[Nsane1]

Re: Green/Black

Well see there, you go, I post results everywhere, so how can you trust what I post?

I just took a second look at my stock speakers (kept em) they are clearly marked. I was jamming today at 34, sounds pretty darn good in my 2003 SRT

 

[blonzz]

Re: Green/Black

Someone posted that they are clearly marked....

My 05 SRT-10 door speakers were clearly marked.

Green +
Black -

I just finished installing the midbass drivers of the db6500 component system. Direct wire and do not use the outboard crossover thats included with the set.

The stock systems midrange sound did improve. I am not sure if I will do a comparison with the db650 coaxial.

John

 

[LittleFish]

Can we get another confirmation of the wiring on a 2003 SRT/10? I installed the polks off of the first post. Clipped the wires prior to checking.....my bad. A little help please.

Sound is better but my center console speaker is rattling (which it did prior to adding the polks.) Any suggestions for that speaker?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[WANTED]

hi all and glad to see so many have went with the polks. as far as the wire
issue i did my 03 and 04 as stated in the original post. when i did the 03
viperjohn on this form helped me, he checked doing it both ways and it really
sounded better doing it as i stated. when i did my 04 i never checked it just wired
it the same. after reading all the post i might take out the speakers and check
to see if there might be a difference. so at this point i stand behind my original
post. i will test the 04 tonight and leave a update.

tom

 

[SRT10]

Yeah but the old ones are marked.

Green +
Black -

Why would anyone change that?