Hey all, My smart has the $350.00 premium sound system. I dont want to change the radio but from what I have read here on the forum changing the speakers would make a nice difference in the sound. I dont know the first thing about what speakers to replace the stock ones with or even what size they are. What can guys or gals recommend. I dont want to spend much more than $100.00. How much of a difference would doing this really make? Thanks for any opinions.
Hey all, My smart has the $350.00 premium sound system. I dont want to change the radio but from what I have read here on the forum changing the speakers would make a nice difference in the sound. I dont know the first thing about what speakers to replace the stock ones with or even what size they are. What can guys or gals recommend. I dont want to spend much more than $100.00. How much of a difference would doing this really make? Thanks for any opinions.
I used the Polk DBL6501 (recommended by fmaxwell) and they are wonderful. I think they run about $80 on eBay although some posters have found them for less.
I used the Polk DBL6501 (recommended by fmaxwell) and they are wonderful. I think they run about $80 on eBay although some posters have found them for less.
Thanks, but the model is the DB651. The DB6501 is a component system with separate tweeters and crossovers. The DB651 is the coax (all-in-one) version.
P.S. Glad you like them. They were recommended by several others to me, so I don't deserve credit for discovering their use in the smart fortwo.
Thanks, but the model is the DB651. The DB6501 is a component system with separate tweeters and crossovers. The DB651 is the coax (all-in-one) version.
P.S. Glad you like them. They were recommended by several others to me, so I don't deserve credit for discovering their use in the smart fortwo.
Oops, thanks for correcting the model number. I have been thoroughly enjoying them and would recommend them too.
Be careful that whatever you get is shallow. I opted for a set of Pioneer component speakers then had to take them back because the window wouldn't roll down. I went with Alpine type S components but still wasn't happy until I added speakers and a sub in the rear.
Be careful that whatever you get is shallow. I opted for a set of Pioneer component speakers then had to take them back because the window wouldn't roll down. I went with Alpine type S components but still wasn't happy until I added speakers and a sub in the rear.
If you bottom-mount the speakers (from behind the door panel like the factory does), they sit much deeper in the door. If you top mount them (from the front) as recommended for most aftermarket speakers, you gain space and are not restricted to particularly shallow speakers (I can't comment on the Pioneer component speakers as I don't know which you used). The Polk DB651 speakers are designed for top-mounting and have a depth of 1 11/16" when mounted that way. Bottom mount them and figure that they will sit about an inch deeper into the door.
You may have to use the aftermarket grills if you top-mount speakers with protruding tweeters. If you are intent on keeping the stock black smart grills with such speakers, you are pretty much forced to bottom-mount speakers. That said, the Polk DB651 grills look like they were made for the smart given the silver color that's seen throughout the smart interior:
Shallow-mount speakers will generally produce less bass than deeper ones because the cones will flex more at low frequencies, possibly explaining why you were not happy without a subwoofer.
If you bottom-mount the speakers (from behind the door panel like the factory does), they sit much deeper in the door. If you top mount them (from the front) as recommended for most aftermarket speakers, you gain space and are not restricted to particularly shallow speakers (I can't comment on the Pioneer component speakers as I don't know which you used). The Polk DB651 speakers are designed for top-mounting and have a depth of 1 11/16" when mounted that way. Bottom mount them and figure that they will sit about an inch deeper into the door.
You may have to use the aftermarket grills if you top-mount speakers with protruding tweeters. If you are intent on keeping the stock black smart grills with such speakers, you are pretty much forced to bottom-mount speakers. That said, the Polk DB651 grills look like they were made for the smart given the silver color that's seen throughout the smart interior:
Shallow-mount speakers will generally produce less bass than deeper ones because the cones will flex more at low frequencies, possibly explaining why you were not happy without a subwoofer.
Not knowing any better, I bottom mounted the DB651's using the factory mounting holes and slightly modifying some of the clips that came with the speakers. Fortunately, they turned out to be shallow enough to do that.
Not knowing any better, I bottom mounted the DB651's using the factory mounting holes and slightly modifying some of the clips that came with the speakers. Fortunately, they turned out to be shallow enough to do that.
It's a valid way to mount them -- just not the recommended one. I considered doing mine that way at first, but I really liked the looks of the Polk grills and wanted to be able to remove them without taking the whole door apart.
Some of the component speakers are deeper than the 651s, but most will fit if top-mounted.
It's a valid way to mount them -- just not the recommended one. I considered doing mine that way at first, but I really liked the looks of the Polk grills and wanted to be able to remove them without taking the whole door apart.
Some of the component speakers are deeper than the 651s, but most will fit if top-mounted.
The Polk grills do look good but I had already installed billet grill surrounds that were a gift. They looked good and trashing them wouldn't have been polite.
BTW, if you do want to bottom mount, you can attach the speakers to the plastic ring provided with them. One of the holes in that ring can be screwed to one of the factory mounting holes. Then, the clips provided can be attached to the other factory holes,compressed and pushed inbetween the plastic ring and the speaker. (If you're going to do this, mount the speaker snugly to the ring but don't make it really tight or you won't get the clips to squeeze in.) If you want to make it extra secure, put a little epoxy at the clip/speaker mount junction.
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