Guide to Replacing Rear Door Component Speakers

Hi all,

I recently successfully installed some Alpine SPR60-C component speakers in my 2005 non-JBL Prius and documented the process. I've uploaded a PDF guide. Feel free to ask questions and point out any errors below. You should also check out Sparky's guide that can be found at this link:

http://docs.docstoc.com/pdf/5879625/96374151-072a-49c3-9d87-7d5d271dd125.pdf

Edit: This guide is for replacing the front component speakers, not the rear as I mistakenly said in the title.

 

The tweeter hole (which is really 3 clips) perfectly accepted the Alpine tweeter that is 1.5" in diameter. (See dimensions here: http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/Manuals/500/500SPR60C.PDF) Any bigger or smaller than that and you'd have to do some modifications.

The wiring that leads from the tweeter/crossover receptacle to the factory woofer does not go inside the door but rather fits into a receptacle on the outside of the woofer housing (see Sparky's guide page 5). I think the easiest thing to do is just run a short length of new cable (18 gauge is plenty large) through that hole I discussed in my guide since you will almost certainly need to connect it to the back side of your new woofer, and the factory wire is on the wrong side. I ended up just leaving the factory wire in place but unconnected.

 

The woofer hole is obnoxiously 7" in diameter which is why there was a small gap when I installed the 6-1/2" bracket. (Edit: Actually the hole is 6-1/2" but the existing screw holes are aligned such that there is a gap if you use them.) I neglected to measure the depth even though I intended to knowing someone would ask. I will say that it was pretty roomy. My speakers were 2-3/8" deep and it wasn't a close fit or anything. The biggest concern is the window which has a curved cut you can see in Figure 9 in my guide. I would say there is at least another 1/2" or maybe 1" beyond that but I could be wrong. As far as getting an 8" in there that would require cutting the steel out another 1/2" all the way around, which is not impossible but not something I personally would attempt. I might be installing some Alpine SPS-60's in the rear in the next few weeks and if I do I'll be sure to measure the depth.

As far as bass goes I was thinking I might have to get a sub to fill out the low end but the Alpines have such outstanding and tight bass that I've decided a sub is totally unnecessary. Frankly I don't think I will bother with an amplifier either since the Alpine CDE-135BT head unit controls the speakers pretty brilliantly. Adding either of these things would probably have a pretty marginal effect on the sound for the money.

 

If you think about it, early model Priuses at some point are going to be considered classic cars, and people are going to keep them on the road as long as they can. I would bet that long into the future these classics are going to be getting audio upgrades.

 

Wow I just realized I titled the post with the word "Rear" instead of "Front" in it, oops.

 

Okay, I measured the holes more carefully when doing the rear speakers yesterday. Bad news on the diameter: apparently the hole is actually 6.5" but the existing holes cause there to be a gap when you install the bracket using them. Good news on the depth: the rear windows when rolled down do not go as far down as the woofer hole. There is a metal pipe inside the door (probably a support structure to reinforce the door panel) that limits the depth to 3.5" but overall there's quite a bit of room for the rear door speakers. Good luck.