Replacing base speakers in M35

[moeandpookie]

I have recently purchased a 2008 M35 base model and I am not thrilled with the stock speakers. Has anyone replaced the stock speakers with good results?

[NightWatch]

I replaced the stock speakers with Alpine SPR-13C's in all 4 doors. The difference was amazing and I was happy with it for a while but I still needed a more solid defined bass note. So I installed an Audio Control Epicenter Plus and an Infinity BassLink powered subwoofer. My goal was not to modify any of the controls or disturb the factory look. I'm very happy with it now. Although if you're looking for bass that arrives at your neighbors house 5 minutes before you do, then you may need a different setup. This one is designed more for tone and clarity than for loudness.

[moeandpookie]

Thanks for the info. I dont need too much bass...I am just looking for crisper sound.

[hoaapple]

Are the door speakers 6 1/2 or 5 1/4?

[NightWatch]

The speaker enclosures in the door can accomodate a 6 1/2", however it must be a low profile speaker. I had a hard time finding a 6 1/2" that would fit the depth of the enclosure and gave me the sound quality I waas looking for, so I finally went with a 5 1/4" speaker. Size doesn't always matter

[maqueswell]

If you go to http://www.crutchfield.com and put in the model of Infiniti you own it'll automatically tell you whether or not the speakers will fit in the car.

[NightWatch]

If you go to http://www.crutchfield.com and put in the model of Infiniti you own it'll automatically tell you whether or not the speakers will fit in the car.

Crutchfield has not updated their database and does not have any data for the 2008 M's so you'll need to put in 2007...however I cannot say for sure if there are any mounting or space differences between 2007 and 2008

[M35 Sport]

I replaced the stock speakers with Alpine SPR-13C's in all 4 doors. The difference was amazing and I was happy with it for a while but I still needed a more solid defined bass note. So I installed an Audio Control Epicenter Plus and an Infinity BassLink powered subwoofer. My goal was not to modify any of the controls or disturb the factory look. I'm very happy with it now. Although if you're looking for bass that arrives at your neighbors house 5 minutes before you do, then you may need a different setup. This one is designed more for tone and clarity than for loudness.

Did you have to remove the door panels to do this?

[NightWatch]

Yes, but its not that big of a deal. You just need to be careful when prying the trim off that you don't snap the clips. I always have a few spare ones just in case.

[jpeters270]

I replaced the stock speakers with Alpine SPR-13C's in all 4 doors. The difference was amazing and I was happy with it for a while but I still needed a more solid defined bass note. So I installed an Audio Control Epicenter Plus and an Infinity BassLink powered subwoofer. My goal was not to modify any of the controls or disturb the factory look. I'm very happy with it now. Although if you're looking for bass that arrives at your neighbors house 5 minutes before you do, then you may need a different setup. This one is designed more for tone and clarity than for loudness.

I am curious as to what you think of the basslink as I have one that Im about to install. Also where did you put the volume control for the basslink as well, thx

[NightWatch]

I mounted everything in the trunk. Not ideal, I know... I spent an afternoon with different CD's and XM Radio and came up with settings for both the Audio Control Epicenter and the Basslink that were suitable for the majority of music I listen to. I still have some control over the bass and treble from the head unit, but its not as precise as the controls in the trunk. I tweak them from time to time when I think they need some adjusting. My main concern that drove me to go the line controller route was that I didn't want to disturb the factory look inside the cabin so that's why everything had to go in the trunk. I did toy with the idea of using the rear console for the controls... but I passed on that idea.

[Allosaur]

Crutchfield has not updated their database and does not have any data for the 2008 M's so you'll need to put in 2007...however I cannot say for sure if there are any mounting or space differences between 2007 and 2008

I would not think that there would be any differences from 2006 onward; right? I would think the fittings virtually identical. Installation requires drilling new holes and some splicing in most 6.5's I saw.

Crutchfield asked me if I have 4, 6 or 8 speakers. I would think that the base model would have 4, the journey version 6, and the premium/tech versions the full Bose 8 speaker system. (I am new to this car. Just guessing. How close am I?)

I have the base model, so I would think I would just be swapping out the 4 door speakers, adding a subwoofer in the trunk, fitting my 300 Watt amplifier and hoping I don't need the separate equalizer/ACE unit to make the most of it. Probably will learn jut as you did that the precise sound quality is not obtained unless and until the ACE is added.

[NightWatch]

I would not think that there would be any differences from 2006 onward; right? I would think the fittings virtually identical. Installation requires drilling new holes and some splicing in most 6.5's I saw.

Crutchfield asked me if I have 4, 6 or 8 speakers. I would think that the base model would have 4, the journey version 6, and the premium/tech versions the full Bose 8 speaker system. (I am new to this car. Just guessing. How close am I?)

Actually the base model (at least in 2008) has 6 speakers, don't forget the two dome tweeters in the upper dash corners of the front doors. Deciding what to do with these actually occupied most of the time in swapping the door speakers out. Originially I left the original wiring in place and kept the independant tweeters in the front along with the 2-way speakers in the doors. Then out of curiosity I disconnected the tweeters in the top of the doors and bypassed the "crossover" and wired directly to the speaker. I didn't really notice any difference in sound, so I put it back. Best to do your experimenting with the door pannels off as putting them on and taking them off repeatedly eventually ends up in broken door pannel clips.

Also, in using the 5 1/4" speakers I didn't need to drill any new holes to mount them. That was another plus in using the smaller speaker.

Buying from Crutchfield is great, you can't beat their customer service or suport. But I always go to an audio store first to check out the speakers I'm considering purchasing to hear what they sound like rather than immediately buy from Crutchfield and then not be happy with the sound and have to return them.

[Allosaur]

How about the base model for 2006; 4 or 6 speakers? Is this a Bose system entirely? With my previous MB E500 I had the Bose and one could not add an amp or anything given the fiber optic wiring setup. I am hoping otherwise with this application.

Indeed, there is no substitute for experimenting and you have done the work in this regard and to you the rewards and a benefit to the rest of us for adhering to your advice.

Regarding Crutchfield, I was just using this as a fitting example and what might be expected in said installation. Actually, I am not a do-it-yourself guy when it comes to audio and would never order components to be installed myself (from anywhere). Living in Fort Lauderdale, there are myriads of places heavily competing and slashing prices right now that have expert installers. I would simply go to one of them after pricing things out.

Personally, though, if redrilling some new holes enabled the larger (and better?) speakers, I would opt for the larger speakers (6.5 or even 6.75) unless there was some real harm being done, and in this case it would not appear to be the case. Just a choice.

Thanks for your input.

[M35 Sport]

How about the base model for 2006; 4 or 6 speakers? Is this a Bose system entirely? With my previous MB E500 I had the Bose and one could not add an amp or anything given the fiber optic wiring setup. I am hoping otherwise with this application.

Indeed, there is no substitute for experimenting and you have done the work in this regard and to you the rewards and a benefit to the rest of us for adhering to your advice.

Regarding Crutchfield, I was just using this as a fitting example and what might be expected in said installation. Actually, I am not a do-it-yourself guy when it comes to audio and would never order components to be installed myself (from anywhere). Living in Fort Lauderdale, there are myriads of places heavily competing and slashing prices right now that have expert installers. I would simply go to one of them after pricing things out.

Personally, though, if redrilling some new holes enabled the larger (and better?) speakers, I would opt for the larger speakers (6.5 or even 6.75) unless there was some real harm being done, and in this case it would not appear to be the case. Just a choice.

Thanks for your input.

What happened to the E500?

[Allosaur]

What happened to the E500?

You mean where is the car now? Its been traded in. On the speaker setup? No, I never made any alterations because this was highly discouraged by everyone and anywhere I went. So I left it stock.

[M35 Sport]

You mean where is the car now? Its been traded in. On the speaker setup? No, I never made any alterations because this was highly discouraged by everyone and anywhere I went. So I left it stock.

Yeah I mean you went from a V8 to a V6 Seems like you would have kept the benz. Was it leased? What it full of problems? Just wondering.