Installing all new speakers?

[Alex46]

The mach 460 was fine, but its the only thing i haven't upgraded on the car, and I love music. That 90 pound box is going cost me some hp, but really looking forward to putting this in. Only concern is bypassing the 460.

I got a new Navigation Head unit, 4 5x7s with amp for those, and amp and enclosed sub for the back. If i rewire the speakers like i have to, will i run into any problems with the Mach system? Plan on taking the 2 factory amps out.

Also would like to get new tweeters as well, but they don't make the 2 inch that comes with the factory. Have any of you done this?

Appreciate any help.

Thanks,

Alex

 

[bhuff30]

I replaced the mach 460 system in my 97 GT. I installed an alpine head unit, all new wiring, boston acoustics speakers, and a 10" alpine sub, of course with amps on everything.

On the tweeters, you can buy a piece of plastic to mount smaller tweeter on and trim it to fit the factory location. The stereo shop I bought my componets from also had the plastic mounting surface. It was basically just a piece of black, 1/8" thick plastic sheeting with a textured surface.

Personally, I would recommend ditching the factory speaker wiring. It is rather inconvient to run wires from the heat unit, to your amps, then back to the wiring harness where it can finally go to the speakers. I used monster cable and installed all new wiring, hiding it underneat the carpet, under door sills, and in the factory gromets for the doors.

I mounted the amp for the door and rear speakers on the back of the rear seat. It is perfectly hidden and doesn't use much trunk space, but is in easy access just by folding the rear seat down. The sub box has always been a pain in my ass. It is always sliding around in the trunk, but I have the amp directly mounted to the sub box.

 

[Tripoli]

I built my own setup using Boston speakers with crossovers for the tweeters, and dual 10" MTX subs. It really wasn't hard, it just took some time. I'd definitely run your own speaker wire. Remember to keep those wires as far from the power supply wires as possible. I ran mine down opposite sides of the car. For the tweeters, we just used a small sheet of ABS plastic and cut it to fit the factory location. Looks 100% stock, sounds great. (Sadly, I'm thinking of doing a stereo delete now, so might be undoing all my hard work. )

 

[Alex46]

Thanks for the help guys. Did you not run into any problems with the Mach system?

 

[robmac36067]

you can leave the wires for the mach system there, and just run new wires, you don't wanna take the mach system out in case you ever sell it and wanna keep your speakers. Get you some components for the front and coaxials for the back imo components are not needed in the back and most great sound quality set ups don't even use speakers for the rear, run all 4 speakers and tweeters to a 4 channel amp, and just get you a nice 10" or 12" sub running to a mono amp. here is another suggestion get a class a/b amp for the actual speakers and a class d for the subwoofer. it all depends on what you want for sound quality you can't go wrong with these brands.............cdt audio, diamond audio, focal, infinity perfects, boston acoustics, dyna audio, nakamichi, image dynamics.....i would especially recommend an image dynamics 10" or 12" as they have been voted the most musical subwoofer many times. now if you want spl go talk to someone else cause i hate ghetto rattle the dinner table bass, just remember loud and ghetto are two different things.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I just put in all new speakers spent about $100 per speaker as I recall. Made a nice difference.

 

[sneaky98gt]

I too have had this question for quite some time now. I've just never had the funds to make it happen, although I still want to do it sometime.

Ok, so can someone explain to me exactly what I would need in the front so that I would have the woofer at the bottom, and the tweeter at the top. I've done lots of reading and normally wind up more confused after looking at all this coaxial, component, 2 way, 3 way, etc. I'm not very familiar with all the lingo nor what I would need to do that in the front. I assume the rears could just be one of types that have the woofer and tweeter built all into one housing or whatever.

And also, would you recommend 6x8s or 6.5" woofers? I've never heard much opinion on that.

 

[D-BOI]

i wonder how the stock speakers would sound with just a new head unit?? i have kenwood cd players in all my cars and i love having the usb plug, if i like a song i just throw it on there and enjoy but in the mustang you have to burn a new cd every time. i hate that. before summer i need a new head unit but dont feel like getting into having to buy a 4 channel and components id rather spend 600 bucks towards some performance mods.

 

[sneaky98gt]

i wonder how the stock speakers would sound with just a new head unit?? i have kenwood cd players in all my cars and i love having the usb plug, if i like a song i just throw it on there and enjoy but in the mustang you have to burn a new cd every time. i hate that. before summer i need a new head unit but dont feel like getting into having to buy a 4 channel and components id rather spend 600 bucks towards some performance mods.

I currently have a Sony headunit (don't remember exactly which one right off hand), and the speakers sound great with it. They are way louder than with the stock radio, and I'd venture to say they sound a little bit better. I also added 2 12"s and an amp for them, and they sound great also. The subs really make it sound a ton better.

 

[D-BOI]

well thats good to know, id like to keep the mach speakers for as long as i can without having to change them since mine sound perfect even though they are 14 years old, the guy that had the car before me was an old fart so i doubt he go much use out of the speakers. You had no issue with it then just used a ford wiring harness and everything worked out??