To add dash speakers, or not to add dash speakers...

[Thomas Leone]

Hi guys, so I wasn't sure where to put this question so it's going here. I have an 03 Volvo v40 wagon that I plan on doing a single 15" sub in, around 1500-2000w. My car comes with standard 3.5" dash speakers, but I wonder if the 5.25" coaxials in the front doors will be enough. Being a budget build, I'd rather spend less and only have to have a 2 channel amp, but don't want to waste my money and end up unhappy with my top end. Thanks for reading!

[bcbrassard]

For sound quality and imaging having a set of comps on the dash done right would be nice sounding. Then you could use your doors for Midbass. 4 channel amps aren't that expensive. Could run the dash off HU power, Midrange and tweeters don't always need a ton power to sound good. But then again your trying to keep up a 15" sub.

[Soccerballzs]

Hertz makes a nice 3 inch for the dash look under the Mille line around 250.00 to 450.00 depends on dealer. I get them for 250.00

[RooTxBeeR]

DO NOT get just coaxials. My first build I had was coax's in the doors on a single 15 with 500 watts. Could barely hear the music, and you have x4 that power. Comp sets are usually 10-20 more than a coax set in most cases, and are definitely worth that.

[Soundfreezer79]

I've been down that road with my Jetta. I could not find 3.5" speakers that sounded good in my dash. Even 4's sounded like junk slamming off of the window glass. I threw out the tiny, weak coaxials and put 6.5" CDT components in the front doors. Much better.

[Thomas Leone]

Thanks for the input guys. This is going to be a super budget build, was hoping to spending around $120 on a highs/mids amp. Being a POS Volvo I don't care if it doesn't sound like symphony Hall, just better, louder, and more clear than the stock shit that's in there now. Might step it down to 1000-1500 watts depending on how much $ has to go to the front end

[boom50cal]

did a build in an 01 s40. fuck mids in the dash dude. do a decent 5.25 comp set, put the mids in the doors, yank the factory dash speakers out and put your tweeters in the dash. They'lll play off the windshield, sounds great.

and before you ask, I ran JBL ms-52c's. You'll have to tie into the factory harness behind the dash to get in the doors or drill through the molex, one of the two.

Idk if you have an aftermarket radio in it yet, but a Ford double din kit works great, the ones for 05-09 mustangs, 04-08 f150s, 04+ expeiditions and super duties.. Slides right in.

[bcbrassard]

If he is a basshead, then no need to have good sounding front stage? If tweeters sound good off the windshield, why wouldn't mids & highs? I was thinking like a Dayton Budget brand speaker. Good quality for less money in some opinions. You might be more interested in something louder though like super tweeters and pro-mids to keep up with the substage.

[jk13]

do a decent 5.25 comp set, put the mids in the doors, yank the factory dash speakers out and put your tweeters in the dash.

^^ This right here. Use a set with a passive crossover that all works as one unit. Easy, cheap, great results.

If he is a basshead, then no need to have good sounding front stage? If tweeters sound good off the windshield, why wouldn't mids & highs? I was thinking like a Dayton Budget brand speaker. Good quality for less money in some opinions. You might be more interested in something louder though like super tweeters and pro-mids to keep up with the substage.

Didn't read where he is a basshead and doesn't care about decent sound up front...

Random mismatched coaxes or a pieced-together kit with random speakers and crossovers has a much greater chance of sounding horrible compared to a complete component set. In the right hands they may sound better for a bit less money, but for the vast majority a simple component set with passives engineered for that set are a much more reliable solution.

[Soccerballzs]

If time aligned and crossover set right dash speakers can create the stage presence in front of you at ear level.