Replacing speakers/adding an equalizer

[ctn8iv]

My 97 XLT has reasonable good sound, but I'd like to look into replacing speakers and possibly adding an EQ. Problem 1: Have no idea what the radio pwr output is and what spkrs it can handle; got no booklet with the vehicle. Does anyone know? Problem 2: Can an EQ even be added w/o replacing the stock radio? Problem 3: How do you get the door panels and spkr grills off to see what I have w/o tearing the stuff to shreds? Any tips much appreciated.

 

[kilroy]

Hmm sounds exactly like what I just finished doing to mine. I added new door speakers which are 5x7/6x8 size, 2 amps, and an equilizer. The door panels come off by removing the 2 screws by the handle, and using the tool for the door clips, pops off from the bottom up, then lifting it out of the window channel, the speakers are held in place with three screws/bolts (1/4" drive I think) on the front doors, and 4 in the back door. I ran new wires all around, fishing the through the rubber accordians connected to the doors for the passenger doors, and outside of the swivel block on the drivers door, there is a notch that the wire can be fed through to the speaker. I mounted the equilizer in the center console, ran the RCA wires to the amps located on that cover behind the rear seats that folds down when you fold the rear seat down. Ran power from the battery to the amps on the drivers side. Connected the speakers to the amps, and since I have the rear radio controls, I found the wires for the rear speakers and spliced a line converter in place to plug in the equilizer. The radio does everything except for the fader now which is controlled by the equilizer. I have a Coustic equilizer with front, rear, and subwoofer controls along with 7 bands of equilization, an amp for the door speakers, and an amp for my MTX subs.

If you want I can take some pics to give you an idea, although I haven't had time to finish dressing the wires and cables yet.

 

[ctn8iv]

Thanks kilroy for the quick response!

Photos might help later, but let me pop a panel first and see what I'm dealing with. I have some JBL speakers from another vehicle I may be able to install. Sounds like in your case only the rear spkrs ar equalized, correct? I did a similar thing when I had a Honda; only the rear was EQd and amplified. Does the Ford radio have in/out jacks between the preamp and amp to EQ both front and back?

Chris

 

[JTang]

The stock amp has very average power. Any speakers will do as long as they're 4 ohms a piece. Putting in an EQ might be doable if you splice a lot and can work magic with the wiring like Kilroy, but there are no RCA's in the back of the stock head unit. You'd have to get some signal converters or do some major splicing.

Definitely put new speakers though first. You might like the huge sound improvement enough that you may not feel the need for an EQ anymore!

 

[kilroy]

All speakers are on the Equilizer. I installed the line converter on the rear channel of the radio, set the radio to full rear, and use the fader on the equilizer.

There is only one input on the equlizer.