Finally -- 2003 Camry front speaker 6x9 replacement

[rlee777]

After searching, measuring and listening to MANY 6x9s, I found a pair that fits the front doors of my 2003 Camry LE with a custom MDF bracket. I wanted coaxials to improve the point source imaging -- having dash tweeters reflecting off of the windshield never produced a coherent image. Also I am running a Sony HU with 22wx4, so I was looking for SQ without going the power hungry component route.

Enter the Pioneer TS-A6961R. I know many look down on Pioneer 6x9s, (and most do sound BAD), but after demoing 6x9s (including Alpine S and R, Infinity Ref, Sony Xplod, Polk db, and Eclipse) this particular TS-A6961R sound very musical. Even the models up from this one -- A6971 and A6981 -- sound poor. Clean, clear, smooth with good bass. Very balanced sound and efficient, sounding fine with HU power. And inexpensive ($50-$80/pr). A real gem among consumer level 6x9s. Downsides: these sound overdriven with an external amp and are not truly neutral in timbre (very few 6x9s are).

And they fit the front doors (barely) of my 2003 Camry. The top mount depth of these are 2 7/8" which makes them more shallow than most. I used a 1/4" hardboard to fashion a custom bracket which aligns to the existing screw mounts. Sandwiched a 3/4" MDF 6x9 ring that will be the speaker mount. Keep the shape of the ring close to the speaker shape so as to not interfere with the door panel. This custom "sandwich" bracket clears the sheet metal by 1" which combined with the thickness of speaker flange, just butts up against the plastic oval ring formed into the door panel. (No pictures, sorry! Those who have tried to replace the Camry fronts understand...) The speaker magnet just clears the window -- no interference at all.

I disconnected the dash speakers which were crossed over with a simple capacitor. The Pioneers are running full range.

How do they sound? Very similar to the demo on the store's sound board. Smooth, clear and the imaging is improved, though skewed slightly toward the center of the dash. Musical and very listenable. Bass integration with the rear stock speakers is fine.

Next -- replace the rear with these Pioneers...

[rlee777]

(continuing) The rear speaker replacement was easier. First had to remove the bottom rear seat cushion, then remove the side seat bolsters. Next pull out the plastic side panels that flank the rear deck (held on by plastic clips). The rear deck is held on by two plastic clips on the front edge which are easily pried up with a long screwdriver. Unclipped the rear brake light and the rear deck can be removed, exposing the rear 6x9s.

Interestingly, the rear stock 6x9s are simple 5ohm paper cone drivers, different from the front OEM plastic cones. Very cheap quality. Used paper to trace the outline for a replacement bracket. I cut brackets using scrap 1/4" hardboard. Dropped in the Pioneer 6x9s (TS-A6961R) and used rope caulk to seal onto the custom bracket. Also used some rope caulk (great stuff for sealing speakers) under the bracket to dampen and seal the connection to the sheet metal. Wired it up and replaced all the parts.

The Pioneer TS-A6961R are excellent rear speaker replacements. Clear, precise sound with clean bass -- the OEM paper cones produced more bass, but it was boomy and muddled. The smooth clarity of these Pioneers and high efficiency makes them easy to power off of the HU. (I do not recommend the higher models in Pioneer's line which are voiced much differently and require more power to operate)

Overall replacing all four 6x9s with the Pioneer TS-A6961Rs (and disconnecting the dash speakers) was an inexpensive and worthy upgrade for our Camry.

[bigloubumpin]

Good to hear but pix would be nice

[Rock'nRachel]

dude, if you were using 6x9s in the front why didn't you just pop them in the oem baffle like others have done here, and not mess around with the custom stuff? - like this thread:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t142958.html

also, in the back why didn't you just screw those new puppies right into the sheet metal and not mess with 1/4" hardboard that really ins't that good anyway? yeah, i remember somebody recommending those pioneer TS-A6961R before, and they don't cost too much $$.

[rlee777]

Originally Posted by Rock'nRachel

dude, if you were using 6x9s in the front why didn't you just pop them in the oem baffle like others have done here, and not mess around with the custom stuff? - like this thread:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t142958.html

also, in the back why didn't you just screw those new puppies right into the sheet metal and not mess with 1/4" hardboard that really ins't that good anyway? yeah, i remember somebody recommending those pioneer TS-A6961R before, and they don't cost too much $$.

The MDF mounting ring gives it a solid mounting baffle that is non-resonant. Excellent for speakers. The rear deck would rattle if I drilled new holes and mounted the 6x9 directly. Besides I wanted to lift the speaker just enough to reach the grille.

The more I listen to these speakers, the better they get. Amazing value for a 6x9. Remember the other models (e.g. TS-A6971R, TS-A6981R, TS-A6991R) sound very different and not as musical.

[sundarpn]

are these 2 ohm speakers? The stock ones I am told are 2 ohm (I have the JBL)

[dna59]

I personally have had good experience w/ Pioneer speakers. I has them in my last gen3 Camry, and those things playes amazing. I loved them.