Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Speaker Question

Has anyone used Pioneer's TS-A6865 6X8 speakers. I see they are custom made for Ford and will fit in the Contique. They are rated at 180 watts. I would like to use them but only if they are good. I would probably use Pioneer's Supertuner III CD player at 45 watts. I am not looking to spend a lot of fortune. I just want something that sounds nice.

Also I have found the Speakers online for $75 a pair, better than Best Buy's $100.

What do you think?

Thanks
Jake

I bought Pioneer TS-A6895's at SondDomain.com for $99/pair. Although I have not heard all the other speakers mentioned in the messages, I think they are very good for the price, and certainly a great deal better than the originals. Speaker sound is all relative to what you like, so listen to as many as you can and pick the best for you. My 2 cents.

I listened to the Pioneer TS-A6865 (or its predecessor) and TS-P682 at Best Buy about a year ago. I thought the TS-P682 was the better sounding speaker by a good margin. I'm an audiophile and while I don't think either Pioneer pair are great by any means, the 682s have an agreeable midrange and a better overall balanced sound. Vocals sound rather uncolored and the treble is better defined. The component-like arrangement of the 682s helps matters. Bass is fairly weak, given the small 5-1/4" woofer, but the speaker doesn't sound thin nor boomy, just a little bass-shy. I drive them with a 13.5x4 Blaupunkt Denver and they handle power well. Decent sensitivity.

Unfortunately, the speaker openings on the Contour door panels block the tweeters, especially in the rear seats. Coaxial speakers have tweeters located directly in the center. However, the plate arrangement of the 682s place the tweeters on the edge of the plate. An adjustment of the treble control on the head unit fixes matters, but I wish I could drive them without any EQ.

The 682s go for $149/pair, but I bought them when Best Buy was having a "buy one pair, get the second half-off" sale. Two pair for $224 is a good deal, but $300 is only marginal. I had Best Buy install them (I'm not touching those door panels!!!) and supposedly the 682s are drop in and go. Installation was flawless and the panels don't rattle.

I've read that Contour can take the newish Infinity Kappa 572s. I'm a little jealous. I owned a pair of Kappas in my 86 Accord and I thought they were down right awesome. Detail, transient attack and neutrality in spades. No bass, but I'm not a bass person. Give me something overtly musical and involving and I will follow.

I bought Pioneer for an Escort, and didn't like them. Slow to learn, I also purchased 4 of the Pioneer A68565 for my Mystique, and was very unhappy with the results. I was using the stock "80 watt - haha" premium amp, and the speakers sounded very harsh to me, and bass was reduced. On my next car, the Contour, I bought Kenwoods 6X8's that fit (I can get exact model if you want) and they were much smoother, better bass, and cheaper $79 vs. $99 Pioneer's.

Also, I used Crutchfield, and word of caution - they will tell you that only 2 Pioneer 6X8 models will fit Contour exactly, and technically this is correct because you can use existing screw holes (no drilling), but as I found out with the Kenwoods, drilling is no big deal, and the instructions Crutchfield sends for door trim panels makes it pretty straight forward. My advice, avoid Pioneer.

For what it's worth: I just bought 4 Cerwin Vega SS 2683 5x7's. They haven't been installed yet but will be driven by a Jensen 400 watt 4 channel amp that was reasonably priced. I cannot justify a Four Hundred Dollar (US) Rockford-Fosgate but it would be nice. Cerwin-Vega(when I was growing up in the 70's) and JBL were the major players at big time outdoor concerts so I was hooked on them. My thinking is that the C-V's should have some bass without getting crazy. I'm not into the thump-thump scene at least in my car... More after install completed.ZZZ

OOps: Bought them for 218 shipped (audiodirect.com) Forget Best Buy...these were $40 cheaper online. ZZZ

[This message has been edited by Richiezoom (edited June 20, 2000).]

Hey Contour guy, i would like to know that # for the kenwoods. i didn't know they made a 6X8. i knew they make a 5X7 but not a 6X8. Also is it 2 or 3 way?
I am not sure if it was this string or another one that mentioned the speakers being covered by door panel. What i did though was: the back was the worst so i installed 6½ kenwoods in the rear. Keeping them to the bottom of the 6X8 opening. worked pretty good.
I have 2 way 5X7 JBLs in the front.


P.S. any thaughts from anyone on the Kenwood CD head unit KDC8015?
tdavidk
'95 SE,Duratec,MTX

If your looking for great speakers, killer subs, and bad A$$ amps (looking and quality) check out Audiobahn products, you can find them on the web at very good prices, and they are very high quality.. http://www.audiobahninc.com/index2.htm
good prices at www.insaneaudio.com (great shipping prices!)

(4)ABC525 5 1/4" components
4400E 50x4 amp
ABP120 12" banpass box/sub
2600E 480w x 1 amp
AX303 crossover

Thanks for all of the input. This helps out a lot! In my search for a better price on a CD Player and Speakers I have come across this company online: http://www.competitionsound.com/shop/enter.html They seem to have the best prices so far. If anyone has good or bad dealings with them please post.

I am in no way affiliated with this company and I am not promoting them. Just placing the information out there for people to use and comment on.

Thanks
Jake

[quote]GravY typed:
If your looking for great speakers, killer subs, and bad A$$ amps (looking and quality) check out Audiobahn products, you can find them on the web at very good prices, and they are very high quality.. http://www.audiobahninc.com/index2.htm
good prices at www.insaneaudio.com (great shipping prices!)[/b]
It is about time I have finally found someone with Audiobahn. I have heard mixed speculation on them. As for everyone looking at speakers from Best Buy, i would stay away. I used to work in the car stereo department and everyone had problems with everything they sold. Not to meantion that the SQ was garbage. (Before I say anything else, I am not trying to bash anyone. These are strictly my opinions). The C-V's are real garbage in my opinion. The bass responce was ok but the metal dome tweeteres were just too harsh. Same with the Pioneers. The only Pioneer's that I liked were pair of 4x6's with the silk dome tweeters. I am currently running two pair of Infinity Kappa 572.1's off of my Clarion HU (Pro Audio not Best Buy garbage). They sound okay but definitely need more power. So, my ESX Q604 (60x4 of clean power) is going in in a month, once I save some extra cash from working.


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David Litsky
96 Contour GL
Clarion, Infinity, ESX, Alumapro

I would like to know where you found those speakers for $75. I have been looking at those very seriously and have heard that they are good speakers. Please email me the web address of where you found them.

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'96 Zetech
Limo Tint
Turbo, but not sure
1000Watt System