Rear speaker kits

[psquared39]

Seen a few members looking for these recently. Available from Suncoast;

Boxster Rear Speaker Kit:Porsche Parts & Porsche Accessories - Wholesale Porsche Parts & Tequipment

[Brockmeister]

I saw that too...too bad I don't have the rear storage compartment

[evo-r]

How much will the sound quality improve with this kit?

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Brockmeister

I saw that too...too bad I don't have the rear storage compartment

I think you can add it on pretty easily; it just sits on top of the rear deck lid mostly by gravity and by two of the same fasteners that you use to hold the engine cover.

Holy cow, they have that for sale too for major $$$$
Rear Storage Shelf:Porsche Parts & Porsche Accessories - Wholesale Porsche Parts & Tequipment

You could probably get one from somebody parting out their car or making a spec box maybe.

Ebay: 1998 2004 Porsche Boxster Storage Box Red | eBay
(Note this listing says 97-04 but the suncoast one breaks it down by 97-02 and 03/04

Steve

[thstone]

Originally Posted by evo-r

How much will the sound quality improve with this kit?

The rear speaker kit will "round out" the sound so you're not just getting blasted by the front dash speakers. I thought that it was worth the couple hundred dollars and half day installation time for this improvement.

But it will NOT turn the stock sound system into concert quality and a true audiophile might question its value. But then, a true audiophile would know that to substantially improve the sound you need to scrape the entire stock sound system and start over.

[teleski]

I would not do this upgrade without first replacing the stock dash speakers. With a stock setup and this kit you will have your best drivers by far behind you, not optimal and maybe unpleasant sounding depending on how much you pay attention to these things.

[2003S]

Originally Posted by evo-r

How much will the sound quality improve with this kit?

I'm no audiophile by far, but it changedt the system from, "I really don't like this" to "It's fine". I'm done with audio upgrades...

[rick3000]

Originally Posted by 2003S

I'm no audiophile by far, but it changedt the system from, "I really don't like this" to "It's fine". I'm done with audio upgrades...

This is exactly how I feel about the rear speakers, although I have always thought the Boxster stereo sounded good (at least to me), and why I have had a 6x40W amp waiting to be installed for 2 years.

I find the rears to make a bigger difference when the top is down.

This rear speaker kit appears to have better speakers than one I purchased a few years ago. But I only paid $130, might be worth trying Sunset in Oregon first. I do not think the type of speakers matters since you only get 15W from the head unit, unless you add a 6x40w amp from a 996.

[juicepro]

I wonder how they squeezed 3.5" speakers into the oem mounts which are for factory 3" speakers. I can't get my 3.5" Polk speakers to fit flush in the oem mounts like their picture.

[NewArt]

I think that this upgrade would be worthwhile. Just having changed my dash speakers to Pioneer 2 ways has made an enormous improvement for $60 !

[Ckrikos]

I replaced my dash speakers and head unit. This may go on my Christmas list. I'm sure someone's buying this please post a review, it's a nice kit but pricey considering the oem kits were clearing out for 99$ at one point.

[tomonomics]

Are those OEM mounts? (I've never seen a stock rear speaker setup). Edited: Below is a close up pic of the speakers and mount.

These may be the same speakers in the kit: Pioneer TS-A878 3 1/2 Inch 60W ($35 per pair on Amazon).

If so, the $250 premium over the speakers themselves is a lot to pay for the mounts, grills and wiring. I've already replaced my Bose head unit and front dash speakers, which made a huge difference. Door speakers will get replaced in the next few weeks.

-T

[tuanle16]

i actually got them and installed last year. honestly, i think it was a waste of money and time.

[Polaris]

I made my own baffles out of masonite to fit 4 3.5" drivers (don't remember the brand off hand) in the same way as the stock kit. It was a great improvement in sound quality and sound stage. total cost was around $100 for the 2 pairs of speakers and materials. I saved the pattern I made for the baffles somewhere. If I can find it, I could scan it and upload it here if anybody else wants to DIY a solution for themselves.




I also replaced the stock door subs with Kicker 6.5" subs using the baffle design floating around here. VAST improvement over stock. I replaced the stock 4x40 amp with a pair of small-footprint MTX amps and I can't say enough good about them. I got the two amps to mount on the stock amp bracket in the frunk. The sub amp is a 1X500 class D (RMS at 2 ohms) while the main amp is 4x75 class AB.

[joejitsumd]

awesome work guys!

[joejitsumd]

anyone know which aftermarket speakers CAN fit in the oem rear mounting brackets? I have the brackets and the storage compartment, I just don't have speakers.

[amagalla]

Originally Posted by Polaris

I made my own baffles out of masonite to fit 4 3.5" drivers (don't remember the brand off hand) in the same way as the stock kit. It was a great improvement in sound quality and sound stage. total cost was around $100 for the 2 pairs of speakers and materials. I saved the pattern I made for the baffles somewhere. If I can find it, I could scan it and upload it here if anybody else wants to DIY a solution for themselves.




I also replaced the stock door subs with Kicker 6.5" subs using the baffle design floating around here. VAST improvement over stock. I replaced the stock 4x40 amp with a pair of small-footprint MTX amps and I can't say enough good about them. I got the two amps to mount on the stock amp bracket in the frunk. The sub amp is a 1X500 class D (RMS at 2 ohms) while the main amp is 4x75 class AB.

When you wired the rear speakers, where they in series or parallel? I assume they are 4ohm speakers.

Thanks,

Tony

[ccstud17]

just a reminder, If you ADD rear speakers to your current setup, you must add a 6 channel amp or 4 channel with sub outs to power them. stock 4 channel amp is a wee lil guy and nothing ruins speakers faster than under frequency and under power!

[rick3000]

Originally Posted by ccstud17

If you ADD rear speakers to your current setup, you must add a 6 channel amp or 4 channel with sub outs to power them.

You aren't wrong, but I think saying you 'must' is a little misleading. Lots of people have powered the rear speakers off the head unit with no issue, including myself. It may not be the best, but it is an option. Also, if you are looking for a simpler install, the 996 6 channel amplifier is nearly plug and play. You just have to slightly modify the amplifier connector.

[BruceH]

Originally Posted by Polaris

I made my own baffles out of masonite to fit 4 3.5" drivers (don't remember the brand off hand) in the same way as the stock kit. It was a great improvement in sound quality and sound stage. total cost was around $100 for the 2 pairs of speakers and materials. I saved the pattern I made for the baffles somewhere. If I can find it, I could scan it and upload it here if anybody else wants to DIY a solution for themselves.

Did you ever find the template? I would be interested in the pattern. I just ordered the Pioneer TS-A878 3.5" speakers to replace the stock ones.