Anyone Replaced Dash Speakers with Factory Version?
 

I've seen where folks modify the existing grill to install aftermarket 4" speakers, but I also see that the factory speakers are still available from Porsche, both for the M411 and M490 sound systems. I have the M490 system which evidently includes a 2-way dash speaker, as opposed to the single driver M411 speaker.

Has anyone replaced their old speakers with the factory version? Mine are 20 years old, so the surrounds have to be shot. I would imagine anything would be an improvement.

Good question...
Given the price and quality of the aftermarket speakers, I think most of us who have upgraded have not replaced with OEM.

The prevailing thinking is that a current-era aftermarket speaker is both better and cheaper than a late-90's-early-2K-era factory speaker.

My PO went aftermarket. Alpines. Sound great.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02/Dash1511008897.jpg

Yeah, I'm sure an aftermarket speaker would be better, but in general, the sound system in the car is pretty poor even when everything is working properly. I'm a freak about keeping things "factory," and really don't listen to the stereo much. If I do, it's just for background noise on occasion.

Maybe I'll give a factory speaker replacement a shot and see how it goes. The nice thing is it's probably a 5 minute swap. I have zero interest in upgrading the entire system.

I bought these adapter rings and installed the recommended Alpine speakers, huge improvement. Be careful and patient with the install.

9XX - Porsche Boxster & 996 Dashboard Speaker Upgrade kit with Alpine speakers

The upgraded stereo in Carrera's used MB Quart speakers. Not sure if you can find them today, but they were a noticeable improvement over the stock 986 speakers

Personally, I too wanted to go with the factory speakers but, after doing so, I found the sound quality was abysmal. So, I ended up buying after market speakers and modifying the mounting rings (very easy, side cutters, a soldering iron and adhesive). The after market speakers cost me $27.95 for the pair. Handle more power than the stock version and are full range, tweeters included. My 2001 S has no amplifier, just the stock CDR-220 head unit. Sounds awesome.

I replaced the fronts with aftermarket and at the same time replaced the 4 channel amp with a 996 cabrio 6 channel to drive the rear speakers. Now I get annoyingly high high frequencies with some tracks and annoyingly low lows on others. Never do 2 mods at once!!

I did ... used speakers from a 996 because I wanted graphite grey grilles. They look great.

With the rear shelf speaker kit and a 996 Cabrio 6X40 amp to drive the rears and bring the subwoofers alive, I’m quite satisfied. Seems to me with all the road and wind noise, anything more won’t return much noticeable benefit.

+1 on the Alpine replacements!
They sound a lot better!
I also put in a pair of Kicker Titanium dome tweeters in the stock grill and a pair of Alpine's in the door. Added a 8" Kicker powered subwoofer enclosure behind the passenger seat and the whole system sounds pretty good for not a whole lot of $$

Have you seen the Crutchfield guides for Porsche? https://www.crutchfield.com/learn/carprofiles.aspx#Porsche If you buy audio components from them they apparently give you a more detailed guide.
Also you might fine a near exact replacement from Parts Express. https://www.parts-express.com/cat/speaker-components/4

I have a solution. PM'd you.

10/10ths what is the solution you had for the previous posting, please? I have ordered my subwoofer but really need to change out the speakers, they are blown.

I used 4" JBL's and used the adaptor ring from CAI for the change. If you wanted you could buy a set of grill covers the adaptor kit and some good aftermarket speakers. That way you could just store you factory as is.

I replaced the amp with a Nokia 6 channel 996 amplifier from ebay.

I just ordered a pair of door speakers with Nokia boxes off ebay also as I want to upgrade the door to either 6.5" sub or hopefully an 8" shallow mount Pioneer. The ebay boxes so I can set it up and not damage the factory gear.

I went with Focal Speakers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I went with Hi end Audison 3 in with separate tweeters in dash and 6.5 in door all in stock locations along with Audison sound processor with Alpine 150w per channel 4 channel amp. Sounds amazing even with top down. Tried Alpines in dash first which was a improvement but nothing like current system. Forget the rear speakers as I don’t use mine. My whole system goal was keeping as stock looking as possible. CAI stuff is great.

I put Polk 2-ways in the dash and replaced the four rears with new 3" - all the originals had damaged or missing paper cones. Looked in to replacing the door subs too, but it seemed a lot of work, so I replaced the M680 DSP and 6X40 Haes amp with a Polk 5-channel 75X4 & 150X1. Amazing difference in sound, and more work than I anticipated. I have tuned the rears so they don't just provide fill. The 5.25" subs with this amp really do provide sound now. This with the top up. Top down hopefully tomorrow.

I did the factory (MB Quart) upgrade

Problem of the M490 sound system is the level of the dashboard speakers and that the mid 10 cm speakers have no crossover. The 28 mm tweeters aren't that bad.

Because i'm fan to keep things as original as i can i have replaced the tweeter 4,7 uF elko caps with 5.6 uF MKTs and added 0,27 mH coils to the 10 cm mid speakers, so that i have a proper crossover. Sounds much better, because the 10 cm speaker sounds harsh without low-pass coil. Tested also 0,47 mH coils, but they've cutted to much mids / presence.

Also integrated a -2 dB level circuit at the 10 cm speakers at around 1 Khz (resistor, cap, coil).

To adjust the level between dash speakers and subs i use the fader of the radio.

Regards, Markus