Tweeter Upgrade

[Jakg]

I've been meaning to upgrade the tweeters in my car for a while - I was running the HK ones, but I was after something a little better.

Annoyingly, the aperture sizes in the sail-panels (39mm) is unlike any tweeter I could find.

I took the chance on a Vifa one, but using glue all I managed to do was wreck one of my spare panels...

I won some Focal (TN44's) ones on eBay, as another member said that they fitted straight in...

I started off with my HK tweeters



Remove the door-card (excuse my horrible wiring mess...)



Remove the panel containing the tweeter



Tried to fit the Focal tweeter, only to find there was no way on earth it was going to fit straight in (it's ~5-10mm too large).



Luckily I had a starrett cutter in virtually exactly the right size (~43mm). I find it easier to use to use a bit of wood to drill into (to hold it in place) and then cut through with the cutters when expanding an existing hole...



Much success! Fits straight in



After I cleaned up the hole a bit it went straight in...



Fitted back to the car (had to splice it into the existing wiring)



And done...





I will point out - because the "rim" of the tweeter is so large it's not flush (as in, the rim sticks out further than the raised bit), but it's not really noticeable.

[VVC-Geeza]

Excellent job,and something i will have to tackle in the coming months.Are the rear 0EM ones the same size?

[Jakg]

Yes and no.

The tweeters are the same size (and part #), but the front ones fit into the a grill which makes them larger.

You can't just "drill out" the rears unfortunately, I haven't thought of a mounting solution for them yet... I think unless I find the right size tweeters (or something smaller and a large amount of glue...) it'll be the HK stuff for a while.

[Simon.h]

Jaka,

Do they sound a lot better?

What are you doing with the Harman/Kardon tweeters?

[Jakg]

I haven't had a chance to listen yet, but I'm hoping they will...

The tweeters are provisionally sold to another member.

[tezzer]

lets us know on the sound because im gonna haveto change mine, they have gone all distorted...

[Jakg]

Originally Posted by Simon.h

Do they sound a lot better?

Yes and no...

I bought the tweeters from Focal's "Access" (entry level) component set. I deliberately didn't spend much, as I didn't even know if they'd fit (after my failure with the Vifa ones).

While most people malign the OE speakers for being made out of paper - for tweeter it's not such a bad thing. My Focal tweeters have a metal dome - which makes them cheap to make - but it does make them sound quite harsh.

Overall I find they are a little clearer than my HK tweeters, especially when turned up loud - however they do sound harsher as well. They aren't necessarily "better", just different.

My favorite artist is Papa Roach which tends itself to being turned up loud - however at higher volumes a lot of the instruments seemed to blend together into "noise" rather than music. While the Focal's are much clearer, they are harsher as well... but for the music I've been testing them with to me it sounds better. But like I said - at lower volumes some might prefer the HK's.

As mine were new (embarrassing confession - first new speakers I've ever bought...) they really should be "broken" in and may well sound a bit better after ~10 hours, but I doubt it.





Overall - for me it's better. But now I'm after some silk-dome tweeters.

[tezzer]

Originally Posted by Jakg

Yes and no...

I bought the tweeters from Focal's "Access" (entry level) component set. I deliberately didn't spend much, as I didn't even know if they'd fit (after my failure with the Vifa ones).

While most people malign the OE speakers for being made out of paper - for tweeter it's not such a bad thing. My Focal tweeters have a metal dome - which makes them cheap to make - but it does make them sound quite harsh.

Overall I find they are a little clearer than my HK tweeters, especially when turned up loud - however they do sound harsher as well. They aren't necessarily "better", just different.

My favorite artist is Papa Roach which tends itself to being turned up loud - however at higher volumes a lot of the instruments seemed to blend together into "noise" rather than music. While the Focal's are much clearer, they are harsher as well... but for the music I've been testing them with to me it sounds better. But like I said - at lower volumes some might prefer the HK's.

As mine were new (embarrassing confession - first new speakers I've ever bought...) they really should be "broken" in and may well sound a bit better after ~10 hours, but I doubt it.








Overall - for me it's better. But now I'm after some silk-dome tweeters.

Thanks for the update, anything would be better than mine at the mo
cheers