1997 850 Wagon - Speaker Replacement

churaw · Post by **churaw** » 17 Dec 2007, 19:46

I would like to replace my speakers all the way around in my 850 T-5 Wagon. I know of at least 8 speakers. 2 Dash - 2 Front Door - 2 Rear Door - 2 Rear braces. Are there any others I'm missing?

What size(s) fit each one? I read somewhere hear that 3 1/2 work in the dash and 5 1/4 in the doors. what about the rear side braces? Is there some creative engineering required to make them work?

Also I think I want to stick with the stock radio (CS-815) will it be able to drive new speakers well enough?

Guess that's it for now.

Thanks in advance,
Chuck

Post by **JRL** » 17 Dec 2007, 21:12

Speakers just don't "replace" what's there.
Volvo speaker mounts are a part of the door and they don't fit other speakers. It's a bit of work and then keeping the OEM radio when for $200 you can buy something light years better is really not the way to go

Post by **tailor** » 17 Dec 2007, 21:52

Go here for a look at the sizes, .......you might need a stiff drink before you look at the prices.
I think all OEM stock, If anything it will open your eyes.

http://www.vlvworld.com/indexframe.html?850/toc.htm

Tailor

churaw · Post by **churaw** » 18 Dec 2007, 08:18

Thanks for what is here so far.

Are you saying that aftermarket speakers will not fit at all?

I am OK with a 'best fit' scenario so advice on make and model used by other people is appreciated.

Thanks,
Chuck

Post by **JRL** » 18 Dec 2007, 08:26

churaw wrote:Thanks for what is here so far.

Are you saying that aftermarket speakers will not fit at all?

Of course they "fit", they just have to be modified a bit, not a bolt in replacement.
I've had a couple of Volvos with different speakers (sound systems) but best left to the pros for the install

churaw · Post by **churaw** » 18 Dec 2007, 10:46

Is there a guide out there that covers the changes need to achieve a 'best fit'? Also any idea what size speaker fits the back two columns?

I went to cruchfield and they only give me choices for the dash and doors. They give me one for a deck but I don't have a deck in a wagon. It's the two in the rear support columns that elude me.

Thanks,
Chuck

Post by **JRL** » 18 Dec 2007, 11:20

churaw wrote:Is there a guide out there that covers the changes need to achieve a 'best fit'? Also any idea what size speaker fits the back two columns?

I went to cruchfield and they only give me choices for the dash and doors. They give me one for a deck but I don't have a deck in a wagon. It's the two in the rear support columns that elude me.

Thanks,
Chuck

I keep repeating, if you have to ask, have a pro do the work.
The little back speaker is a standard small tweater.
NO ONE MAKES A SPEAKER THAT'S REPLACEMENT BOLT IN FOR A VOLVO
Personally I wouldn't worry about replacing those, you really can't hear them anyway unless you have a 3rd seat and with a better speaker, you really won't hear them.
If you want a great setup you need separate (2 or 3 piece) speakers. The rear doors could have a separate tweeter mounted high on the door. You would hear that MUCH better than those little rear tweaters alone
TALK TO AN AUDIO SHOP. Even Circut City or Best Buy can mount what you need and depending on the system, sometimes the install is free (or very cheap)

landyacht33 · Post by **landyacht33** » 18 Dec 2007, 19:58

i recently replaced all of my speakers and head unit. first i did the speakers and i bought seperate kenwood tweeters and modified the speaker housings. i then replaced the door speakers with eclipse 5 1/4" 3 ways. it made a big difference but what helped the most was the eclipse aftermarket head unit. i kept the factory head unit at first but i could tell the speakers were not receiving enough power for their potential. im sure you can handle it on your own. get the wiring harness from crutchfield and youll get it.

churaw · Post by **churaw** » 18 Dec 2007, 20:15

JRL wrote:
I keep repeating, if you have to ask, have a pro do the work.
The little back speaker is a standard small tweater.
NO ONE MAKES A SPEAKER THAT'S REPLACEMENT BOLT IN FOR A VOLVO
Personally I wouldn't worry about replacing those, you really can't hear them anyway unless you have a 3rd seat and with a better speaker, you really won't hear them.
If you want a great setup you need separate (2 or 3 piece) speakers. The rear doors could have a separate tweeter mounted high on the door. You would hear that MUCH better than those little rear tweaters alone
TALK TO AN AUDIO SHOP. Even Circut City or Best Buy can mount what you need and depending on the system, sometimes the install is free (or very cheap)

I am actually very adept at work like this, I just like to seek the advice of those who have done it before me so I don't make common mistakes. That is all I was after. Other guides on here have helped me repair my Odometer, replace the lights in my radio, pull and repair my ABS. I also do other forms of common maintainance to my car. I just assumed I could get good solid advice on a way to approach this from Volvo experts before I started.

Chuck

churaw · Post by **churaw** » 18 Dec 2007, 20:23

landyacht33 wrote:i recently replaced all of my speakers and head unit. first i did the speakers and i bought seperate kenwood tweeters and modified the speaker housings. i then replaced the door speakers with eclipse 5 1/4" 3 ways. it made a big difference but what helped the most was the eclipse aftermarket head unit. i kept the factory head unit at first but i could tell the speakers were not receiving enough power for their potential. im sure you can handle it on your own. get the wiring harness from crutchfield and youll get it.

Thanks! Did you clip the wires on the rear tweeters, leave them alone, or replace them with the same kenwood tweeters you put up front on the dash?

Chuck