2025 XLT custom A-pillars and wideband speakers project

[pablo94sc]

I want to do this on my Raptor, but with 3.5" 2-way coax, with 8" mid-bass in the front doors. Keep up the good work! It's inspiring to see someone who is doing it.

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[just a guy with a truck]

I want to do this on my Raptor, but with 3.5" 2-way coax, with 8" mid-bass yin the front doors. Keep up the good work! It's inspiring to see someone what do it.

thanks! its a learning experience for sure.

getting them primed and painted tomorrow to buy some time before i wrap them to match the headliner.

 

[just a guy with a truck]

got the a pillars reinstalled. a learning curve indeed! not bad for a first attempt but ill be buying new pillars and trying a new idea. i "think" the '19-'23 ranger pillars without the tweeter mount should fit the same and allow for a smoother transition of body work. the symmetry of these pillars is off just enough to bother me.

they are wired up the the factory wiring with a 300hz cap on them. sound stage is soo nice now.

getting ready to finish the whole stereo upgrade and install the amps and subwoofer once i decide on which one. due to airspace of the aussie underseat box (.37cuft) and stuffing with .6lbs of polyfil to get it to a simulated .47cuft my options are limited but will probably go with a kicker shallow mount 10" at 1ohm.

kicker keys bi amp crossovers will be 80-640hz for the 6x9 and 320hz hpf for the wideband.

 

[pablo94sc]

Did you remove the center channel? I took mine out, and while you notice a bit of decrease in volume and midrange, the improvement in staging made up for it, IMO. I bet with your pods it'll be even better.

 

[just a guy with a truck]

Did you remove the center channel? I took mine out, and while you notice a bit of decrease in volume and midrange, the improvement in staging made up for it, IMO. I bet with your pods it'll be even better.

i have the base radio so no center speaker

once i wire in the amp and have the kicker key dsp do its auto tuning im looking forward to the improved imaging and boost in output

 

[Sharpix]

how did your speakers sound?

im seriously considering putting 3.5" between the dash and door triangle, held on the dash. Or putting JBL Gto, the 6x9 in the door and taking out the additional two way over the pillar trim.

Mine is a Wildtrak (pull handle on the pillar) so i suspect no airbag.

Damn Stock tweeters sound pretty mild, not even enough volume on full highs.

 

[just a guy with a truck]

how did your speakers sound?

im seriously considering putting 3.5" between the dash and door triangle, held on the dash. Or putting JBL Gto, the 6x9 in the door and taking out the additional two way over the pillar trim.

Mine is a Wildtrak (pull handle on the pillar) so i suspect no airbag.

Damn Stock tweeters sound pretty mild, not even enough volume on full highs.

the airbags dont go down the a pillar on either side but maybe 4" at the top portions.

sound wise its great! i have the full system wrapped up now. so the pillar speakers are crossed over at a 320hz hpf and will reach 20k hz

the stock tweeter has a capacitor on it to act as a high pass filter at around 5.6k hz. swapping in a new tweeter than can be crossed over lower will do wonders as well.

putting a coax speaker in the door and leaving or removing the stock tweeter is a step backwards imo as far as setting a proper sound stage. it puts the full range of audio at your knees.

just do a 6x9 component and sound deadening.

for the average user doing any work like this is not worth the effort, i just like to tinker with things.

 

[Sharpix]

I fit tested 3.5" infinity reference that i took out from my previous Taco. Too large. I dont have your skills with fiberglass.
I will follow your recommendation, with a pair of JBL 939 6x9 3-way and will disable the stock tweeters and put over outside the two tweeters. They have a metal mesh already so it will be easy. I hope to improve somewhat the imaging.

Stock sound is decent for a car, much much better than a stock 4th gen taco, but there is some detail lost at highs. Since there is no way to shape the 3 band EQ, i guess its the most i can do.

I still envy your skills. Your truck im sure sounds very clear and high. Congrats man.

 

[just a guy with a truck]

I will follow your recommendation, with a pair of JBL 939 6x9 3-way and will disable the stock tweeters and put over outside the two tweeters.

that would be doing the opposite of what id suggest. thats a coax speaker. you will want a component speaker with the separate tweeter.

the jbl939 would lower the sound stage back down to your knees by moving the tweeters lower which is a step backwards

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