Welcome to the world of Saab ! Register
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 29
  1. #1
    Saab Fan
    Join Date
    21 May 2011
    Location
    West Hartford, CT
    Posts
    5

    2003-2006 Saab 9-3 Sound System Upgrade (Prestige 300 ES3-13)

    These threads have been an enormous help to me! Thanks everyone!

    Car
    Saab 93 2003-2006

    Name:  garage_vehicle-165-13059436801_thumb.jpg
Views: 40259
Size:  31.7 KB
    Audio System
    Prestige 300 ES3-13 Sound System
    Navigation
    1 Head Unit
    3 Amplifiers
    ---1 Head Unit (70W)
    ---AMP1 under drivers seat (80W)
    ---AMP2 in trunk (150W)
    13 Speakers/300W
    ---4": 3
    ---3.5" woofer: 2
    ---6.5" woofer: 2
    ---6x9 woofer: 2
    ---Tweeters: 4


    Amps (staying far away from these!)
    HU - Head Unit (70W): Powers Front and Rear 4"/tweeters combo (4x17.5W)
    AMP1 - Drivers Seat (80W): Powers front and right door speakers (2x40W)
    AMP2 - Trunk (150W): Powers 2 rear 6x9 (2x75W)

    Center Dash ($25)
    #Speakers: 1
    Powered by: AMP1
    Size: 4"/4ohm

    Speaker Upgrade:
    ***Top mount depth of 1.5", searching for upgrade that will fit.
    Installation: How to remove front center channel speaker? - SaabCentral Forums

    Side Dash ($40 upgrade)
    #Speakers: 4
    Powered by: Head Unit (17.5W per speaker/tweeter combination)
    Size: 4ohm 3.5" woofer w/side tweeter

    Upgraded Speakers: Boston Acoustics S35
    copolymer woofer cone with rubber surround
    3/4" Type-S3 soft dome tweeter
    power range: 2-30 watts RMS (60 watts peak power)
    frequency response: 100-20,000 Hz
    sensitivity: 92 dB
    top-mount depth: 1-11/16"

    Installation: http://saabworld.net/f69/saab-9-3-da...rs-upgrade-38/

    Front Doors ($90)
    #Speakers: 2
    Powered by: AMP1 (40W per speaker)
    Size: 2 ohm 6.5" Woofer

    Speaker Upgrade:
    6.5" Components Infinity Reference 6030cs ($90) - use the woofer only
    6-3/4" Plus One+ Injection-Molded Polypropylene (IMPP) woofer with hi-roll rubber surround
    power range: 2-90 watts RMS (270 watts peak power)
    frequency response: 53-(~2kHz)
    sensitivity: 93 dB
    top-mount depth: 2-1/16"

    Installation (Best Match): Door sound proofing and rattly window switch fix guide - SaabCentral Forums

    Rear Deck ($160)
    #Speakers: 6
    Powered by: Head Unit (4x17.5W) and AMP2 (2x75W) in trunk
    Size: 4 ohm 6x9 (AMP2), 4 ohm 4"/tweeter (Head Unit)

    4" Speaker Upgrade:
    Recommended: Boston Acoustics S45 (~$40)
    copolymer woofer cone with rubber surround
    3/4" Type-S3 soft dome tweeter
    power range: 2-35 watts RMS (80 watts peak power)
    frequency response: 90-20,000 Hz
    sensitivity: 92 dB
    top-mount depth: 2


    6x9 Speaker Upgrade:
    Convert to 6.5" Components Infinity Reference 6030cs ($90), Conversion ($15), 6.5" Baffle ($15)
    6-3/4" Plus One+ Injection-Molded Polypropylene (IMPP) woofer with hi-roll rubber surround
    adapter rings included for 6-1/2" openings
    1" edge-driven textile dome tweeter
    power range: 2-90 watts RMS (270 watts peak power)
    frequency response: 53-21,000 Hz
    sensitivity: 93 dB
    top-mount depth: 2-1/16"


    Installation (best match):
    Painted Rear Speaker Panel Thread? - SaabCentral Forums
    Adding SAAB OES Tweeters is too easy - SaabCentral Forums


    Subwoofer (~$200-$250)
    Add to trunk
    Bazooka or Basslink
    Bazooka BTA850FH 50-watt powered 8" Bass Tubes enclosure® with included factory radio connection kit at Crutchfield.com
    Infinity Basslink Powered Subwoofer at Crutchfield Signature


    References
    Reference for System Layout and Images
    Last edited by VAND'AERO; 26 May 2011 at 21:56.

  2. #2
    Saab Fan
    Join Date
    21 May 2011
    Location
    West Hartford, CT
    Posts
    5

    Side Dash Speakers

    Last night I replaced the Dash speakers with the Boston Acoustics S35's.

    Instead of soldering, I used the crimp connector that came with the speakers. I used the tweeter wires as suggested in the tutorial.

    Tools used: Crimper, Torx Wrench (low profile so that you can turn under the windshield), credit card to lift the grill

    Time: About 1 hour - Remove Speakers, cut and crimp new speaker wires, connect speaker, install, enjoy!

  3. #3
    Saab Fan
    Join Date
    21 May 2011
    Location
    West Hartford, CT
    Posts
    5
    Today I tried to install the kicker 4" speakers into the center dash. Did not fit. There is basically no clearance and the old speaker has a top mount depth of about 1.5". Considering putting one of the leftover tweeters in the center after I install the door speakers. Not sure how that will affect the staging. I believe a center channel needs full frequency range so the old guy might stay for now.
    Last edited by VAND'AERO; 26 May 2011 at 22:06.

  4. #4
    Frank
    Administrator nordwulf's Avatar
    Join Date
    30 Jul 2010
    Location
    USA - Netherlands
    Posts
    7,901
    Saab(s)
    previous: 2006 9-3, 2001-06 9-5, 2011 9-4X
    I think I read before many just remove the center speaker as it doesn't do much anyways and it enhances the stereo effect if disabled.

  5. #5
    Saab Fan
    Join Date
    21 May 2011
    Location
    West Hartford, CT
    Posts
    5

    Rear Speakers

    I currently do not have a center speaker installed, however the voice for the navigation system goes through this speaker so I will have to replace it sooner or later.

    Today I worked on creating the 6x9 Speaker Upgrade: Convert to 6.5" Components Infinity Reference 6030cs ($90), Conversion ($15), 6.5" Baffle ($15)

    Used some Goop to glue the crossover to the back of the baffle.

    This weekend I will install along with the Boston Acoustics S45.


  6. #6
    Mike
    Moderator Shazam's Avatar
    Join Date
    30 Jul 2010
    Location
    Rochester, New York, USA
    Posts
    1,985
    Saab(s)
    Saab-less
    Sounds like a pretty epic set up you are going to install. But if you are going to spend all this time and money installing all these speakers, why skimp and use the connectors. Soldering will give you a much nicer sound and you won't have to worry about getting a bad connection as time goes on... as much.
    Free SaabWorld Stickers
    "Sometimes it is better to travel than it is to arrive." - Robert Pirsig

  7. #7
    Saab Fan
    Join Date
    24 Aug 2011
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    9
    Saab(s)
    2006 9-3 Aero Convertible
    So I took my '06 Aero convertible with 7 speaker system. Installed BA 3.5's in dash (~$50), with Focal tweeters (scavenged from my last Saab install) to replace the stock tweeters, Infinity Kappa 62.9i 6.5's in the doors (pulled off the tweeters)($~90), Focal Polyglass 4" rears (~$200), JBL 300/4 amp (scavenged from last Saab install). Removed center speaker. Left headunit, stock amp to doors. Added Sirius. Total install cost (paid a professional) ~$600. Pricey setup, but outstanding sound. Very bright (Focal's always brighten the mids and highs). Bass is slightly more subdued than with the stock speakers, but much cleaner. Surprise was my installer telling me there was a subwoofer somewhere in the back - don't know what is up with that?! The other surprise was that the door speakers and the rear speakers and the stock tweeters all seemed decent quality, not paper, but of course nowhere close to what I put in. The amp brings the rears more into the sound stage - may be something my installer did to balance the sound. So I spent about $1100, would have been about $1400-$1500 if I hadn't scavenged the amp and the tweeters. Very, very happy.

  8. #8
    Saab Fan
    Join Date
    28 Nov 2011
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    20
    Saab(s)
    06' 93t
    I installed 'Polk Audio db351' in the left/right dash and removed the center speaker. Wow! night and day difference.
    I then had the 'Infinity Reference 6032si' installed in the front doors...totally changed the bass and messed up the system. I noticed some people here had luck installing mid-woofers in the 6.5" door speakers; I may try this. Luckily the local car audio store only charged me $60 to install the door speakers...I'd like to learn how to remove the panel myself.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    09 Dec 2011
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    Saab(s)
    2003 9-3
    Hey Guys, I've had a saab for about a year and decided to upgrade the speakers. its a 2003 9-3 sedan. i bought Infinity references 3032cf, 6032si and 4032cf. the 6032's sound pretty bad and im thinking about starting again. anyone have any recommendations on a good speaker set to put in. also i was told I wouldn't be able to put a new stereo in the car. is it possible to do this?

  10. #10
    Saab Fan
    Join Date
    28 Nov 2011
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    20
    Saab(s)
    06' 93t
    There are at least 2 really good threads on this site that give a speaker by speaker layout of what works; the start of this thread is one (above).
    Most people have had success with the 'Boston Acoustics' speakers. I am pretty happy with my much less expensive 'Polk Audio db351' for the dash.
    The issue I've run into is while the stock speakers are garbage, the system does have a specific design intent. So you first have to understand what that is. I don't know much about the 03' Saab or car audio systems for that matter but according to the hours I've spent researching until you amp the rear deck/shelf your very limited.
    And by the way...anything is possible. Franchise electronic/department stores wont touch your Saab. You'll have to go to a custom shop...even some of those guys won't touch your car. Once you mess with the radio (Head Unit) you'll basically have to establish an entirely new system...but it's been done. Some would say it's not very dificult.

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. Clicking sound from dashboard - right mixed air stepping motor
    By colombo in forum Saab 9-3 (2003-2014)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 27 June 2012, 22:39
  2. Hissing sound driver side near the brake booster.
    By Xugos in forum Saab 9-5 (1998-2009)
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 14 May 2011, 08:04
  3. Can I upgrade a turbo from this to that?
    By Mike Brennan in forum Saab 9-5 (1998-2009)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 31 March 2011, 22:57
  4. Map upgrade for 2003 - 2006 built-in navigation
    By colombo in forum Saab 9-3 (2003-2014)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11 December 2010, 22:55
  5. Stereo Upgrade for the Bose CenterPointe 5.1 System?
    By CarbonFlash in forum Saab 9-3 (2003-2014)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 30 October 2010, 21:36

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT. The time now is 07:12.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.