OEM Speakers - Which One is Best?

[Trainmaster]

I'm choosing between two OEM Ford rear door speakers. The original is 8L1T-19B135-BA. It's got a paper cone and a little wizzer cone, also paper. Made in China by Suzhou Sonavox Electronics, 25 Watts.

I've found two 7L1T-19B170-CC speakers. They are paper with what looks like a small wired dome tweeter in the middle attached to a plastic grille. Mexico, 50 Watts. (a bit lighter than the first)

Can anyone offer some help or opinions here?

 

[Adieu]

Neither, I'd bet

 

[ExplorerTom]

Why are you limiting yourself to OE replacements?

 

[Trainmaster]

Because I have them and I'm cheap.

 

[rjdelp7]

Do your own "Pepsi challenge", I have. Listen to both. My 2011 Mustang has the thin 6x8, with tweeters and 8" subs in doors. They have weak high end. I added some after market 1" tweeters under the panels. It is just what the bass heavy, Shaker audio system needed. The factory full range, actually sound pretty good, for not having a tweeter. The will distort, when pushed to loud. Many older Expeditions, Lincolns and Mustangs had JBL or Mach 1 systems. They have premium 2-way 6x8's. Sometimes you can score a pair, at the local junk yard, Craigslist or EBAY, very cheap.

 

[stimpson.j.cat]

Any of those OEM speakers with paper cones suck majorly.

Go to Crutchfield.com and get something decent. Even a relatively cheap 6x8 is going to be better than any OEM.
e.g. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_109STAGE8/JBL-Stage-8602.html?tp=93

I prefer the Infinity Kappa but they're usually around $100 a pair. But that's just me, I like good music and want to hear it as close as it was intended. Not some muddy, distorted version.

I also use the Expedition for long vacations of 10-18 hour drives so I think the $ is well spent. That may not be your case...

 

[rjdelp7]

Paper cones have used in many high end speakers. Two things to look for is frequency response and SP(sound pressure/ sensitivity)db @ 1 watt. 40-20000khz is ideal and a 93db or higher is an efficient speaker(plays louder, with less power). I had those JBL factory speakers in a Lincoln, they sounded very good.

 

[stimpson.j.cat]

I do not dispute that paper cones are found in high end speakers - especially subs.

But most of the OEM speakers that I've replaced have been rubbish and most often thin paper cones - usually torn or already disintegrating...

 

[Adieu]

I miss the days when you could easily buy all sorts of American, German, British, or Japanese speakers... the "Made in" kind, not the selling-off-remnants-of-old-reputation branding experiments of today

 

[rjdelp7]

I miss the days when you could easily buy all sorts of American, German, British, or Japanese speakers... the "Made in" kind, not the selling-off-remnants-of-old-reputation branding experiments of today

My first car had Tenna MINDBLOWERS 6X9's. If any one has a working set, they are now, holy grail for speakers. Jensen TriAxail were excellent also.

 

[Adieu]

I miss the good ol Dolby 2.0 era

Oh and 12" speakers, whatever the hell happened to using good ol 12" speakers???

 

[Reidski29]

Any of those OEM speakers with paper cones suck majorly.

Go to Crutchfield.com and get something decent. Even a relatively cheap 6x8 is going to be better than any OEM.
e.g. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_109STAGE8/JBL-Stage-8602.html?tp=93

I prefer the Infinity Kappa but they're usually around $100 a pair. But that's just me, I like good music and want to hear it as close as it was intended. Not some muddy, distorted version.

I also use the Expedition for long vacations of 10-18 hour drives so I think the $ is well spent. That may not be your case...

Alright, I am fairly new to the forum but really want to update my speakers. I have the factory sub but know that the 2013 Expy can sound so much better! If I was to get the infinity or JBL's listed above, is it just a matter of taking the door off and replacing the wiring harness and putting it back together?? I am not looking for anything too complicating and just want to do the front and rear doors. Thanks!

 

[JExpedition07]

Ford puts in decent OeM speakers

 

[Reidski29]

Ford puts in decent OeM speakers

But if I could actually get something that sounds better and total cost for front and rear doors was $100-150 that would be extremely worth it.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

Polk DB651

If you have tweets in front doors:

Polk DB6501

Excellent upgrade at affordable price. Check Ebay, you can get package sets for less than $90 shipped.

They are 6.5” round but you can either make a “plate” (1/8” plastic, thin mdf, 1/4” plywood, just about anything) to mount them, your homemade plate just has to cover the 6x8 hole and 2 of the mounting screws go right into the speaker mount so it won’t fall out. Or buy a set, they are cheap.

If you don’t want to go through all that hassle,
Polk DB572. Not as great bass as the 6.5, but overall very clear and loud.

ETA: I really like the Polks for several reasons. First; they sound very good. Second; they are marine rated, meaning they can be used on a boat and have better build quality to hold up in that environment, means they will last a long time and not be affected by the temp/moisture the inside of your doors see. Third; they are pretty affordable and actually honor warranty claims.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

But if I could actually get something that sounds better and total cost for front and rear doors was $100-150 that would be extremely worth it.

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Coaxial-Audio-Speakers-DB572/dp/B01G4EDRUK

Look at the “Frequently bought together” advertisement for the wiring adapters. Literally you pop off door panel, unscrew old speaker, disconnect it, connect adapter, connect to newspeaker, screw new speaker in, reinstall door panel. Entire vehicle done in less than 2 hours (including beer and potty breaks).