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5.25" vs 6.5" Speakers

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=78829
Printed Date: July 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM


Topic: 5.25" vs 6.5" Speakers

Posted By: Vortec4800
Subject: 5.25" vs 6.5" Speakers
Date Posted: June 07, 2006 at 3:51 AM

The factory speakers in my 2000 BMW 540i are 5.25" Components. I'd like to replace these, but I'm not sure what the best plan of attack would be. I can do one of two things:

1) Buy nice 5.25" Component speakers and replace the ones in the door. Match them to an amp and do everything else that goes along with it. The stock door speakers have a small sealed enclosure for it, shown in pictures in the thread below.

2) Buy nice (same quality as above) 6.5" speakers and mount them using special MDF brackets made by a person on a web forum. I'll include a link to the brackets below, which shows the bracket and the stock door enclosure. The stock enclosure as I stated earlier is sealed, and the brackets would not be.

Would I get better sound from 5.25" speakers in a small sealed enclosure, or will the larger 6.5" speakers give me better sound even though they are not in their own little enclosure? Speaker brand isn't really important, lets say I get Kappa Perfects or some nice MB Quart or CDT speakers or something.

Here is the link to the brackets
https://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527734

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2000 BMW 540i 6 speed



Replies:

Posted By: Vortec4800
Date Posted: June 07, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Here is a better topic regarding the brackets I mentioned above. About 3/4 down the page it shows the stock enclosures compared to the new brackets. The link I posted before didn't really show this very well.

https://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=483338

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2000 BMW 540i 6 speed




Posted By: killer sonata
Date Posted: June 07, 2006 at 4:52 AM
6.5s will give you a nicer midrange than a 5.25. If you can fit the 6.5s go for it

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"People with mullets live 40% longer"   - Ricky Bobby




Posted By: djfearny2
Date Posted: June 07, 2006 at 6:58 AM
yup the 6.5 will show to be a better sound. as long as it is as good quality as you would get using a 5-1/4 speaker. like killa said if you can fit it than go for it.

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Jon
Installer/Help Technician
---coral springs florida---
mecp certification is not always needed. I have it and it has not helped me out at all. my experience out shines it.




Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: June 07, 2006 at 2:03 PM

And have him make the baffles out of abs instead of mdf if you can as mdf will expand and bend with moisture. (or resin the mdf baffles).



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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.




Posted By: Vortec4800
Date Posted: June 07, 2006 at 3:25 PM
Great, thanks for the input. I wasn't sure if the lack of a sealed enclosure would make the 6.5" speakers not sound as good.

I'll start looking for some good 6.5" component sets now.

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2000 BMW 540i 6 speed




Posted By: killer sonata
Date Posted: June 07, 2006 at 4:38 PM
If you an seal the components It will sound so much better. I use the foam baffles you can get on crutchfield and I coat the outside of them with resin so they are good and solid. If you get one and its too deep just cut it with a razorblade and fit one piece inside the other, then resin over it. The resin will make sure its good and solid. If you want a little extra mid bass from the woofer, add some polyfill to the baffle.

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"People with mullets live 40% longer"   - Ricky Bobby





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