I recently replaced the OEM stereo in my 05’ F250. I figured I would go ahead and replace the factory speakers while I was at it. After I got the stereo all hooked up and working, I wanted to see how much better the new speakers sounded (I hadn’t installed them yet).
So I swapped out one rear speaker for a new Pioneer 6x8 speaker. I fired up the stereo and put all of the sound to the factory left rear speaker, and then put all of the sound to the new Pioneer speaker in the right rear. WOW……the factory speaker sounded much louder, and as far a sound quality goes…I think it actually sounded better then the new Pioneer speaker.
At this point, I’m just thinking about returning all of the new speakers I got, and leaving the factory ones in there.
Anyone else had an experience like that when going to aftermarket speakers?

 

Chances are the magnets are substantially bigger and the new speakers you got require a lot more wattage, which your factory head unit doesn't have. Are you still using the factory head unit?

 

It very well could be a wattage mismatch, or it is possible you wired the new speaker in backwards. Reversed polarity on a speaker will cause it to project the sound rearward, and since the cone doesn't point that way the sound will be muffled.

 

I will check the wiring.....but Crutchfield send the connectors that slap right into the factory connector, so I'd say it's a pretty slim chance that it's wrong, but it's worth checking out.

 

 

Here is a video showing the sound/volume of the OEM speaker (rear passenger side) vs. the Pioneer TS-G680 (rear drivers side). Even with the crummy microphone on my phone, you can tell a big difference in sound when I switch between both rear speakers. The Pioneer speakers just sounds "Flat"...and the OEM speaker sounds much more "full". Yes, it's really weird....I've never upgraded speakers before and had them sound WORSE than the oem speakers.

Even after playing around with the setting in the new head unit, and even at high volumes, the oem speaker just sounds better. The new speaker is mounted the exact same way as the oem one I removed.

What do you think? Both speakers are 4ohms, the factory speaker is rated at 25w, the Pioneer is rated at 40w. Same size, sound mounting, same wiring, etc, etc.....

 

About a year ago I added a Kenwood DDX-6903S head unit and ran factory speakers for about a year. The factory speakers were just OK.

A few weeks ago I added Polk DB+ DB572 speakers in front and rear. I also installed the Stinger Roadkill Fast Rings on all 4 speakers. The system is GREAT! MUCHO better than stock speakers. Sound is solid and crisp on highs and bass is pretty deep....just pure crisp sound!!!

The Polk speakers are rated to handle up to 75 watts RMS (225 watts peak power)

My Kenwood has a built-in amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels)

Hope this info and specs helps you figure it out.

This combination sounds really nice and didn't break the bank!

 

It's a brand new Kenwood head unit...50w x 4 .....definitely not cheap bottom of the barrel stuff.

I'm going to do some swapping around tomorrow. I bought 4 of those Pioneer 6x8 speakers...2 for the front, 2 for the back. I might put another in the same spot and see if it sounds any better. Maybe I just got a bad speaker?

If it still sounds bad, I'm going to return all 4 of them, and try a different brand/model of speaker.

 

I provided a nice write-up and when adding two wiring diagrams, all text was removed.

I'm not going to re-write it again. All that's left are the two wiring diagrams. Sorry..

 

In addition to the potential wattage mismatch, how many "speakers" does it have? 2-way, 3-way, 4-way?

2-way speakers will definitely sound flatter than 3- or 4-way, especially if they're the primary speaker.

 

Yep, I saw your wiring diagram. But both the factory and Pioneer speakers are 4ohn....why would I need to change the wiring around? It should be as simple as unplugging the (+) and (-) connectors from the factory speaker, and plugging them in to the new Pioneer. Why would I have to rewire everything????

 

The new Pioneer 6x8 speakers are a 2-way.....I'm pretty sure the factory Ford speakers are also 2-way. Regardless....... an aftermarket Pioneer speaker should not sound WORSE than a 14 year old FORD oem speaker.

I'm going to try another one of the Pioneers tonight.....maybe I just got a bad one?

 

reasons why they would sound different, better, worse
frequency response
sensitivity
impedance
free air resistance
resonance frequency
inductance
power handling

 

Do the pioneers fit well into the OEM space? If they barely fit, that can affect sound greatly.

Had a buddy swapping out his speakers in his SD, thought he had a bad one too, but he didn't even have it in the door. Had to explain to him that the speaker needs mounted in a proper 'box' to sound correct.

 

I have Pioneer 6x8" 4-way speakers and they sound good (it's the OEM system so there's definitely a performance ceiling with it) but I also have the high-powered Audiophile version of the head unit from a Mountaineer.

Mine fit great.

I have also seen foam speaker baffles that can be used. I don't have any and there's very little clearance between my magnet and my window glass when it's down.