Replacing OEM Dash Speakers(Tweeter VS Midrange)

Hi, I’ve been reading over a few budget audio upgrade threads(“Premium Audio Upgrade for less than $250” and others). It may end up being a matter of preference but I don’t see too much discussion of replacing the OEM dash midrange speaker with a higher quality midrange speaker. For those of us not wanting to replace the factory HU or add an amp. Wouldn’t it make more sense to upgrade to a nicer midrange than replace it with a tweeter considering a midrange is what the factory HU was designed to power? Also comments about the Subaru/kicker tweeters being harsh has me thinking that might not be for me.

I’m a novice when it comes to audio upgrades so any opinions/knowledge is appreciated. My goal with this audio upgrade is to get the most out of the under powered HU(I have a 2019 SR5 AC with base HU). I know some my think it’s a waste of money, but it’s hard for me to believe that replacing the dash & front door speakers won’t make an improved audio experience.

Below are the dash midrange & door speakers I’m considering. Could these pair well together? Or should I forget about the midrange dash speakers and just use the tweeters that come with the components in the factory dash location?

Dash Midrange:
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_113X2C/Kenwood-Excelon-KFC-X2C.html

Front Door Componentstried to find options with high sensitivity & low power requirements)
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_575R1675S/Rockford-Fosgate-R1675-S.html?tp=105

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_301K170/Hertz-K-170.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_13699043/JL-Audio-C1-650.html?tp=105

 

it's not that weird to look into larger-format dash midranges.

i've done a few in-dash mid setups with a similar starting goal. though interestingly, all of those setups eventually shifted to standard tweeters for various reasons in search of something better. the biggest thing about running in-dash mids really comes down to the 'tone'. at first, it always has a strong vocal presence. but over time, one starts to notice a lack of upper range, and a feeling of 'missing out on something' starts to creep in-- the upper range becomes noticeably muted, drum sets in music tracks start to sound 'dull'. so while i won't say it's a bad idea, i'll just say that i've spent a lot of money doing it in a variety of ways, and still went back to using a standard speaker/tweeter arrangement.

i think you're on the right track looking for high efficiency speakers to get the most out of the head unit, but minimal power is still minimal power. but forewarning, for the most part, you're just simply not going to get much more output, regardless of money spent. changing the speakers will alter the tone of the sound system.

the kicker ks series has been used before with positive reviews, and comes with a larger 2-3/4" 'twiddler' that would also meet your requirements
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20648KSS26/Kicker-48KSS269.html

 

Soundman98, thanks for the detailed and thoughtful response! These are the things I need to hear from someone with experience. I guess my main goal with upgrading the speakers is to get more accurate sound with more clarity. Not really interested in more volume. The stock setup is plenty loud for me, but once you get over say 20 in volume most music starts to sound muddy and not very clear.

I do plan on applying sound deadening at least on the front & access cab doors as well as the back wall behind the jump seats. Also considering the roadkill fast rings for front door speakers. Knowing my personality with projects in general this may just be the beginning of the audio upgrades but I’d like to try and maximize what I can get out of the stock hu to start. Then if it’s not enough I’ll look into an amp or aftermarket hu.

Based on your response it sounds like you would suggest started with a decent set of front components with tweeters instead of midrange? And it looks like most all of the high efficiency options handle around 50 watts rms. Which should future proof me if I wanted to add a low powered amp(50 watts rms or less per channel) or an aftermarket hu(most seem to be around 25 watts rms per channel)?

 

yes, but keep in mind that car audio is extremely heavily weighted to encourage/force buyers to consider the next-tier option within any brands lineup. you're specifically looking at the lowest tier 'factory replacement' option on nearly all of the speakers you linked to--it generally means that while the raw efficiency numbers align with your goals, the acoustics aren't any better than the factory speakers being removed.

i completely understand doing upgrades on a budget, none of us have unlimited money to throw at things like this. my first audio setup that i mentioned earlier with large format midranges was actually some thrift shop discounted jensen audio-branded home theater speakers i took apart and repurposed for car use.

personally, i'm irritated by the 'pay-to-play' methodology of the car audio market in general, so i don't run car audio speakers anymore, as i can better maximize my dollar-to-quality quotient via other avenues.

if you're interested, here's the setup i would recommend, which is a variation of what i'm currently running:
tweeters:

$32 Zerone 1 Pair 2" 4Ohm 30W Silk/Polymer Composite Dome Tweeters Treble Speaker HiFi Stereo Heavy Bass Car Loudspeakers

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W4TX6V6/

crossover:

$29 300 Watts 2 Way Crossover - (2 Pack) Passive Car Audio Speaker Tweeter Mids and Highs CRX-203

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N9866QM

front door woofer:
https://www.parts-express.com/Peerless-835025-6-1-2-Aluminum-Cone-HDS-Woofer-264-1086?quantity=1

it comes out to about $210 in speakers and crossovers, but the comparable car audio equivalent starts around $800 for a component set with similar acoustic properties.

with the easily available tweeter harness adapters like this:

$14 RED WOLF Car Front Dash Tweeter Speaker Wiring Harness for 2008-2022 Toyota RAV4 Camry 4Runner Highlander Scion, 2010-2019 Subaru Forester Factory Speaker Replacement Adapter Connector Non JBL System

https://www.amazon.com/RED-WOLF-2010-2019-Highlander-Replacement/dp/B07RMZ4CR6?th=1

the entire system can be wired into the factory sound system like this, which would be 100% reversible, or adaptable to adding an amp later as well if you were to choose to do so: