Speaker Question

[Joe Isuzu]

Wow, ask a question get 5 responses, this is a great forum!
OK, one at a time
The head unit is the OEM Isuzu one, I crossed that out as a problem b/c I don't recall the OEM speakers having any difficulties (other than sounding a little worn)
With respect to whether the rear speakers have a built-in tweeter, I don't believe they do, the way I understand it, I have 4 woofers and 2 tweeters with the tweeters being up top on the door panels
I don't imagine there is any contact between the speaker and the grill located in the 1/4 trim panel itself so I don't think that's a problem
Lastly, with respect to polarity, I bought special adaptors from crutchfield that would hook up easily with the oem ones, as far as my understanding goes, I don't believe you can switch the polarity inadvertently as the connectors wouldn't work
Believe me, if the speakers were easier to access at all, I would be more than willing to try that anyway, but seeing as how everytime you fiddle with the trim panel you invariably break one or more of the plastic fasteners as well as the fact that it's just a pain in the butt to get to, well I will just assume everything is ok as far as connectors go

[Ldub]

Wow, ask a question get 5 responses, this is a great forum!
OK, one at a time
The head unit is the OEM Isuzu one, I crossed that out as a problem b/c I don't recall the OEM speakers having any difficulties (other than sounding a little worn)
With respect to whether the rear speakers have a built-in tweeter, I don't believe they do, the way I understand it, I have 4 woofers and 2 tweeters with the tweeters being up top on the door panels
I don't imagine there is any contact between the speaker and the grill located in the 1/4 trim panel itself so I don't think that's a problem
Lastly, with respect to polarity, I bought special adaptors from crutchfield that would hook up easily with the oem ones, as far as my understanding goes, I don't believe you can switch the polarity inadvertently as the connectors wouldn't work
Believe me, if the speakers were easier to access at all, I would be more than willing to try that anyway, but seeing as how everytime you fiddle with the trim panel you invariably break one or more of the plastic fasteners as well as the fact that it's just a pain in the butt to get to, well I will just assume everything is ok as far as connectors go

Just a thought...

Rather than reversing the polarity at the speaker, pull the HU (much easier) & reverse it there.

[Joe Isuzu]

ok, I had a relevation after my volleyball league tonight, I misunderstood the original advice about the polarity, the connector from the VX wiring to the speaker wiring should be fine, however, the wiring from the connector to the speaker may be switched
but I always thought that one of them (positive or negative, I can't remember which) was so much bigger than the other that you couldn't put a negative female on a positive male or vice versa
is this what you guys are meaning? that possibly the polarity is reversed at the speaker? or am I still off base here?

and LDub, I'm thinking if I reverse the polarity at the head unit, that will throw off my front speakers which are working fine, I'd rather have 4 good out of 6 than only 2. but thanks for the input anyway!

[Y33TREKker]

...that possibly the polarity is reversed at the speaker?

That would be the most likely spot where a reversal could occur, especially since you've used adapters to tap into the factory plugs. Although it's been awhile since I've done any stereo mods, most speaker wire I ever saw was either color coded (bronze and silver for example), or actually marked (+) and (-) on the insulation.

It would make sense that aftermarket speakers would have at least one terminal marked so that polarity was easily established, but I don't remember that always being the case, hence the trick of using the 9-volt battery to make sure.

The problem occurs when one side (say the back right) is connected one way, but the other side (back left) is connected just the opposite, making the speakers fire 180 degrees out of phase, and in effect, canceling each other out. (Not the most accurate technical description, but you get the idea).

It sounds like you just added rear aftermarket speakers? If the speaker wire from the adapters is marked (+) and (-), you could still use the battery technique to get the polarities correct and make sure each side is hooked up the same way.

[Joe Isuzu]

ok, I'll give it a try and let you know of the results, I just hate the idea of fiddling with both of those large trim panels just to access the speakers, ugh, oh well, guess I hate the idea of having sucky audio worse!
thanks again for all the advice to everyone who contributed

[Ldub]

ok, I'll give it a try and let you know of the results, I just hate the idea of fiddling with both of those large trim panels just to access the speakers, ugh, oh well, guess I hate the idea of having sucky audio worse!
thanks again for all the advice to everyone who contributed

OK, but I still think you could reverse the polarity on the HU end a lot easier...the HU has to be able to send a signal to just those speakers to control fade & balance.
You would have to switch them inside the wiring connection?

Still just thinkin' out loud...