I was apprehensive about posting about my fitting experience to this Forum. What I see members doing is phenomenal. I am totally in awe. But there have been a couple of very small bits of advice that I've picked up that's been super-handy. If this post helps someone like me - a total rookie - to get these speakers fitted and avoid my couple of mistakes (that I'll share), then I will be happy!
Skill level - I am a total rookie. Never done anything like this before.
VW T6.1 Alpine Component Speaker System SPC-106T6.1
Got mine from Transporter HQ
Youtube Video: "T6 & T6.1 Alpine Audio plug and play speaker / tweeter upgrade. 'How to' For VW Transporter. SPC-10"
Fitting the speakers
Watching this video was absolutely crucial. Honestly, I wouldn't have tried this without it. I'll refer to a couple of parts in the video.
Kit: Usual screwdrivers, drill to take out old speaker rivets, TX screwdrivers, Trim removal kit
Fitting - Mid range door speakers
Fitting - Tweeters
The sound? Well my last car was an A5 with a Bang & Olufson system. So it isn't that sadly. I find the sound at low volumes quite high on treble, even with it at -1 on the equalizer. But the higher the volume goes, the sound feels more rounded. I love my hard rock/metal, kind of suits to have it loud
If you are a rookie thinking of having a go.... I hope this helps.
John
Skill level - I am a total rookie. Never done anything like this before.
VW T6.1 Alpine Component Speaker System SPC-106T6.1
Got mine from Transporter HQ
Youtube Video: "T6 & T6.1 Alpine Audio plug and play speaker / tweeter upgrade. 'How to' For VW Transporter. SPC-10"
Fitting the speakers
Watching this video was absolutely crucial. Honestly, I wouldn't have tried this without it. I'll refer to a couple of parts in the video.
Kit: Usual screwdrivers, drill to take out old speaker rivets, TX screwdrivers, Trim removal kit
Fitting - Mid range door speakers
- Starting with the YouTube video, followed no problem.
- First challenge was about 2mins 40 into the video. Getting trim off, disconnecting cables was fine. But popping those clips behind the door card was tough going. Took a while, getting the trim removal tool levering them off took a lot of faffing around. Relief to get the door card off.
- Rookie Tip 1: 3:25 into the video, he drills out the rivets, then puts the glass back up. I'd strongly recommend putting the glass up BEFORE drilling. You have to push into the drill - it wouldn't be difficult to push the drill bit straight onto the glass.
- Rookie Tip 2: 4:45 into video, he warns not to drop the nuts behind door. I packed a painting sheet down inside the door, so if I dropped a nut, it would be caught on the sheet. It pulls out quite easily when done.
- Whatever you do, don't put those clips into the plastic mount before you need to (5:35). See below
- At 8:13 you have to pop out the door clips. They can break quite easily. If they break, for the T6.1, the Part Number is 3CN868243 if you need to order any. I need a couple on the second door.
- Everything else was straightforward. Getting the door card back onto window sill and fitted back took a few mins of mumbling swear words but job done.
Fitting - Tweeters
- YouTube video again. To start, my van has grab handles on the A-pillars. Quick trim removal, couple of screws to remove, and back to video.
- At 10:50 of the video he takes a side-panel off. I didn't need to do that. The A-pillar trim came away quite easily without it.
- Nothing much else, the video is perfect. At 13:20 when you clip the speaker in, I didn't quite push the clips in fully - I didn't see it until later (had to take the trim back off to fix).
The sound? Well my last car was an A5 with a Bang & Olufson system. So it isn't that sadly. I find the sound at low volumes quite high on treble, even with it at -1 on the equalizer. But the higher the volume goes, the sound feels more rounded. I love my hard rock/metal, kind of suits to have it loud
If you are a rookie thinking of having a go.... I hope this helps.
John