6 speakers in thirdgen?

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Dec 7, 2000 | 06:28 PM
  #1  
I was just wondering if 6 speakers were a factory option. My car has 2 in the dash and 2 in the rear (like most I have seen) but also two in each of the upper door panels. Just wonderin'. Thanks.

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350 TPI, K&N filter, Moroso cam, Airfoil, Accel fuel pressure regulator and gauge, Hooker headers, Flowmaster 3" catback ...more to come.
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Dec 7, 2000 | 07:36 PM
  #2  
Yes I have 1984 ta and I ordered it with 6 speakers. 2 in the dash and two woofers where the rear speakers are located and and 2 4x6's are mounted above them. Kevin
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Dec 9, 2000 | 03:27 PM
  #3  
Did the bose system car's have 6 speakers?
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Dec 10, 2000 | 01:56 AM
  #4  
Back in '91, when I was looking at new camaros, I saw a '91 Z28 that has the special BOSE sound system in it. It had six speakers installed. Two in the dash, two in the pillars, and two woofers in the back. The speakers in the back were not your typical woofers. They looked more like the side speakers (enclosures)in a surround setup in your home, rather than your typical round woofers.

John
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Dec 10, 2000 | 07:40 AM
  #5  
The Bose stereo system which made its introduction in 1987, eliminated the pair of in-dash and sail panel speakers. They were replaced with a pair of amplified kick panel and a pair of amplified rear speakers mounted on the locking storage compartment cover.

I do not know of any factory stereo system installed in third gens that offered six separate speakers.

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Willie

Supercharged 1987 305 IROC-Z, Daily-Driver, Emissions-Legal.
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Dec 10, 2000 | 09:15 AM
  #6  
To double check on this matter before I commented, I asked one of my best friends (who is an installer at a stereo shop) if he had anything listed for a 6 speaker '82-'92 Fbody in his books that have speaker dimensions for each car. Sure enough, the only locations listed were what Willie described for both cars...non-Bose had the in-dash and sail panel speakers the majority of us have, while Bose-equipped cars have the kick panel and trunk area speakers.

There were never more than 1 set of speakers mounted in any location. Kevin, you said when you ordered the '84 you ordered it with 6 speakers. However, it would not make sense from a sound or imaging standpoint to mount 4x6s and 6x9s right next to each other in the sail panels. You would gain no bass response nor sound quality by housing smaller 4x6s next to 6x9s.

If you believe your car has 2 sets of rear speakers in the sail panels, my advice to you would be to remove your sail panel...I am positive after what I have seen that you will see one 6x9 covered by each sail panel, and no more.

As a side comment, one thing I cannot stand is when manufacturers like GM and others sell new cars with "8 speaker" stereos. In my opinion, its a crock. When they say 8 speakers, what they are giving the customer is 2 sets of component speakers, and no more. My mom's old '98 Grand Prix GT supposedly had 8 speakers, and her new '01 has 6...nothing more than a component set in the front.

The Monsoon however does give separate channels of power to the woofers and tweeters. And I must say, we have 3 new Sunfires in with the Monsoon, and the sound is unreal for a factory system!
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Dec 10, 2000 | 10:19 AM
  #7  
Hmmm.... I have 6 speakers. They're factory, 2 in-dash, and 4 in the rear, pair of subs and a pair of 6x9s. They're factory.

Ethan
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Dec 10, 2000 | 11:01 AM
  #8  
Quote:
Originally posted by ethan71:
Hmmm.... I have 6 speakers. They're factory, 2 in-dash, and 4 in the rear, pair of subs and a pair of 6x9s. They're factory.

Ethan
What is the year, make and model of your car? Where are your subs located? Also, can you tell us all your RPO codes that start with "U"? Thanks.

Willie

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Dec 10, 2000 | 01:58 PM
  #9  
'88 Pontiac Trans Am
I'll get the codes for tomorrow. I also have a subwoofer control button beside the defroster. It's factory.

Ethan
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Dec 10, 2000 | 07:44 PM
  #10  
I have had my sail panels covers off!!!! There is a 3 or 4 inch midrange speaker and a 4x6 mounted above it on both sides!!!! YES IT IS THE ORIGINAL SPEAKER SET UP i HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW! IT HAS NEVER BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM!! IF YOU WANT PICTURES TO PROVE IT I CAN MAIL THEM TO YOU I WILL LOOK ON THE OPTIONS SHEET THAT I HAVE WHEN I ORDERED THE CAR! I am positve someone else can verify this! Kevin
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Dec 10, 2000 | 08:13 PM
  #11  
I never stated that i had a 6x9 and a 4x6 next to one another!! It is a midrange speaker around 3 or 4 inches. it is mounted below a 4x6! Kevin
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Dec 10, 2000 | 08:38 PM
  #12  
yeah, i've got those little one too, they were part of the performance sound option. And i've got em on my bas model bird. they came with 2 little subs, and 2 big speakers. I also have the base control.
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Dec 10, 2000 | 08:45 PM
  #13  
You said you had 2 pairs of rear speakers, one of which was a 4x6. Because I have ONLY seen 6x9s in sail panels, I assumed you meant these were above your 6x9s. You didn't specify, so I assumed.

I would be interested to hear what the option code is for this. No one in the stereo installing business has even remotely heard of mounting 2 sets of speakers behind the sail panels. If you say you have them, I do not doubt you at all. It's just extrememly odd to have 2 sets of speakers mounted directly next to each other...it makes no sense!! Not saying I doubt you, just wondering why GM would do that...then again, as we all know, GM doesn't always make sense!!

Now that Ethan mentions it though, I do remember hearing of someone who wanted to know if they could control an aftermarket sub through the factory sub level control of their GTA. I didn't think anything of it at the time...I'd be interested to find out more about this system!

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Dec 10, 2000 | 09:59 PM
  #14  
I am not sure about other year f bodys but I ordered this in my 84 ta it has the following. 4x6 speakers in the dash, 4x6 speakers in the sail panel and 3 or 4 inch midrange speakers mounted below the 4x6. They are not 6x9s. I have the factory amp button on the dash next to the rear defrost. the stereo has an eq. This was a kinda rare option that was not always opted for. When I go home next time i will get all the paper work for my car.
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Dec 11, 2000 | 06:09 AM
  #15  
Folks..... the option in question is UQ7.

"UQ7 - Speaker System, 6, Dual, Instrument Panel, Sail Mounted, Standard Speaker And Subwoofer".

There are six separate speakers..... the four (1 4x6, 1 subwoofer each side) in the back are mounted into a ported enclosure box. The power for the system is a switch on the dash next to the rear defroster buttons; the GAIN lever controls the amount of bass produced by the system.

Two of my three 1988 GTAs have this option..... it was available on the GTA for $75. The years it was offered, according to my info, were 1984-1988. A similar system was available in the Fiero as well.

Hope this helps.

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Frankie Rider, 2
The GTA Source Page
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1988 GTA Red 5.7L Hatchback
1988 GTA Black 5.7L Notchback
1988 GTA Gunmetal Metallic 5.0L Hatchback
1981 Trans Am WS6 5.0L..... slated to be replaced by Chevy SB400
1980 Turbo 4.9L Trans Am WS6
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Dec 11, 2000 | 01:00 PM
  #16  
Thank U Frankierider2!! Kevin
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Dec 11, 2000 | 01:35 PM
  #17  
Hehe...that's why I like this board!! Learn something new every day!

Sorry I doubted you...but it has to be a VERY rare option, as even installer's references don't show it!!

Just remember though, what you called the "3 or 4 inch midrange" is actually a sub. Thats why I was so doubtful at 1st...GM may be dumb, but I didn't think they were stupid enough to mount 2 full range speakers right next to each other!! Having one midrange (or full range) and 1 sub mounted in nearly identical locations makes a lot more sense.
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Dec 12, 2000 | 10:29 AM
  #18  
I have it in my GTA as well. I dont think it was all that rare just more uncommon than other options. Sort of the same thing, but I have seen it in many other GTA's. A TA in the local junk yard had it. I meant to grab the enclosures but it got crushed. Oh well.

James

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Dec 12, 2000 | 11:19 AM
  #19  
My 88 GTA has it, but I have not taken any of my sail panel covers off yet to even see if I have all of the equipment. I'm sure I'll be ripping it out soon anyway
When I go home for christmas, I'll take pictures of it if this thread is still active.

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Dec 12, 2000 | 04:28 PM
  #20  
Here you go, fellas.....



Well, I can't get the image to post, so here's a link instead:

UQ7 Rear Speaker Setup


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Frankie Rider, 2
The GTA Source Page
-----------------------
1988 GTA Red 5.7L Hatchback
1988 GTA Black 5.7L Notchback
1988 GTA Gunmetal Metallic 5.0L Hatchback
1981 Trans Am WS6 5.0L..... slated to be replaced by Chevy SB400
1980 Turbo 4.9L Trans Am WS6



[This message has been edited by FrankieRider2 (edited December 12, 2000).]
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Dec 13, 2000 | 05:50 PM
  #21  
yeap that's them, i love haven this base bird, with all the non base options.
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Dec 13, 2000 | 06:37 PM
  #22  
hey, i was running my RPO's and this is what i came up with.

UQ7 : SPEAKER SYSTEM, 5, DUAL I/P, SAIL MTD STD SPEAKER

according to this, it's a 5 speaker system, i'll rip my speaker covers off and find out later.
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Dec 13, 2000 | 06:46 PM
  #23  
Frankie,

Now THAT is an odd arrangement! It looks nice though!! Thanks for setting me straight
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Jul 5, 2018 | 12:32 PM
  #24  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
I'm replacing the speakers in my 1984 anniversary trans am. The rear speakers has that set-up (two speakers mounted together in right rear and left rear position). How is this wired to the head unit? Surely the 1984 radio doesn't have 6 channels.
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Jul 5, 2018 | 02:11 PM
  #25  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
Quote:
I'm replacing the speakers in my 1984 anniversary trans am. The rear speakers has that set-up (two speakers mounted together in right rear and left rear position). How is this wired to the head unit? Surely the 1984 radio doesn't have 6 channels.

These are from the 86 Firebird Shop Manual for the SUBWOOFER set-up. I'm ASSUMING that the 84 wiring is the same - or at least very similar.







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Jul 5, 2018 | 02:31 PM
  #26  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
I can’t believe how old this thread is. 17.5 years old!
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Jul 5, 2018 | 05:38 PM
  #27  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
Quote: These are from the 86 Firebird Shop Manual for the SUBWOOFER set-up. I'm ASSUMING that the 84 wiring is the same - or at least very similar.

http://berlinetta.info/media/shopmanual/86FirebirdRadioWiring2.jpg

http://berlinetta.info/media/shopmanual/86FirebirdRadioWiring1.jpg

Attaching, since I can't see them in your post.

6 speakers in thirdgen?-image.jpeg   6 speakers in thirdgen?-86firebirdradiowiring1.jpg  

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Jul 6, 2018 | 05:24 AM
  #28  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
Thanks - that answers my question. I was surprised to see two speakers per side in the rear of my car. This thread was all I could find about that configuration. Thirdgen.org has been here a while. I’ve been working on my Trans Am for years. And before that, I was contimplating a thirdgen purchase for years. Lots of good info here.
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Jul 12, 2018 | 12:10 PM
  #29  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
Today, I removed a rear speaker assembly. I was surprised to pull out a long plastic box. I’ve replaced the speakers on two other third gens. I’ve never seen this, and I’m impressed. This is a clever design for a subwoofer box. Especially since this is from a 1984 car.



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Jul 12, 2018 | 06:23 PM
  #30  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
Foam surround/suspension on the subwoofers shot?
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Jun 2, 2020 | 02:41 PM
  #31  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
Quote: Today, I removed a rear speaker assembly. I was surprised to pull out a long plastic box. I’ve replaced the speakers on two other third gens. I’ve never seen this, and I’m impressed. This is a clever design for a subwoofer box. Especially since this is from a 1984 car.



So both those speakers are connected to one channel??
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Jun 2, 2020 | 04:56 PM
  #32  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
Correct. One channel (left, or right), but the UQ7 subwoofer system has it's own stand-alone amplifier.
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Jun 2, 2020 | 05:07 PM
  #33  
Re: 6 speakers in thirdgen?
Quote: So both those speakers are connected to one channel??
not really. The outputs of all 4 channels are combined in the sub amp, then the two subs are driven from that amp.
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