147 ICE Help please

I would like to fit Infinity Perfect 6.1 speakers in front doors and would like to know if any Alfisti out there have fitted them and is there the room for them or do I need to go smaller ? The online dimensions show a 2 3/4 inch mounting depth and 5 1/16 diameter for the woofer and 1 inch and 1 3/4 depth and width for tweeter plus the crossover is quite large.

I have recently purchased a JL Audio Cleansweep unit to allow me to upgrade the audio in my 147 five door.(I want keep the factory HU rather than butcher the beautiful dash). Has anyone taken this route ?

Also if anyone has any recommendations on amps or rear door speakers too bearing in mind I don't want a sub rather get my bass from rear door set-up. My thoughts so far on amp are for a JL Audio 300/4. Any advice would be much appreciated. I will certainly post once final install is decided on and completed. Cheers.

it is always better to replace the plastic speaker holder with an mdf wood version. this is not a big job in the 147. it ensures a perfect fit (screwholes, depth, no gaps, etc), and the depth (thickness) can be tailored accordingly.

40mm spacers i built for my GT:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL97/.../314773618.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL97/.../314774033.jpg

if you can DIY, great, but a pro installer would not cost too much for such work.

i don't know if the infinity's will drop straight in. certainly, that brand has been touted as a suitable drop-in replacement; just unsure about that specific model. tweeters are likely to require some customised brackets and trimming of the plastic behind the factory grill; that's if you wish to place them in the factory position. otherwise, options include at the base of the A-pillar or dashtop, or down in the kickpanels, angled upwards (good cohesion of sound, good imaging, slight lack of stageheight).

kickpanel tweeters (my old 156): http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL97/...4/15363841.jpg
customised A-pillar trims (my old 156): http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL97/...8/91170593.jpg

Cleansweep is a good option for a factory HU. did you happen to compare with something like the rockford fosgate 3sixty or audison Bit One. curious as to your reason for the Cleansweep (not a criticism, just wondering).

JL 300/4 would be an excellent amp. arguably, better than you need. no issues there if it's within your budget. but alternative might include:
*digitial designs C4a
*audison LRx4.5
*alpine PDX-4.100/150: very compact and efficient, though not the sound quality of a typical class AB amp
*focal, rockford fosgate, tru technology, etc

instead of rear speakers, i would personally go with just a 2-channel amp, then spend money on sound deadening the front doors and sealing them over (eg: Dynamat Xtreme, Stinger Roadkill Expert). this will greatly improve bass and overall sound quality. something rear speakers will not do (they cater primarily for rear passengers).

my GT doors sound deadened and sealed:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL97/.../312723431.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL97/.../313625228.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL97/.../314773601.jpg

if you do want rear speakers, then perhaps a set of infinity 2-way coaxials.

Moved to ICE Lounge

First off thanks very much for the comprehensive response. I was gonna go with dynamat but had not thought of mdf holders which would naturally present a more solid foundation. Forgetting about the rears and going the 2 channel amp route also appeals as rear passengers are 1 and 3 years old and not fully appreciating my tunes just yet.

As i said the cleasweep was considered for aesthetics allowing me to stick with OEM HU and i managed to pick one up at a good price. I wasn't aware of the alternatives you've mentioned. As for the amp the JL Audio units are rated top performers but perhaps as you say a bit more than i need particularly if i go with front sound only. Speakers again received quality ratings from wide variety of sources. The build will be done at a local ICE centre once i've gathered components i want. Your advice has probably tipped the scales on a two speaker set-up so i'll post to show how i got on once the job is done. Cheers again for the help particularly taking the time to include photos. All the best.

sounds good. note, all the amps discussed come in 2-channel versions too: JL 300/2(v2), digital designs C1a or C2a, alpine PDX-2.150, audison LRx2.4. there are also more entry level models from JL, alpine, and audison, if the budget doesn't stretch to these midspec models.