Audi 100 Series Speaker Size

Front Door Panel Speaker

Rear Deck Lid Speaker

Rear Deck Center Speaker

Audi 100 Series Speaker FAQ

What speakers should I replace first in my Audi 100 Series?

Replace the front door panel speakers first. The 6.5 inch front door speakers handle most of your music's critical midrange frequencies. Front speakers create the soundstage you actually hear while driving. Rear speakers mostly fill in ambient sound. If you're on a budget, upgrading just the front 6.5 inch coaxial speakers in the Audi 100 Series will give you 70-80% of the total sound improvement possible.

Should I choose coaxial or component speakers for the Audi 100 Series front doors?

Coaxial speakers work better for most Audi 100 Series installations. Component speakers need separate tweeter mounting locations, which the front door panels don't really accommodate well. A quality 6.5 inch coaxial speaker around 60-90 watts RMS will dramatically improve clarity over the original speakers. The tweeter built into coaxials handles frequencies above 3000 Hz adequately for this setup. Component systems might sound slightly better but installation complexity isn't worth it unless you're doing custom work.

What's the difference between the rear deck center and rear deck lid speakers?

The rear deck center speaker was only used in 1971, while the rear deck lid speakers ran through 1973. Both locations use 5.25 inch speakers but serve different purposes. Rear deck lid speakers fire upward through the rear window, creating reflected sound. The center position gives more direct rear fill. Either way, these 5.25 inch speakers typically handle 20-40 watts RMS and frequencies above 80 Hz. Replace them after you've upgraded the front doors in your Audi 100 Series.

Can I use full-range speakers in all positions on the Audi 100 Series?

Full-range speakers work in the rear deck lid position but aren't ideal for front doors. The rear 5.25 inch full-range speakers can handle 40-120 Hz bass better than coaxials sometimes. Front door positions benefit more from coaxial designs because you need that integrated tweeter for highs. Full-range speakers in front doors often sound muddy around 2000-4000 Hz where vocals live. Stick with coaxials up front, consider full-range for rear deck if you want more bass presence in your Audi 100 Series.

What power handling should I look for in Audi 100 Series replacement speakers?

Target 50-75 watts RMS for the 6.5 inch front door speakers. The 5.25 inch rear speakers should handle 30-50 watts RMS. Don't get caught up in peak power ratings - they're meaningless. Most aftermarket head units in the Audi 100 Series put out 15-25 watts RMS per channel anyway. Higher power handling just means the speakers won't distort as easily when you crank the volume. Look for 4 ohm impedance to match your amplifier properly. The efficiency rating matters more than raw power - 88 dB or higher efficiency speakers will sound louder with less power.