Ford LTD Speaker Size

Rear Deck Lid Speaker

Dashboard Speaker

Front Door Panel Speaker

Ford LTD Speaker FAQ

What speakers should I replace first in my Ford LTD for the biggest sound improvement?

Start with the front door panel 5.25-inch speakers. These handle most of your midrange frequencies and vocals - they're doing the heavy lifting for music clarity. The front doors also give you better staging since the sound comes from beside you rather than behind. You'll want coaxial speakers rated around 50-75 watts RMS with 4-ohm impedance. Component speakers work too if you're planning a more serious upgrade, but coaxials are simpler for most Ford LTD owners. The rear deck speakers can wait - they mainly fill in bass and ambient sound.

Can I put 6x9 speakers in the rear deck of all Ford LTD models?

Not exactly. The rear deck lid changed between model runs. Earlier Ford LTD models used 6x9 openings, but the later ones switched to 6x8. You'd need to modify the mounting holes to fit 6x9s in a 6x8 opening - usually means cutting or using adapter plates. The 6x8 size is actually fine for most applications though. Look for speakers with good low-end response around 45-50Hz since the rear deck position helps with bass coupling. Full-range 6x8s rated at 60-100 watts should work well in your Ford LTD's rear deck setup.

Why does my Ford LTD have tiny 3.5-inch dashboard speakers?

Those dashboard speakers handle upper midrange and some treble frequencies - think of them as tweeters with a bit more range. They're positioned up high to improve stereo imaging and add presence to vocals. The 3.5-inch size fits the dashboard space constraints while still moving enough air for clarity. Replace them with quality coaxials rated around 20-30 watts RMS. Don't expect much bass from this location - they're working with the door speakers to create a fuller soundstage. Some Ford LTD owners disconnect them entirely if the door speakers have good treble response, but properly matched dashboard speakers can really open up the sound.

What's the difference between coaxial and component speakers for my Ford LTD front doors?

Coaxial speakers have the tweeter built into the woofer - everything in one unit. Simpler installation since you're just swapping the factory speaker. Component systems separate the tweeter from the woofer, so you'd mount the 5.25-inch woofer in the door and find a spot for the separate tweeter. Components typically sound better because each driver is optimized for its frequency range. The Ford LTD's front door panels might not have obvious tweeter mounting spots though, so you'd need to get creative or modify the door panel. For most upgrades, quality coaxials with silk dome tweeters give you solid improvement without the installation headaches.