Oldsmobile Delta 88 Speaker Size

Dashboard Speaker

Rear Deck Lid Speaker

Oldsmobile Delta 88 Speaker FAQ

What speakers should I replace first in my Oldsmobile Delta 88?

Replace the 6 x 9 rear deck speakers first. They handle most of your bass and midrange output - around 80% of what you actually hear. The dashboard 3.5 inch speakers are more for fill and high frequencies. Your Delta 88's rear deck location gives better acoustic coupling with the trunk space, which acts like a natural subwoofer enclosure. Start there, then worry about the dash speakers later if needed.

Can I install component speakers in the Oldsmobile Delta 88 rear deck?

Probably not without major modifications. The rear deck lid was designed for coaxial or triaxial speakers - everything built into one unit. Component systems need separate mounting for tweeters and crossovers. You'd need to cut new holes, run additional wiring. Stick with high-quality coaxial speakers instead. Look for 6 x 9 models with 4-ohm impedance, maybe 50-75 watts RMS handling. The factory wiring should handle this fine.

Why does my Delta 88 have both coaxial and triaxial speaker options?

GM offered different audio packages that year. Triaxial adds a third driver - usually a super tweeter for extended high frequency response above 10kHz. Most people can't even hear much difference. The coaxial setup with woofer and tweeter covers 80Hz to 20kHz adequately. Unless you're really into classical music or have golden ears, coaxial speakers will satisfy most listening needs in your Delta 88.

What's the power handling for factory Oldsmobile Delta 88 speakers?

Factory speakers were probably rated around 15-25 watts RMS. Pretty modest by today's standards. The dashboard 3.5 inch units might handle even less - maybe 10-15 watts max. When upgrading, don't go crazy with power. Something in the 40-60 watt RMS range for the 6 x 9s should wake up your Delta 88's sound system nicely. Higher power ratings won't hurt, but you'll never use the full capacity with factory head unit.

Do the dashboard speakers in my Delta 88 affect overall sound quality much?

Less than you'd think. Those 3.5 inch dashboard speakers mainly fill in upper midrange and treble. They're positioned well for imaging though - closer to ear level than the rear deck. If your rear 6 x 9s are working properly, you might not notice much difference with dashboard speaker upgrades. But if you want that crisp vocal clarity and better stereo separation, upgrading both locations creates more balanced soundstage in your Delta 88.