Saab 900 Speaker Size

Dashboard Speaker

Rear Deck Lid Speaker

Rear Door Panel Speaker

Saab 900 Speaker FAQ

What speakers should I replace first in my Saab 900 for the biggest sound improvement?

Replace the 4x10 inch rear deck speakers first. These handle most of your music's mid-range frequencies and vocals. The dashboard 4 inch speakers come second - they're closer to your ears but smaller. The 3.5 inch rear door panels matter least since they're behind you and quite small. Look for coaxial replacements rated around 30-50 watts RMS with 4-ohm impedance. The rear deck location gives you the most acoustic impact for your money.

Can I install component speakers in the Saab 900 dashboard location?

Stick with coaxial speakers for the dashboard. The 4 inch opening doesn't leave room for separate tweeters, and the Saab 900 dashboard mounting is pretty tight. Full-range coaxials work better here anyway - they'll handle frequencies from about 80Hz to 20kHz in that position. Component systems need more space and custom mounting. Save components for the rear deck if you want to upgrade later. Your dashboard speakers mainly fill in treble detail anyway.

Why does my Saab 900 have different speaker sizes in different locations?

Each location serves different acoustic purposes. The 4x10 rear deck speakers move more air for bass and midrange - that oval shape gives more cone area than round speakers. Dashboard 4 inch speakers handle upper frequencies and vocals since they're aimed at your ears. The 3.5 inch rear door panels... well, they're mostly there for rear passenger fill. This arrangement was pretty common in the 90s. Different sizes let each speaker focus on what it does best rather than trying to make one size work everywhere.

What power handling should I look for in Saab 900 replacement speakers?

Target 25-40 watts RMS for the rear deck 4x10s, 20-30 watts for the dashboard 4 inch, and 15-25 watts for the rear door 3.5s. Peak power ratings don't matter much - focus on RMS. The Saab 900 factory stereo probably puts out around 15-20 watts per channel, so moderate power handling prevents distortion if you upgrade your head unit later. Higher wattage speakers often have better build quality anyway. Just don't go crazy - 100+ watt speakers are overkill unless you're adding an amplifier.

Are the rear door panel speakers in the Saab 900 worth upgrading?

Maybe not immediately. Those 3.5 inch speakers are pretty limited by size - they can't reproduce much below 150Hz anyway. If your rear deck and dashboard speakers sound good, the door panels mostly add a bit of fill. Better to spend money on the larger speakers first. Though if one of the door speakers is blown or rattling, sure, replace it. Just don't expect dramatic improvement from 3.5s. They're working against physics here.